robertbruce.com

On Writing

Robert Bruce — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:31:29 -0700

Sitting down at his midnight desk after a long day on the job, Bill understood the true nature of his work: It was a brutal fistfight with death … one that he was destined to lose.

The Spy Who Knew Too Much

Robert Bruce — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:32:14 -0700

Forquet, a renowned Parisian tailor, was found dead — shears in hand — at his table Friday afternoon. He was forever silenced, along with the secrets of his powerful clients, by an unexpected and “massive heart attack”.

A Murky Past

Robert Bruce — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:31:26 -0700

Miller, a wealthy Brooklyn accountant, came home to find a human ear displayed on his kitchen counter. One phone call and seventeen minutes later, he was escorted to a dark van and re-enrolled in the Federal Witness Protection Program.

The Ad Man

Robert Bruce — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:31:09 -0700

He stared into his gin, and then briefly at the elegantly detached twenty-somethings sitting at the table to his left. He did not have the heart to tell them that he — a balding, middle-aged advertising executive — had created the totality of the reality they were currently enjoying.

American Woman

Robert Bruce — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:31:11 -0700

He knew she had a S&W .38 in her bag. He did not know about the 13 men she’d drawn down on in California, Kansas, and Georgia. The lounge was about to get loud.

The Apocalypse

Robert Bruce — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:31:22 -0700

Ford, a gambler from New Orleans who believed The Apocalypse was coming, went all in on a final midnight hand of poker. His bluff was called, and both bets were lost.

The Actor

Robert Bruce — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:31:18 -0700

Beaulieu, a professional actor, played the role of a master con man on a Broadway stage for more than three years. After the production ended, he continued in the same role, until the FBI ended his successful run seven years later in New Orleans.

The Wanted Ad

Robert Bruce — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:31:11 -0700

Seeking moment of rest/comfort/peace in midst of hellish war of life. A hot cup of coffee. A damn sandwich. A kind word in passing. Any-fucking-thing. Nights or weekends. Weekdays fine too. Apply within immediately.

A Writer's Block

Robert Bruce — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:31:23 -0700

Lacking a story, the writer turned to bourbon, which turned into a night in jail and seven new stories in the bank.

The Crossroads

Robert Bruce — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:31:23 -0700

After a long week of closing complex deals, the Devil was really looking forward to the weekend.

Deaf & Dumb

Robert Bruce — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:31:00 -0700

It had once served someone, but there in the road, the severed ear lay deaf to our questions.

Love Story

Robert Bruce — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:56:26 -0700

He used a knife. She preferred a gun. In the end, it was definitely not love that tore them apart.

The Actor

Robert Bruce — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:30:42 -0700

To find his character, Sauvageau spent months leading up to the show in gambling dens all over the city. His performance was perfect. His bankruptcy is pending.

The Free University

Robert Bruce — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:30:00 -0700

Graham, profoundly bored with his lot in life, was arrested after robbing a number of banks at gunpoint. Twelve to fifteen years later, he held three PhDs and was teaching Comparative Literature in the south of France.

The Cemetery Plot

Robert Bruce — Sat, 04 May 2013 04:30:48 -0700

Over four decades, Hinton had masterfully written his way through the seven basic literary plots. He could not, however, write his way out of the abrupt and final one.

The Starving Artist

Robert Bruce — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:55:55 -0700

The pursuit of literature had left Eugene destitute. Like Rimbaud 137 years before him, he decided it was time to make some fucking money.

Lost & Found

Robert Bruce — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:28:43 -0700

After 13 years of looking, Anderson, a salesman from Los Angeles, found the envelope. It was empty.

The Choice

Robert Bruce — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:19:20 -0700

Mr. Auteur, of Manhattan, had been considered an important writer, until he became an infamous socialite.

The Decision

Robert Bruce — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:46:41 -0700

His audience and talents dwindling, Falk began writing lurid romance novels at 53. His initial inability to sleep at night was ameliorated by a rapidly growing bank account.

Death & Taxes

Robert Bruce — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:06:28 -0700

Having achieved immortality, the celebrated writer turned his genius toward the more difficult problem of paying taxes.