Monday 27 April 2015

Sleepless Nightmare's Bloom.

Good Morning, all!

The Japanese maple tree outside my new bedroom window is starting to bloom.  As my parents and I, now, live in the middle of the city, on a third floor, the city lights often reflect off of and light the tree when it's dark outside.  It looks deliciously creepy that way, to be honest, and I have spent the last few sleepless nights gazing at it.  It's barely begun to bloom, so it still looks mostly bare-boned in the yellowish glow of the streetlights out front.  The blooms are tiny, bright green with deep reddish purple at the branch ends.  The light of the night makes them look sickly yellow and blood red.  I have conjured many dark images and bits of tales while my mind has climbed through it's darkened branches.  Now, if I could only find the time to write them.

I see, however, that all of you have had time to write, and such lovely, dark things you have wrought!  My deepest thanks to all!

Our winner this week is Antonia Woodville with : Infinity 95 :  Antonia, your stories are always beautifully crafted, but something about the tone and phrasing of this REALLY caught my attention.  Reading it was like being carried along on a tide.  Lovely use of the prompts as well.  Thank you!

The Tome has just arrived in our new digs from its travel back East to me.  It looks a bit jet lagged, but has agreed to give forth new words.

Cousin
Rebel
Spike

The usual rules apply: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine.

Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Saturday, May 2nd.  Winners and words on Sunday, May 3d.

The Gates are Open!


Monday 20 April 2015

Of Straws and Camels

Hello, lovelies! 

Miss Colleen is consumed with matters great and small...which is to say that she's buried under a mound of crap life has foisted upon her and is currently attempting to dig herself out. My particular camels are not so overburdened, having eaten half the straw that threatened to break their backs. Convenient, that, although perhaps not to the straw merchant. At any rate, I have stepped in to do the hosting honors for the nonce.

What an amazing group of writers we have here! The variety and depth of the stories never ceases to amaze me, and while the nature of a challenge demands a winner, I want you all to know how very much I value you sharing your talents with us. The support we show each other in commenting when we can is another reason to cherish this community. Thank you for any and all of that.

The winner this week is Zaiure for Wolf. There's a surprising amount of world building for so few words, and the tension was delightful.

Runner up goes to Noah Heinrich for The Hunters of 228 Orchard Lane, which has one of the best twist endings I've read in a long time.

The Tome has fled New England and the post-Boston Marathon party crowd (it being more than a little misanthropic) and arrived to cough up these words and slink off for a well-deserved rest:

Belief
Stripe
Monitor

They seem so innocuous, but I have no doubt you will stun me with how creatively you use them.

The usual rules apply: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine.

Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Saturday, April 25.  Winners and words on Sunday, April 26.

The Gates are Open!

Saturday 11 April 2015

Always moving.

I feel as if I've been in the process of moving forever.  Breaking down one life, packing it, and moving it...alone.  All the while, clearing the remnants of someone else's out of my new space.  It's been trying, and tiring.  This winter has the same feeling to it.  Even though Spring has officially begun, I feel as if winter is still here, holding us down. But we keep moving...

Our winner this week is Michael B. Fletcher with The Craftsman:  I really enjoyed your use of the prompts. And the idea of spells as something to be physically woven has always been of interest to me. This is a really entertaining piece.  Thank you.

Also winning this week is Patricia Purvis with Inn of the Four Seasons:  The story of Camelot being one of my favorites, this struck a lovely and humorous note with me.  Loved the last line.  Very creative!  Thank you!

The Tome has been having a bit of difficulty adjusting to its new surroundings, particularly since almost everything we own is still in boxes.  However, I've managed to get it to spit out some new words for us to play with.

Drug
Figure
Beast

The usual rules apply: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine.

Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

You have until Friday April 17th, with winners and words on the Saturday, April 18th

The Gates are Open!

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Casting Out.

As warmer weather draws near, one feels a need to clean up, and clean out...to cast away bad habits and old demons.  Sometimes the demons are a bit challenging to be rid of.  Sometimes they hang around to greet the new ones often come with a new season.

Our winner this week is Zaiure with Bombshell:  Fantastic dialogue and a great last line.  I liked the pacing as well.  Thank you!

Also in the winner's circle is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 92:  Another story will a killer last line.  I am envious of how long you have kept this story both interesting and moving at a good pace. Thank you!

The Tome has offered up new words:

Loom
Dish
Tale

The usual rules apply: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine.

Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

Since I'm so very late this week, we'll go 'til Sat, April 4th, with winners and words on the Sun, April 5th

The Gates are Open!