Thursday photo prompt: Crossing #writephoto

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Michael

crossing

Dareyadareyadareya!

It echoed across the bridge.

“What do you think?” asked one to the other.

“Instant death,” said the other.

They hid behind the stones on one end peeping the occasional look to see if any obstacles had appeared.

“It’s a beautiful day, what can go wrong?” asked one to the other.

“Don’t be deceived,” replied the other looking into the distance, “they thrive on days like this. They want you to relax and try crossing, then half way they grab you and you know what happens next.”

The one gulped and knew well the fate awaiting the getting caught.

“What about underneath?” asked one to the other.

“Too risky,” replied the other, “ we might get our feet wet.”

“Ugh,” cried the one to the other, “a worse fate than being caught.”

“Precisely, best we wait. He’ll go for a toilet break soon. He has a bladder the size of a double boiler; we’ll have plenty of time then.

A shadow alerted them to the guard going for his toilet break and the sound of him singing “Hey Jude” in his odd falsetto voice gave them the break they needed to get home in time for their dinner, not his.

 

Written for: https://scvincent.com/2018/07/05/thursday-photo-prompt-crossing-writephoto/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

In Other Words, fireworks…

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Michael

in-other-words1

Write a story or poem of 5 Lines or Less using the word fireworks

The family gathered round the bonfire.

The father lit the fireworks, which exploded, as they should.

The small boy wanted a turn.

He lit the wick, watched it fizz.

It exploded, burning his hand, teaching him a lesson.

 

Written for: https://patriciasplace.me/2018/07/04/in-other-words-fireworks/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , | 4 Comments

TELL ME A TALE IN 120 WORDS – Writer’s Block

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Michael

tmat120

Today’s prompt is:  Tell me about your cure for writer’s block.

I think I’ve found a method for dealing writer’s block when it comes my way. STOP.

I find when confronted with a writing prompt, and there is nothing happening in my head in terms of a response then I know there’s little point in pursuing the task, so I let it go. This would occur even after an overnight think where my brain still refuses to see any potential in the prompt.

As life is precious and finite I see no point in pushing ahead into a potential abyss. Writer’s block happens it’s a writer’s reality, deal with it or go crazy. Maybe slathering one’s body in lilac oil could be beneficial. It would give you something to write about.

 

Written for: https://rantingalong.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/joelles-tales-first-thursday-of-the-month-tmat120-writing-prompt-for-july-2018/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

July 5: Flash Fiction Challenge – Buttons

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Michael

working-template-for-ff-challenges38

July 5, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes buttons. You can use the word plural or singular in different expressions, or focus on how buttons relate to a story. Go where the prompt leads.

“Oh my but who dressed you?”

“Why?” I would ask feeling rather put upon.

It would be at this stage my partner would point out the disaster she was looking at.

Buttons in wrong holes, buttons missing, my fly half opened and my jacket having no chance of being buttoned up due to my spreading girth.

Back to the drawing board, she’d go over me, like with a fine-toothed comb fixing up the errors I had carelessly made.

Buttons were the bane of my life. They’d pop off at inopportune times leaving a gaping hole into my inner soul.

 

Written for: https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/05/july-5-flash-fiction-challenge/

 

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2018 WEEK #27

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Michael

black-and-white-person-train-motion-42153-pixel-photo

Image: black-and-white-person-train-motion-42153 Pixel photo

After a day’s recovery from her hospital visit Joyce, my aged companion, was ready to go again. Roger our tour guide had organised a train trip to the next destination, the ancient ruins of Old Morgue and Joyce was keen as mustard to go as ruins were something she related to.

After a quick breakfast, we were ready to go. It was a short walk to the train station from our hotel and Joyce had her backpack on, camera charged and her most comfortable walking shoes. She was in for a big day.

The train station was crowded with the morning commuters as we made our way to our platform.

A train pulled in and as the doors opened a young man alighted and stood for a moment looking straight at us.

I felt Joyce’s arm on mine as the young man looked at her before moving off.

She gasped, grabbed me tighter as her face grew quite pale, muttered Uncle Jeff and hurriedly found a seat. She kept looking in the direction the young man had gone.

The young man in question was identical to her Uncle Jeff who had died years before when he fell under a train.

 

Written for: https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/flash-fiction-for-the-purposeful-practitioner-2018-week-27/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Tale Weaver #178 – Karma – 5/7/18 – Mother and Children

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Michael

d5c441cd61366c67bfe586e39121b1bd

Image: Pinterest.

“She’s a bitch of a girl. I hate her. She does nothing to help and openly flouts everything I ask her to do,” so spoke the mother one day when she was obviously overwhelmed by the demands of younger children.

The girl in question was four years old and wanted nothing more than to be a small girl.

The mother was told it would be beneficial to be more tolerant. The mother argued that she was the mother and her authority was being challenged, and her will defied, and she wasn’t taking it in any way.

The belligerence continued as the child grew and the rift between mother and daughter grew ever wider.

The mother never thought of her daughter in any way other than that of a child and one who needed to be told what to do.

When the child was six years old, and the conflict between the two continued, and the mother’s treatment of her continued in the most vindictive of ways, I advised the mother that if she didn’t treat her children well, for by then it was more than one child she mistreated, she would end up a lonely old woman with no one wanting to be around her.

How true it has become. Of her six children, only one or two have any sporadic contact with her, most the children shun her, some have not spoken to her in years, she insists to this day that nothing she has done has brought this on. It’s what happens to those who never take responsibility for what they do and argue nothing is or was their fault.

In this case, the karma has been severe, it is wrong, it had robbed the children of a mother figure, for as we know, everyone deserves to have a mother. But at the same time, it is as it is and they and me have to deal with it.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/tale-weaver-178-karma-5-7-18/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

100 Word Wednesday: Week 78 – The Hedge

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Michael

img_0407

It was a common practice for the three girls to sit on the front lawn of the school during their lunch break to chat and catch up on events overnight. There was never a shortage of subjects for them to discuss.

One girl remarked that the hedge was spreading.

The other two laughed as the thought was absurd.

Over the week the hedge grew closer. They moved to the other side of the tree they sat under, but still, the hedge was encroaching on them.

One Tuesday they failed to return to their afternoon classes, and no one knew why.

 

Written for: https://bikurgurl.com/2018/07/04/100-word-wednesday-week-78/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Three Things Challenge, 4 July 2018

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Michael

3tc

Declaration, freedom, fireworks

When the declaration was made, and freedom established it was greeted with fireworks of a magnitude not seen before.

Heroes had been created and villains vanquished.

As the fireworks exploded in the night sky the victorious marched through the streets waving their supporter flags and chanting the slogans that for the previous weeks had given them something to hold on to.

The declaration had been a bold move. Initially challenging the old regime, calling upon it for change.

Freedom was a new concept, for most of the population had lived under the old totalitarian rule where the now exiled despot had governed with an iron fist and so many had family and friends simply disappear when they dared raise their voices in dissent.

The partying continued long into the night where in a room across town, a group met to formalise the change in authority.

 

Written for: https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/three-things-challenge-4-july-2018/

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Twittering Tales #91 – Chains – 3 July 2018

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Michael

img_2309

Photo by analogicus at pixabay.com

The old ball and chain was not happy.
She stood there, hands on hips.
She expected another feeble excuse.
So waited for me to offer some ludicrous explanation
Knowing I’d cop a belt around the ears, both verbal and physical.
It wasn’t my fault I said, it was the cat, it made me do it. (280 characters)

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Bonus Wordle “State of Emergency” – Russell Manque

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Michael

state-of-emergency

This week’s words: Falter Resolve Unknown Red Tape State of Emergency Wring Desperation Stress Decisions Clench Manqué (adjective). having failed, missed, or fallen short, especially because of circumstances or a defect of character; unsuccessful; unfulfilled or frustrated (usually used post positively). Weigh

I awoke to a state of emergency. It was a surreal experience, sirens wailing, phones ringing, radio all about a state of emergency, TV all about some red tape that had gotten in the way of negotiations and the desperation that indecision brought to those who thought they had the answer to the situation.

Apparently, decisions had to be made, and everyone who was everyone was weighing in on the course of action to be taken.

The problem it appeared all lay with Russell Manque, a third class clerk in the office of national security, who in a moment of sheer boredom or it could have been stress but who knew as Russell Manque had a bad habit of clenching his buttocks and hoping for the best and that extended to his having lunch among many things, made a fatal miscalculation. He announced an imminent missile launch.

Suddenly there was chaos. One side of the Pacific thought the other side was calling them out. Both sides were known to wring their hands at the slightest provocation, and as all they knew at any precise moment was unknown to all and sundry, there was nothing they liked more than a good wringing of hands.

Negotiations were begun at once until each side realise they were unsure what it was they had to resolve, and so all talks faltered until someone figured out what exactly the fuss was all about.

In the meantime, the red light that signalled a state of emergency continued to blink, more sirens than before wailed, extra warnings were issued and the populace was urged to stay indoors, not look at the sky, and that should some resolution be reached in the current desperate moments, it would probably take a good day or so to cut through the red tape that usually prevented any firm decision being made. In the meantime, just in case, a man called Russell Manque could be the one to attack on social media should anyone feel the urge.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/07/02/bonus-wordle-state-of-emergency/

 

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing prompt | Tagged , , | 4 Comments