#ThursThreads – Week 358 – Winners

Week 358 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we complete our seventh 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 David Ludwig 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 Ethridge | @mysoulstears
  • Katheryn Avila | @katheryn_avila
  • Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
  • Keturah Lamb | @KeturahAbigail
  • Silver James | @SilverJames_
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Catherine Derham | @Cate_Derham
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Joe Hesch | @JAHesch
  • Mark A. Morris
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • Daelyn Morgana | @DaelynMorgana
  • Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
  • Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball
  • David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig

David says: I’m really impressed with how has grown, and judging is really hard in all the right ways! The strength of first-person POV seemed on display this week.

Honorable Mentions

Teresa Eccles | TeresaMEccles

David says: The contrast of Dom’s urgency and Louis’ cool drives home the difference between the rookie and the veteran without ever needing to say which is which. There is an immersive clarity to the scene and composure to the prose that puts this one over the top for me.

Catherine Derham | @Cate_Derham

David says: My pure enjoyment of the material–ships, aliens, bags of peanuts and magic with a flirtatious price all in one setting–gave this one an edge in sealing an Honorable Mention. Given the strong first-person entries this week, getting first person POV from Lindy feels significant.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

David says: The strength of the overall composition put this one over the top for me, such as the use of first person to immerse in the scene and control the flow of information. The finesse of breaking the prompt over multiple lines tends to rate well in my book as well.

winner announcement

Week 358 Winner

Keturah Lamb | @KeturahAbigail

David says: This week had some amazing first person POVs, but talking directly to the reader and putting them in the story was an extra dimension to this entry! The stream of consciousness text let us viscerally into the narrator’s confusion, such that the details we’re dancing around don’t need to be spelled out. “I’m willing to be locked away forever to trust you” is a particular favorite line and concept for me. This piece is magnificent!

I always thought you’d kinda know, in the back of your mind, if you’d gone insane. But now I don’t know … Everyone tells me I’ve lost my marbles. Scary thing is I’m almost starting to believe them.

I don’t remember doing it.
I do remember being the only one there … alone … I thought I was alone.

I’ve never even dreamed of doing something like this. But you tell me I did. I think maybe you’re right. No, I’m afraid you’re right.

What if you’re right?
The evidence points to me.
I’ve always said facts over feelings:
Yet I feel …
No, I must be insane.
I must be …

But there’s this nagging feeling at the back of my mind screaming that everyone is lying to me. Especially you.

And know I don’t hear voices. That’s my instincts screaming. I think.

But what if I am hearing voices?
What if my instincts are dead?

Can a mad woman rationalize her own insanity?
Can a sane woman trust her best friends and family when they they say she isn’t “all there”?

Fine. I’ll submit myself to the ward.
I want to trust you just as much as I desire my mind to be whole.

More than the idea of being crazy, I fear that maybe I’m the only sane one and that you lied to me. But I’m willing to be locked away forever to trust you.

Is this how innocent people become imprisoned?

I believe so …

Or maybe I’m not innocent …
~~~~~~~

Congratulations Three Time Winner Keturah, and Honorable Mentions Teresa, Catherine, and Cara! 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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