Write a tingling spy story
In 1962 on this date in history, American Francis Gary Powers was released by Russians after being shot down in an airplane and held captive. (Then Americans released a Russian spy.)
Write your own spy story. Read one and “model” after the author. Choose a paragraph or two that you admire and try to mimic the style of prose. What makes it suspenseful? Watch a spy movie. Write a movie script for your story.
I met Francis Gary Powers in the early 70s. I was working in Gimbel’s book department in downtown Milwaukee . He was in the store, just a like an ordinary customer. He didn’t say who he was but asked me about a book he pointed out. It was his book! I was glad I had remembered his name from the news but I’ve always wished I would have had him sign a copy for me!
Wow! Very cool. Yes, it would have been very neat to have had him sign a copy of his book for you. But what a great experience you had! Thanks for sharing it with us! Liz
This isn’t quite a tingling, suspenseful spy story, but I saw this post and decided to try writing something about captured spies. This was written in about 7 minutes and is still pretty messy… I haven’t really gone over it, but I hope you like it. 🙂
—–
“Well… the plan would have worked if that rebel hadn’t spotted us.”
“Excuse me? Are you trying to make me feel better?”
“… I just thought that maybe you might feel comforted–”
“Yeah, right. Look at us! We’re prisoners stuck in the middle of Rebel Fortress, surrounded with no hope of escape, and guaranteed a most painful death. Now how exactly will you make me feel comforted?”
“… Well, if you really want to be that pessimistic… I mean, if you just look outside, you know, it looks kinda nice with the trees and the sunset and the–”
“Prison guards?”
“… That too.”
“I say we need to bust outta here. Whaddya say?”
“Um…”
“Don’t be such a wimp! If we don’t try, we’ll never make it out.”
“Well… okay.”
“That’s the spirit. Come on.”
Clatter. Clank. “Huh–?” Bonk. Guard goes down.
“Now, let’s keep going.”
“Okay–”
WHEEEOOOOOEEEEOOOOO.
“They spotted us! Run! Run!”
“They’re catching up to us! I can’t–”
“Keep goin’–”
–
“… Well… they have pretty good meatballs here, don’t they?”
“Shut up!”
—–
🙂
Oh, this is good! It made me laugh out loud! Thanks for posting! Liz