Rejection and compensation

This week, unusually for me I started and rapidly discarded three books, one after another. The first for the style (flippant crime, which fell flat), the second because twice in forty pages my number one bête noir was used (“smiling happily”) and the third was a previously much-enjoyed writer who’d chosen to tell a tale based on a true story, but had omitted the emotion.

Here on the Prediction, I’ve no desire to discard or reject any. Have, in fact, picked three ‘winners’ for the kick of immediate pleasure which each gave me. These are Zaiure, for the kick-in-gut final line; Patricia for the knock-out brevity of ‘Order of the Day’ and Bill for ‘Subject Number Eleven; because the quality of the gory description was admirable, (though I have to say the ‘chameleon coating’ almost beat that )

Words for the coming week are: forensic, seed, imagine

Entries by midnight Thursday December 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.

The lunatic, the lover and the poet ...

... are, as Shakespeare said, “of imagination all compact”, a concept all ten entries demonstrated in spades this week (do check out Bill and Rosie, who squeezed in at the end). Once again, references were made – and praises extended – to the strength of images evoked. What is even more impressive is the subtlety by which they were conveyed, enabling each of us to carry away our personal, and highly satisfying take on both what we were seeing and what the protagonists were experiencing.

With so much excellence it is, as I keep saying – and Patricia pointed out – very hard to pick any one above the others (not that I am complaining) but for me, this week, Zoë’s ‘In the driving seat’ especially took my fancy. But I thank you all for contributing, and entertaining so richly.

Words for the coming week are: bandage, frustrate, olive

Entries by midnight Thursday November 26th, new words and winners posted on Friday 27th

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.

What you get is not necessarily what we are!

This week, a non-writing friend read ‘A blacksmith’s wife’ and immediately assumed my experiences had informed the unnamed protagonist, otherwise how could I have written it? While accepting I've become a lot more interesting in said friend's eyes, I am more than a little bemused to have been thought so capable of surviving rape and near-murder and so inclined to adultery.

Here, on the Prediction, in a week of exceptional variety of prompt word usage, I revel in your talents, imagination and participation, recognising it is as close as I come to mental Ecstasy. Such variety does, of course, make choosing a ‘winner’ all the harder, but I nominate Zaiure’s ‘Battle Scars’ as top favourite, with Patricia’s ‘Cripplegate 20 and Bill’s ‘His oldest friend’ as runners up. And thank you all for the enjoyment.

Words for the coming week are: elastic, question, puppet

Entries by midnight Thursday November 19th, new words and winners posted on Friday 20th

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.

November Rain

A very quiet celebration of Guy Fawkes here in Teesside last night, thanks to the wetness of the weather, and similarly here, made quieter by Antonia’s unprecedented but understandable absence, she being such a stalwart of Prediction. But less than it might have been with the welcome return of Zoe and Rosy’s post which I hope will be the first of many.  And while I know commenting on others, especially for those who are new, can seem even more daunting than writing the prompt itself, the acknowledgement that others have read your writing IS what makes the Prediction community such an enjoyable place to be part of, so please do overcome your unnecessary fears.  

Serials, both the reading and writing, may be daunting, and I’m not alone in hoping Bill continues with his, but it is Kai’s fifteenth episode which wins my vote this week.

Words for the coming week are: clue, fudge, inert

Entries by midnight Thursday November 12th, new words and winners posted on Friday 13th

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.