A bad case of the bends

A week spent trying to unblock a new-installed sink, fearing the necessity of the removal of a just-laid floor; thankfully averted after half a dozen kettlefuls of boiling water (that after visits from three different professionals, the last of which probably helped). Inbetweentimes reading and enjoying the week’s wonderful offerings.

A supplementary ‘Well done’, John, for a triple episode of inflated horror (have you read Tom Sharpe’s ‘Wilt’ books? you’d enjoy the blow-up doll in one of them) and top place goes to Patricia for the complexity of emotions aroused by ‘Here comes the bride’. Thank you all for your ever-entertaining entries.

Words for next week: collar pot-pourri lint

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 3rd October, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses 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.

It’s in the rules, innit?

Thank you indeed for your participation in my semi-absence, and for the quality of the entries in both weeks. Even so, I believe you have surpassed yourselves this week because with each succeeding entry I’ve thought “It has to be that one” only to change my mind after the next. (And that despite reading from top to bottom and back again.)

So ... I was rather forcibly reminded that ‘horror’ is the first listed requirement, since we had several gagging-inducing examples including walking cadavers, several gruesome uses of eyeballs, a naked bird, alien invaders and an ancient paedophile. All superbly and vividly described and delivered. 

In the end – and it took a while – John’s combination of two of the horrors in ‘Can birds smile?’ emerged the winner, but not, I fear, without trampling one or three other contenders underfoot.

Words for next week: eighteen procrastinate sweetheart

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 26th September,

 words posted Friday 27th

Also, because I promised to let you know, 'Commission & omission' is now available from Blurb in either print or pdf. Go to my blog, lines of communication, and click on the double spread cover on top left-hand side for more details. Pettinger is not mentioned but he's definitely there, on the first page of the preview. 

Precaution and playing safe

Less hazardous, but a following a week’s holiday and with departure from our lodgings in Kirkwall set for today I have scheduled words but in case my participation is not (or has not been) possible I ask you to once again please nominate your personal favourite from last week’s entries.

Words for next week: peacock recede vex

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 19th September, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses 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.

A time to gaze at the horizon!

I’ll be at the very top of Scotland when this appears, shortly to be at the mercy of the Pentland Firth, and definitely no chance of wi-fi, so have scheduled words and a free choice week: please nominate your personal favourite from last week’s entries.

Words for next week: coward jeer wake

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 12th September, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses 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.