Jiggety jig

Back home again and mostly over the jetlag. One week of my  three away was spent with a group of writing friends whereat I wrote a total of twenty prompt-led pieces, limited by time rather than word count – all excellent practice, and very, very enjoyable.

No complaints about the quantity and quality of – and pleasure gained from – this week’s turnout for the Prediction either, both in writing and commenting which is such a strength of this site.

Difficult as ever to choose a winner, but I thought Antonia’s use of the prompts – invariably seamless – hit a new level this week so award her latest Infinity episode first place.  As newcomers, bdcharles and Kai are joint and well-deserved seconds – I very much look forward to reading more of their work.

Next week’s words are  ordinary, crepuscular, violin

Entries by midnight Thursday 6th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 7th

Usual rules: 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.

24th July

Presumably first week of the holidays curtailed writing time last week, so kudos to Antonia and Mashie for showing up with episodes of their serials, featuring submarine and Vikings; Captain and Satan himself. I'm declaring Mashie the winner because collection in any shape or form was missing from Infinity.
I've had a relaxing week of prompt writing and exercises, watching humming birds and squirrels from the deck of a house in Tualatin, near Portland OR, but we leave here 3.45 tomorrow morning for New York, which is likely to be a lot more strenuous. in the meantime, I hope you can make something of the following.

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Next week’s words are  lamp,  pair,  thumb

Entries by midnight Thursday 30th July, new words and winners posted on Friday 31st

Usual rules: 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.

17th July

My conscience won't let me have a second week declaring you winners all, but goodness you've made it really difficult to pick a winner.  But since I have to choose I'll declare Chris's 'Ass is grass' the winner by a mere blade's width, and an even narrower blade putting Fergus' porcupine earrings above Mashie's 'Walking the Planck.  And thank you all for your wonderful contributions.

Next week’s words are  deal, collection, toll

Entries by midnight Thursday 23rd July, new words and winners posted on Friday 24th

Usual rules: 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.

10th July

10th July- and in a Seattle hotel where the fan sounds like a waterfall behind which a man is playing an accordian.
And truly I cannot pick a single winner from this week's entries so declare you all equally meriting of first place - your words wonderfully entertaining, for which I thank you.

Next week’s words are  jam, porcupine, seven

Entries by midnight Thursday 16th July, new words and winners posted on Friday 17th

Usual rules: 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.

Week of heat and drama

STOP PRESS:  Submissions of novel-length SFF required by Hodderscape during August

http://hodderscape.co.uk/open-submissions-the-guidelines/

And, forgive me, I’m well aware this week’s UK max temperature, maybe since records began, is not a patch on other places, including Greece, from where Fergus has delivered  three fascinating episodes, the first of which wins my vote for first place this week:  the stark, staccato delivery adds to the impact of the cold-hearted tale.  In joint second place come Colleen and Rebecca, whose writing never fails to enthral and whose Nate and Seth serial has ever been mouth-wateringly delicious. As Tim says, its a never-ending delight to see the variations wrought by each of you from the prompts

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For this coming week the words are: hawk,  tape,  legacy

Entries by midnight Thursday 9th July, at which time I shall be en route to Seattle.

New words will be posted on Friday 10th July and winners as soon as I am able thereafter.  Apologies in advance for possible brevity or lack of comment from me; I trust each of you will make up for it.

Usual rules: 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.