Convalesence

Thank you all for your poems and stories this week, it's always great to see how many permutations of meaning you all can wrest out of the same words! Sandra has had a successful follow up operation and we're looking forward to having her home again; and I'm starting to understand how difficult it is for her to choose just one entry for the week, so I'm going to choose two.

First up, John's Heed the Warning Signs which created a fantastic microcosm of conflict, and I liked the juxtaposition of the boy's small hand staying his dog, and the hard gnarled hand of the harasser. My second winner of the week is Jim's Don't - I got caught up in it's rhythm and was definitely not expecting the final line! 

Words for the coming week are gangster, gull, pier

Entries by midnight Thursday 4th November, new words posted Friday 5th November (Bonfire Night in the UK!)

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. 

Cheers everyone, and can't wait to see what you create next week - Julia

The search continues...

Sandra continues to recover from her stroke, but is currently awaiting further hospital procedures, so it's Julia here stepping in while the search for a deputy continues. My apologies for not being as familiar with the serial works of all the fabulous regulars here! 

There was a definite medical theme to the words last week, but a wide range of inventive stories which I enjoyed reading. There were several entries where I had to search for the prompts, so seamless was the writing! However, my personal favourite for the week was David 's Place your bets please which I found particularly apt as the COP26 climate conference looms.

Words for the coming week are bark native appropriate 

Entries by midnight Thursday 28th October, new words posted Friday 29th

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. 

Vacancy for a deputy administrator

 Vacancy for a deputy administrator

I mentioned the idea a few months ago but didn't foresee being victim of a sudden stroke, and although recovering well I will at some time need to go in for further procedures. so a volunteer will be needed so as to avoid a gap in words and winners. I was grateful for Julia's input and her choice of tender system overwhelm

 

words for the coming week:  needle prescribe thermometer

 

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st October,  new words posted Friday22nd

 

A hastier than usual perusal has me declare Perry's 'Must be autumn this week's winner, but thank you all for contributing in these unusual circumstances.

 

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.

 

 

Dates uncorrected again, but no mistakes on your part.

 No mistaking today's date either since it's our wedding anniversary. A richness of years that does not, I am glad to say, match the entries here for gore and horror. What are too well-matched to separate are Patricia's four entries and although all of you once again offer superb examples of the genre, this week the prize is hers.

Thank you all for participation and - especially - for your comments which adds to the richness here. 

words for the coming week:  bridge coward swallow  

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th October,  new words posted Friday 8th 

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.