Convalescent

 So … yes I’ve a shiny new laptop, but it’s stuffed with suggestions of how to do more new shiny things, when all I want to do is return to the comfortable, familiar old. PLUS memory sticks, external hard drive and the like are either buzzing uselessly or take me back to January 2020 and Threshold and Pettinger AWOL, however one silver lining as but being forced to do a one-off stretched my writing muscles more than required for a serial, enjoyably so; telling me I need to do that more often.

So, I thank you for your patience, and for the shiny posts this week, and declare Terrie the week’s winner for the unsettlingness of ‘Juice extraction’.

Words for next week:  bristle heavy welcome 

Entries by midnight Thursday 24th August, 

New words scheduled Friday 25^th (but no winner, so feel free to nominate your favourite) 

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 Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Normal service not quite yet

 It's been a tricky week with technology. culminating with the collection of a fully  set-up new laptop which was the wrong model, so I've resurrected my Chrome book (my clogged old laptop also having died on me) and sincerely hope normal service will be restored shortly, at least for a little while (I'm off to the Netherlands on the 23rd, for a week) Thank you for all the entertaining posts last week.

Words for the coming week:  educate juice mirror

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 17th, new words and winners Friday 18th

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.

Apologies for tardiness

 I'm struggling with a  long-retired and overstuffed laptop. so this will be short and sweet(-ish). with me once again declining to name a winner - except for all of us.

Words for the coming week: precious remote shift  

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 10th, new words and winners Friday 11th (I expect to collect repaired or new laptop on the 10th so might ne a bit late with that.too.)

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.

Not quite eighty years of ‘Satisfaction’

 But as with Mick Jagger, the pleasure measures up, and this week no exception. Nor is, of course, the difficulty of choosing, but in the end David’s  ‘The Wizard of Combustion’ most accurately hit the spot for me, which is not to say all other entries lacked in any way. Regrettably, I could not bring Pettinger to perform so well.

Words for the coming week: blind pivot youth

 Entries by midnight Thursday August 3rd, new words and winners Friday 4th

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.

Picking the perfect word

This week rich with wonderfully intriguing and sense-tickling phrases : Terrie’s ‘the smell of blood clotted the air’,  Jim’s, ‘stood dumbfounded as Byrdie’s knife plunged into his chest’ (even though I could not fully rid my mind of Rowdy Yates) and Antonia’s ‘foreboding’ china Angels (Terrie picked the perfect word there) has me wondering why so few participate, even though I know all writing sites are struggling for participants. Fingers crossed each of you will be inspired by this week’s prompt words, and accept my decision to name Terrie as the week’s ‘winner’.

 Words for the coming week: immobile key stretch

Entries by midnight Thursday July 27th, new words and winners Friday 28th

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.

Conjoined in quality

 Yet again – and with gratitude – I contemplate the task of choosing a ‘winner’ and am unable to separate Terrie and Jim in the quality, skill and enjoyment of the uses to which the week’s prompt were used – nor for their participation in the form of comments. Very much keeping this site alive, for which I truly thank you.  

 Words for the coming week: adapt chew moment

 Entries by midnight Thursday July 20th, new words and winners Friday 21st

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.

‘The stranger that lives in my head’

 This week, for the familiar truth of the final line of his extra-ordinary offering,  I choose Jim’s ‘The stranger’ for top place, well aware, as ever, that every other posting this week was equally as packed with delight. Thank you all.

Words for the coming week: coast common wicked 

Entries by midnight Thursday July 13th, new words and winners Friday 14th

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.

And turn about

Last week impossible to choose between Jim and David, this week –  again for reasons of competing, captivating writing – honours have to be shared between Terrie for the 230th entry in The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries, and David for ‘The end of an Era.  Thank you both, for the high class entertainment  – and Antonia whose comments never fail to highlight a particular merit.

Words for the coming week: lion tender unpack

Entries by midnight Thursday July 6th, new words and winners Friday 7th

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.

Innovative use of prompts

is something many of this group excels in; Terrie’s ‘a long scream, sharply falling into clipped silence’ a prime example , though as the prompts were from the week before they can’t count for this week.  Instead I have to choose between David’s channelling of the Eagles and Jim’s chilly, snow-bound struggle to a self-chosen suicide and eventually, by the fragility of a snowflake, choose Jim, with gratitude to all of you for participation and comments.

Words for the coming week: clover food, yelp

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

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.

Something of an unanticipated reversion

 To what I remember as childhood reading; goblins and faeries making their appearances. Nevertheless  I sense the joy of writing in every post, for which I thank you, and since I am, as ever, struggling to pick a ‘winner’ I’m declaring each of them as equal as the rest. 

Words for the coming week: cruel destination guest 

Entries by midnight Thursday22nd, new words and winners Friday 23rd

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.

In hindsight …

…and totally unintentionally, last week’s prompt words – cousin, splinter youth – could be said to have summarised my fourteenth summer; memories of which David’s ‘A fairy tale’ similarly evoked and thereby won him top place for this week’s challenge, a mere nose ahead of Jim’s ‘Payback ‘ Thank you for participation and comments.   

Words for the coming week: clip consensus teeth

Entries by midnight Thursday15th , new words and winners Friday 16th

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

Winning on a whim

 I’ve said before, there’s no cast in concrete rule, rhyme nor reason as to what prompts me to declare a winner from the weekly selection of Prediction entries, and I am confident you will forgive me this week for choosing Jim’s ‘A long wait’, specifically for the delight of his first sentence and the inspiration of his naming a place ‘Muleshoe’.

 Words for the coming week: cousin splinter youth 

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.

Apologies, once again!

 Sorry,  sorry, brain not yet  in gear since returning home ,(I had a workshop to attend as well)  and. having realised my omission I'm  now about to go out, 

Take duster, lapse, and meddle as words for the coming week and I'll read, comment and declare a winner for on last week's words in the morning.

I mentioned posting new words today (31st) but see no reason not to wait until Friday ...

Scheduled words for Friday 19th May

  For encouragement (and to deliver the warm glow of having been read) please mention your personal favourite from last week. 

Words for this week: Elizabethan, incompetence priest 

Deadline 25th May. New words 31st May.  

Scheduled words for Friday 12th

 For encouragement (and to deliver the warm glow of having been read) please mention your personal favourite from last week. 

Words for next week, deadline 18th May: second unearth  whirl 

This week, all win

 Because all, as ever,  are such top-class, entertaining  entries, deserving of praise and prizes, I’m  opting out of declaring a ‘winner this week and will also do so for posting entries for a couple of weeks, because I’ll be away from home. I will schedule new words on 12^th and 19^th of May and it would be encouraging (and reduce the echoing absence) if each of you could comment and name your favourites.

Words for the coming week: battery diamond remove 

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.

Outclassed

A slender week for entries but evidence (if such were needed) that I’m outclassed when it comes to creating tales of horror, since both David’s ‘Apples from Eden’ and Jim’s ‘The Voice’ were such perfect, clever and impactful examples of how to unsettle their readers, with skill, inventiveness and freshness – a skill they demonstrate week after week.

Which makes the selection of words for each coming week a pleasurable, but minor challenge; I seek a catalyst and a couple of non-obvious companions, then sit back and enjoy seeing how they are used. This weeks I found on the spines of the pile of books I’ve yet to read.

Words for the coming week: pearl, razor, trespass  

Entries by midnight Thursday 4^th May, new words and winners Friday 5th

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.

That the clock is ticking …

 Is something no-one can deny (unless they insist on digital) and this week, unreal or not, Antonia gets the accolade for her untitled  description of vaults and money fountains. Odd how long childhood dreams persist. Less odd – positively excellent – is the persistence with which you all turn up to contribute to this tiny place of Prediction: you are what keeps it alive. 

Words for the coming week (the first of which I read in in one of Helen Simpson’s excellent short stories): demulcent mobile wax 

Entries by midnight Thursday April 27th, new words scheduled  Friday 28th 

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.

Flexing writing muscles

 Is one of the benefits of this weekly challenge, and this week all participants rose to it unerringly, despite the (aimed at) disparity of the prompt words. 

This week, I don’t think any one will dispute my choosing Dave’s untitled confrontation between guard and prisoner as winner, since we were all impressed with it.

Words for the coming week: clock erupt unreal  

Entries by midnight Thursday April 20th, new words scheduled  Friday 21st

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.

Tosca superb!

 As were all of this week’s entries, and because, from those offered by Terrie, Jim and Dave I could not pick one as having more merit than the rest I’m declaring every one of you a winner.

Thank you for your contributions, your comments  and especially to Terrie for having indicated a favourite from the week before. 

 Words for the coming week: cushion flex wince 

Entries by midnight Thursday April 13th, new words  Friday 14th

 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.