Daisy fresh, but dastardly

One of the five books I read this week was Howard Spring’s ‘Shabby Tiger’, first published in 1934. Not read for some forty years I was delighted to find was just as beautiful, fresh and wonderful as ever.

Hundred word drabbles are a very different breed to novels, but no-one can doubt the freshness of what turns up on the Prediction each week, prime examples of which are Rosie and Zaiure for their party-themed pieces (late arriving, but worth waiting for). For the vividly-delivered kick of macabre, this week’s top spot goes to Patricia for her ‘Artistic licence’. Her use of ‘Christian’ as a first name is guaranteed to creep me out, after ‘Jane Eyre’. And thanks to Kai for his double helping of 'Immortal'

Words for the coming week are:  hare justify slurry

Entries by midnight Thursday 25th February new words and winners 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.

All clouds equipped with silver linings

 Hard 

Hard though several of us claimed to find last week’s prompts – uninspiring at the very least – this was not in the slightest apparent in the imaginative ways they were used, to the extent that choosing a winner was harder than ever. Nor does anything present itself as a useful point of judgement this week, so I’m going to place Zaiure’s ‘Remnant’ as winner, by a narrow margin, for the sheer kick of pleasure it gave me.  And will name Patricia, for ‘Kursaal’, Rebecca and Bill as very worthy  runners-up for similar reasons. I should also like to say how appreciative I am of your comments; on my pieces as well as everyone elses. It has always been a strength of this group; it matters to us to know we’re being read, and it means such a lot when folk say so.

Words for the coming week are:  contour, prevaricate, recipe

Entries by midnight Thursday 18th February new words and winners 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.

None of us are bluffing

New carpets and re-decorating, I’ve had a week of put and take, of shifting furniture and throwing out ‘stuff;’ accumulated over some thirty years.  I’ve similarly tried to put in order this week’s ten less-than-dulcet tales, and found it harder to jettison any of them than I have decades of accumulated leaflets. But since I have to, I’ve allocated first place to William for his last-arriving, and poignant, ‘Last Orders’, second place to Kai, for his twenty-seventh episode of ‘Immortal’, and third to tinysmallfry for ‘Diva scorned’ but, as usual, and no less sincerely, thank you all for participating so fully and to all of our enjoyment.

Words for the coming week are:  cloud, quiver, remain

Entries by midnight Thursday 11th February new words and winners posted on 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. 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.

Less than a drabble, but none the worse for that

Given the challenge of a word limit, I invariably find myself treating it as the target, rather than simply ensuring I don’t exceed it. Not everyone feels that way. This week there have been two absolutely stunning entries which are less than a hundred words, and which, thanks to precise and perfect writing, do the job with jaw-dropping effectiveness. Hence I’m handing congratulatory laurels to Chris, whose ‘Abominable horizons’ ran to 83 words, and Patricia for her ‘Blank canvas’ which was a mere 38 (Rosie’s late entry, at 68, is another good example.)

Thank you too, Kai, Antonia and Zaiure, whose entries all seemed to hit a peak of brilliance, and to everyone for commenting. Fingers crossed next week’s words do a similar trick.

Words for the coming week are: dulcet, bluff, patina

Entries by midnight Thursday 4th February new words and winners posted on Friday 5th

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.

A riot of purple ...

... from belly-buttons to extremities, feathers to stiletto and a nyckelharpa to a mark on a hand, for which I thank you all, but the week’s winner only said ‘it ‘ had arrived - with the hope that it would work. Antonia’s Captain, of course, his life taking a momentary upturn in episode 130.

Among my reading this week I stepped into the rarely-visited genre of long-ago historical. As a crime writer, Manda Scott‘s ability to describe and give life to her characters was of a calibre that, almost, made me give up writing. I was curious to see how she tackled the world of Boadicea, and found myself transported into another world, rather that just seeing extreme facets of my own.

It occurs to me that well over three-quarters of the tales here also have that other-worldliness which is why they are so compelling, with or without the expansion of a serial – and it is always good to have such generous feedback.

Words for the coming week are: jacket neutral sand

Entries by midnight Thursday January 28th, new words and winners posted on 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. 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.

Lessons learned?

Too easy? Lacking that level of trickiness, that challenge, I spoke of last week? Whatever, it took me a very long time to come up with anything, from three relatively straightforward prompts, that was even part way to having the necessary level of impact, although everyone else seemed to manage it superbly well!

Top of my list this week is Kai’s The Immortal – episode 24 already – but once again I – we – have had a wonderful week of reading for which I thank you all. I’m also giving a mention to Rosie and to  Bill, whose last-arriving, but by no means least-accomplished, entries were so hugely entertaining – I urge you to go back and read them.

Words for the coming week are: buckle, deficit, purple

Entries by midnight Thursday January 21st, 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.

Snap, crackle and prompt - weekly delights

If I’d thought the slightly tricky combination of prompts might be off-putting I was soon proved wrong, since you all showed great imagination and very deft placing.  Hopefully this week’s words will be equally productive, but I know from my own writing the occasional ‘difficult’ word can bring out excitingly acrobatic feats.  It’s a treat too to see so many serials developing, even though, for myself, I find them so much easier than one-offs that I think I need to challenge myself a little more often.

After expressing unnecessary doubt, Patricia’s “Slithering like Cleopatra's asp into the bosom of the galley” in the twenty-seventh episode of Cripplegate Junction has won first place, with honourable mentions going to Chris and Zaiure.

Words for the coming week are: bark, chess, dry

Entries by midnight Thursday January 14th , new words and  winners posted on Friday January 15th

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.

In strong expectation ...

... of some very good writing and reading in 2016, especially if 2015 was anything to go by – thank you all for your continued participation.  And, par for the course, with the usual difficulty of who to choose for this week’s “winner” when all so evidently contribute to the high standard of the Prediction site. Difficulty aggravated by shortage of time to properly re-read and consider, so the choice this week is based on the more immediate impact for which I pick Zaiure. As Patricia so rightly says, the opportunity to re-indulge is very much welcomed, as are, I hope the first words of 2016.

Words for the coming week are: asp, personality, theft

Entries by midnight Thursday January 7th , new words and  winners posted on Friday 8th

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.

‘Tis the season ...

... and, the way the days fall, the reason for a fortnight’s deadline to be allowed for these prompts.

Eight superb entries again this week, and I tried a bit of logic. Best use of each prompt word: Kai’s “high-pitched scream”, Bill’s “smudge on the sole of Caprezi's Italian loafers” and Patricia’s “Sheila reasoned”.  But ... but ... I loved Zaiure’s well-worded imagery and thought Antonia’s episode of Infinity one of her very best. Finally, however, the kick of finding a typewriter charmed me so much that Rosie’s Princess Pirate nudges, by the width of an inky ribbon, into first place.

Thank you all, and to all of you, Merry Christmas, or your particular equivalent, and here’s hoping for as rich a 2016 here as we’ve had in past years.

Words for the coming fortnight are: vindicate, paint, crow

Entries by midnight Thursday December 31st, new words and winners posted on Friday January 1st

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.

Neck and neck, times eight!

I suppose with a word like virgin not everyone would confine themselves to cooking oil ... and just eight entries, but truly, in my view, every one a winner, on every level I (unscientifically) judge them on - quality and joyousness of writing, inspired use of the prompts, strength of the voices used and 100% entertainment. From the pragmatism of Kai’s Samuel, through Patricia’s tuning-peg and star signs, Bill’s beleaguered Tony, and the need for sacrificial virgins, Antonia’s despondent Captain and Zaiure’s spell-casters – and Rosie’s feisty Princess Pirate #3, sneaking in at the end.

Not from idleness, but an inability to separate, I confess I cannot pick one above the rest this week and ask you – which would YOU choose? –  and I thank you one and all for the pleasure of a week of winners.

Words for the coming week are: pitch, reason, smudge

Entries by midnight Thursday December 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.

It’s only words ...

... and although I can hear the highly emotional strain with which the words were were sung, I can’t, at the moment, remember who sang it. But three words this week – and not very compatible words –grew nine wide-ranging tales, from death, to death, and around death, and resurrected a couple of detectives too, all most excellently. Because I feel so guilty about Antonia’s cabin boy, I’m hoping that declaring her 124th episode of ‘Infinity’ this week’s winner will mitigate somewhat, and Kai’s 19th, with a smoky detective, earns him runner- up. Thank you all for the enjoyment – hope this week’s words are a little easier. [btw - Rosie belatedly posted a second episode of 'Rosebud, Princess Pirate' ]

Words for the coming week are: obliterate, peg, virgin

Entries by midnight Thursday December 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.

Rejection and compensation

This week, unusually for me I started and rapidly discarded three books, one after another. The first for the style (flippant crime, which fell flat), the second because twice in forty pages my number one bête noir was used (“smiling happily”) and the third was a previously much-enjoyed writer who’d chosen to tell a tale based on a true story, but had omitted the emotion.

Here on the Prediction, I’ve no desire to discard or reject any. Have, in fact, picked three ‘winners’ for the kick of immediate pleasure which each gave me. These are Zaiure, for the kick-in-gut final line; Patricia for the knock-out brevity of ‘Order of the Day’ and Bill for ‘Subject Number Eleven; because the quality of the gory description was admirable, (though I have to say the ‘chameleon coating’ almost beat that )

Words for the coming week are: forensic, seed, imagine

Entries by midnight Thursday December 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.

The lunatic, the lover and the poet ...

... are, as Shakespeare said, “of imagination all compact”, a concept all ten entries demonstrated in spades this week (do check out Bill and Rosie, who squeezed in at the end). Once again, references were made – and praises extended – to the strength of images evoked. What is even more impressive is the subtlety by which they were conveyed, enabling each of us to carry away our personal, and highly satisfying take on both what we were seeing and what the protagonists were experiencing.

With so much excellence it is, as I keep saying – and Patricia pointed out – very hard to pick any one above the others (not that I am complaining) but for me, this week, Zoë’s ‘In the driving seat’ especially took my fancy. But I thank you all for contributing, and entertaining so richly.

Words for the coming week are: bandage, frustrate, olive

Entries by midnight Thursday November 26th, new words and winners posted on Friday 27th

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.

What you get is not necessarily what we are!

This week, a non-writing friend read ‘A blacksmith’s wife’ and immediately assumed my experiences had informed the unnamed protagonist, otherwise how could I have written it? While accepting I've become a lot more interesting in said friend's eyes, I am more than a little bemused to have been thought so capable of surviving rape and near-murder and so inclined to adultery.

Here, on the Prediction, in a week of exceptional variety of prompt word usage, I revel in your talents, imagination and participation, recognising it is as close as I come to mental Ecstasy. Such variety does, of course, make choosing a ‘winner’ all the harder, but I nominate Zaiure’s ‘Battle Scars’ as top favourite, with Patricia’s ‘Cripplegate 20 and Bill’s ‘His oldest friend’ as runners up. And thank you all for the enjoyment.

Words for the coming week are: elastic, question, puppet

Entries by midnight Thursday November 19th, new words and winners posted on 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. 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.

November Rain

A very quiet celebration of Guy Fawkes here in Teesside last night, thanks to the wetness of the weather, and similarly here, made quieter by Antonia’s unprecedented but understandable absence, she being such a stalwart of Prediction. But less than it might have been with the welcome return of Zoe and Rosy’s post which I hope will be the first of many.  And while I know commenting on others, especially for those who are new, can seem even more daunting than writing the prompt itself, the acknowledgement that others have read your writing IS what makes the Prediction community such an enjoyable place to be part of, so please do overcome your unnecessary fears.  

Serials, both the reading and writing, may be daunting, and I’m not alone in hoping Bill continues with his, but it is Kai’s fifteenth episode which wins my vote this week.

Words for the coming week are: clue, fudge, inert

Entries by midnight Thursday November 12th, new words and winners posted on 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. 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.

All treats, no tricks

If you check the blogs at the RH side of this page, you’ll see I’ll be starting NaNoWriMo this Sunday, writing the fourth in a series of what are best described as ‘murder mysteries’.  They feature DI Luke Darbyshere who came face to face with DI John Pettinger in book three (poor Pettinger struggling, as ever). From past experience, writing and reading Prediction pieces comes as a welcome diversion, so I don’t anticipate any reduction of activity here. So please keep entries – and comments – coming; both essential to the health of this site.

And this week, a thorough treat! From MDJB’s opening words to Patricia’s ‘Last Words’ and Kai’s closing line. Antonia’s supremely clever blending of the prompts and Bill’s triple offering. Every one a winner in my mind, but since tradition says I have to name a Winner, I declare Bill’s ‘Bad Habit’ to be my favouritest favourite this week.

Words for the coming week are: knuckle, reverberate, sense

Entries by midnight Thursday November 5th, new words and winners posted on 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. 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.

Intimations and interpretations

This week’s winner is Patricia for her admirable ability to so effectively, as Antonia says, inject 'you know what I'm talking about'  without spelling it out, in Bird has flown.

One one level, the art, the skill of writing is to manipulate the reader into seeing exactly what you intend them to, but it is always interesting – and informative – when readers put a different interpretation on words one has supposed say something else. It could be said to be the result of sloppy writing, as I think I’m guilty of with last week’s Threshold 85. (On re-reading I could see exactly what Patricia and Antonia had read into it and wish I’d been that clever!) But interpretation is what Prediction is about - the taking of three words and making something unique - and is what each of us so effectively demonstrates here, week after week, for which I thank you all.

Words for the coming week are: filigree, ominous, plug

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

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.

Shocking - real and imaginary

Yes. Here we deliberately set out to shock, the ‘rules’ requiring us to write in specific genres so as to do so, but we do so for pleasure, to entertain and because of some sort of writerly compulsion. Last week, for Antonia, Real Life stepped in and demonstrated how much more of a shock it can deliver, but also that writing can be a palliative, if not a cure. 
Not that it cures everything, as the illegal immigrants who this week climbed into the back of a lorry must have found, when they discovered themselves sharing space with a polar bear.

The shock that Bill delivered wins him first place, but Antonia’s brave despatch of the Creature deserves special mention, and thanks are due to Michael for his directing me to onion futures.

Words for the coming week are: alphabet, dairy, vigil

Entries by midnight Thursday October 22nd , new words and winners posted on Friday 23rd

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.

Rule-breaking makes for entertainment

It has to be said that honing one’s craft as a writer changes and occasionally reduces one’s enjoyment of reading. I’ve just finished Stuart MacBride’s ninth in his detective series. High-paced, humorous and thoroughly entertaining, I couldn't help notice how much in the way of superfluous to plot anecdote and information was included. At total variance to what we do here, but good to know it can be “allowed” if that’s what we want t do. And, hard though it is, and aware of my lack of academic knowledge as I am, I still feel it a privilege to read these submissions and choose what I consider, often using different criteria each week, to be the “winner”.   This week, partly for the pleasure of reading her distinctive voice again, but also because it was such a mentally stunning read, I unhesitatingly pick Zaiure, but thank you all for both writing and commenting.

Words for the coming week are: detonate verdict wraith

Entries by midnight Thursday October 15th , new words and winners posted on Friday 16th

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.

Triple strength, five star quality

A small but very strong field to choose from this week, which, given the quality of each is just as well. Not that it’s made my job any easier. Kai’s opening sentence; his use of ‘barrel’ as a verb, draped sheet and the chilling final line drew a vivid picture. Bill’s hardboiled tone and bulletted sentences immediately gripped, delivering another gun-barrelled gut-punch finish. But by the merest breath of wind, Antonia’s barrel of grog in her 116th episode made it to the top – well done! And thank you all for the pleasure of reading and re-reading these.

I anticipate Michael Brown might post his missed-deadline piece in MudStones, and have also added a link to Kai’s blog, where his longer pieces can be read.

Words for the coming week are: febrile, medium, poetry

Entries by midnight Thursday October 8th , new words and winners posted on Friday 9th

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.