A sparse field, compared to last week's rich harvest, for which the choosing of a winner (two votes for John, and one each for Patricia, Antonia and Terrie) provided the perfect demonstration of my weekly dilemma. I do wonder how much of a difference the choice of prompt words make, as I aim for something inspirational and no obvious pairings (then struggle to inspire myself!) The one person who never seems to have this problem, who always delivers a smoothly entertaining example of their use, is Antonia: this week's 'Stop the week' a perfect, shining example.
Apologies too for my lack of comment - every time I tried, I deleted the post. Possibly Blogger or maybe some response to a clearing of cookies. Fingers crossed all will be well next week.
words for the coming week: lotion trite understand
Entries by midnight Thursday 16th
September, new words
posted Friday 17th
Usual rules: 100
words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.
COLDPLAY
ReplyDeleteHe stood naked, breath steaming as he smiled down at her after playfully tucking the sheet back around her bruised body.
“It’s not the size of the boat or the motion in the ocean, but the friction coefficient in the lotion,” he bantered.
She stared.
“I was making a joke, you understand,” he explained, shrugging into his scrubs.
“I’ll call you,” he added as he closed the door – a remark which would have been trite, had that door not belonged to the hospital morgue.
oh nice one, Perry! really good twist at the end there. I am starting yet another anthology, this one for Danse Macabre, and have included my 'morgue' story. Thy are good to write!!
DeleteThis fellow has a weird sense of humor, but perhaps he needs one given his work environment. Very nice, Perry!
DeleteGreat twist and macabre as all get out. Simply loved it...!!!
DeleteThere's a word for that ...
DeleteI agree with Sandra, Antonia. You never fail us when it comes to incorporating the prompt words into your entries with an amazing skill.
ReplyDeletethank you! I do a lot of stopping and starting to get them right - keeps this old brain ticking. Or so I think anyway...
DeleteYours was a superb choice for top honors last week, Antonia!
Deletethank you, Sandra! It's a weekly pleasure - and it has helped transform the writing when it comes to write tight.
ReplyDeleteMISSING ITEMS
ReplyDelete“Rudy!” Rowdy Dobson shouted from his pick-up. “Not to sound trite, but the fish won’t wait forever! Understand?”
“Easy, Rowdy! I can’t find my hunting knife!”
“Ask Linda. She knows where you put everything!”
His wife’s name caused Rudy’s mind to fog over until Rowdy’s voice refocused him. “Grab some suntan lotion, too.”
“Lin…” Her name stuck in Rudy’s throat until his missing knife recaptured his attention. “Where did I put the damn thing?”
He entered the bedroom, where Linda lay on the bed.
“Ah… I remember!” he said, pulling the knife from her chest.
“Now… where’s the suntan lotion?”
Eastenders roll of drums. The blithe violence is palpable.
DeleteYet another great twist. Wonderful use of the prompt words.
DeleteA foggy sort of nightmarish
Deleteoh yes, sharply observed and condensed into a horror story twice as big!
DeleteChange of focus [441]
ReplyDeleteDuty kicked in, trudging its trite and heavy-footed path. Fingers mentally crossed for Philly's understanding, Pettinger applied another dab of peppermint lotion to his nose and squatted to see what the CSI was pointing at.
'Bones –'
'Skeletonised. So older than Anemone.'
'Decades, at least. I doubt centuries. They'd not need inspection pits for horses – How long's this garage been here?'
Pettinger searched his memory. 'This building, fifty years, or so. But the site – wharf, boatshed, or whatever – since the thirteen hundreds.' His phone rang. Text from Philly: 'Warming your bed.'
'Got to go. Your reports first thing tomorrow. '
Oh, nice one...!!!
DeleteLove Pettinger and love this serial.
Sounds like Pettinger has his priorities in order. Well done, Sandra!
DeleteDuty kicks in... said in relation to Pettinger, is almost a joke, but he'll find a way...
Deletejoys of mediumship
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard for non mediums to understand how I am suddenly pushed to write to someone with a message about holding on, doing all right, there is support… it’s like an urge , a serious demand being made which won’t go, even with the aid of some spiritual lotion, until the message is sent. There are bereaved people who need what often feels like trite words but which they welcome, so there is more in the intent than in the words, it would seem. Writers, friends; the need could come from anywhere and it has. One busy week.
What interesting episodes you must experience, Antonia. And none of them sound in the least mundane.
DeleteStop he Week
ReplyDeleteSometimes a pandemic is useful… no paint on walls, lots of excuses, doing this, doing that… we have a music festival starting tomorrow through to Sunday, packed with potential Covid carrying people. No one understands why it hasn’t been cancelled but still… we are closing Monday, the day they all go home. If we are closed, they can’t contaminate the stock. And us. And… plans are being made to start the painting, tis only me not allowed in the shop. A fresh painted wall will be a good lotion for the Covid blues. Or is that too trite for words?
"Covid blues." Love it. Sounds like the perfect title for a country and western ditty. Perhaps by Guy Mitchell, if anyone remembers him. So, what colour paint will you be using?
DeleteYes indeed, "Covid Blues". Not trite at all.
DeleteThe Mad Italian
ReplyDeleteThere is no progress on my book – yet. I understand Monday will be a good day to begin the work. Even a page will convince me the project is under way. I need a prologue, that most trite of writerly things, but I want it. My channel will seek lotion for her hands, which are tired but still working. I promise not to overload her while she has so much else going on. It is almost like my old life, when I was drawing, painting, writing, inventing… much as in your life today, too much to do.
And Leonardo can be considerate and sympathetic. But I think I probably already knew that.
DeletePause for thought [Threshold 363]
ReplyDeleteRightly or wrongly, over-optimistically, perhaps, my understanding was that Raven lied about his dozen wives. A trite, quick trotted-out (and entirely superfluous) boast to boost his attractiveness. Not that it was necessary for me: despite the fright of our first meeting; the looming menace of his shackled blackness above my stumbled, tumbled, pregnant self, whatever magic potion, quick-absorbing lotion or sparkling fairy dust had soon thereafter been applied (and by whom I perhaps ought to wonder) I had been (albeit intermittently) ensnared. Today's situation little different in potential danger, than any of the others we had previously encountered. And vanquished.
The girl is undoubtedly besotted, Sandra. Something you continually show us in the most subtle of ways time after time.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNice one, Sandra, drawing out a few lines to follow - who knows where?
ReplyDelete