Today’s tasks

 

1)     Finish re-loading bookshelves

2)     Pack for going away

And I’ve finally done the bookshelves! Not as efficiently or accurately as I ought to have done, but at least the half dozen crates have been collapsed.

 And I was sorry not to get round to using last week’s prompts, because I did have a story hovering. Nevertheless I much enjoyed reading  those posted, and thank you both for your sterling efforts throughout this year and send best wishes to you and yours, both for your health and happiness during  the festive period and for 2014

 Now to do my packing!

 Words for next year : oblique reckless scrawl 

 Entries by midnight Thursday 11th January, words and winners posted Friday 12th

 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 you choose

Goodness, it's Friday again!!

 And I have at least bought and wrapped all Christmas presents, but then hoped to progress an intended offering for a short story challenge, so trust my thanks for contributions and comment will suffice, along with new prompt words for the coming week: necklace origin pathetic

 Entries by midnight  Thursday December 21st 14th,  new words Friday December 22nd.

  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.

Decorating

 A leaking waterpipe just before we left for Australia was sealed before we left,  but we returned to holes in the wall and ceiling needing restoration and a room needing redecoration, which meant several bookshelves needed emptying so as to shift them. The plus is I found many books I’d forgotten and now wish to re-read.

Another good thing  realised is that by picking up my abandoned serial I found greater impetus to respond to the prompt words;  we’ll see how that goes.  

So … words for the coming week: agitate  cow sweet

 Entries by midnight  Thursday December 14th,  new words Friday December 22nd.

  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.

Absence

 A week of catch-up and recovering from 27 hours travelling on about an hour's sleep (time in Australia hugely enjoyable and very well worth it!) but nil activity on Prediction suggesting all is unwell with Blogger. When this happened before I think it solved itself within a few weeks, so am inclined to give it a chance and post new words today and see what happens.

Try scissors. snore  and waterfall and we'll see how it goes. Any other suggestions warmly welcomed.

Scheduled words week beginning 23rd November

 

huddle onion impotent

Please nominate your favourite from last week

Scheduled words for week beginning 16 November

 

Please nominate your favourite from last week

fur legend quilt

Scheduled words for week beginning 9 November

 

Please nominate your favourite from last week

godforsaken loom result

Scheduled words for week beginning 2nd November

 Please nominate your favourite from last week

concert ivory plaster

Scheduled words for week beginning 26th October

 

abandon clarify parent

Busy, busy and distracted

 I've been trying to knock a short story into shape, but made three 500 word + beginnings and then they died, and what with that, rugby World Cup, packing and a plumbing leak that necessitated removing books from three bookcases, I’ve been drastically short of time, hence no post and no comments.  

 So … words for the coming week: plaster  plumb  thesaurus after which scheduled words will be posted from the 26^th October. I’ll hope to read but not necessarily comment, and fingers crossed, will be back and fully functioning soon after 20th November. Hope you manage to keep Prediction ticking over.

Once again declaring a tie

 

So hard to choose between the clarity and claustrophobia of Jim’s ‘What Now?’ and the curling horror of David’s  ‘Day of the wreaths’ that I’ve decided not to, so thank you both and also Terrie for the poetry of ‘The Oracle speaks’ .

I have scheduled prompt words to appear on the Thursdays I’ll be absent, but don’t anticipate posting myself, so hope with posts, comments and votes you can keep the site ticking over until I return.

 Words for next week: congratulate seep year

Entries by midnight Thursday 19th October, words and winners 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 you choose

Five pieces of near perfection

And in counting mine I’m not boasting so much as acknowledging the effort to produce something closer to Prediction’s brief – can’t say I enjoyed it. Certainly not as much as I did reading and re-reading  David’s “Dawn of the living wreaths” which wins top spot this week.

 Words for next week:  epiphany erect wise

 Entries by midnight Thursday 12th October, words and winners 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.

'Unpeeled’ revealed inspiration

 And what a lovely use it was put to! Along with Terrie’s “teeth of needled bone”, Jim’s “ senses congealed then slowly unpeeled” truly exhilarated, and I can do no more than declare both joint winners for the week - thank you both.

 Words for next week:  experiment fluid knell

 Entries by midnight Thursday 5th October, words and winners posted Friday 6th

 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.

Forewarning of absence

 I shall be out of the country, and probably sans laptop, for four weeks beginning 24th October. To keep Prediction going I can do the minimum of scheduling weekly prompt words, relying on you to comment and, if possible, name a favourite each week. Alternatively, if one of you is willing, I could grant administrator access, so the weekly post of comment and words, and any necessary problem solving (mostly permanently deleting mistaken posts) can be dealt with. Please let me know which you prefer.   

 This week the choice of ‘winner’ was easy – Jim’s ‘A train ride’ surprising and entertaining, leaving us eager to know more.

Words for next week:  elaborate unpeel yelp

 Entries by midnight Thursday 28th September, words and winners posted Friday 29th

 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.

Saturday, as promised

 And just returned from a two-day city break in (Manchester) I'm not only giving you new prompt words but also naming  a winner – David, for the memorable poetry of his “saggy skin never shrunk to fit small bones.” Also, of course,  thanking all of you for your participation. 

So cotton, sign and tram-lines are words for the coming week. Entries by midnight  Thursday 21st  September,  new words and winners Friday 22^nd. 

 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.

Still struggling …

 But at least I’m on time. Ten days away from my laptop appears to have wiped my memory of how to use it to full effect – or it’s trying to trick me. Plus years of Raven and Pettinger episodes have likely gone forever, so it might be time to begin something new (but I’m still mourning) Thankfully, Jim’s AGAIN AND AGAIN provided much needed solace, pushing it to the top of the pile (while Terrie’s SAS entry 236 provoked relief, for Sarg’s safety.)

Words for the coming week: adapt chafe whittle  

And a little longer deadline: Entries by midnight  Thursday 15th September,  new words and winners Saturday 16th

 

 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.

Friesland flat with beer, big skies, delicious cheese and creamy cakes

Not that I can blame any of that for failing to prepare an on-time scheduling of words, and since I’m unsure many spotted my guilty and belated comment I’ll offer again memory, organise and heart for prompt words this week, with a  deadline of 7^th September.

 What each of you did with child, scatter  and waterproofs was terrifying in many ways; Terrie’s in particular because of the contrast of the poetry with which she told her tale. David’s strongly-voiced complaint about  a malfunctioning child rang too true to life to rest easy in my mind, as also did Jim’s understanding of the ways a child misinterprets adult actions.  

So I’m declaring a three-way winner this week and thank you for the snatched entertainment.

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum 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 Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Scheduled new words – deadline 31st August

 

Last week had a quantity of exceptional riches. Let us know which you liked best 

Words for the coming week: child scatter waterproof

deadline 31st August

Convalescent

 So … yes I’ve a shiny new laptop, but it’s stuffed with suggestions of how to do more new shiny things, when all I want to do is return to the comfortable, familiar old. PLUS memory sticks, external hard drive and the like are either buzzing uselessly or take me back to January 2020 and Threshold and Pettinger AWOL, however one silver lining as but being forced to do a one-off stretched my writing muscles more than required for a serial, enjoyably so; telling me I need to do that more often.

So, I thank you for your patience, and for the shiny posts this week, and declare Terrie the week’s winner for the unsettlingness of ‘Juice extraction’.

Words for next week:  bristle heavy welcome 

Entries by midnight Thursday 24th August, 

New words scheduled Friday 25^th (but no winner, so feel free to nominate your favourite) 

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 Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Normal service not quite yet

 It's been a tricky week with technology. culminating with the collection of a fully  set-up new laptop which was the wrong model, so I've resurrected my Chrome book (my clogged old laptop also having died on me) and sincerely hope normal service will be restored shortly, at least for a little while (I'm off to the Netherlands on the 23rd, for a week) Thank you for all the entertaining posts last week.

Words for the coming week:  educate juice mirror

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 17th, new words and winners Friday 18th

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.

Apologies for tardiness

 I'm struggling with a  long-retired and overstuffed laptop. so this will be short and sweet(-ish). with me once again declining to name a winner - except for all of us.

Words for the coming week: precious remote shift  

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 10th, new words and winners Friday 11th (I expect to collect repaired or new laptop on the 10th so might ne a bit late with that.too.)

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.

Not quite eighty years of ‘Satisfaction’

 But as with Mick Jagger, the pleasure measures up, and this week no exception. Nor is, of course, the difficulty of choosing, but in the end David’s  ‘The Wizard of Combustion’ most accurately hit the spot for me, which is not to say all other entries lacked in any way. Regrettably, I could not bring Pettinger to perform so well.

Words for the coming week: blind pivot youth

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 3rd, new words and winners Friday 4th

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.

Picking the perfect word

This week rich with wonderfully intriguing and sense-tickling phrases : Terrie’s ‘the smell of blood clotted the air’,  Jim’s, ‘stood dumbfounded as Byrdie’s knife plunged into his chest’ (even though I could not fully rid my mind of Rowdy Yates) and Antonia’s ‘foreboding’ china Angels (Terrie picked the perfect word there) has me wondering why so few participate, even though I know all writing sites are struggling for participants. Fingers crossed each of you will be inspired by this week’s prompt words, and accept my decision to name Terrie as the week’s ‘winner’.

 Words for the coming week: immobile key stretch

Entries by midnight Thursday July 27th, new words and winners Friday 28th

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.

Conjoined in quality

 Yet again – and with gratitude – I contemplate the task of choosing a ‘winner’ and am unable to separate Terrie and Jim in the quality, skill and enjoyment of the uses to which the week’s prompt were used – nor for their participation in the form of comments. Very much keeping this site alive, for which I truly thank you.  

 Words for the coming week: adapt chew moment

 Entries by midnight Thursday July 20th, new words and winners Friday 21st

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.

‘The stranger that lives in my head’

 This week, for the familiar truth of the final line of his extra-ordinary offering,  I choose Jim’s ‘The stranger’ for top place, well aware, as ever, that every other posting this week was equally as packed with delight. Thank you all.

Words for the coming week: coast common wicked 

Entries by midnight Thursday July 13th, new words and winners Friday 14th

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.

And turn about

Last week impossible to choose between Jim and David, this week –  again for reasons of competing, captivating writing – honours have to be shared between Terrie for the 230th entry in The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries, and David for ‘The end of an Era.  Thank you both, for the high class entertainment  – and Antonia whose comments never fail to highlight a particular merit.

Words for the coming week: lion tender unpack

Entries by midnight Thursday July 6th, new words and winners Friday 7th

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.

Innovative use of prompts

is something many of this group excels in; Terrie’s ‘a long scream, sharply falling into clipped silence’ a prime example , though as the prompts were from the week before they can’t count for this week.  Instead I have to choose between David’s channelling of the Eagles and Jim’s chilly, snow-bound struggle to a self-chosen suicide and eventually, by the fragility of a snowflake, choose Jim, with gratitude to all of you for participation and comments.

Words for the coming week: clover food, yelp

Entries by midnight Thursday 29th, new words and winners Friday 30th

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.

Something of an unanticipated reversion

 To what I remember as childhood reading; goblins and faeries making their appearances. Nevertheless  I sense the joy of writing in every post, for which I thank you, and since I am, as ever, struggling to pick a ‘winner’ I’m declaring each of them as equal as the rest. 

Words for the coming week: cruel destination guest 

Entries by midnight Thursday22nd, new words and winners Friday 23rd

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.

In hindsight …

…and totally unintentionally, last week’s prompt words – cousin, splinter youth – could be said to have summarised my fourteenth summer; memories of which David’s ‘A fairy tale’ similarly evoked and thereby won him top place for this week’s challenge, a mere nose ahead of Jim’s ‘Payback ‘ Thank you for participation and comments.   

Words for the coming week: clip consensus teeth

Entries by midnight Thursday15th , new words and winners Friday 16th

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

Winning on a whim

 I’ve said before, there’s no cast in concrete rule, rhyme nor reason as to what prompts me to declare a winner from the weekly selection of Prediction entries, and I am confident you will forgive me this week for choosing Jim’s ‘A long wait’, specifically for the delight of his first sentence and the inspiration of his naming a place ‘Muleshoe’.

 Words for the coming week: cousin splinter youth 

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.

Apologies, once again!

 Sorry,  sorry, brain not yet  in gear since returning home ,(I had a workshop to attend as well)  and. having realised my omission I'm  now about to go out, 

Take duster, lapse, and meddle as words for the coming week and I'll read, comment and declare a winner for on last week's words in the morning.

I mentioned posting new words today (31st) but see no reason not to wait until Friday ...

Scheduled words for Friday 19th May

  For encouragement (and to deliver the warm glow of having been read) please mention your personal favourite from last week. 

Words for this week: Elizabethan, incompetence priest 

Deadline 25th May. New words 31st May.  

Scheduled words for Friday 12th

 For encouragement (and to deliver the warm glow of having been read) please mention your personal favourite from last week. 

Words for next week, deadline 18th May: second unearth  whirl 

This week, all win

 Because all, as ever,  are such top-class, entertaining  entries, deserving of praise and prizes, I’m  opting out of declaring a ‘winner this week and will also do so for posting entries for a couple of weeks, because I’ll be away from home. I will schedule new words on 12^th and 19^th of May and it would be encouraging (and reduce the echoing absence) if each of you could comment and name your favourites.

Words for the coming week: battery diamond remove 

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.

Outclassed

A slender week for entries but evidence (if such were needed) that I’m outclassed when it comes to creating tales of horror, since both David’s ‘Apples from Eden’ and Jim’s ‘The Voice’ were such perfect, clever and impactful examples of how to unsettle their readers, with skill, inventiveness and freshness – a skill they demonstrate week after week.

Which makes the selection of words for each coming week a pleasurable, but minor challenge; I seek a catalyst and a couple of non-obvious companions, then sit back and enjoy seeing how they are used. This weeks I found on the spines of the pile of books I’ve yet to read.

Words for the coming week: pearl, razor, trespass  

Entries by midnight Thursday 4^th May, new words and winners Friday 5th

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.

That the clock is ticking …

 Is something no-one can deny (unless they insist on digital) and this week, unreal or not, Antonia gets the accolade for her untitled  description of vaults and money fountains. Odd how long childhood dreams persist. Less odd – positively excellent – is the persistence with which you all turn up to contribute to this tiny place of Prediction: you are what keeps it alive. 

Words for the coming week (the first of which I read in in one of Helen Simpson’s excellent short stories): demulcent mobile wax 

Entries by midnight Thursday April 27th, new words scheduled  Friday 28th 

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.

Flexing writing muscles

 Is one of the benefits of this weekly challenge, and this week all participants rose to it unerringly, despite the (aimed at) disparity of the prompt words. 

This week, I don’t think any one will dispute my choosing Dave’s untitled confrontation between guard and prisoner as winner, since we were all impressed with it.

Words for the coming week: clock erupt unreal  

Entries by midnight Thursday April 20th, new words scheduled  Friday 21st

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.

Tosca superb!

 As were all of this week’s entries, and because, from those offered by Terrie, Jim and Dave I could not pick one as having more merit than the rest I’m declaring every one of you a winner.

Thank you for your contributions, your comments  and especially to Terrie for having indicated a favourite from the week before. 

 Words for the coming week: cushion flex wince 

Entries by midnight Thursday April 13th, new words  Friday 14th

 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.

Another away day!

 This time to Hull, to see Opera North’s production of ‘Tosca’. We’ll be back sometime Friday but I’m hoping, as I’ve scheduled words for next week, so you don’t have to wait too long, you  will tell us which were your favourites for last week.   

Words for the coming week: mud, orchestra, spurn 

Entries by midnight Thursday April 6th, new words  Friday 7th

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.

Cardiff beckoned

 While visiting our daughter, husband took advantage of a big city to look for some shoes. Took a while, and my feet have yet to recover but I can now snatch time to do my duty with Prediction. 

As ever, a thoroughly good week of superb entries and from others’ comments I doubt there’ll be much dissension at my naming David’s ‘The Curse of the Unfinished Horror’ as ‘winner’ this week, with Antonia’s untitled but intriguing final piece a worth runner-up’

Words for the coming week: shoehorn, splash, ticket 

Entries by midnight Thursday March 30th, new words  Friday 31st

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.

Reasoning maybe debatable, but …

 Today I’m anticipating several hours sat on the sofa, watching the final three matches of Rugby Union’s  Six Nations. Not, after last week, expecting to be delighted by the results, but the interaction of team members, when I’ve never been a team player, I find fascinating. As usual, too, I’ll be in competition with my husband with the General Knowledge crossword. 

Just as fascinating, as ever, is the use to which the prompt words were put. All impressive and enjoyable, but because the music reminded me of a visit to that crossroads in Clarksville, I award David top place for his ‘The Devil Went Down To Suburbia’

Words for the coming week: maul prop, try 

Entries by midnight Thursday March 23rd; new words  Friday 24^th (but maybe a bit late as I’ll be away from home.)

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.

Unsurprising snow

 After all the threat-laden warnings (and reports of a LOT more elsewhere), I wasn’t surprised to see the ends of the branches of the rowan tree clotted with white lumps when I looked out the window. Not too much on the ground, either (but I’ll be better testing that in an hour or so when I walk up for the paper.)

 An interesting selection of entries this week, Terrie’s poem especially lovely, but ultimately I decided Jim’s ‘The way of war’ squeezed itself to the top spot. Thank you all for participating with posts and comments.

 Words for the coming week: feint oblige shudder

                            Entries by midnight Thursday March 16th, new words  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.

 Distractions

There’s nothing like a weekend away, discussing the crafting of crime novels to ensure a mind gone off  in several non-routine directions. Plus I had the shock of a publisher actually asking me to send her the first four novels in my ‘Love triangles with murder’ series. (It came to nothing, as I suspected it would, my writing style quite different to their in-house style.) And then to return to a double helping of prompted pieces  – thank you Jim for your excellent words – and a wealth of 'dillo tales, for which, notwithstanding the enjoyment of reading the others,  I have to thank Terrie for.  

 Words for the coming week: forge mourn waver

Entries by midnight Thursday March 9th, new words  Friday 10th.

 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.

Not all so skilled

My husband, querying this week’s words displayed on the shelf above my monitor and told they were prompt words, immediately said ‘The yellow Venom weighed 200 kilogrammes.’ He was talking Velocettes, of course (though the one he has is black). Luckily, those who took the challenge more seriously were more skilled, and once again I was vacillating between entries trying  to separate a winner.  In the end I plumped for the murky originality of Jim’s ‘The bowel and bladder’ and thank you all for your participation. 

Words for the coming week: graft ovoid soap

And, because I’ll be away for a few days over next weekend you have an extra week to ponder. Entries by midnight Thursday March 2nd new words Friday March 3rd

Unless  Jim, as winner, would be so kind as to suggest three new words on the 24^th February?

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.

Hearts no doubt viewed differently here!

 Even though the week includes St Valentine’s Day, in memory of a priest who was clubbed to death, I’ll not be offering it as  next week’s prompt, but instead offer congratulations to those of you who made more than a decent stab at last week’s words . For the mind-soaring poetry of ‘Undertones of whisper and the sound of claws on dirt’ I award Terrie top prize. Thank you all for the entertainment.

Words for the coming week: venom  weigh  yellow

Entries by midnight Thursday February 16^th, new words  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.

Apologies

For eggcup, a really horrible word, which you all, as usual, successfully incorporated. Antonia’s perhaps the smoothest, and it is the rare,  upbeat nature of her piece which shifted her to the top of my favourites this week.

Words for the coming week: achieve rust yeast 

Entries by midnight Thursday February 9th^h 2nd new words  Friday 10th.

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.

Distracted

 Having last month asked the excellent  Graham Bartlett – a retired ex-policeman who has successfully supported enough crime writers to be inspired to write his own – to look at my known-to-be-faulty novel #5, and subsequently spent time  mulling over his spot-on advice, I made the decision to turn the telling of it upside down and  completely re-write it. 

I began the process yesterday and got so deeply involved I forgot I needed to post both new words and a winner to this week’s Prediction. So, a quick re-read, and I came up with two deserving entries:  Terrie’s 'paperclipped to the moon’ in her SAS diaries entry 208 was both joyful and inspired,  and David’s ‘Artefact’ exceptionally poignant – thank you both, as well as to Jim and Antonia for their ever-reliable commenting.

Words for the coming week, eggcup, number, spectacle

Entries by midnight Thursday February 2nd Saturday December 31st, new words  Friday 3rd.

 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.

Another bountiful week

And, for the joy of it, Terrie’s ‘Love letter to Lear’ gets one of this week’s votes, while David, Jim and Antonia  dish up similarly worthy-of-mention pieces full of nastiness and dread. Thank you all – it has been a good week.

 Words for the coming week: paperclip, scarlet, specimen

 Entries by midnight  Thursday January 26th, new words and winners  Friday 27th January

  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.

Friday thirteenth, of course!

 And I’m once again struggling to choose between a quartet of high quality entries – hooray!   – and thank you.  Similarly I’m sure that if the choice was yours, you’d struggle, but after some deliberation, I’m picking David’s ‘Military operation, for the clarity of its description and the poor donkey.

Words for the coming week: appoint dust wheelbarrow

Entries by midnight  Thursday January 19th, new words and winners  Friday 20th January

 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

Twenty twenty-three

And the Prediction challenge goes on into a fresh new year, with thanks to Antonia, Jim and Terrie who put in an appearance on 2022’s final fling.

Words for the coming week: button extract mire

Entries by midnight  Thursday January 12th, new words and winners  Friday 23th January

 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 whchever.