Category Archives: Fiction

General fiction – short stories, Friday Fictioneers, 500 words, etc

Three things challenge #373

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https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2020/09/29/three-things-challenge-373/

Your three things today are:
RECORD
HANG
THREAD

Want a challenge? Well, here’s one.

Try and ignore the talking heads that litter our news feeds and fill us with dread.

Pandemic 2020, explosive Lebanon, recession looming, debate debacle.

Record unemployment, hanging by a thread.

One million coronavirus victims officially dead.

Overtly privileged white men vie to lead a country.

They represent an attitude that’s ugly.

How can we ignore the doom and the gloom?

Read a book.

Take a walk.

Call a friend and talk.

Watch a movie – not TV. Don’t want to be distracted from your joie de vivre!

Simply 6 Minutes – Waspish

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6 minute challenge WASP 29Sept

I’ve never seen a wasp so black
Or poking around in holes like that
The kind that I expect to see
Hang out on my verandah

I think they’re called paper wasps
In general, they’re a friendly lot
I’ve always thought if I ignore them
They won’t attack, and we’ll be friends

But then …
One day, I was relaxed, just standing at the door
And felt a stab, the pain expanding
I bounced around, screeching; crying

The plumber who was doing a job
Came running as he heard me sob
And as he tried to calm me down
His buddy yelled ‘I’ve been stung!’

He swore, I moaned, we jumped around
We tried to grab at spots that hurt
The plumber’s mate, just stood and grinned
I yelled at him “Check under my shirt!”
(I was half undressed, by this point)

In my urgent need to be rescued
I’d lost all modesty, middle of the garden; near to naked!
Those wasps are not my friends.
And I’ll never ignore them again. (172 words, 6 minutes)

 

  • Set up a timer or sit near a clock so you can keep track of the six minutes you will be writing.
  • You can either use one of the prompts (photo or written) or you can free-write.
  • Get ready and write for 6 minutes, that is it! Can you write a complete story? Can you think of a new Sonnet? Can you write 400 words? 400? 500? There are no restrictions on what kind of writing you do, but you should try to be actively writing for six minutes.
  • After you are done writing, include your word count and then post back to this page https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/100129212/posts/2939433981 #Simply6Minutes
  • Or include your link in the comments section. Pingbacks are enabled.

#Wordle 474

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#thesundaywhirl #wordle #wordle474

The Sunday Whirl – Wordle 474

How sad is it that a President of the United States of America named Trump embodies a word that means ‘to outrank or defeat’ ‘in a highly public way’ whose desires are paramount and may end any hope that you have to justice.

The sorrow that one feels; that the dream of a democratic process is dead, due to the hypocrite in power.

When you can’t deny the ruthless power the POTUS and his sycophants in waiting employ, you might as well react as the turtle; retreat into your shell and let the world pass you by. It will anyway.

To read other Wordle contributions visit https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/wordle-474/

Simply 6 Minutes – Quelle Horreur

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#simply6minutes #gymhorror

Simply 6 Minutes – 22Sept2020

Nausea rises!

It does not compute that I am back in a school gym.

All those years of forced comradery. Forced athleticism.

I was no kind of gym junkie. Jock. Cheerleader.

Get me out of here, was top of my playlist.

The smell as you enter so reluctantly, brings it all back.

Gym sweat, gym gear, peer crushing, humiliation, bullying.

Not for me memories of past triumphs. Game night. Winners!

For me it is the little guy, the loser, the nerd.

Now as a parent, I find myself here with forced smile and bonhomie.

Supporting a child who also does not fit. Who does not want to be here.

I feel huge guilt and pressure. As a parent, I need to encourage team spirit. Love of the game.

As a person, I hate it all. I need to take my son’s hand and walk away. From the expectation.

What’s wrong with loving your own company, reading, gaming, talking long walks in the country.

In the name of ‘team’ we ask for ‘sheep’ ‘same’ ‘blend’ ‘belong’ – internally, I cry ‘ONE’ ‘ME’ ‘ALONE’.

How much of this do I reflect back onto my child. How much of it is his own identity?

I don’t  know, but I don’t think I assume and turn that pressure onto him.

I think he’s his own person – and I encourage that.

Then I get the summons. Game night. Assembly. Presentation night.

And numbly we enter, dragging our feet, heads down, breath held.

And into the dark past we trudge.

https://christinebialczak.com/2020/07/14/simply-6-minutes-writing-challenge

  1. Set up a timer or sit near a clock so you can keep track of the six minutes you will be writing.
  2. You can either use one of the prompts (photo or written) or you can free-write.
  3. Get ready and write for 6 minutes, that is it! Can you write a complete story? Can you think of a new Sonnet? Can you write 400 words? 400? 500? There are no restrictions on what kind of writing you do, but you should try to be actively writing for six minutes.
  4. After you are done writing, include your word count and then post back to this page #Simply6Minutes or include your link in the comments section. Pingbacks are enabled.

Friday Fictioneers – the Mother in Law

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Photo Prompt @ Dale Rogerson

She knew when I arrived today it would be dark; the light broken.
I always knock; I never buzz.
Is it a lark, or deadly intent? The doorknocker from hell.
An allergic reaction could be the end of me.
I don’t know why she hates me. Perhaps I’ve joked too often when partaking at her table.
My comments could be softened.
Blasted woman. I’ve tolerated much. Too many words, embittered. Too much emotion, littered upon the plate she offers.
Her daughter treasures me. Grandchildren dote on her every word. BUT, mother-in-law today, I see, has finally had enough of me! (100 words)

Weekend Word Prompt – Alone

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#weekendwritingprompt

Weekend Writing Prompt #175 Megalith

The Megalith hums; vibrates

Preternatural; outside nature

It stands, immobile but reaching skywards

Unearthed, yet anchored.

Moss covered; blending

Of sandstone, bluestone, granite

Of limestone, basalt, marble

Solid, unyielding, impervious

Ritual and superstition

Hold communities in awe

Engages curiosity

Pulses elevate

Living history is here

Standing stones

Alone; breathing

Friday Fictioneers – Breaking Point

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#rogerbultot #rochelle-wisoff-fields #fridayfictionners

Photo prompt @ Roger Bultot

“Oh no, Mike. Check it out,” Shauna cried.

“What am I looking for?

“The high chair. That’s Martha’s house.”

“And … “

“She’s let go! Gave it up. Caved.”

“What to?”

“Reality. Acceptance. Joey has gone. No more babies.”

“Or, Pete dumped it. He thinks ‘it’s time’,” replied Mike, shrugging.

“What? No! He can’t make that decision for Martha.”

Shauna’s expression. Sheer disbelief.

“I know for a fact he’s had enough. Thinks they need to move on. He told me he would dump it at the next council collection.”

“It’ll push her over the edge, Mike. It’ll break her!” (99 words)

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a story in response to a photo prompt – in 100 words or less. You can find other stories here.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Rectify

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If I had the chance to rectify

slights, and errors, mistakenly taken

If I would, if I should, could I follow through?

If it meant being held accountable? Would I face the music?

Could you?

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend.  How you use the prompt is up to you.  Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like.  Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise.  If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

wk-174-rectify

Friday Fictioneers – Blue

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Wilmington

Photo Prompt by Rochelle

It hasn’t changed. I quietly weep.

If I waited for another five minutes, I swear dad would come through that glass paned door.

In standard heavy work boot clad feet, deep blue denim shirt, with his darkly tanned and leathered skin and bright dazzling smile. He’d push his way out, full of enthusiasm for the day.

With Bluey, his faithful Beagle leading the way.

What a team. Full of love. Inseparable. Friends for life.

And death.

Daddy died in a site accident, timber crushing his strong body.

Bluey dug desperately, for hours.

Then pined away; succumbing to heartbreak. (98 words)

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a story in response to a photo prompt – in 100 words or less. You can find other stories here.

“In One Word” Poem – Devastate

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Today’s Word is devastate

Off on his quest, atop his steed

Arthur leads his soldiers east

No time to eat

Nor hunger sate

A country’s honour his to save

               And death, to evade

Upon this quest, fear will be tasted

Freedom for all, a tease

The kingdom is vast

A glorious estate

The Saxon lord’s unsteady seat

               Detached now from his mother’s teat

Returned, this eve

To home this date

He looks upon his men, his mates

And dares to dream, of peace instead

The King of Britain, now devest

               Of warlike garment, and blood-soaked vest

In One Word” poem, you

  • choose a word
  • list words that you find within that word
  • choose words from that list
  • write a poem in which each line ends with one of those words
  • Visit https://nixthecomfortzone.com/ for examples