“Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words” [Shakespeare: King John]

Or not. And fascinating to see the crop of posts that grew from last week’s.

Jim (MORTHAN and I), Patricia (My Own Sweet Way)  and John (Friends) all went for the humorous/quirky; David (So High Above the Chimney Tops) and Terrie ((SAS) Diaries - entries 62 and 63 – check it out) had superb opening sentences, and Dave’s PARADISE taped into my nightmares, but I don’t think I’ll cause much dissension in declaring this week’s winner Holly for her ‘Angels’.

Thank you all for comments and contributions which make this site the pleasure that it is.

Words for next week: eradicate innocent tow

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 9th May, words and winners posted Friday 10th

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.

“And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff”

I’m not waving a banner for Shakespeare, after last week’s polarisation of opinion, but spotting the above, from Henry IV part 1, I though it might catch the eye on Facebook. Also, of course, we’ve had a deal of gloriously rich offerings, from which I declare ... well, really it is exceptionally hard this week, so I’ll say Patricia by the merest whisper, and ditto for the sixteenth episode of ‘Kursaal’, and each and every one of you runners up.

And thank you all for so diligently commenting - it is the life-blood of this site.

Words for the coming week are: bruise, benevolent, margin

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st April , new words and winners posted on Friday 22nd

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. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.