Trailing and sailing

Within a couple of hours I’ll be heading north, as far as Inverness tonight, and on Saturday, following the crossing of the Pentland Firth, to Stromness in Orkney. I’ll be in the cottage from which the watercolour used as a background to this blog was painted.  Just a detail of it used here, much enlarged – the original barely six inches by three – but such concentration has thrown up an entirely different scene. As I know each of you, concentrating on just three words, will come up with an entirely different piece of writing.

Last week it was Mashie’s speedy ‘Closed doors’ Punch and Judy response which most excited me, and continued to do so each time I read it, so I’ve no hesitation in declaring him the outright winner, but the crime scenes of Pinkbelt and Kai deserve very honourable mentions as do Michael Brown’s toast and celery - nice to begin the day with a giggle.

Next week’s words are: board, elevate, piquant

Entries by midnight Thursday September 3rd , new words and winners posted on Friday 4th

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.

Touch of Sheryl Crow*

Colleen assured me the hardest part of hosting this site was the choosing a winner. In theory I understood that, having seen how each and every week throws up a variety of interpretations, and ways of using (and sometimes abusing) three simple words. What I didn’t appreciate was the difficulty of NOT choosing the rest.

I have no especial rules which I regularly apply; each week it is what most takes my fancy, has a memorable impact. Sometimes there’s three or four, then I can allow runners up. This week I have a winner –  Zaiure for this week’s episode of Falcon – but the rest of you are too close to call, although Fergus and Michael B Fletcher deserve special mention for their  impressive brevity.

Next week’s words are: estranged, interest, toast

Entries by midnight Thursday 27th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 28th

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.

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCvlM17dMMo]

13th celebrates the sinister ...

Apparently Thursday was left-handed day. Don’t know where these things pop up from (except in the minds of greetings card manufacturers) but it’s one I can claim affinity with.

There was sinister a-plenty this week and my attention was grabbed by two pieces whose horror rested on the nastiness of social interaction. I therefore declare Michael B  and Peter joint winners, with thanks to you and to each and every one of you for participating.

Next week’s words are:  quilt, grumble, tug

Entries by midnight Thursday 20th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 21st

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.

More than seven miles to Babylon, and ...

Seven entries this week to choose from and every one a winner for entertainment and skill in using the prompt words. But by the merest whisper of his crepuscular cat, I’m declaring Michael Fletcher this week’s overall winner, as much for the smile it gave me as his skill in putting so much into so few words.

(Incidentally, Jennifer Johnston’s ‘How Many Miles to Babylon?’ turned out to be a superbly written, poignant, 156 page gem of a novel.)

Next week’s words are:  best, distance, pearl

Entries by midnight Thursday 13th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 14th

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.