William Spear

From Soft Goods and Hard Truths – “To Sauté or not to Sauté”

What do Ernest Hemingway, Louisa May Alcott, and William Shakespeare have in common?

Find out in “To Sauté or not to Sauté,” the latest episode from Soft Goods and Hard Truths.

Cheers.

WESJr.

Music by Shinji

Part Two of the Walkthrough for Soft Goods and Hard Truths’ “To Sauté or not to Sauté” – the Blocking

This Studio D behind-the-scenes footage is Part Two of Two for producing “To Sauté or not to Sauté.” It’s the second episode of the Soft Goods and Hard Truths series.

Part Two is the blocking for navigating the set. Part One is a build for the lighting.

Also filmed in Studio D is The 3:57. That series’ next show will be a two-part reading of Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet.”

Until then, cheers.

WESJr.

Music by Shinji

Part One of the Walkthrough for Soft Goods and Hard Truths’ “To Sauté or not to Sauté” – the Lighting

This Studio D behind-the-scenes footage is Part One of Two for producing “To Sauté or not to Sauté.” It’s the second episode of the Soft Goods and Hard Truths series.

Part One is a build of the lighting plus select gear used. Part Two is the blocking for the episode.

Elsewhere, The 3:57’s next show will be a two-part reading of Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet.”

Until then, cheers.

WESJr.

Music by Shinji

From Soft Goods and Hard Truths – “Explaining the Lanyard”

Welcome to Studio D.

For sixteen years, I worked in a retail department store in a Flemington, New Jersey.

That’s a decade and a half of bumping into clothing racks and saying, “So sorry.” Of apologizing for stumbling into mannequins, coat hooks, and at least one particularly sturdy display of bath towels.

Embarrassing? Sure!

However, tripping over the furniture for that long allows you start to seeing things.

Listen to the value of retail while enjoying “Explaining the Lanyard.”

Cheers,

WESJr.

Writing Influences – Sports, Music, Humor, and now a Fourth

Hello and come on in a little closer.

Writing influences veer toward sports, music, humor, and . . . a lanyard? Easy to look at, simple to operate, and profound in its impact, it serves as a proxy.

After The 3:57 wraps in Studio D with its episode on Charlotte Brontë’s “Napoleon and the Spectre,” the full backstory on the lanyard will be shared.

Until then, cheers.

WESJr.

A First Job for the Unnamed Eighth Grader in “Paper Placemats at the Stack’em Up Diner”

Hunterdon County, New Jersey (3 April 2025) – A first job means many things. New responsibilities, emerging maturity, or being away from home on a regular basis.

A junior high schooler’s first job likely means all of those. And more.

For the Unnamed Eighth Grader in William E. Spear, Jr.’s short story “Paper Placemats at the Stack’em Up Diner” it’s all about money for Christmas gifts.

Quoting the student, “In previous years, my aunt and uncle loaned me the money and I repaid them by doing chores around the house. Raked leaves. Washed, dried, and put away dishes.”

But a new school year will start in a couple of months and the Eighth Grader wants to earn “mature money.” Wants “‘I’ll-be-a-high-school-freshman-in-the-fall’ money.”

With the aunt and uncle’s help, the student gets a job washing dishes at the Stack’em Up. Free uniforms, free meals during each shift, and close to home make it sound terrific. Except for one thing.

Which will be included in the next post.

By the way, what was less than perfect at your first job?

“Paper Placemats at the Stack’em Up Diner” is one of eight short stories being written and developed for publication in “Unexpected Moments” later this year. Other titles in the collection include:

-“Freaks from Another Planet”: Two friends reflect on parenting and grandparenting as if they were discussing alien life forms,

-“Just One More”: Stranded in a blizzard, an individual learns the most wanted is not always the most needed, and

-“Plastered”: A husband and wife argue over her fatal automobile accident from seven years ago.

If the above interests you, please consider Liking, Sharing, Leaving a Comment, or Following.

About the author:

William E. Spear, Jr., born in the Midwest and raised on the East Coast, is influenced by classical music, the Temptations, and Bob Seger. He writes quiet stories; the ones that might otherwise go unnoticed.

It’s No Joke; “Unexpected Moments” Will Be Published Later in the Year

Hunterdon County, New Jersey (1 April 2025) — Eight short stories from William E. Spear, Jr. will take readers on journeys ranging from a ghost skeptic whose disbelief in spirits is challenged to fitting in—or not fitting in—as a grandparent to an eighth grader’s first job at a New Jersey diner.

According to Mr. Spear, “The characters could be encountered any day of the week—a person at work, a teenager, a photographer, or a spouse. Also, their starting points are familiar, especially here in New Jersey—a diner, a snow storm, a train station, or a county highway.”

However, he says that they are altered in ways that are neither cataclysmic, horrific, nor tragic. Rather, the changes are quietly unexpected and could happen everywhere.

Other stories in the collection include the following:

“Beyond Reach”: Two sixty-five-year-old strangers recite improvised poetry to each other and develop a relationship.
“Freaks from Another Planet”: Two friends reflect on parenting and grandparenting as if they were discussing alien life forms,
“Just One More”: Stranded in a blizzard, an individual learns the most wanted is not always the most needed, and
“Plastered”: A husband and wife argue over her fatal automobile accident from seven years ago.

Spear adds, “Additional details such the release date, format, and where “Unexpected Moments” my be purchased are forthcoming. For now, story excerpts and book updates will be shared here.”

By the way, this is not an April Fools’ joke. “Unexpected Moments” is in the works.

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About the author: