Two Short Stories with POV switch

 For Creative Writing class in University, we had to write a short story and then switch the point of view (P.O.V.) so it was told from a different character's P.O.V. as a twist. Please note that the characters and events in these two short stories are completely fictional. I wanted to share these two stories here and hope they inspire you to create your own short stories. The idea behind a post card story is that it could fit on a postcard, so it ideally one concise paragraph in length.

(painted quote on canvas by Julia, photographed by Julia)

Post Card Story 1

Carrying the paint pallets from one group of children to the next, the substitute teacher set down the trays and brushes, their handles coated in blue as much as their bristles. Swapping the red pallet for the yellow, the sub completed a full circle of the classroom. She admired her beige pants, still spotless, although the yellow and blue on her hands had turned her knuckles green.

The other teachers had approved on this method of switching colours and their respective brushes rather than presenting grade ones with large cups of water to be dumped on the floor or that would only become cloudy rather than cleaning their brushes properly.

“Oh, Jacob what a lovely job.” The substitute exclaimed upon seeing the child’s muddy painting. He applied another thick gob, spreading it into its complementary colour. The sub suppressed a wince of disbelief, knowing the child was having fun in their inspired creation of brown.

At the bell, the substitute collected the soggy paintings, prying them from the table tops, careful not to tear each artist’s masterpiece.


(Blomidon muddy beach, photographed by Julia)

Post Card Story 2 (new P.O.V.)

Mud and Muses 

              Charlotte smeared blue onto the paper for the sky. The timer rang and the teachers collected the brushes and pallets, placing a new colour at Charlotte’s table. She gripped the new brush, yellow paint oozing between her fingers from the handle as she prepared to make a sun in the corner.

              “That’s beautiful, Charlotte.” The substitute informed her. “You must have practiced a lot.”

              “I have an art station at home.” Charlotte replied. She applied more yellow and glanced up at the other children’s work. Jacob sat across from her scrubbing a grey-brown mixture into his paper beyond its absorption.

              “You’re going to rip it, Jacob!” said Charlotte.

              “No I’m not.” Jacob responded, continuing to rub colours together.

              “What is that even supposed to be?”

              “A hole.” He replied, rhythmically stroking the brown glob in circles.

              Charlotte went back to her own picture. The paints were swapped for red. “Well I’m painting my Grampa’s house. He lives on a farm with lots of pigs.”

              She shaped the house in the center of her paper, colouring inside the lines as best she could manage. Jacob stopped to watch her for a moment.

              “Then you’ll need some mud. Here, I have extra!” 



Thanks for reading my post card short stories and I hope you enjoy creating your own sometime soon!

-Julia May

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