The fascination of variations

Each week you are offered  three random words. Each week, each of you takes those words and uses them to conjure  up something new, unique and entertaining. That ‘unique’ has always appealed to me because, as a writer it underlines the fact that there is no single ‘correct’ answer; that whatever I do with those words is  ‘right’, and the joy is in seeing just how various are the ways in which the words are combined, to tell a tale that’s never been told before. This week, a lot of intrigue and individual uses; a lot of pleasure in the reading thereof. But I felt quite strongly that Antonia’s ‘Sometimes the Hunger takes over…’ deserved the top spot.

Words for the coming week: shake pink wheel

Entries by midnight Thursday August 25th,  new words posted Friday 26th

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Flexibility of rules

And, yes, I admit, despite strict adherence with my own word count, I don’t do the necessary cut and paste to check others. And on this occasion, I’m accepting Anonymous Dave’s explanation he meant to substitute ‘logs’ with the required ‘triangle’ because the ‘terrible fruit’ of the described scene gave such a kick to the imagination.

Thank you all for a week of high class entertainment.

 Words for the coming week:   ash   stitch welcome

Entries by midnight Thursday August 18th,  new words posted Friday 19^th

 

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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. 

Sorry for the delay (but longer to ponder)

And with apologies - a visit to family in Suffolk and a school-friend in Norfolk took up all lap-top time - I have now read and much enjoyed all entries and am putting Jim in the top spot for his Seeking Refuge Part II   -- scary place, threatening happenings and a worrying conversation. 

Words for the coming week:  divert, gravel and triangle. 

entries by midnight Thursday August 11th,  new words posted Friday 12th

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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. Lots to catch up on, but in case you are waiting for words for next week, have a go at: divert, gravel and triangle

Winners later today.

Best-laid plans

Sadly the effect of unprecedented heat on the UK’s rail system led to the closure of the East Coast line between York and London’s Kings Cross so my trip to London came to an abrupt halt, me unable to either meet with my friend or get to the exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery, as planned.

Which meant I had time enough to read and enjoy all the Prediction had to offer, to thank all of you who posted and commented, and award Terrie top spot for her intriguing ‘Love endures’

 Words for the coming week: evolve   muscle scorch

 Slightly extended deadline: entries by midnight Monday August 1st,  new words posted Tuesday 2nd

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Living in the north-east

 Has, for the most part meant we’ve escaped the high temperatures much of the south of the UK experienced of last week. Next week, however, I’ll be heading to London for the first time in seventeen years, to meet a writing friend visiting from Alabama, and will need to think carefully  about cool clothes (in the temperature sense!)

Here, the final line of Antonia’s short piece  winner provided chill enough to declare it winner – well done to her and to all of you for contributing such entertainment this week. 

Words for the coming week:  blush fiction tantrum 

Entries by midnight Thursday 21st July, new words posted Friday 22^nd (but maybe not the winners)

 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

UK’s political mayhem

 I doubt anyone could’ve predicted the events here of the past 24 hours – and it ain’t over yet.  I’m glad to see it has not brought the submission of Prediction posts to a standstill, and the standard – which this week  included resurrections and God-lit candles ­– as high as ever. While I sympathise with Antonia’s saddening situation it is David’s frequently-demonstrated  ability to do widescreen in 100 words that wins him this week’s top prize. And, as always, thank you for commenting.

Words for the coming week:  ragpicker scourge steam 

Entries by midnight Thursday 14th July, new words posted Friday 15th  July 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Pleading Mercy for my absence

 Apologies, but mind-space as much as time ran out last week; I did make progress with ‘Mercy for a Friday Child’, having had good advice and encouragement from writing friends and didn’t want to waste the inspiration. So thank you to those who did contribute, and to Holly in particular for her intriguing ‘Salacity [23] which left a lot of space for imagination to roam. 

Words for the coming week:  burn quicksand  result 

Entries by midnight Thursday 7th July, new words posted Friday 8th  July 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Becoming too Venetian

 A confession: I never count the words for entries when choosing winners (and have been known not to notice when prompt words are absent) so if those required by Blogger to remain Anonymous could identify themselves by adding their name it won't be counted and would be helpful. Which is not to say so many of you are unrecognisable by your style. This week it is the inimitable style of John’s ‘I’m innocent I tell you’ that ticked the box for me, but I thank you all for your participation.

Words for the coming week:  bubble, hope weak

Entries by midnight Thursday 30th June, new words posted Friday 1^st  July

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Left us all with fingers crossed

Antonia, that is. One of the more disturbing but beautifully written  posts this week – all  intricate but light in touch as filigree – and it’s also good to see so many comments, which I think is an important element: if only to let us know what we’ve posted has been read. This week, the top spot goes to MRMacrum for his ‘The Secret of God’ – a large tale told in a small number of words.

Words for the coming week:  cast ringlet suicide 

Entries by midnight Thursday 23rd June, new words posted Friday 24thth 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

"Goodwill to all" short-lived as ice-cream in the sun

Which is a pity but I suppose that's the nature of being human. And it could equally be claimed, to some extent, folk posting here are similarly striving for top-dog-status (though with a good deal more charity of heart.)

So many lovely phrases displayed for our delectation this week, amidst tales of tremendous gore and gruesomeness, and since the depiction of horror is to some extent, why we write  here (some with more dedication that others)  it was obvious to me David's 'The dustbin men merited top place, I also found Holly's 'Gravity fails' more than a little terrifying.

Words for the coming week:  available,  third, yoke 

Entries by midnight Thursday 16th June, new words posted Friday 17th 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

June a month for jubilation

 

Not least because some of us managed to find our way to Holly's Prediction @ Wordpress. [Now mothballed, with a signpost back  to here, in case we need to use it again] And jubilation also because Jim managed to get Blogger to do as he wanted, and post 'Anticipation 1' which I thought strong enough to earn the number one spot this week.  Thank you for your persistence. (and sorry Patricia has decided enough is enough.)

 Words for the coming week: baptise olive tentative

 Entries by midnight Thursday  9th June, new words posted Friday 10th

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Hats off to Holly

 Who has set up a new home for Prediction at https://predictionfiction.wordpress.com in the hope that those apparently locked out by Blogger can continue to participate.

 Like all new places it looks unfamiliar - stark and in need of decoration - and we aren't sure where everything is, nor, exactly how it works, but for the sake of such regular contributors as Jim and Patricia, I hope it can be made to work.  For the time being, I am posting in both places, so no-one is left not knowing where we've moved to, and I hereby declare the week's top spot goes to John for his perfectly-titled 'Odd, but possibly true'

 Words for the coming week (fingers crossed all will have a go, in  the new place as well as the old): cotton triangle yesterday

 Entries by midnight Thursday  2nd June, new words posted Friday  3rd

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

No solution

 Having deleted some 90+ posts - many with comments numbering in the hundreds - without solving the problem of some of you being able to upload posts. I've paused: it was an uncomfortable exercise, erasing history.  Only one idea since - does it work if instead of copy/paste you compose, type out word by word, your entry? SO frustrating, not least because your words are sorely missed.

 Some rich offerings did make it, I'm glad to say, and top spot (not that it was easy to choose) goes to David, for the intriguing promise of  his 'Wedding Day''

               Words for the coming week (fingers crossed all may play) merge saffron torque

Entries by midnight Thursday  26th May, new words posted Friday  27th 

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Problems ☹ ☹ ☹

Firstly, apologies for my lack of posts this week -- a week without time spent on 'Mercy', my current wip, left  me desperate to pick it up again and note down the random ideas I had while away (and I'm not done yet!) A good time had, though, weather kind and I re-established my liking for mussels, scallops and whisky.

Jim's struggles to post fill me with despair as I have no remedy to suggest. There seems to be some blame levelled at Google, who apparently recently took over Blogger, but the lack of logic – why do comments stick but not posts? – defeats me. If the problem persists all I can do is ask if someone else has the know-how to set up a site with similar functions.

What MIGHT be a solution - the site might be full. I propose going to the archives and attempting to delete some of the 472 posts, starting from December 2013, trusting you have all saved what you'd like to keep

What was easier this week was the picking of a winner - I was enchanted by Antonia's incorporation of Charon in her untitled piece, but much enjoyed all other entries.

 Words for the coming week (fingers crossed all may play) decide lace tide

Entries by midnight Thursday  19th May, new words posted Friday  20th

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Mulling words while travelling on ferries in the mist

 Internet connection being dodgy, I'm suggesting mist, ferry and pass as prompt words for next week. 

And one chair/non desk in room also .a factor .Normal service resumed thereafter

Heading North

A week planned in Scotland, fingers crossed, visiting (among other places) the western Islands of Skye and Mull. Neither of us big on walking, long distance or uphill, but nevertheless expect to enjoy what each has to offer.

 Which means that,  although  I'll schedule  prompt words, to appear, as usual, on Friday 6th May, I am unlikely to find the time to properly peruse the week's entries and  pick a winner; it would be a good thing if each of you were able to indicate a favourite from the entries using this week's words. This week, as so often, I am finding it exceptionally hard to choose but eventually decided Terrie's superbly continuing SAS Diaries deserved the accolade.

Words for the coming week: detonate lip spice

Entries by midnight Thursday  5th May, new words posted Friday  6th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

Days are getting longer

Evenings lighter later; mornings woken by the sun. And leaves are bursting out all over. Happens every year, and every year it thrills.

With the Prediction we get a selection of new thrills every week and, as so often happens, each succeeding post has me thinking 'This will be the one that comes top this week' only to find the next one  is even better.

This week it was like skittles in reverse, the ditsy lunacy of  Antonia's 'Interpretation' and its undercurrent of coercion truly unsettling and finally leaving the others colourfully spinning.

 Words for the coming week: churn diligent power

Entries by midnight Thursday  28th April  new words posted Friday  29th April

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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.

'Negotiating with the dead'

 is the title of a book on writing written by Margaret Atwood, and was the first 'How to' I read, given to me as a Christmas present by my elder son. Over the years (ten or more) he given me several others; all have been gladly received, not least for the recognition that I can never  claim to have finished learning how to write. That I also have the opportunity to do so each week on Prediction is part of the pleasure of participating, as each entry is capable of showing something worthy of note.

John's ' Some like it in the raw' an obvious example, of course, and this week's clear winner.

Words for the coming week (courtesy of my younger son): eagle question trepan

 Entries by midnight Thursday  21st April  new words posted Friday  22nd April

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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

April unpredictable

 And not just the weather; my husband woke Monday morning with Covid, so we had to cancel hotel and restaurant bookings made for a couple of days away to celebrate the 59th anniversary of when we first got together. Time does fly! (glad to say he's recovering well.)

Three different prizes this week – one to David for  making me laugh over his 'The Suet Crisis; one to Antonia for, as Jim said, her 'casually efficient use of the prompt words', and one to Jim for the olfactory wealth of 'The Worm VII'

Words for the coming week: grill  harmony model

 Entries by midnight Thursday  14th April  new words posted Friday  15th April

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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

 

Another half a dozen new books

I treated myself to today, well-knowing my excuse for reading them – 'research' – is as transparent as window glass. But it is fascinating how different books evoke different emotions, and I am in awe of those writers whose words keep me glued to my chair for the whole of an afternoon and evening, desperate to find out what happened, while simultaneously not wanting it to finish because I am enjoying it so much.  Much bigger is the problem of where to store them all, because I frequently re-read books many times so don't pass many on.

As, indeed I read and re-read the Prediction posts, admiring of deft phrases and world-building. This week both winners are expert practitioners of either: Terrie, for SAS Diaries 186, and Holly, for 'Casual Distraction'

Words for the coming week: crude, pudding, sorrow

Entries by midnight Thursday  7th April  new words posted Friday  8th April

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all 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