Quality ever-rising

We’ve some good friends visiting from Alabama this week – a mini writing group – and although  time to properly read and judge has been in short supply, my early rising has enabled me to pick, from among this week’s offerings of, as Patricia says, depravity – Holly’s ‘Keeping the peace’ as this week’s winner. I’m sort of covering my eyes in anticipation of what you will make of this week’s prompts.

Words for next week: bullock odour tangent

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 31st October, words posted Friday November 1st

 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.

Hot chocolate indeed ...

As usual I began going through the week’s entries,  making a note of potential winners . Stopped myself when I realised it included every one. So, this week John gets a mention for his Bray Chronicles, all the more impressive for his saying he ‘couldn’t do’ serials. That second episode was a fine example of the several vignettes we were treated to, all magically creating unease without spelling it out. Patricia’s ‘Supply and demand ‘ a good example of that. Jim’s ‘The battle’ up-ended expectations  and David’s ‘Such big eyes you have’ a vivid modern upending of an old tale.

And since  I cannot split the four of you, and am as admiring as ever of Antonia’s weekly tale, I’m declaring every one a winner this week. Well done and thank you all for the richest of writings and caring-est of comment.

Words for next week: innocent lodge uncover

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 23th October, words posted 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. 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 failure of communication

Too hastily posted, but unwilling to spell it out over-baldly, I failed to make my last week’s post completely clear: the old lady was blind, as well as being robbed blind by two opportunist burglars-become murders – my apologies.

At least this week’s winner is simple enough to decipher: Patricia’s five-episode ‘Reflections’ was stand-out. Not so much for the multiplicity of episodes but the skill in the build-up and repetition of prompts without them jarring. And, of course, the ever-increasing tension.

Words for next week: cardboard confluence drama

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 17th October, words posted Friday 18th

 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.

“Overheard on a saltmarsh”

A poem by Harold Monro which never fails to fascinate me, from which I’ve take the words for next week

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Winner from this week, chosen in a bit of a rush as I’ve been to the Inner Hebrides and back since Monday, where WiFi was but fleeting, but even on a stolen glimpse Jim’s gruesome ‘Tailor-made’ haunted my imagination, sufficiently for me to declare him this week’s winner. Thank you all for your participation.

Words for next week: beads stare voice

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 10th October, words posted Friday 11th

 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.