Hydrangeas rich as Victorian sitting rooms

By which I mean crowded, curly and richly-coloured, much as the entries for this week, providing a variety of smells and tastes and music as well as entertainment. And so impossible to separate my top three choices that I declare them joint winners:  jk for ‘Gostegodd 011’, John for ‘The Believer’ and Zaiure for ‘Distraction [9]’. As with all good stories (and several others here) each merited several readings.

Words for next week: guardian olive straddle

Entries by midnight Thursday 5th October, words posted Friday 6th

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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Another thudding orange sunrise in Hamnavoe

An interesting selection of responses to last week’s prompt words, a variety of moods. Shortlisted were Theresa’s ‘Nights in Whitechapel’ and John’s ‘Monarchy Smonarchy’, but Patricia’s  Kursaal #88 – ‘The Amorous Adventures Of Arbuthnot Jester/Part Six’ – nudged them into joint second place. And for a tasty treat I urge those of you who might have missed it to read Rosie’s 95th episode of The Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess. 

As ever, thank you all for contributing and for commenting - so much a valuable part of this site.

Words for next week: abnegate core whisky

Entries by midnight Thursday 28th September, words posted Friday 29th September

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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Wild, wet but wonderful. ...

Much travelling about this week and now in the rainy West Highlands, at Ullapool as I begin this; further north to the topmost coast on Friday. I had to rush my posts and also the judging, but have no hesitation in declaring Zaiure’s ‘Just another Friday’ this week’s outright winner.... 

Words for next week: ambiguous cane solitary

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st September, words posted Friday 22nd September

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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Anticipating Stirling service ...

... from a weekend at Bloody Scotland, and discovering again how wide your selection of a single winner from among this week's gut-churning entries. Unavoidable with a word like entrails, in the mix but I anticipate you'll manage just as well with the following

prompt words for next week: bland chime perpetual

Entries by midnight Thursday 14th September, words posted Friday 15th September

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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Exit stage left, with menace and a final kick

So many excellent entries this week that once again I tried an arbitrary rule to rate them. Final lines:, I thought, but how to choose between Antonia’s ‘long pig’, Patricia’s ‘cylindrical drum’, John’s ‘I wish he hadn’t said my name’ and David’s ‘Hell would be unleashed…’?

I couldn’t, so broke another, lightly-applied, rule and chose David for a second consecutive  week, on the strength of his opening sentence, broken-winged gargoyle and the so-very-effective “eyes above the waterline”.

Next week's decision will be simpler for me: Thursday I shall be in Stirling, attending the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival  and on Friday at a workshop, one of who’s tutors is Sophie Hannah.

 Therefore I am asking each of you to nominate, on Friday 8th September, your personal winner.

Thereafter, for a couple of weeks, my presence is likely to be a bit erratic, but rest assured, prompt words are already scheduled.

Words for next week: entrails kiss perfect

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th September, words posted Friday 8th September*

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. Serialised 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 you prefer.