'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.