Happy Boxing Day

Even though my Christmas plans went pear-shaped and I now have the leisure and lack of distraction, I admit I'm relieved not to have been obliged to pick a winner from last week's offerings as it would have been impossible (and how frequently that now applies, as each of us continually raises our game; hones skills of concise, precise wordery!) Thank you all, yet again, for wonderful entertainment.  

For those in need of mental exercise other than Monopoly and mince pies:

new words for the coming week are: abdicate  love  pith

Entries by midnight Thursday 31st December, new words posted Friday 1st January (winners likely later)  

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.

'Tis the season … and all change again

 The time has long passed when a standard set of criteria can be applied to the week's entries, and it truly has become a no-rules; never-the-same-two-weeks-running entirely discombobulating place to enter if you are trying to do anything other than entertain. Which seems to be fine for all of us, not least because along the way we are so very richly rewarded for our time.

This week is no exception. I have no hesitation in nominating Patricia whose 'Pop-up' entry sent me to searching out 1970s Guinness ads, and the 'tock followed tick' of the waiting surfer. Magic. 

  Words for the coming week are:  aloof  ermine  rigging 

I'll schedule new words to appear Saturday 26th December (!) but don't anticipate selecting winners from the above. Like most folk, our Christmas plans have been altered yet again from the norm and I'll be tidying and making preparations rather than travelling to Wales or hosting family it'll be Dearly Beloved and me spending our first Christmas just us two in 54 years of marriage.  

And hopefully you too will celebrate in the best way currently possible and trust 2021 will be brighter.

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.

And you all deserve a decoration

What a week of entertainment! I doubt it's been surpassed for quality and wealth of enjoyment. And though my picking a winner can be no more than a going through the motions for form's sake, I really cannot say any one piece is better than the rest so having gorged on each and every one, I turned to the comments and tried to work out a universal favourite from them, but that led to even more procrastination as it seemed Perry had won the popular vote. Possibly. Or Holly. Or …  So I decided it had to be me and, after another read, and because WWI themes have an especial appeal,  Jim's 'The spoils of war' grabbed my attention yet again, so  that can be my final decision. Thank you one and all. 

this week’s words are:  Guinness  merge  slur

Entries by midnight Thursday 17th December, new words posted 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

Manufactured 'fun'

Several sorts of stomach-churning, neck-tingling, throat-catching brands of horror in this week's offerings and I think it is because David's 'No laughing matter' touches more on a reality I too have experienced – and fear I could again, the enforcement of others' ideas of 'enjoyment' one of the more to-be-feared facets of care in later life (Cue that Who song!!) that make it my winner this week.

Interesting divergence of opinion re Monty Python  et al; my lukewarm attitude has my sons declaring I have no sense of humour, whereas I stoutly claim it to be subtle. Thank you all for the stimulation.

 This week’s words are:  eradicate, tinsel urge

Entries by midnight Thursday 10th December, new words posted 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

Wrapping books to Guns'n'Roses …

 … Eighteen of them – everyone's getting books from me this year, as a thank you for the services of our local independent bookshop during lockdowns – and took me nearly as long to work out the Royal Mail website for parcel collection, but all done now. Yet  to discover whether we'll be travelling to spend Christmas with child 1 and child 3.

 Today's discovery, for you, is that Terrie's The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 129 is this week's winner, for the simple reason that I found it highly entertaining – and know I'm not the only one.

                                                this week’s words are:  allocate butler cushion

Entries by midnight Thursday 3rd December, new words posted 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. 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.

Taking the biscuit

 In the end it was David's trading custard creams for jewellery that elevated him into first place this week, such a smoothly-written tale, one of several contenders which took quite a lots of separating. At times it doesn't seem fair to you that each week the choice is mine, but I assume none of you are distressed enough to desert. And thank you, as ever for a week of writing and the all-important sharing of comments.

this week’s words are:  alarm contradict hump 

Entries by midnight Thursday 26th November, new 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

Awarding the intrepid

Breaking the rules this week (but if I can't, who can?) I'm nominating a non-writer for the top spot, courtesy of  Antonia's  ever-excellent Stop The Week; I Want To Get Off (123) in recognition of Shaun's car-buying contribution. I do, of course, thank you all for another week of entertainment, in both writing and the ever-important comments, without which this site would soon cease to sparkle.

this week’s words are:  custard emboss language  

Entries by midnight Thursday 19th November, new 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.

Fireworks of the magic kind …

 ... is what this week brought (unlike the wider world's activities, for which much thanks.) 

And it is grateful I am for Terrie's blazing return, along with the sparkling and colourful rockets offered by the rest of you, all insisting on several re-readings to extract full enjoyment. Hard to choose, but eventually, so glad to have the back, I settled on the  'dillos, as captured in The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 123.

this week’s words are:  drift camel sanguine

Entries by midnight Thursday 12th November, new 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.

So you get your revenge …

 ... by making me have to decide on a favourite from a whole field of favourites.

With effort, I narrowed it down to four posts, from three of you, then swithered back and forth for an age, finally deciding on the basis that I read traces of my most-favoured fictional heroes in Perry's 'Hero'. But please, please, the heel-snapping rest of you, do not despair: if this was a horse race you'd all have muddy faces. 

 this week’s words are:  scalp tine vague

 Entries by midnight Thursday 5th November, new 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.

Nothing took anyone's fancy?

Or did shyness keep you from stating a preference?  Last week's words certainly threw up a challenge (you are not alone in cursing the person who chose them!) but at least I can say, with confidence, that my favourite this week, for its elegant subversiveness, was Patricia's 'The Before Times'.

 this week’s words are:  casual  inherit salubrious 

Entries by midnight Thursday 29th October, new words posted Friday30th

 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.

Schedule for Friday 16th October

I thank you for your choice of winners from last week, while I visited what, to my husband, was the Jurassic coast, and to me was Hardy country, two books of whose referenced the hotel we'll be staying at.  

 this week’s words are: beard public rune

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.

Birds at the scarlet berries

Whatever the saying is about lots of berries meaning a hard winter, all I know is that I don't recall what has recently been identified as a whitebeam – a decades-old "free tree" opposite my kitchen window – ever having berries, never mind the quantity there this autumn. Only time - and snow - will tell.

In the meantime, I have to tell you I'm off again next week, so next Friday will schedule new prompt words and I'll ask you, once again to choose your favourite.

 This week, it's my turn, and, after two weeks off I find I'm sadly out of practice when it comes to making a decision about a winner, especially when the criteria, the factors that give pleasure vary for each and every one. In the end I decided Jim deserves a mention for his ability to keep me reading through eight episodes of 'The Box', despite the gruesome horror, but the second paragraph of Perry's 'Exiles' was so delicious that it had to be awarded first place.

 this week’s words are: proof tendon yawn

 Entries by midnight Thursday 15th October, new words posted Friday16th

  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.

Words for Friday 2nd October

 Thank you for last week's entertainment - please do name your favourite, then do your best with the  following:

this week’s words are: former, lake plaster

Entries by midnight Thursday 8th October, new 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.

  

Words for Friday 25th September

 

This week’s words are: Santana strain third

 Entries by midnight Thursday 1st October new words posted Friday 2nd

Please nominate your favourite entries for the above words at the end of the week

  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.

 

It's up to you again. Times two

 Next week I’m away to Leith and Portobello, to take photos for the covers of ‘Drink with a dead man’ and ‘Snap is not a children’s game’. The following week a wedding anniversary treat. On both occasions I shall be away Thursday and Friday so have scheduled new prompt words to appear on Friday 25th September and Friday 2nd October, but I ask each of you to nominate your favourite from this week and next. I shall be back inbetweentimes, so if I have cocked it up (again!)  I ought to be able to remedy.

This week, every piece held a similar quantity of appeal, and on different days a different style appealed, or  a particular phrase snared my delight. Because they were all so close, I’ve resisted naming each, but say, at this moment, after what must be a fourth read-through of them all, I’ve decided Perry’s ‘Lookout’ was my top favourite.Thank you all for your participation..

 Words for next week: Atlantic stupefy texture

Entries by midnight Thursday 24th September, new words posted 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

Eeny-meeny

 You will, I know, appreciate my dilemma: do I choose one from a selection of beautifully-written intrigues, such as Holly’s ‘An Unexpected Education’,  Perry’s  ‘Creggan’s Lost World’ or Patricia’s ‘Shattered?

Or, for unadulterated gut-punch horror, ably demonstrated by Patricia’s ‘Hush-a-bye. ‘ David’s ‘Hear no evil or Jim’s ‘The Box V’. In addition, John provided a shock of involuntary laughter, and Antonia a cheer for good news.

Took a lot of reading, mental ordering and re-ordering, but my last minute choice was Jim … by a whisker.

Thank you all for participation, for comment, and for enjoyment.

 Words for next week: foster manuscript stigma

Entries by midnight Thursday 17th September, words and winners posted 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

Fairy godmother?

This week felt like I’d sprinkled magic words and they each and every one sprung to life. To a different, magic, unanticipated life. Not that Merlot is a sparkling wine but each tale made it do so. And so it seems most apt to award John top spot this week for his ‘Grapes of Wrath', not that any made me wrathful,  Thank you one and all for the participation.

Words for next week: bubble demolish siesta

Entries by midnight Thursday 10th September, words and winners posted 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 uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.

A mixed week of reading

Five books read this week, ranging from a really dire one star to a magnificent five star (Sarah Moss’s ‘Ghost’). The benefit of the dire was it made me reappraise the way I’ve attempted to show the vulnerabilities of my MC, and I am reminded to thank you for your indulgence in allowing me to post my random Snap pieces, as well as for contributing and commenting yourselves. It’s not so much that we need praise as to know we’ve been read.

And it is in the hope of reading more (and I’m confident I’m not alone) that Patricia gets a special mention for her ‘Pledge’ and, although not the only one, for reading pleasure received, Terrie takes top spot for ’Secret Armadillo diaries entry 120’.

Words for next week: echo  grind  Merlot

Entries by midnight Thursday 3rd September, words and winners posted 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. 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.

Branches laden to the ground

Our plum tree, that is. Don’t remember it ever being that laden before. Fruits aren’t all as sweet and juicy as they first appear, much like last weeks tales, some of which  held horrors akin to the wasp-buried, sap-leaking, mould-spotted monstrosities lurking amongst the good stuff.

All good stuff though, according to the rules of this stupendous site, and of a variety which, as usual, makes it hard to choose, but the fact that I had, after the first read, to avert my eyes from John’s ‘Afflicted’ suggests it deserves acclaim (and the dessert of ‘Revenge served cold’ confirmed it).

Words for next week: origin  pawn vacant

Entries by midnight Thursday 27th August, words and winners 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.

Scheduled words

Back now after a couple of days researching Scottish East Coast harbours North for my current wip - I only have to say 'Sometime I need to go to ...' for my itchy-footed husband to be booking a hotel and planning the route, thus we gain a night in a hotel in which to talk to each other instead of focus on our separate interests. And relieved to see the variation (and John's cop-out) in the naming of favourites - one vote each for Patricia, David and me  (Thank you Patricia) - from last week.

Words for next week: metronome poke spine

Entries by midnight Thursday 20th August, words and winners posted Friday 21st

 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.