A mixed week of reading

Five books read this week, ranging from a really dire one star to a magnificent five star (Sarah Moss’s ‘Ghost’). The benefit of the dire was it made me reappraise the way I’ve attempted to show the vulnerabilities of my MC, and I am reminded to thank you for your indulgence in allowing me to post my random Snap pieces, as well as for contributing and commenting yourselves. It’s not so much that we need praise as to know we’ve been read.

And it is in the hope of reading more (and I’m confident I’m not alone) that Patricia gets a special mention for her ‘Pledge’ and, although not the only one, for reading pleasure received, Terrie takes top spot for ’Secret Armadillo diaries entry 120’.

Words for next week: echo  grind  Merlot

Entries by midnight Thursday 3rd September, words and winners 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.

Branches laden to the ground

Our plum tree, that is. Don’t remember it ever being that laden before. Fruits aren’t all as sweet and juicy as they first appear, much like last weeks tales, some of which  held horrors akin to the wasp-buried, sap-leaking, mould-spotted monstrosities lurking amongst the good stuff.

All good stuff though, according to the rules of this stupendous site, and of a variety which, as usual, makes it hard to choose, but the fact that I had, after the first read, to avert my eyes from John’s ‘Afflicted’ suggests it deserves acclaim (and the dessert of ‘Revenge served cold’ confirmed it).

Words for next week: origin  pawn vacant

Entries by midnight Thursday 27th August, words and winners posted 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. 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.

Scheduled words

Back now after a couple of days researching Scottish East Coast harbours North for my current wip - I only have to say 'Sometime I need to go to ...' for my itchy-footed husband to be booking a hotel and planning the route, thus we gain a night in a hotel in which to talk to each other instead of focus on our separate interests. And relieved to see the variation (and John's cop-out) in the naming of favourites - one vote each for Patricia, David and me  (Thank you Patricia) - from last week.

Words for next week: metronome poke spine

Entries by midnight Thursday 20th August, words and winners posted 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. 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.

Going on a trip!

I’m away next Thursday and Friday. I’ll schedule new words Friday morning but hand over to you the task of choosing a favourite from this week’s posts, and naming  it on Friday. I do so with some relief, especially because, as early as Wednesday morning, I knew selecting a ‘winner’ this week was going to be, in the nicest possible way, a nightmare. However, has to be done.

Jim’s ‘The sight below turned my breath to ice’ and Holly’s magnificently awful ‘Every sated breath he takes is one from my sister’s lungs’ are just two examples of the many high spots, buts top prize this week goes to David for his ‘We’re All Mad Here’ whose first line was so wonderful (and the rest to-the-point, and breath-takingly gruesome )cured me (albeit maybe only temporarily) of my knee-jerk antipathy to poems what rhyme. And I do feel bad for not mentioning the rest of you … Thank you indeed for ALL posts, so thoroughly entertaining.

Words for next week: abstain nothing shroud

Entries by midnight Thursday 13th August, words only posted Friday 14th

 Winners to be named by you

 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.

Although I hope not to repeat it, but remembering the mess of scheduling I made back in February, I do think it would be sensible to have some sort of back-up – a deputy, a sleeping partner – for Prediction. Unless called upon to take over, there would be no need for whoever to be excluded from being chosen as favourite.; the main requirement is to be a reliably regular participant here, of which there are several. If interested and/or willing to be nominated, let me know.