Precaution and playing safe

Less hazardous, but a following a week’s holiday and with departure from our lodgings in Kirkwall set for today I have scheduled words but in case my participation is not (or has not been) possible I ask you to once again please nominate your personal favourite from last week’s entries.

Words for next week: peacock recede vex

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 19th September, 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

A time to gaze at the horizon!

I’ll be at the very top of Scotland when this appears, shortly to be at the mercy of the Pentland Firth, and definitely no chance of wi-fi, so have scheduled words and a free choice week: please nominate your personal favourite from last week’s entries.

Words for next week: coward jeer wake

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 12th September, 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Whistles and drills, dust and transformation

It’s best part of twenty-five years since our kitchen was last refurbished, and then my new-retired husband did it. (while I went out to work). This week two men, plus plasterer and electrician, have got on with it with far greater efficiency, while I am marooned upstairs. So, no excuse not to read and fully ponder on this week’s entries.

No easier to place one, however slightly, above the rest and I’m relieved that you recognise the difficulty. This week David’s ‘The Last Noel?’ rose to the top of the pile – tight writing and a heart-rending tale.

Words for next week: satchel liberty scrub    

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 5th September, 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

“Revenge proves its own executioner” [John Ford 1586-1639?]

And following last week’s excellent entries, and the difficulties you had choosing a winner, you seem to have tried harder still to present me with a near impossible choice this week, and from such innocuous words! I am, if it is possible, even more admiring of the lot of you. Given fourteen to choose from, and being über ruthless,  I came up with a shortlist of four. Stuck there, reading and re-reading, rearranging and discarding until I was left with a favourite. This time it was the language which impinged; the freshness of usage, and in the end it was Terrie’s  ‘Gathering Magic’ which came top, but such a close run thing.

Words for next week: coincidence leather sage

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 29th August, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Relying on you to choose ...

Since I cannot be sure of having time enough to pay proper attention, I'm offering another free choice week: please nominate your personal favourite from last week's offerings.

Words for next week: chair industrial string

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 22nd August, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Fire training school ...

... is where I’m headed on Saturday. Not to learn about ladders, hoses and extricating stretched bodies from a burning building but yet another international BSA gathering – 400 attendees if not motorbikes I’m told. One effect of which is that words will be scheduled for 16th August, and you once again get to name your favourite  entry using the words below, since I’ve no idea about the quality of the wi-fi, nor how much spare time I’ll have.

Many riches this week, and I thank you all for your contributions and your comments – some as richly entertaining as the post themselves – for me Terrie’s  ‘Death’s Handmaiden’ rises to the top.

Words for next week: bench counter obfuscate

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 15th August, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

A less than blissful ignorance

An impressive amount of Biblical knowledge revealed this week, amidst a variety and richness of settings; for which Patricia’s ‘Deuteronomy 32:35’ gets an honourable mention. Winner, however, somewhat self-indulgently for the memories it evoked for me, is David’s ‘Moses and the Devil’ - so many lovely phrases.   Thank you all, as ever, for posts, comments and your continuing presence.

Words for next week: alphabet hopeless ribbon

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 8th August, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Feeling the heat

... and a little self-promotion: ‘Step so grave’, the first in my series of ‘love triangles with murder’ has finally been published. Although Vanessa Quintain makes a two-page appearance, John Pettinger doesn’t appear until the third book in the series (a month or so before I finalise that one). lines of communication has more details.

And so, in the temporary cool of 5.30 a.m. I re-read, re-enjoy and, eventually, select a shortlist for last week’s winner, which includes two late entries: John’s ‘What happens in Tasmania stays in Tasmania’, Terrie’s  ‘SAS diaries’ 76 (nary a mention of a ‘dillo, yet I pictured them correctly!) and Gita’s ‘Blood-letter’, which I’m delighted to declare, is my eventual winner.  As ever, the joy of seeing the umpteen uses of three innocent words is never-ending, and I thank you for the posting and the comments.

Words for next week: Moses twelve import

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 1st August, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Too many good books, too little time

Others’ good books - there have been a few all-absorbing ones lately, plus, like Holly, I’m final-drafting and preparing for publication. So far more short of time than this week’s seemingly extra-rich entries merit. The one that had the greatest kick-in-the-gut impact on this week’s final re-reading, was Patricia’s ‘Mouthy’, although, as ever, there were several commanding almost equal attention.

And, as ever, I thank you all for your participation, both posting and commenting.

Words for next week: cricket file spindle

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 25th July, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Peverse?

Last week’s prompt words certainly kicked off a full-on dose of skilfully-evoked and stomach-curdling horror;  culminating, (for me) in Jim’s tongue in lap. 

But in trying to pick a winner I found myself more drawn to the more subtle uses of them, of which Holly’s ‘Glamour’ was a prime example, hinting at things gone possibly wrong which sent my mind soaring to identify. For those qualities,  I declare Holly this week's winner, But, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, the criteria shift every week, so keep the horror coming.

Words for next week: abstract  insult  tongue

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 18th July, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

“Nights are drawing in”

Possibly for the first time since we married (way, way back when)  my husband omitted to refer, on the 22nd June, to the passing of the summer solstice. Not that I’m complaining. No more than I am about the quantity of good writing and the resultant difficulty of choosing a winner.

Terrie, of course, gets a ‘welcome back’ back mention, especially because episode 73 of the SAS diaries so very nearly came top, but after many readings and re-readings of the other four on the shortlist, I finally plumped for Jim’s ‘Job Seeker’ version II. Thank you all for comments and critique – such a valuable part of this place.

Words for next week: crave plaster upwind

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 11th July, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

White wine, Minster and memories

This week for me a get-together with a friend, not met with for forty years – a joy to roll back the years to school days. And an equal joy to return here to read this week’s offerings. But, an important question – is it only me suffering from ‘dillo deprivation?  I realise Terri has been absent for  while – does anyone know where or why she’s gone?

This week’s winner is Patricia. Initially for ‘Casting’ then, because of its title (something I too often struggle with so am all the more admiring) for "Georgie-Boy Endicott a/k/a Big Dipper", episode 169 of Kursaal  – and also I loved ‘rapscallion’.

  

Words for next week: familiar necessary thumb

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 4th July, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

In a week of knockout competition

So ... back to judging, with renewed vigour having written 10K of my current wip and brought it to a first-draft close (and no, no nearer self-pubbing 1, 2 and 3, having been visited with writing inspiration for 4). Also with renewed relief, having seen, once again, that there is rarely a consensus  when each of you is given a choice and discover – as I do weekly – that it is the elimination of two or three others which is often harder than the naming of the winner. 

This week no exception: from a shortlist of four, I name John as winner, for ‘The last shebang’, with David’s ‘Children’s Crusade’, Patricia’s ‘Give it  rest’ and Jerry’s ‘The Council’ as runners-up.

Please keep them coming - both posts and comments.

Words for next week: ballot distant smith

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 27th June, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

From blue sky to grey

Back late yesterday after an astonishingly blue-skyed and warm eight days in Iceland, begun and ended with Reykavik grey, damp and cold. A fascinating and beautiful country, visually and geologically, and some very, very good meals.

Thank you for the votes on my entry a couple of weeks ago; I've skim-read this week's and will pronounce a winner when I've had change to do so properly. but hope you will, as originally requested, post your own choices.

Words for next week: ashes navigate snare

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 21st June, words and winners 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

A Scheduled Stop

A free choice week: please post your personal favourite on Friday 14th

Words for next week: cuticle disparage generate

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 13th June, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Rickety, rackety bridge

My husband being the instigator and organiser of holidays, I was taken unawares by the news that we’ll shortly be off to Iceland for ten days.

So I will schedule words for 14th June and once again ask you to indicate your personal favourite:

1) On the 7th, from the words below, and, because I’ll return too late to do it justice,

2) On the the 14th using the scheduled words.

Normal service will be resumed thereafter.

This week’s winner ... well, as is becoming very normal, I’d plenty horrors to choose from. John offered a rattled door and a damaged dick, Patricia grasshoppers in aspic. David cultivated mermaids and Jerry failed to create a homunculus. However, Holly’s dead sycophants and translucent canines topped the lot and I declare her the week’s winner.

Words for next week: confidential midnight troll

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 6th June, words posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Channelling Stereophonics

Performance last week rich and varied as ever, on top of which we were treated to the extra – and to me surprising – ingredient of cocktails, only superseded by the ever-intoxicating treat of Terrie’s use of language. Yet for me there was an instant stand-out, for reasons which I’ll not attempt to analyse, as mush because it makes a change not to suffer half an hour of face-screwed indecision. So thank you David, for the wonderful  'Serengeti Incident'. And thank you to the rest of you for writing and for commenting.

Words for next week: deck, inchoate, serrate

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 30th May, words and winners posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Light flashing red then blue

This week one of intermittent internet, a couple of good books and writing progress. Fingers crossed I’ll get the opportunity to post words tomorrow, if nothing else, which would feel a more than a little churlish after the week’s especially rich offerings. As ever, so many worthy of top place but only one can be legitimately named if tension and momentum is to be maintained. Plus, the title as well as the content suggested it deserved first place: Patricia’s‘ ‘Runaway Rejection’, of course.

And, of course, there were several others snapping at her heels – a tough choice, as Antonia recognised.   Thank you all for comment and continuing participation.

Words for next week: disappoint grasshopper strap

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 23rd May, words and winners posted 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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Cloaks of many colours

Another week of successful weaving a rich variety of tales from a trio of simple words. If nothing else, the Prediction has taught me about the divergence and uniqueness in the minds of each of us; no longer do I fear that what I put together will be so obvious as to be boring. Which of course, makes picking a ‘winner’ such a near-meaningless task, but I trust you are all able to know how close you came.

This week, despite David snapping at his heels, I declare John the winner, for his double bill of ‘So, you want to be in pictures’ and ‘The Assassin’s Creed’ – not least for the delight of the titles.

Words for next week: episode peg vixen

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 16th May, words and winners 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

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

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

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

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

Words for next week: eradicate innocent tow

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

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.