Saturday 30 May 2015

All On The Table

Before I get to winners and words.

It's fairly obvious that I am having a hard time getting things done here in a timely fashion.  I know I've mentioned before that my life is rather fraught these days, and has been for some time.

Rebecca and I had hoped that by taking on the admin duties together, we could keep up.  Sadly, her plate is as overfull as mine is these days.

I love Prediction, and I love doing this, but I'm offering it up to anyone who wants to take over, who believes they can keep up with it better than I have been able to.  I simply cannot guarantee right now that I can be here in the timely fashion required.

That being said, I do not want to see Prediction die. If no one else can, or is willing to take on the admin duties, Prediction will continue here under the best care I can give it and I will continue to strive to keep it as current as my situation will allow.

Our winner this week is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 98: As always, Antonia, this is a beautifully woven piece.  Thank you.

The Tome has obligingly provided new words:

Chime
Jug
Poison

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, June 6th.  Winners and words on Sunday, June 7th.

The Gates are Open!

38 comments:

  1. Well done Antonia - well-deserved as ever.

    Colleen, I well understand your fraughtness and understand that having something else to struggle with isn't helpful. Obviously, I'm keen to keep Prediction running, and almost certainly have the time - what ARE the admin requirements? - but hesitate to offer to take over because I've no real interest or understanding of horror, science fiction or fantasy; I just hitch a tentative ride on noir.
    Nor am I that confident in my technology skills ... but no doubt could learn.

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  2. thank you so much! That episode was more difficult than usual, it kept wanting to get away from the 100 word limit... (LOL)

    Life does get in the way of so many things, that we all understand.
    Sandra, you've been commenting on the stories forever, it won't be that much harder to choose, or will it????? I just don't have the time, so wish I did.

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    1. Antonia, I'd be a bit concerned about bias, but more so about my ability to attract new writers,

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  3. Congrats Antonia!

    I definitely hope the Prediction keeps going, thanks so much for all you and Rebecca do, Colleen! Unfortunately with my 9 month old I have a hard enough time finding time to just write and enter, so can't offer to take over. :( I think you'd be good at it, Sandra, if you wanted to take it over. :)

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  4. with each of us doing our bit to publicise the Prediction, I will go back to running an ad for it in my Sunday Bulletins, you will find new writers coming in. I will also post it on Legend Fire later on, that will help, I am sure of it.

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  5. A change of focus [129]

    Khakbethian is a language which sounds, to the uninitiated, like the pouring of sun-warmed caramel from a broad-spouted jug. It being John Pettinger’s first language, albeit one little-used in these past thirty years, he also heard the poison-laced words of double meaning, themselves coated with chocolate, so that their chime against the rim, although discernible, was difficult to decipher.
    As was she.
    ‘Yanno! Virichamocho! It’s been too long!’
    ‘It has. Why are you here?’
    ‘So unfriendly! I need to see you. Or maybe someone dies.’
    ‘I’ll come.’
    The phone had been on speaker.
    Vanessa, ‘Virichamocho?’
    Pettinger, face reddening, ‘Donkey-hung.’

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    1. Loved the description of the language! Very clever. :) Also had a good laugh with the final line.

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    2. Me too! that was clever and very funny!

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    3. Oh this was priceless and so delicious in more ways than one. As already noted, exceedingly clever and delightfully funny. It was so seamless that I had to go back to find the allotted words.

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  6. Interlude [Threshold 66]

    Needing to move on, Ravenscar dismissed Helvinsson and the grateful Phelim, who’d likely been ready to poison him had he kept Helvinsson for himself.
    Bidding me remount the best of the horses and follow him, downwind, he took me to a house where he was known, showed me to a room where jugs and a broad basin, striped with colours of the sea awaited, chiming with a Degas pastel I’d once seen.
    Clean again, I was given garments scented with lavender and something sandalwood. The girl who brought them told me, ‘He said to wait until he’s finished with Maria.’

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    1. Love the description of the environment, very beautiful. My favorites were the jugs 'striped with colours of the sea' and the feeling evoked by the scent of the garments.

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    2. beautifully described and then bang, wit until he's finished with Maria. OK... comes the nasty bit, as always, you leave it on the edge...

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    3. Beautiful descriptions, especially the reference to a "Degas pastel." What an inspiring touch! That last statement left me feeling very apprehensive. "...finished with Maria" indeed.

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  7. Congrats Antonia, was a great episode.
    Sorry to hear that things are a struggle, I would offer my own help to keep things going but don't think I'm qualified, if Sandra needs help just let me know :-) will return with a story soon.

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  8. Perhaps I'm reading the situation wrong here, but do I understand that this project is closing its gates for good? I'm really sorry to hear that and will miss the challenges. Congratulations to Antonia for winning the final contest and thanks so much for the opportunity to participate. I had an enormous amount of fun and I hope everyone continues to write. There are some amazingly creative scribes here and the talent is outstanding. :)

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    1. No, Patricia - Colleen and Rebecca feel they've not the time to commit to doing it properly; I've the time but am uncertain about my ability, but if no-one else steps forward I'll do my utmost to keep it going - and would very much need support from folks such as you - don't go away yet!!

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    2. I obviously got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I'm glad I checked back. Then of course I shall continue to participate and will return shortly with completed parchment clutched between inky fingers.

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  10. Ciri

    Smearing black grease across her cheeks and brow, Ciri traced the faint whorls the Seer had tattooed years before. There'd been a time when she hid the marks with veils and wild hair, but that was long past. Shivering as her skin prickled in a sly breeze, Ciri drew the thin, ebon robe back up over her shoulders. Her fingers lingered on the puckered flesh between her breasts, on the poisoned scars that stole her youth, her Sight, her freedom.

    A chime sounded, and Ciri hastily grabbed the wine jug, as footsteps echoed in the hall. She awaited her captor.

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    1. 'sly breeze' is especially lovely, but the description of the damaged Ciri invidiously unsettling.

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    2. oh yes, very unsettling. Vivid picture of the poor Ciri and then to find she is still in her own personal prison is scary.

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    3. This was dark and thought-provoking and absolutely a delight to read. This is a perfect example of how to paint a picture using words and phrases. In short, a wonderful piece.

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  11. UPDATE: I've agreed with Colleen that I'll take over the Prediction - how else could I do achieve my weekly 'fix' of Pettinger and Ravenscar? - but because I'm away from home at the moment, staying with my daughter to celebrate her birthday, I'm not sure I'll have the time to set up the necessary site before the end of next week, so I've asked Colleen to put up next week's words.
    Thereafter I hope things will run smoothly.

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    1. this is brilliant news! I was worrying the Prediction would fold, life has already taken it away from three people, but I am wondering if that is the pattern of it, that it moves on at the right time for the person running it at that moment. So pleased we can keep going.

      OK, so here is Infinity 99.

      There be a noise in my head, like a chime almost, telling me, leading me to the jug. Grog be poison but at times a cap’n needs a touch of poison to keep himself from going mad. I don’t want to lose First Mate, he been with me a damn long time but him be going agin me so much I have no choice.
      No. That not be true. The choice is not there because of the damned Creature. It’s got to be satisfied. Ha! If I could bait First Mate perhaps I could kill it. What kills a Creature?

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    2. I do believe this week's three prompts were tailor-made for your story Antonia and you used them to perfection. I think the fate of the First Mate might well be a done deal at this point. As always, this sails along as smoothly as the Captain's vessel.

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    3. That you are taking over Prediction is welcome news indeed, Sandra. I'm sure you have the support of everyone concerned and I for one, thank you for your decision.

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    4. Ninety-ninth episode! And the Captain getting deeper mired in ponderings and grog. Am wondering how he'll resolve the First Mate issue.

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    5. Loved your use of poison in the second sentence, and seeing the Captain begin to put some plans in motion.

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  12. Cripplegate Junction/Part 12-The Old Station Clock
    (By: Foxxglove)
    (100 Words)

    The old station clock had not chimed since Marmalade lost his eighth life. It was thought to be his last, but there was a miscalculation and with twitching whiskers, the tabby revived. Violet was suspected of poisoning the cream in Marmalade's jug - no love was lost between the pair - but nothing could be proven.

    Now, after several years, the chimes announced the disappearance of Cousin Christopher. In her carriage, the Grand Dame noted the regular breathing of the small boy asleep in the seat across from her, crumbs of a buttered teacake still lingering on his grubby fingers.

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    1. So easy to picture, from your words, the scene in the carriage, which in turn, has been set up with complexity and a cat.

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    2. Loved the intro & phrasing of the first sentence, and indeed the first paragraph! I always enjoy the imagery that comes to life in my head with your words. :)

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  13. I'm a mess and won't be taking part this week, hopefully get my senses together to at least comment but hopefully back soon. Good luck everyone.

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    1. Sorry to hear that Rob - hope things improve with you very soon.

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    2. Hope to see you next week! :)

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    3. Look forward to hearing from you next week, Rob, and hope things are improving.

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  14. Winners and words this evening.

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  15. Decided to pop in here and see whats going on as I've been away for months, and am missing the challenges, feedback, and the reading of great pieces..... and am relieved to see Prediction is still going strong. I will be trying to write something for the next challenge :-)

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