Welcome to Stories Beneath the Surface, an original fiction series written and published on A. M. F. Writes. The Prompts Each story begins with three prompts. This weeks: Emotion: Guilt Object: Silver Lighter Setting: Quiet Cul-de-sac From there, the story goes wherever it wants to go. I just happen to write it. The ideas are discovered as I type. I call it going off script. Read the Story https://amfwrites.substack.com/p/the-price-of-loafers Episode Transcript The written story above serves as the primary transcript for this episode. Audio Introduction Welcome to Stories Beneath the Surface. I’m Alexandria Fergusson from A.M.F. Writes over on Substack, where we explore stories, ideas, and the uncomfortable truths that shape what it means to be human. In this series, I share original short fiction written and published through A.M.F. Writes. Every story begins the same way. I draw three random prompts—an emotion, an object, and a setting—and from those, I write wherever the story leads. I rarely follow the obvious path, and more often than not, the story surprises me just as much as it surprises you. Today’s prompts were... All right, let’s dive right into the story. Audio Closing Thank you so much for listening to Stories Beneath the Surface. If today’s story left you with questions that linger, be sure to join me over on A.M.F. Writes on Substack, where The Deeper Layer explores the psychology, philosophy, and human truths beneath the fiction. Paid subscribers also get behind-the-scenes looks at my author journey and the work still taking shape beneath the surface. Until next time. More From A. M. F. Writes Continue Reading and Listening Explore more original fiction and subscribe to A. M. F. Writes: A.M.F. Writes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. A New Way to Experience the Stories Those of you who have been following along for a hot minute already know about Flash Fiction Friday—otherwise known as short stories that occasionally forget they are supposed to be flash fiction. Substack’s handy-dandy play button already allows readers here to listen to my articles and stories. But I realized that still limits the people who do not have—or simply do not want to create—yet another account just to follow along. Most people already have a preferred place for listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. In fact, 81% of Americans age twelve and older now listen to some form of online audio each month, while 58% consume podcasts monthly. So, at the behest of several friends who do not particularly enjoy reading but still wanted to join in on the fun, I decided to start narrating my short fiction and turn it into a podcast. It turns out I still do not enjoy listening to the sound of my own voice, so please understand that this is almost entirely an act of love—and peer pressure. Stories Beneath the Surface Stories Beneath the Surface is the fiction-centered portion of the show. Each episode features one of my original short stories, narrated by me and introduced with the three prompts that inspired it. The written stories will continue to live here on A. M. F. Writes. The podcast simply gives readers—and people who insist they are not readers—another way to experience them. But the stories are only the beginning. I am also developing two additional segments within the show’s larger ecosystem. The Deeper Layer and the Author Debrief-These will only be available as perks for paid subscribers. The Deeper Layer The Deeper Layer is where we explore the experiences, ideas, questions, and human truths that shape the way we see the world—and, ultimately, the stories we tell. These conversations move beyond the mechanics of writing to examine the psychology, philosophy, sociology, art, creativity, and personal experiences beneath fiction. It is a look inside the mental landscape where stories begin: what captures our attention, what shaped us, what we believe, what we question, and how those pieces eventually find their way onto the page. The Author Debrief The Author Debrief is a monthly behind-the-scenes look at the reality of building a writing life. These episodes may include current projects, writing progress, reading reflections, publishing updates, creative breakthroughs, lessons learned, research rabbit holes, and the less-visible work happening beneath the finished stories. The format will remain flexible. Depending on the month and the conversation, an Author Debrief may appear as a traditional podcast episode, a live conversation, a written article, or some combination of the three. Think of it as a recurring bonus episodeand an honest record of what it looks like to build an author career in real time. Together, these three parts create the larger world of Stories Beneath the Surface: The stories themselves. The ideas and experiences beneath them. And the ongoing reality of becoming the writer who creates them. Thank you for tuning in! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amfwrites.substack.com/subscribe
