Tag: writing challenge

Week 578 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Silver James for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson  Mark A. Morris Kelly Heinen Daelyn Morgana Eric Martell David A. Ludwig  Richard Gibney Siobhan Muir  M.T. Decker  Thia Mackin Silver says: Many thanks to Siobhan for hosting this long-running flash fiction challenge. It can’t be easy rounding up a judge each week and just the sheer amount of work involved. I, for one, greatly appreciate her efforts because I always get new words from the exercise. And thank you for the honor of judging this week. As par for the course, this group of talented writers are determined to make my life as a judge extra difficult. I read each Thread when posted and then reread them all as a group. Then I decided to put everyone’s name in a hat and draw the winners. Okay, that last bit is a fib, though I was tempted. Excellent work this week, writers, and it took many “elimination” rounds to decide the winner and the honorable mentions. Everyone who submitted deserves a pat on the back and a “job well done!” Honorable Mentions Bill Engleson | Website Silver says: I like the almost “detective noir” tone to this tale and he had an interesting take on the prompt. Well written and almost guaranteed to draw in the reader and leaving them with questions as to who, what, where, when, and how. And most of all, why? Makes a body want more. Well done. David A. Ludwig | Website Silver says: I do enjoy the odd rescue quest, especially with a mixed band of unknown talents and personalities. The use of the prompt was a clever juxtaposition yet easy to follow and “find.” I loved the last line and the hook it presented. More please! Also well done! winner announcement Week 579 Winner Mary Decker Silver says: The prompt was straight forward and made perfect sense in the context of this tale. I like the use of both magic and science in the MC’s detection skills but the conclusion sold it for me. The nose knows. I’d like to read this if it becomes a book. Lots of potential here and if not, then I’m happy as is because I enjoyed it. A lot. Seeing in Negative “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Paranormal Investigations 101. I’m Dr Todd, and I’ll be your instructor. Our goal here is to discover and enhance your natural skills. Once the evaluation is finished, you will be assigned a training cadre. Any questions?” Andre’s hand was already up. “Yes, Mr. Phelps?” “Uh, sir– I wanted to ask about,” he paused then nodded towards the back of the room. Dr. Todd smiled. “She’s just auditing this class.” Andre’s expression was perplexed, but the instructor just began handing out equipment and lab manuals as if nothing had passed between the two of them. The instructor’s voice had an almost hypnotic effect on the class, but Andre kept turning and looking back at the woman in the back of the room. A woman who was not there. She had never been there, but Andre was all too aware of her presence. The session turned into a series of 20-minute lectures, a 30-minute test, and a ten-minute break, by the time the day had finished the class was more than ready to head home. As the students filed out, Dr. Todd stopped Andre. “Mr. Phelps, a moment please.” “Sir? “One question. How did you see her?” The rest of the class hovered around the door, curious to hear his answer. “I didn’t– I saw an absence around her there was no dust, no light, no shadow. Plus, she was wearing Lilly of the Valley.”~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY TIME WINNER Mary, and Honorable Mentions Bill and David! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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Week 578 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Tina Glasneck for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Mark A. Morris Silver James Bill Engleson Joe Hesch Sheilagh Lee David A. Ludwig Daelyn Morgana Louisa Bacio M.T. Decker Siobhan Muir Tina says: Thank you so much for allowing me the pleasure and opportunity to read your amazing tales. Words can bespell us all, and your tales enchanted me! After reading your submissions, I pondered over each of them. Stories stay long after they are consumed. That being said, this was a great selection of flash fiction, and I thoroughly enjoyed each of the submissions. Honorable Mentions Mark A. Morris | Website Tina says: This tale had me thinking about it long after I finished it. It is not only about the innocence of the conversation but also what is left unsaid—that empty space where the audience can gasp in knowing… yes, we know what shall happen. Very cleverly told. Great Job! Louisa Bacio | Website Tina says: Oh, this story definitely pulled on these heartstrings. Not only because of it being the possibility of the last goodbye, but what it might mean for these lovers who could lose their shared love due to distance. The weight of what they leave unsaid but present in their nonverbal communication—the discomfort, the angst, the breaking hearts. It left me wondering if she looked back, and if he waited until she was out of sight before hitting reverse. Well done! Daelyn Morgana | Website Tina says: I love the way the words painted the scene, bringing it and the characters to life. My imagination simply unfolded, talking in every bit that was being said, as if I was eavesdropping on conversation. Bravo! winner announcement Week 578 Winner Bill Engleson Tina says: This vivid tale made me recall some of the harder talks — both as a parent, but also as a child. It truly clenches the heartstrings. This story spoke to my heart because it connects with the reader and allows them to see through the character’s eyes using their own experiences. It showcases powerful characterization, distinct voices, as well as an unforgettable message—that no matter what age we are at, we still have things to learn. Excellent! Reverie He loved his brief moments of reverie. Remembering his early days, finding those emotional touchstones that triggered a strong feeling, a memory, perhaps, a dream, a look. Writers, he’d discovered, required a capacity to draw on memory, even faulty memory, for he recognized that time withered truth, that even when it should be crystal clear, it rarely was. At least for him. That was another frustrating aspect to aging, to recall. Each of us have to rely on how we remember events, see the world. Of course, others would share their perspective. Some days earlier, Anthea had brought him his coffee out to the porch and pressed him for history about her grandmother. “How did you see her?” she’d asked. “I mean, when you first saw her, what was that like?” Anthea was in the local college now, surrounded by inquiring minds, a raft of young people in search of their future, dependent on their accumulating wisdom, parsing what they will from their teachers, the world around them. He was killing time, he knew, wondering how one describes the attraction of one fascinating creature to another and necessarily wanting to be overly descriptive. As much as he wanted to revel in his romantic past, he also wanted to say, “I’ll tell you later, sweetheart. Really, I will.” And hope that the moment might evaporate. Still, she was his only granddaughter and he had to learn to share the truth. After all, he was a writer. He’d written a book. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-TWO TIME WINNER Bill, and Honorable Mentions Mark, Louisa, and Daelyn! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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Week 577 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mary Decker for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. There will be no #ThursThreads next week as the host will be at a conference. See y’all in two weeks. Entries: Bill Engleson Mark Ethridge Silver James Mark A. Morris Siobhan Muir David A. Ludwig Daelyn Morgana Mary says: Y’all don’t make this easy, but you also never disappoint. Honorable Mention Mark Ethridge | Website Mary says: All too true – in therapy, as in life, the answer isn’t always as important as the question, and very often what you really are looking for is context. winner announcement Week 577 Winner Mark A. Morris Mary says: Parody is not an easy thing, and in flash, you also have to connect to the reader for them to recognize what you are parodying (making a parody of?) and then there is the homage to Scheherazade – one of my all-time storytelling heroines. Well played! “You can stand at ease,” Ryland said, buffing the wall panel. He studied his reflection, producing a comb from the pocket he’d had sewn into his sleeve, rearranging his quiff so it stood up like meringue. Its peak was known to have remained unruffled after a watch in a hot zone, the Lieutenant Commander effortlessly dodging blistering hostile fire, then rolling with aplomb behind the wall-sized boulders that were always available when you wore a gold jersey. He gave McAdam a self-satisfied smile, well aware that the crew thought he was vain. Ensign McAdam wasn’t impressed. He wore the accursed red jersey of security, having already been assigned to the next landing party – there being a better than even chance he wouldn’t return. The officers were reputed to have a pool on who the next fatality would be, favouring the Tellurian with the gravity-defying bust who’d already survived three patrols while also successfully evading the Lieutenant Commander’s charm. That was another thing that skewed an ensign’s chances for longevity. The only romances that persisted were between similar ranks, any other relationships rarely lasting. “You must really think you’re blessed,” McAdam said. “If you only knew what people say…” “Why do you say that?” Ryland said, slipping his comb away. “Have you heard something about a plot twist?” He gifted McAdam with a brief fraction of his attention, his smile fading momentarily. “I’ll tell you later,” said McAdam, suddenly getting an idea. “When I get back up from the planet.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-SIX TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention Mark! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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Week 576 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Muirlette #1 for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Silver James Siobhan Muir Kelly Heinen Mark Ethridge Mark A. Morris Atticus Stryker David A. Ludwig Daelyn Morgana M.T. Decker Honorable Mentions M.T. Decker | Website Muirlette says: I really liked the suspense of the story. Especially at the very end. Very well done. Mark A. Morris | Website Muirlette says: I liked the humor at the end and the overall thrill of the story. This was a fun read and I would like to see where it goes. Kelly Heinen | Website Muirlette says: I really liked the twist in this story. The humor and the perspective of the idolized saint was wonderful. Great job. winner announcement Week 576 Winner David A. Ludwig Muirlette says: I liked the humor and the adventure. It sure will be fun to see how this all plays out with a super serious protector and a hunter who likes fun. Great story. Sora had sworn to himself to protect Tenko and do whatever it took to help her prove to the council that crossing Tigers’ Forest was not only possible, but necessary. The forest crawled with threats to fell the most seasoned of warriors and mages. It was painfully clear to the young lieutenant that the even younger scholar had never seen battle. Tenko’s painter friend, Mana, appeared no more experienced. Worse, Mana didn’t seem to have brought any weapons with him at all. That left Arashiko, their mysterious fourth. Apparently, neither Tenko nor Mana had known her before today, either. Although the wild-haired archer kept disappearing from the path and popping up elsewhere entirely, avoiding her was almost impossible. Sora cleared his throat on Arashiko’s next close pass, keeping his senses trained for danger. “It appears you are a hunter?” Sora ventured. “Huh?” Arashiko cocked her head. “Why do you say that?” “Your equipment,” he nodded toward her bow, armor, and peasant swords, “is not military grade. Also, you seem comfortable with the forest.” “Ah!” Arashiko’s sharp laugh built into a delirium of breath-stealing mirth. “Yup! I’m totally a hunter! Definitely!” Sora clenched his jaw. That response seemed… Inappropriate. “I hope you can handle yourself in battle. The Tigers’ Forest is dangerous, and I am concerned about our companions.” “I dunno, they seem more fun than you.” “This is a quest for the survival of our people! It is not supposed to be fun.” “See, that’s what I mean.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Eighteen Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Mary, Mark, and Kelly! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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Week 575 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Miranda Kate for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Bill Engleson Silver James Mark A. Morris Mark Ethridge David A. Ludwig Siobhan Muir Atticus Stryker Daelyn Morgana M.T. Decker Honorable Mentions Daelyn Morgana Miranda says: A thrilling piece of flash that makes me want to know more. David A. Ludwig Miranda says: I wanted to know more about the adventure about the characters. Great stuff. winner announcement Week 575 Winner Mark A. Morris Miranda says: I loved the idea of this, of Death being all those faces and people and then the ending, wrapping it up nicely and complete. Great piece of flash. Death looked better wearing a cloak. It disguised her lack of muscles and flesh; the accoutrements all but the most fashionable possessed as a matter of course. She could have stood in as a model on any catwalk, her loose-limbed gait giving her the inimitable swagger few could ever hope to match. She had appeared on premier magazine covers thousands of times, either credited as Maudlin Morte, Esme Ins or dozens of others, her racial ambiguity finding her work everywhere. There was nowhere she couldn’t be found if you kept your eyes open. But avoiding her was almost impossible. She could locate anyone when it was their time. Today, she was in Paris. She recognised the man selling crepes on the Champs Elysees, his harried look making him appear older than his passport would claim. His was a fresh face on a busy thoroughfare packed with foreign tourists, their noise and bustle drowning out any but the most direct and earnest conversations. “Excuse me,” she said. Then she added, “S’il vous plait,” as an afterthought to sweeten her approach. She was charming on almost every occasion: well used to giving as much as she took away. She had a casual, practised demeanour and a smile few would ever forget. “American?” It was a statement, as much as a question, but it was also the last thing he’d say. He’d never see the motorcycle that swerved suddenly to avoid the police car, although he’d hear the siren and turn that way. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations THIRTY-FIVE TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mentions Daelyn and David! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! Pass on the great news on Mastodon, Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky Social, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂

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