Ink blots, gouges and sticky shadows

All these and more tell the history of the plan-chest acquired at auction by my husband who knew  I needed one but had no idea of the space available to put it. Took a while but he has ceased offering to clean it up a bit.

And Patricia was on the verge of cleaning up this week, since at first read all her offerings were winners, but ultimately, despite my declaring a tie between ‘Persona Non Grata’ and ‘Crowning Glory’ , she has to share the No.1 spot with Rosie for her ‘Normal is overrated.’

Thank you all for your magnificent contributions and comments.

Words for next week:  pride quirk wedge

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st December winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Mislaid plans, and permutations of disaster …

Not exactly High Noon (and I can’t remember the story anyway, but I’d like to say a big ‘Thank you’ to Patricia for deputising for my so ably and for much longer than anticipated over the past few weeks. The hospital stay was beyond my control, but my stupidly wiping my laptop certainly didn’t help!

And so to this week’s winner – as problematical as ever to make a choice – but I think it has to be David’s ‘Heaven will Fall’ for much more than the unique conjunction of defibrillators and angel flesh.

Words for next week:  conform, lichen, stamp

Entries by midnight Thursday 14th December winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Broad expanses, stretching the mind ...

... Something all entries had in common last week - an escape from these four walls which was very welcome, and my thanks, in advance to Patricia who has so ably kept this site going in my prolonged absence, providing the necessary fillips of comment and order of merit. 

Words for next week: cherub, flicker, short

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th December winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Back home but stlll effectively bed-bound

and short of time so have not had chance to properly look back at all I've missed., but Thank you Patricia for clearing up my muddles and taking on the judging  -
am I right in thinking you'll do next week's too?

Words for next week:  grain, ignorance shanty 

Entries by midnight Thursday 30th October  November, winners and words posted Friday 1st December

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 use 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.

Darkest hour before dawn?

Words for next week: furnish pellet syringe

Entries by midnight Thursday 19th October, winners and words 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 use 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.

Approaching the eleventh hour

And waiting with bated breath to learn the identity of this week’s winner

Words for next week: imprecate pear wax

Entries by midnight Thursday 16th November, winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Escaping November Rain

This week’s winner was a little easier than some to select because I kept returning to David’s ‘decanted tarry strings of tobacco’ –  poetry become practical – thank you.

Thank you to the rest of you for your pieces and also for your comments – a vital part of this site.

A treat for you for the next two weeks: I shall be out of the country and have no idea how reliable the combination of travelling and access to the internet will be therefore I have handed the task of choosing the week’s winner(s) to the admirably capable Patricia. 

I’ve scheduled words to appear at midday GMT so as to give her the chance of announcing her choice before too many of you get going with the new words which, for next week will be: 

lodge scintilla third

Entries by midnight Thursday 9th November, winners and words 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 use 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.

Scarlet book with rust-stained label

Another week for me of dealing with very welcome feedback on a novel, hence too little headspace for a standalone. Luckily Patricia, perhaps buoyed by last week’s win, found herself full enough of stories to take up the slack.

This week my admiration was snared by especially felicitous phrases: jk’s "trickling upward", David’s “almost akin to grief.” and John’s “to consider cashmere mittens” but it was Antonia’s “platitudes made a cashmere raft” which win’s this week’s prize. Additionally, a round of applause for Rosie’s The Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess which reached its 100th episode.

Words for next week:  eviscerate devote tab

Entries by midnight Thursday 2nd November, winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Body butter, blue-wrapped mints and a grubby plaster

Just some of the detritus on my desk (and note to self -‘detritus’ an excellent future prompt word).

Despite the relative quiet ordinariness of last week’s words, some pretty gruesome tales were spun. Because I have an inexplicable fondness for poor Clive  Bailey, I’m declaring Patricia’s ‘Cripplegate Junction/Part 118’ my poignant winner of the week.

Words for next week: cashmere grief upwards

Entries by midnight Thursday 26th October, winners and words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Tacking thumbs and pricking blisters

This week showed up the gap in my knowledge and understanding of several aspects of the horror, fantasy and science fiction genres this site promotes . It’s taken a couple of years for me to be revealed as a fraud but John’s ‘From the mouth of the dragon’ which garnered such praise from everyone else bypassed my understanding by miles. Nevertheless, I name him as one of a trio of winners this week, alongside Jk’s Ellis 010 and  David’s TRASH Rash, and thank you all for a thoroughly entertaining week of reading, both posts and comment.

Words for next week: score vulnerable wicked

Entries by midnight Thursday 19th October, words 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 use 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.

Overcoming duplicity

I ceased checking for duplication of prompt words a while ago, which is why olive appeared for the third time last week. I would apologise but for the fact that you all incorporated the word in an impressively inventive and  well-oiled manner.

And because I had longer to savour it, thanks to an earlier-than-usual posting, I have no hesitation in declaring  Rosie’s ‘My Grandmother’s People’ – episode #97 of 'The Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess' this week's winner. The consistently high standard and unique voice makes this one of my (many) weekly treats.
 

Words for next week: argue petechial spring

Entries by midnight Thursday 12th October, words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Hydrangeas rich as Victorian sitting rooms

By which I mean crowded, curly and richly-coloured, much as the entries for this week, providing a variety of smells and tastes and music as well as entertainment. And so impossible to separate my top three choices that I declare them joint winners:  jk for ‘Gostegodd 011’, John for ‘The Believer’ and Zaiure for ‘Distraction [9]’. As with all good stories (and several others here) each merited several readings.

Words for next week: guardian olive straddle

Entries by midnight Thursday 5th October, words posted 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Another thudding orange sunrise in Hamnavoe

An interesting selection of responses to last week’s prompt words, a variety of moods. Shortlisted were Theresa’s ‘Nights in Whitechapel’ and John’s ‘Monarchy Smonarchy’, but Patricia’s  Kursaal #88 – ‘The Amorous Adventures Of Arbuthnot Jester/Part Six’ – nudged them into joint second place. And for a tasty treat I urge those of you who might have missed it to read Rosie’s 95th episode of The Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess. 

As ever, thank you all for contributing and for commenting - so much a valuable part of this site.

Words for next week: abnegate core whisky

Entries by midnight Thursday 28th September, words posted Friday 29th September

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 use 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.

Wild, wet but wonderful. ...

Much travelling about this week and now in the rainy West Highlands, at Ullapool as I begin this; further north to the topmost coast on Friday. I had to rush my posts and also the judging, but have no hesitation in declaring Zaiure’s ‘Just another Friday’ this week’s outright winner.... 

Words for next week: ambiguous cane solitary

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st September, words posted Friday 22nd September

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 use 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.

Anticipating Stirling service ...

... from a weekend at Bloody Scotland, and discovering again how wide your selection of a single winner from among this week's gut-churning entries. Unavoidable with a word like entrails, in the mix but I anticipate you'll manage just as well with the following

prompt words for next week: bland chime perpetual

Entries by midnight Thursday 14th September, words posted Friday 15th September

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 use 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.

Exit stage left, with menace and a final kick

So many excellent entries this week that once again I tried an arbitrary rule to rate them. Final lines:, I thought, but how to choose between Antonia’s ‘long pig’, Patricia’s ‘cylindrical drum’, John’s ‘I wish he hadn’t said my name’ and David’s ‘Hell would be unleashed…’?

I couldn’t, so broke another, lightly-applied, rule and chose David for a second consecutive  week, on the strength of his opening sentence, broken-winged gargoyle and the so-very-effective “eyes above the waterline”.

Next week's decision will be simpler for me: Thursday I shall be in Stirling, attending the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival  and on Friday at a workshop, one of who’s tutors is Sophie Hannah.

 Therefore I am asking each of you to nominate, on Friday 8th September, your personal winner.

Thereafter, for a couple of weeks, my presence is likely to be a bit erratic, but rest assured, prompt words are already scheduled.

Words for next week: entrails kiss perfect

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th September, words posted Friday 8th September*

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 use 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.

Sirens and a shiny lighthouse, flashing blue

Is what I hear and see from the windows of my daughter’s apartment. Invigorating in comparison to my usual hedge-bound golf course. Prediction entries this week were varied and interesting, incorporating  the prompt words amidst imaginative phrases. I had a short-list of four:  and it was as much a stabbed-pin struggle to select a winner as it is becoming every week. In the end, it was the matter-of-fact tone with which Jenkins and the professor discussed their dreadful predicament that won David’s ‘The Purse Anomaly' this week’s vote for the number one slot

Words for next week: barge elegant wing

Entries by midnight Thursday 31st August, words and winners posted Friday 1st September

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 use 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.

Silver fish scales on a dirty plate

With a word like ‘maggots’ as one of the prompts it was hardly surprising a high proportion of the posts gave rise to feelings of nausea and squeamishness, and there was certainly some mental cowering if not actual, at least on my part.

Six of you passed the ‘squirm’ test: - Patricia (for ‘Lure’), Jeffrey (for Midnight Service), Scott, John, David and Antonia . The one that made my gorge rise highest was Scott’s 'After death, we went to the museum' which I declare the winner.

Words for next week: purse theatre travesty

Entries by midnight Thursday 24th August, 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

Threading truth with fiction

My stand-alone tale last week began with ‘spearmint’ jogging my memory of a lolly and the silver three-penny bit I used to buy it. From this sprang a boring story which I refused to allow the light of day. Then I remembered Elsie. Was it she who assured me that in the woods across the road dwelt a man who ate children? That was back in the day  when, as five -year-old a two mile walk to school, unsupervised, was normal.

I thank you for all the nice things you said about it, and in many ways it would have been easiest to nominate myself, with such a very strong week of entries. I am, however, going to break a different rule, by nominating jk’s ‘Ellis; for somewhat selfish reasons. One, it is exactly the sort of story which appeals to me and two because she’s currently in a Dundee hospital awaiting an operation to fix a fractured ankle. (I’m hoping that will give her time to write the next episode)

Words for next week:  cower feature maggot

Entries by midnight Thursday 17th August, 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.

And this morning the geese practising to leave

I don’t know how they know it’s time, and thanks to the height of the hedge I can no longer see the river from my window, but in the quiet of the early morning they are suddenly raucous. There’ll be weeks more before they go.

This is another week when I’m torn between the entertaining characters offered by several candidates for top place and cannot separate them: John’s cheeky itinerant, Zaiure’s Favour Man and David’s ugly Monday and because time is marching on and I know you all understand – and appreciate – my dilemma, it’s going to be a triple crown this week. Thank you all for offerings and comments.

Words for next week:  earring park spearmint

Entries by midnight Thursday 10th August, 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. Serialised 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 you prefer.