The Prediction

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.

Friday 13 October 2023

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

Friday 6 October 2023

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

Friday 29 September 2023

'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

Friday 22 September 2023

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

Saturday 16 September 2023

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.

Friday 8 September 2023

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

Saturday 2 September 2023

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.

Friday 25 August 2023

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

Friday 18 August 2023

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)

Friday 11 August 2023

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

Friday 4 August 2023

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.)

Friday 28 July 2023

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

Friday 21 July 2023

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

Friday 14 July 2023

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