2024 ShoStoWriMo Stories

During December, the Great River Regional Library celebrates Short Story Writing Month (ShoStoWriMo). Teens and adults could enter their unique stories about this historical image from the Stearns History Museum. We asked writers to compose their stories in only 33 words (since we have 33 locations), making it a real short story challenge!

Thank you to all who participated and enjoyed the challenge.

 

An old, blown over jailhouse sitting on its roof
 

 

Here are the story submissions for you to read and enjoy:

 

  • The ultimate way to turn a criminal’s life around! - Debra, adult from the Delano Public Library

  • The vicious tornado toppled the jail that housed a deputy and one inmate. The unhurt deputy released the inmate and together they rescued a mother and five children from a nearby damaged house. - Joyce, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • today only....get out of jail free - anonymous adult from the Long Prairie Public Library

  • Upside down house built by local carpenters turns small town into a tourist spot. The extra jobs and people from neighboring towns have helped save this once dwindling town into a gold mine! - Patricia, adult from the Albany Public Library

  • The seven Sauk Rapids inmates gave it all their might and eventually overturned the jail building from within. Much to their dismay they were still imprisoned—except for now they were also upside down! - Laura, adult from Sartell GRRL2GO lockers

  • There once was a house on it's side, it never took a bride, and a tornado make it take a ride. When it tipped over, no one died. At least it tried. Uffda. - Jane, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • I was sitting in the jail one day. I ate a little bit too much hay. This place tip over it may. I said, my horses, where are they? They told me neigh! - Jane, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • Ole and Lena’s wedding night was memorable; they stole away to the small hay barn. A storm rolled the barn again . . . and again. Hence, “A Roll in the Hay” originated. - David, adult from the Monticello Public Library

  • For the timing of wind was with me, then. As the intruders approached, a great hand of fate swept my world (and its impending end) on its head. I quite like this view. - Annie, adult from the Staples Public Library

  • Dorthy loved her life now, but sometimes she missed her old friends. Carefully watching the weather, she eventually caught another tornado out of town. Unfortunately, this time, she didn't stick the landing :) - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  • Metaphorically speaking, my life was spent bottoms up. But when the downs are up and the ups are down, you literally can't escape. The jail of metaphorically speaking is always locked up tight. - Tim, adult from the Buffalo Public Library

  • There once was a house in Stearns County. Its roof flipped on its heinie. No crane to be had and no time to be mad, placed was a sign that read "Buy Me." - Shawn, adult from the Paynesville Public Library

  • If old Sticky Fingers Jack had known that he would end up sleeping on the rafters, he would never have told the townspeople that he hid the bank robbery gold under the jail. - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  • Sheriff Ebenezer Robertson from St. Cloud, was retrieving his prisoner from Sauk Rapids. Arriving to the town, he noticed there was a terrible cyclone. He was shocked to see the jail was intact. - Karen, adult from the Buffalo Public Library

  • The winds ravaged the town, but she was grateful for the shelter for her growing family. The gathered discards pillowy bed in the roof peak provided her family a safe place to snuggle. - Michelle, adult from the Elk River Public Library

  • As the jail house tumbled in the violent storm, the flimflam man had an epiphany. When he got out, he would get religion, go straight,..... and invent a new kind of washing machine. - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  •  It was dark. I crouched low next to Momma. It sounded like a train overhead. Back in the light, we saw. The storm had destroyed all we had worked so hard to build. - Katie, adult from the Pierz Public Library

  • Once upon a time, a storm raged over a village. The storm teared at everything in its path. The villagers tried in vain to outrun the terrible storm. The storm ate the village. - Willa, teen from the Pierz Public Library

  • It’s bright, it’s dim, then dark. The breeze rolls and rolls some more. The jail rumbles, rolls some more. The breeze is gone, the jail is still, now we climb out the door. - Jeff, adult from the Long Prairie Public Library

  • When the bounce house got caught by the wind, Joey thought of the story grandpa told him about the barn turning ass over tea kettle during a dust storm. Tall tale no more. - Laura, adult from the Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • A sugar sand foundation barely held the sturdy jailhouse. The wind gargled it with a swoosh, and quickly spit it out. Neither guilt nor innocence mattered. All the souls inside met their maker. - Vas, adult from the Royalton Public Library

  • While many attempts were made, most tries to return to Oz were not successful, leading to a crash in the housing market. - Adam, adult from the Saint Michael Public Library

  • After a terrible tornado turned the jail onto its top, Timothy Turner, a tough typical tenant, turned his life around, taking turns tending trees, teaching tots, and toting tools for tired townspeople. - Mandy, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • "I told you the Big Bad Wolf would be able to escape," the deputy told the sheriff. He laughed and said, "Well, I guess, get the 3rd little pig to rebuild the jail." - Michelle, adult from the Little Falls Carnegie Library