Flash Fiction / The Online Accountant (Analysis)

“Dang it!” he pounded on the desk.


Bradley Tallwoods had been working hard all day inside his small red brick house on Terrence Street, in the small town of Bendigo. No one really knew much about Bradley as he kept to himself, mostly. He’d become an accountant after an episode of town murders in the late 1990s which were considered unsolved. Only after he had become the prime suspect and only witness did the case come to a standstill as there was no evidence to convict him. After that, he sought mostly indoors projects to keep himself busy and out of the glare of the local town folk. So he became an accountant via distance education and worked for online companies covering their accounting needs.


Once a month Bradley did feel the need to go out. He would head down the local pub for a drink. The eyes would stare and he would keep his head down, but he felt the need to make a public appearance every once in a while to let everyone know that he was still around, and he was innocent. At least that was the vision he wanted to project upon them. Everyone kept the peace, yet underneath they were all a little bit uneasy as they knew the real truth, yet no one was game enough to admit it, let alone believe it for themselves. He nodded his head and left the bar.


Bradley Tallwoods, accountant by day, werewolf my moonlight.
 

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BitterTruth avatar Random Review

October 07, 2009

BitterTruth

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BitterTruth reviewed Version 2 - Read 100% of the Item
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paulfogarty avatar General Stranger

October 04, 2009

paulfogarty

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paulfogarty reviewed Version 1 - Read 100% of the Item
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loveandrockets28 avatar General Stranger

October 04, 2009

loveandrockets28

REVIEW QUALITY: 100.0%(1 vote ) personal info reviewer stats
loveandrockets28 reviewed Version 2 - Read 100% of the Item

this is cute. i really don’y know what else to say about it. keep writing!

snarfus avatar General Stranger

October 03, 2009

snarfus

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snarfus reviewed Version 2 - Read 100% of the Item

Okay, there’s a bit of a slow build up. If word count is an issue, there are numerous ways to make space for other things, like description and foreshadowing. For example, in the line that starts “he sought mostly indoor projects…” you can trim this down to “He began to look for work out of the public eye.”

“He had become prime suspect…” Whoa. This sentence is a mess. Add a few commas, maybe, or break up the info into several sentences.

Finally, the stinger? What the hell? Out of nowhere. I understand flash fiction pieces usually have a twist, but there should be some kind of hint or clue. Even just mentioning that the murders he was suspected of happened on the full moon would help. Otherwise, you could put any random thing at the end and it would make as much sense. “Bradley Tallwoods had antlers growing out of his head.” or “Bradley Tallwoods spontaneously combusted.”

Matthewtuckey avatar General Stranger

October 03, 2009

Matthewtuckey

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Matthewtuckey reviewed Version 2 - Read 100% of the Item

The fact that it’s red brick… is that relevant?

‘considered unsolved’- were they unsolved or not? That’s an official thing. I’m not sure if ‘episode’ is the right word- ‘series’ might be. And ‘that were considered’, not ‘which were’.

‘and as a witness’- cut ‘as’.

Good end twist. I read it again and there were a few hints. I think you could fit a few more hints in, discreetly. That would give the end twist more impact.

music1358 avatar General Stranger

October 02, 2009

music1358

REVIEW QUALITY: 100.0%(1 vote ) personal info reviewer stats
music1358 reviewed Version 1 - Read 100% of the Item

I hope the once a month did not coincide with the full moon or going down to the pub for a drink takes on a newly sinister aspect.

Rhonda9080 avatar General Friend

October 02, 2009

Rhonda9080

REVIEW QUALITY: 100.0%(1 vote ) personal info reviewer stats
Rhonda9080 reviewed Version 2 - Read 50% of the Item

Its perfect! I love it! Good work! I’d actually read a novel about Bradley. Have considered it? You write well enough, for sure! He’s interesting (and kind of sexy!)
Well done!!!

Rhonda9080 avatar General Friend

October 02, 2009

Rhonda9080

REVIEW QUALITY: 100.0%(1 vote ) personal info reviewer stats
Rhonda9080 reviewed Version 1 - Read 100% of the Item

The writing is very good! I was impressed with your imagery and the creation of such a compelling character in so few words!
Only small things I saw: you might contract a “he had” I saw to hadn’t (not hardly worth mentioning)
And on the last line… werewolf my/by moonlight.

You said enjoy!
I really did :)

sethers avatar General Stranger

October 02, 2009

sethers

REVIEW QUALITY: 100.0%(1 vote ) personal info reviewer stats
sethers reviewed Version 1 - Read 100% of the Item

Always in the mood for a werewolf story.  Was he drinking pina coladas at the bar?  Was his hair perfect?

I think it might be cool to add some subtle references to werewolf like behavior while he’s walking or working.  Also, I never caught on as to why he said “Dang it” at the beginning.

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natalie272 avatar

natalie272

Age: 22
Loc: Australia
Gen: F
Last Login: October 04
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