Tag: #WritingCommunity

Week 382 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Daelyn Morgana 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: Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Jo Hawk | @JoHawktheWriter Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Eric Martell | @drmag00 Mark A. Morris Daniel Swensen | @daniel_swensen David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Silver James | @SilverJames_ Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Daelyn says: There were some delciously dark tales that made my dark little heart sing and I enjoyed reading them all. Honorable Mentions Daniel Swensen | @daniel_swensen Daelyn says: Not gonna lie, this tale was a real close second to winner. The lines about “the big guy upstairs or downstairs” made me laugh out loud. I’ve never looked at it that way but it certainly rang a new perspective for me. As much as I absolutely love the darkness of the tale, I also love the touch of sweetness at the end. This tale has just about everything. Sweetness. Darkness. Sacrifice. Duty. Humor. All perfectly balanced and rolled up into one neat little package with a punch. Beautifully written! Mark A. Morris Daelyn says: This tale leaves quite a lot to ponder on the moral scale. Cloning ourselves for the use of living forever seems like a temptation that will lead to our damnation. The fact the clone recognized what was going to happen makes me believe that they, in some form, had their own personality and memories and will to live. But in a matter of seconds it would be ripped away, replaced by the greedy who want to live forever young. There’s something quite dark lurking in this plot bunny, and oh, the possibilities it could bring. I’m not much of a sci-fi girl, but I would definitely read a storyline like this. Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Daelyn says: The name Pandora just opens up so many possibilities in my head for where this storyline might be going. Add in glowing blue eyes and visions full of screaming and I am definitely hooked. This tale was well written and painted a vivid picture in such few words, too. All around well done! Eric Martell | @drmag00 Daelyn says: You had me at the words “familiar” and “dragon”. I love the contrast to this story. The staccato melody paired with a macabre harmony of screams. Such a perfect line. There’s humor to it, too. Without seeing much of the dragon familiar we still get a look at her personality. Though I must admit I would love to know what might have been too late, and how a dragon feasts on ghosts. Unless they aren’t really ghosts in the traditional sense? Hmm… winner announcement Week 382 Winner Jo Hawk | @JoHawkTheWriter Daelyn says: I was automatically drawn to this one as soon as I got down to the line “I could work on him”. Chills raced through me, sensing the underlying darkness. And the lines about the bitter coffee and how we disguise the truth? Such a true statement and perfect sucker punch analogy of life. The voice of the narrator is so calm and precise and confident, but guarded, as if they themselves are disguising their truth. There’s just something dark and evil lurking beneath their surface that makes my little dark heart dance. Would love to see more of this one! Excellent tale for October! Concentrate on the happy things they said. But I don’t have happy things. Nothing major. Something small that makes you smile. They bored me. Jeremy was much more pragmatic. He was still a pain in my ass, and entirely too optimistic, for his own good. But there were the occasions when he was tired, or distracted, and I caught an edge of cynicism in his tone. I could work on him. In the cafeteria, they served a strong, black, bitter coffee in thin, brown paper cups. Most drowned it with packets of sweetener and milk, disguising its true nature. That was the problem, we are all hiding the truth. I sipped, repressing my grimace. I didn’t have to wait long, Jeremy, with his armload of green files and sporting his usual white coat soon joined me at my table. “How are we this morning?” “We are happy.” “Is that so?” Jeremy lifted an eyebrow, “And why is that?” I raised the flimsy coffee cup, my silent toast to my worthy adversary. I took a sip. “I see,” he said, retrieving a cheap, disposable ballpoint from his jacket pocket. “And the new medication?” I shrugged. He flipped open my chart and began taking notes. I waited. When he looked at me, I regaled him with the fruit of my practice and smiled. “How is it we are so happy today?” “It’s easy. I block out the screams.” Jeremy patted my hand. “Sounds like we are making progress.” Jeremy had no idea. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Two Time Winner Jo, and Honorable Mentions Daniel, Mark, Cara, and Eric! 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 381 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc. Entries: Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Mark A. Morris Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver James | @SilverJames_ Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Eric Martell | @drmag00 Nellie Batz | @solimond Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Jo Hawk | @JoHawktheWriter Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Honorable Mentions Silver James | @SilverJames_ Siobhan says: I loved the initial terror and confusion of the person getting her burner phone number. Then his appearance, which can’t bode well, and then the promise of freedom. Ooooh, delicious chills. Loved it. Mark A. Morris Siobhan says: I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan – must be the paleontologist in me. But the chills at the ending of the tale shivered down my back while sitting comfortably at my desk. Well done. Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Siobhan says: I loved that she took the prompt in an unusual direction. And the instructions of how to get to her destination were to find where they were not. Aliens. Awesome. winner announcement Week 381 Winner Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Siobhan says: I loved the the emotional sweetness of this tale. Death is always portrayed as a cold, impassive being. But this connection (and I’ve seen it develop over several #ThursThreads challenges) shows his growth as a being and as a character. And I’m a sucker for romance, especially with an element of relief. Well done. “Enid!” Though Arius has always been calm and steady – even when he’s upset – the panicked voice is impossible to mistake. And even if it didn’t resonate deep in my chest, the bracelet grows warm. A moment later, it’s tugging me back toward the forest. Trusting my intuition and the bracelet’s magic, I break into a run. I ignore the shimmering beings, block out the screams, and just concentrate on going where the bracelet wants. The heat slowly increases, until it’s a barely bearable burn, like skin on sand in the middle of the summer. Just when I think I can’t take it anymore, and my legs can’t carry me another step, I see him. Arius’ eyes catch mine, and we bolt toward each other. As his arms come around me, a rush of wind forces me to close my eyes and the ground falls away beneath us. When everything finally settles, the first thing I notice is his reluctance to let go. The ground is steady again, the bracelet no longer burns, and when I look up I realize we’re back in the ruins. “I’m sorry – there was no way out, and I couldn’t-” “Are you hurt?” He pulls back, but his hands cup my face, eyes intense. “I’m-I’m okay.” I offer a shaky smile, unsure if he’ll believe me. In an act of unprecedented intimacy (the kiss doesn’t count), he rests his forehead against mine. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this…” I wasn’t expecting Death to apologize. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Seven Time Winner Katheryn, and Honorable Mentions Silver, Mark, and Charlene! 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 380 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Teresa Eccles 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: Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Silver James | @SilverJames_ Jo Hawk | @JoHawktheWriter Mark A. Morris Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Richard Eccles | @recclesMD Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Cara Michaels | @caramichaels M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Teresa says: Competition was tough, as there were a lot of excellent stories submitted. Honorable Mentions Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Teresa says: This is a beautiful picture of a mother being called home by her daughter. If anyone were to succeed in coaxing me over, it would be my family. Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Teresa says: Terry tells an interesting story. I got a good feel for the ME’s personality in a few words M. T. Decker | @mishmhem Teresa says: The word-choices in this story convey the despair felt by Eva. I especially like how the author made repeated references to the colors of life. winner announcement Week 380 Winner Mark A. Morris Teresa says: January, though long-lived (immortal?) is a relatable character. Her battle between being alone and seeking companionship is one many people face. The fact that she chose relationships over being alone three times is telling of the true nature of January’s character. January walked away again. She had friends, but she preferred to remain aloof, passing though her lives without a ripple. The man she’d just seen buried had been a lapse, a mistake she’d wandered into, their relationship thriving despite her neglect. She wished she could be colder, more inhumane. She’d done this before: three times, in fact. She’d vowed ‘never again’ the last time and she’d do it again, tearing up her dance card and throwing the pieces away. But her life was a habit she couldn’t give up. There was no way out for her, it seemed. Loneliness was the cruellest of companions, but it was the one she sought. “Ma’am?” The gentleman with the umbrella stepped closer, shielding them both from the weather. The rain hadn’t stopped all day and the footway was wet, water sluicing down it like a millrace. Her feet were cold and she was miserable. She should turn away. She should shake her head and say nothing, denying him an opening into her world. “Ma’am?” He continued to walk alongside her, matching her pace. He was a little taller than her, dark haired and with a swarthy skin that made him look tanned. She shouldn’t look his way, she shouldn’t make eye-contact, she shouldn’t say a word to the stranger. That was the way relationships started. Three hundred years was an eternity when death took everyone else. People would say she was lucky to live so long. But she considered it a curse. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Fourteen Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mentions Kel, Terry, and M.T.! 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 379 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Mark Ethridge 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: Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Joseph T. Ganzer | @J_Thomas_Ganzer Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Jo Hawk | @JoHawktheWriter Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Silver James | @SilverJames_ Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Daelyn Morgana | @DaelynMorgana Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions Charlene Mertz | @rrats1231 Mark says: Because. Malcolm made the noise stop. Jo Hawk | @JoHawkTheWriter Mark says: Because. A Lotus. Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Mark says: Jungle Justice is ruthless, isn’t it. winner announcement Week 379 Winner Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Mark says: A very different spin on a reaper of death. I like it. June 1818 My horse lands outside of a small cottage in Illinois. A bunch of new states have popped up and it’s my job to keep their dead moving. Swinging my scythe, I bring a forty-year-old woman over. She was lucky to live so long. Her family wails and I sigh, giving her a gentle push into the waiting arms of her mother. I crossover two other women and then reach the end of my list. I do so hate bringing children over. Not even a year old and dying of starvation, given the poor home and bare cupboards. I can fix this before the family wakes up. Hurrying home, I raid our pantry and stock the family’s cupboards. Then I stuff an envelope with some of my earnings and leave it on the table. The baby whimpers and his stomach rumbles. Waving my scythe, his tummy fills a little and the hour glasses, the life-sands of everyone, refill for the family. I return home to my parents. “That was kind.” Mom takes my robes. “Too kind,” Dad says, frowning. “You’re meant to bring them over, not save them.” Mom puts a hand on Dad’s shoulder “His world suddenly made sense, didn’t it, Horace?” “Yes. I’m meant to help people, not hurt them.” I go to my room and close the door, smiling, hoping that family has a long lineage. There was something about that baby that makes me think I’ll see him again in a few hundred years.~~~~~~~ Congratulations Nine Time Winner Kel, and Honorable Mentions Charlene, Jo, and Richard! 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 378 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our eighth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Liv Therese Dalin 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: Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Tina Glasneck | @TinaGlasneck Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Jo Hawk | @JoHawktheWriter Cynthia Hudson-Keane | @AuthorCAKeane Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Silver James | @SilverJames_ Mark A. Morris David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Torn MacAlester | @Torn_MacAlester Patty Knowles Atticus Stryker | @TAFORU M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mentions Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Liv says: The descriptions were fluid and organic, immediately setting the scene and world without any la-di-da. Truly well done! Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Liv says: I like my zombies terrifying, but I appreciate the brave choice and fun setting. It was well delivered and explained the world quickly. Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Liv says: I enjoyed the slight disarray of voices, background and ultimate conclusion of setting. It has a comical sense of dread I find to be unique Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball Liv says: Golden star with glittery sprinkles for how you convey emotions with memories. It made me believe it had happened. winner announcement Camera Shy: Terry Brewer Week 378 Winner Terry Brewer | @Stories2121 Liv says: The scenario felt so genuine, it made me feel a little uncomfortable. I had to stop and think, read it again, and appreciated it more the second time as the scene sunk in properly, both now as a parent and the memories of being a confused teen. I enjoyed the ending, which promised an interesting twist and explanation further down the line. Great job! He’s Barely Alive They didn’t know he could hear them. Night after night they’d sit in the kitchen and talk about him. “What’s wrong with him?” “He just sits around all day dreaming.” “He’s barely alive.” He was sick of overhearing. He was sick of the worried looks and the forced smiles they gave him when he walked into the kitchen to get a glass of milk or a snack. He knew they’d be shaking their heads when he was gone. He tried so hard to be what they wanted him to be and he failed. He was not the athlete his father envisioned. Nor did he have an artistic streak her mother pined for. He was just him. Not the overachiever his parents, two overachievers themselves, expected would come from his mother’s womb. They never asked “what is it you’re dreaming of son?” Which was probably for the best; he didn’t know. Until he did. He stayed closeted in his room as before. His parents didn’t realize it, but he was more alive than he had ever been. Numbers. He saw numbers. Each morning he awoke with a brain full of numbers and calculations. His world suddenly made sense. His world.~~~~~~~ Congratulations Winner Terry, and Honorable Mentions Cara, Bill, Richard, and Kel! 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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