Mezzanine in Cardiff Bay

I’m spending a long, leisurely weekend with my daughter and although 6.30 is a slightly unsociable time to be putting the light on in an apartment whose sleeping areas are on a mezzanine floor, I've done so. 
In a week of a surprisingly high political content, I declare Chris this week's winner, but, as a crossword fan, can't resist mentioning Bill's intricate, enjoyable piece. 

Words for the coming week are: barrel,  plural, scant

Entries by midnight Thursday October 1st , new words and winners posted on Friday 2nd

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.

Clouds pink and blue this morning

Yet another week rich in high quality entries, but for once I had less of a problem selecting a winner: Kai’s eighth episode of The Immortal, with Death’s snapping fingers, was so instantly knock-out. Which isn’t to say I didn’t appreciate (among many others) Antonia’s fuse-woven beard. ‘Hirsute’, as well as an ugly word, was extraordinarily difficult to  use with any finesse, wasn’t it? (But I now need to check the definition of 'moribund')

btw - if you post an entry in the ‘wrong’ place - so easy to do! - and want to repost, I can easily tidy up by deleting the  misplaced one, so long as it doesn’t have comments.

  

Words for the coming week are: accent, elect, moribund

Entries by midnight Thursday September 24th , new words and winners posted on Friday 25th

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.

Hours a little flexible

Dark mornings (and lacking the urgency of novel words to leap me out of bed) delays this weekly announcement by an hour or two, and I’m happy to grant a little leeway to those on other time zones, so long as they’re in when I come to judge. (Regulars will have noted I don’t formally close the gates since I’m almost always sound asleep by midnight.)

I’m happier still to welcome returnees Patricia, Tim and Bill and newcomer Kerry, I've added Michael Brown's link to the sidebar and will gladly do so for others, should you wish; also, I thank you for an unanticipated definition of ‘tilt’.

There were several sorts of horror this week;  for me the most awful to contemplate was the mounting awareness of abandonment, so I’m declaring Bill's entry the winner, with Patricia’s elegant ‘The Grand Illusion’ as runner-up.

Next week’s words are: hirsute, punch and wheel

Entries by midnight Thursday September 17th , new words and winners posted on Friday 18th

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.

Starlings: Pointillist skywriting

And Orkney – indeed Scotland – seems to have more than its fair share of such invigorating aerobatics, sufficient to get me up in the middle of the night to jot down words which might otherwise be lost. Hence the lateness of this.

And invigorating were the entries this week, each and every one giving me a buzz of pleasure and excitement. So, hard as ever to choose one above the rest, but because I’ve known Michael aka MDJB’s writing for many years, and can see the ‘Prediction effect’ on the piece he submitted here this week, I’m selecting him.

Next week’s words are: evergreen, redundant and tilt

Entries by midnight Thursday September 10th, new words and winners posted on Friday 11th

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.

Trailing and sailing

Within a couple of hours I’ll be heading north, as far as Inverness tonight, and on Saturday, following the crossing of the Pentland Firth, to Stromness in Orkney. I’ll be in the cottage from which the watercolour used as a background to this blog was painted.  Just a detail of it used here, much enlarged – the original barely six inches by three – but such concentration has thrown up an entirely different scene. As I know each of you, concentrating on just three words, will come up with an entirely different piece of writing.

Last week it was Mashie’s speedy ‘Closed doors’ Punch and Judy response which most excited me, and continued to do so each time I read it, so I’ve no hesitation in declaring him the outright winner, but the crime scenes of Pinkbelt and Kai deserve very honourable mentions as do Michael Brown’s toast and celery - nice to begin the day with a giggle.

Next week’s words are: board, elevate, piquant

Entries by midnight Thursday September 3rd , new words and winners posted on Friday 4th

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.

Touch of Sheryl Crow*

Colleen assured me the hardest part of hosting this site was the choosing a winner. In theory I understood that, having seen how each and every week throws up a variety of interpretations, and ways of using (and sometimes abusing) three simple words. What I didn’t appreciate was the difficulty of NOT choosing the rest.

I have no especial rules which I regularly apply; each week it is what most takes my fancy, has a memorable impact. Sometimes there’s three or four, then I can allow runners up. This week I have a winner –  Zaiure for this week’s episode of Falcon – but the rest of you are too close to call, although Fergus and Michael B Fletcher deserve special mention for their  impressive brevity.

Next week’s words are: estranged, interest, toast

Entries by midnight Thursday 27th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 28th

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.

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCvlM17dMMo]

13th celebrates the sinister ...

Apparently Thursday was left-handed day. Don’t know where these things pop up from (except in the minds of greetings card manufacturers) but it’s one I can claim affinity with.

There was sinister a-plenty this week and my attention was grabbed by two pieces whose horror rested on the nastiness of social interaction. I therefore declare Michael B  and Peter joint winners, with thanks to you and to each and every one of you for participating.

Next week’s words are:  quilt, grumble, tug

Entries by midnight Thursday 20th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 21st

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.

More than seven miles to Babylon, and ...

Seven entries this week to choose from and every one a winner for entertainment and skill in using the prompt words. But by the merest whisper of his crepuscular cat, I’m declaring Michael Fletcher this week’s overall winner, as much for the smile it gave me as his skill in putting so much into so few words.

(Incidentally, Jennifer Johnston’s ‘How Many Miles to Babylon?’ turned out to be a superbly written, poignant, 156 page gem of a novel.)

Next week’s words are:  best, distance, pearl

Entries by midnight Thursday 13th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 14th

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.

Jiggety jig

Back home again and mostly over the jetlag. One week of my  three away was spent with a group of writing friends whereat I wrote a total of twenty prompt-led pieces, limited by time rather than word count – all excellent practice, and very, very enjoyable.

No complaints about the quantity and quality of – and pleasure gained from – this week’s turnout for the Prediction either, both in writing and commenting which is such a strength of this site.

Difficult as ever to choose a winner, but I thought Antonia’s use of the prompts – invariably seamless – hit a new level this week so award her latest Infinity episode first place.  As newcomers, bdcharles and Kai are joint and well-deserved seconds – I very much look forward to reading more of their work.

Next week’s words are  ordinary, crepuscular, violin

Entries by midnight Thursday 6th August, new words and winners posted on Friday 7th

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.

24th July

Presumably first week of the holidays curtailed writing time last week, so kudos to Antonia and Mashie for showing up with episodes of their serials, featuring submarine and Vikings; Captain and Satan himself. I'm declaring Mashie the winner because collection in any shape or form was missing from Infinity.
I've had a relaxing week of prompt writing and exercises, watching humming birds and squirrels from the deck of a house in Tualatin, near Portland OR, but we leave here 3.45 tomorrow morning for New York, which is likely to be a lot more strenuous. in the meantime, I hope you can make something of the following.

P

Next week’s words are  lamp,  pair,  thumb

Entries by midnight Thursday 30th July, new words and winners posted on Friday 31st

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.

17th July

My conscience won't let me have a second week declaring you winners all, but goodness you've made it really difficult to pick a winner.  But since I have to choose I'll declare Chris's 'Ass is grass' the winner by a mere blade's width, and an even narrower blade putting Fergus' porcupine earrings above Mashie's 'Walking the Planck.  And thank you all for your wonderful contributions.

Next week’s words are  deal, collection, toll

Entries by midnight Thursday 23rd July, new words and winners posted on Friday 24th

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.

10th July

10th July- and in a Seattle hotel where the fan sounds like a waterfall behind which a man is playing an accordian.
And truly I cannot pick a single winner from this week's entries so declare you all equally meriting of first place - your words wonderfully entertaining, for which I thank you.

Next week’s words are  jam, porcupine, seven

Entries by midnight Thursday 16th July, new words and winners posted on Friday 17th

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.

Week of heat and drama

STOP PRESS:  Submissions of novel-length SFF required by Hodderscape during August

http://hodderscape.co.uk/open-submissions-the-guidelines/

And, forgive me, I’m well aware this week’s UK max temperature, maybe since records began, is not a patch on other places, including Greece, from where Fergus has delivered  three fascinating episodes, the first of which wins my vote for first place this week:  the stark, staccato delivery adds to the impact of the cold-hearted tale.  In joint second place come Colleen and Rebecca, whose writing never fails to enthral and whose Nate and Seth serial has ever been mouth-wateringly delicious. As Tim says, its a never-ending delight to see the variations wrought by each of you from the prompts

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For this coming week the words are: hawk,  tape,  legacy

Entries by midnight Thursday 9th July, at which time I shall be en route to Seattle.

New words will be posted on Friday 10th July and winners as soon as I am able thereafter.  Apologies in advance for possible brevity or lack of comment from me; I trust each of you will make up for it.

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.

Too spicy?

A drop in entries this week – ‘turmeric’ a challenge too far for some, perchance? –  but no less difficult to choose one above the rest.  In the end I could not separate Zaiure and Newbie so have to declare them joint winners for this week - congratulations to you both - and Fergus, for his second entry, which used the word so cleverly, runner up.  

Next week’s words are  arch,  piano,  vegetate

Entries by midnight Thursday 2nd July, new words and winners posted on Friday 3rd

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.

It's only words ...

Another week of a dozen participants, several submitting more than once (Hooray!) and the standard, it seems, ever-rising.

 As Mashie said, elsewhere – ‘it’s only words’ – but the power they have,  to evoke disgust and discomfort, along with open-mouthed admiration and applause,  has been well-exploited this week.  For the impact of his words in ‘The Lesson’ – and I doubt many of us will forget that skin heart in a hurry – Mashie wins this week’s first place.

My short-list for second place includes Patricia, for ‘Bliss’, Rebecca for ‘Tit for Tat’, Red Ruth and Fergus, with Patricia just nudging ahead.

Via her blog Unusual Diction – link on the sidebar – I learn that Zaiure has published a collection of her ever-delicious flash fiction.   Do let me know if you’d like your blog to be added to the list.

Next week’s words are middle,  turmeric,  wail

Entries by midnight Thursday 25th June, new words and winners will be posted on Friday 26th

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.

Lovely thirteen

What an astonishing response to my first week as Prediction host!!  The last time comments on this site went into treble figures was June 2013, although those on Lily Childs Friday Prediction often reached 200. 

I’m truly grateful for the wonderful response from regulars and from friends from both the Word Cloud and the House of Writers who not only submitted pieces of startlingly vivid writing but also, knowing how we writers crave recognition from our peers, took time to comment on others.

With thirteen participants, judging WAS difficult.  Above all else it was the imagery evoked that grabbed me and enabled me, eventually, to whittle down a shortlist of ... eight.  From Tim’s blue-eyed rats, through Rich’s Code Blue, via moving war-time evocations from Mashie and Baz to Rebecca’s ever-addictive prose and Michael’s succinctness.  But in the end I had to choose so, I went for those who gave me the biggest surprise.  Which narrowed it down to Abi and Gita.  By the merest whisker, Gita’s ‘orgasm that was building but still had a ways to go’ beat Abi’s jism and ‘kinda peachy tang, thick as crude and mighty fillin’

Next week’s words are:  cost, exquisite, slow

Entries by midnight Thursday 18th June, new words and winners will be posted on Friday 19th

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.

Five minutes into the job

And without further ado I'll post words for this week's Prediction:

army
break
blue.
.
The usual rules apply: 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 uses 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.


This week you have until midnight (GMT) Friday 12th June to post.  New words and winners on Saturday.  Next week I'll revert to the pattern of Lily Child's original Friday Prediction, and have a Thursday deadline, with new words on Friday.

All On The Table

Before I get to winners and words.

It's fairly obvious that I am having a hard time getting things done here in a timely fashion.  I know I've mentioned before that my life is rather fraught these days, and has been for some time.

Rebecca and I had hoped that by taking on the admin duties together, we could keep up.  Sadly, her plate is as overfull as mine is these days.

I love Prediction, and I love doing this, but I'm offering it up to anyone who wants to take over, who believes they can keep up with it better than I have been able to.  I simply cannot guarantee right now that I can be here in the timely fashion required.

That being said, I do not want to see Prediction die. If no one else can, or is willing to take on the admin duties, Prediction will continue here under the best care I can give it and I will continue to strive to keep it as current as my situation will allow.

Our winner this week is Antonia Woodville with Infinity 98: As always, Antonia, this is a beautifully woven piece.  Thank you.

The Tome has obligingly provided new words:

Chime
Jug
Poison

The usual rules apply: 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.

You have until Saturday, June 6th.  Winners and words on Sunday, June 7th.

The Gates are Open!

Winners and Words, May 18, 2015. (Because I couldn't think of a better title)

Good morning!

The Tome and I have awakened very early this morning.  Good thing because it appears my winners and words post of last night didn't go through.  *le sigh*  

I know I've said this before, but you have made it so very difficult to choose a winner this week.  Every submission this week was brilliant in its own way.  I honestly feel that they all deserve to win.  That being said, it is my job to choose winners, and chosen I have...

Our winner this week is Michael Fletcher with Reinforcements:  This literally  made me feel if I was being pushed along on rails to the end.  It's that compact and slick, it's amazing.  You used the prompts really well. It's a fantastic combination of subject matter and technique.  Thank you!

Also winning this week is Noah Heinrich with In the Jewel of Cities (Part 2): Such an amazing sense of place conveyed in so few words. I now know exactly what such a place would feel, smell, and sound like, even though I have never visited one.  I cannot wait to read more of this.  Thank you!

Bait
Disturb
Joint

The usual rules apply: 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.

You have until Saturday, May 23d.  Winners and words on Sunday, May 24th.

The Gates are Open!

A Mother's Love.

Good evening!

The Tome has finally arrived home from visiting its Mother and is ready for winners and words.  Who knew it has a Mother?!  Any rate, we are ready to go.

Our winner this week is Zaiure with Spike:, for the sheer lushness of the writing.  This story is gorgeously descriptive.  It was an absolute pleasure to read.  Thank you!

Also winning this week is Patricia Purvis with First Encounter:  I'm delighted with the cleverness of this piece. The prompts are so seamlessly woven that I had to read more than once to find them.  Thank you!

And now for our new words:

Aroma
Ice
Ragged

The usual rules apply: 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.

You have until Saturday, May 16th.  Winners and words on Sunday, May 17th.

The Gates are Open!