And not a mention of a goat

Bill’s Black Widow – this week’s standout winner – was a fully complete and satisfying  story in 100 words. The joy of reading such perfection is much enhanced when, like me and Pettinger, William and his butter knife this week, you’ve tried umpteen times to arrange words which not only incorporate the prompts but contain a bit of a buzz. Now and again, words assemble themselves with ease and almost without input, and I’m tempted to put it down to luck, but in truth I see it as a small reward for the constant practice put in the rest of the time. And for not so much a buzz as a kick, Patricia’s ‘Tough love’earns‘ an honourable mention.

Words for the coming week are: Shakespeare, six, pattern

Entries by midnight Thursday 14th April , new words and winners posted on Friday 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.

Litotes (or that Tom Jones song)

'Litotes' being a) one of those words I can never remember the definition of, and b) yet another of those writing processes I do without needing to know what it is called. Mark Forsyth’s ‘The Elements of Eloquence’ calls them ‘elements of rhetoric’ and devotes thirty-nine challengingly-titled chapters to describing them. I was readily familiar with only three of such terms, and found the book a fascinating read, but I’m still unable to name any more. I don’t anticipate using any of them as prompts!

This week’s winner is someone whose writing never fails in its eloquence, but it was for the impact of “Well, there be many a person with a different skin under the one we all see” that I declare Antonia’s one hundred and fortieth episode of ‘Infinity’ this week’s winner.

Thank you all for participating – even the late-arriving Rosie whose 18th episode of the Princess Pirate is hugely entertaining ­and for commenting – such a strong element of this blog.  

Words for the coming week are: absent exact, butter

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th April , 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.

Cryptic, quick or general knowledge

Crosswords of course, one of this week’s prompt words. In our house my husband does the quick crossword, I the cryptic; he gets first go at the general knowledge. All three provide a different type of workout for the brain and he and I have long admitted we have different types of brain. What type dictates the way each week’s prompt words are used, I do not know. Am just happy at what seems never-ending variety and dedication. And the generosity of those who so generously acknowledge it in others.

Another week where an outright winner was impossible to choose, so honours are divided between Patricia for her sharp-ended episode of ’Kursaal’ and William for the opening of ‘The Truth about Your Demise,’ but perhaps the biggest news is no news of Antonia’s Captain – I trust for no other reason than an unsaved entry!

Words for the coming week are: crossword crude itinerary

Entries by midnight Thursday 31st March, new words and winners posted on Friday 1st April

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.

Foxtrot writing

It’s been a rare week of easy-writing for me – a 450 words story coming to me in the space of half an hour, and posted before 6 a.m. – and a useful ‘sexing-up’ of several less than sparkling chapters of a novel now undergoing it’s eighth re-write. That I began this book in 2011 will tell you how infrequent such weeks are.

And welcome, of course, are all the definitely sparkling entries for this week’s mildly awkward words. I was cross with myself for failing to remember to use ‘uncle’ in the sense of pawn-shop, delighted to be introduced to Patricia’s ‘Dutch uncle’and Rosie’s ‘cry uncle’, and also with William’s rhyming ‘runkle’.  

Difficult as ever, thank you, but Patricia’s thirty-seventh episode of Cripplegate Junction puts her in second place, while I declare Zaiure this week’s winner. It was going to be for ‘Attack’, but then ‘Mama says’ trumped it.

Words for the coming week are: barge, forecast, project

Entries by midnight Thursday 24th March, 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.

Location lies awry

For reasons entirely beyond my ken, the Live Traffic Feed which I inherited when I took over The Prediction has gone totally bonkers in locating me. I live in Teesside, in the North East of England, but after having been relocated to Kent for several weeks, it has now placed me in Carmarthenshire, in Wales. But last weekend, when I was in Wales , it decided I was in London.

No doubts from me about where to place this week’s winners - I was so delighted with Antonia’s Captain’s good mood in ‘Infinity 137’ that he comes top. William’s poetry skills in ‘Political Viewpoint put him in second place.  As ever, I thank you all for contributing to the week’s enjoyment.

Words for the coming week are: calligraphy, suck, uncle

Entries by midnight Thursday 17th March 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.

Conjuring enchantment

One of this week’s books was ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ which I at least began when it was first published in 1969, and wish I’d known about when I was studying the Victorians a few years ago. An incredible amount of authorial input melded with an ability to seize voice and era and give the characters voice. And, talking of voice, I’d like to pay tribute to two stalwarts of this site, without whom I’d spend half the week talking, echoingly, to myself so a sincere thank you to Patricia and Antonia.

As to this week’s winners, they were chosen for the conjuring of a single image. Rosie’s ‘blue tree’ enchanted and David’s ‘Magpie Road’ a promise of much to come.

Words for the coming week are:  judder, pure, popinjay

Entries by midnight Thursday 10th March 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

Leap of imagination

As Patricia commented, ‘hare’ is a word which carries much potential; one of the criteria I aim to use when seeking words. Crossword clues are a useful source, and the titles visible on spines of books and CDs shelved on the wall right before my eyes often furnish a word or two. Wherever they come from, I’ve no more knowledge of next week’s words when I write this week’s pieces than you have.

As ever the pieces posted have been impactful and a joy to read, but this week reference to real-life horrors set the standard for selecting winners, and William’s ‘Hiding from the world’ and Patricia’s ‘The  Final Solution’ take joint first.

Words for the coming week are:  stick, opportunity, credulous

Entries by midnight Thursday 3rd March 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.

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.