Fiction in 50 June 2017 Challenge!

It’s time once again for Fiction in 50, where payers attempt to create a story in fewer than 51 words based on a monthly prompt.  This month our prompt is…

And I have titled my contribution…..

Predicting the Weather

It hadn’t looked like rain when Steve left the house.  Icy drops now splattered his hair as he huddled at the ill-covered bus stop.

An elderly woman, attired in rain-jacket and hat, smiled sympathetically, “No rainbow without rain.”

Steve smiled weakly back, a drip sliding down his collar.

It hadn’t looked like rain when he left the house.

---

I’m eight words over, but I can’t really be bothered to fix that at the moment.  The prompts for the next six months are now up and thanks to Rebecca Douglass, The Ninja Librarian, for suggesting three of the prompts.

Our prompt for July will be…

Until next time,

Bruce

 

Fiction in 50 May Challenge!

Welcome to the Fiction in 50 challenge for May.  The point of the challenge is to create a piece of fiction or poetry in fewer than 51 words, based on a monthly prompt.  If you’d like to know more about the challenge, just click here.  This month our prompt is…

I’ve gone a bit outside the square with this one and have titled my contribution…

Passing The Torch

The opportunity to enliven the evening presented itself and Barbara sidled nonchalantly towards her replacement.

“Peta, daaah-ling!”

“It’s Petra”.

“George seems so happy lately!  Perhaps it’s that new secretary.  She does seem attentive, don’t you think?  I hear she’s due a raise….”

Being the old wife certainly had its moments.

---

I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else has come up with!  If you’d like to play along just pop a link to your contribution in the comments.  For those who like to be prepared, our prompt for June is…

Good luck!

Until next time,

Bruce

Fiction in 50 April Challenge 2017 #Fi50

Welcome to our March challenge for Fiction in 50!  If you’d like to join in, simply create a piece of fiction or poetry in fewer than 51 words inspired by our monthly prompt, then link your effort to the comments of this post.  For more information, click on the image at the top of the post.

Our prompt for this month is…

I have titled my contribution…

Between the Cracks

The workers chatted amiably as they checked the tanks before closing.  One shuddered as they passed a large octopus in the final tank.

“Gives me the quivers!” he shuddered, pulling the heavy door to. 

The cephalapodic form flattened, legs probing for a gap in the tank. 

Tonight was for exploring.

---

It’s been a busy month for me so I only pulled this one out of the bag at the last moment.  I look forward to seeing how everyone else has interpreted this month’s prompt.

For those who like to be prepared, the prompt for May will be…

Until next time,

Bruce

Fiction in 50 November Challenge!

Welcome to the Fiction in 50 challenge for November.  The point of the challenge is to create a piece of fiction or poetry in fewer than 51 words, based on a monthly prompt.  If you’d like to know more about the challenge, just click here.  This month our prompt is…

I’m one word over (again) this month, and I have titled my contribution…

Occupational Hazards

A straightforward hit, $500 000 on completion, was bread and butter for his line of work.

The mother had been easy, but the child…

He recalled the client’s incredulity, “That much? It’s such a little thing I ask!”

He took in a wisp of hair, cherubic features.

Such a little thing.

---

Only one more challenge for the year and our prompt for December will be…

And while we’re on the topic … are people still interested in me running the Fiction in 50 challenge in 2017?  We’ve had a marked drop-off in participants this year, but if people are happy to keep playing (and reading!) I can keep providing prompts.  Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Bruce

Fiction in 50 October Challenge: A Democratic Prompt

Welcome to Fiction in 50 for October, where stalwart writers battle with words to wrangle a coherent story in fewer than 51 words – or just slap something together at the last minute!  For more information on how to play and for future prompts, just click on the attractive button at the top of this post.

Our prompt for this month is democratic in the extreme:

You fill in the blank!

True to my word last month, I have penned a story that is entirely free from heavenly hosts.  I have chosen…

With Great Reputation Comes Great Responsibility

…as my prompt-filler and have titled my contribution:

The Art of Adaptation

Mavis Jones, winner of nine years’ worth of championship sashes for baking, was struggling with the new competition guidelines.  She had wrestled with the nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, carbohydrate-reduced requirements, but the result was unworthy of her reputation.

This year, her cakes would take on all comers in the modern art competition.

---

I’m two words over the limit this time around.  Editing suggestions welcome!

I can’t wait to see what other players have come up with for their prompts.  For those who like to plan ahead, our prompt for November is…

Until next time,

Bruce

Fi50 September Challenge…#flashfiction #signsandwonders

Welcome to the Fiction in 50 micro-writing challenge for September, with the prompt:

If you’d like to join in, just create a piece of prose or poetry in fewer than 51 words and link it up in the comments section of this post.  For more detailed information on the challenge and future prompts, just click here.

I have tried and tried but I just can’t cull my effort to under 53 words this time around.  Editing suggestions are always welcome!  I seem to have followed on with my afterlife theme from last month too.

Anyway, here’s my contribution, titled…

Mysterious Ways

Even after world governments confirmed the end was nigh, Grandad Will was sceptical.

During the rapture, he was one of the first to ascend.  His final words burn in my memory, as forgotten sins burn my flesh.

“It’s hooey, Billy! A conspiracy!”

Will, Billy…

I still wonder if Heaven made a clerical error.

---

I can’t wait to see what others have come up with for this month.  Next month we have a democratic prompt with…

(You fill in the blank!)

I’ve already got an inkling for what I’ll do with that prompt – definitely no heavenly bells next month!

Until next time,

Bruce

Fi50 August Challenge!

It’s Fiction in 50 time for August!  To play along, just create a piece of fiction or poetry based on our monthly prompt in fewer than 51 words, then link your post in the link-up here:

For more information on how to play and for future prompts, just click on the attractive button at the top of this post.

Our prompt for this month is…

I have titled my contribution…

Waiting Period Served

Dear Mr Smith,

RE: Placement Confirmed

Recent complaints about your incessant whistling, tapping, clicking, sighing, groaning and slumping have resulted in your case being fast-tracked. 

Officials from Below are unwilling to accommodate such behaviours, so I am pleased to offer you a place in Paradise.

Sincerely,

Purgatorial Processing Commission

---

How’s that for some grease?!  I can’t wait to see what everyone else has come up with, but in the meantime, our prompt for next month is…

Until next time,

Bruce

 

Fi50 July Challenge!

It’s writing time again!  Get your pens, fingers and brains ready to rip out a fantastic bit of micro flash fiction for Fi50.  All you need do to participate is create a piece of poetry or fiction in 51 words or fewer and post a link in the linky here:

This month’s prompt is…

I’ve gone a bit dark and broody this month for a change.  I have titled my contribution…

Best Served Cold

Finally, it was her time.

For years she had been cowed under his words, his fists, but time had taken its course and now he was at her mercy.  Age had made a fool of him, leaving him languishing, immobile, reliant.

She promised herself the opportunity would not be wasted.

---

I can’t wait to see what everyone has come up with!  Don’t forget to add your efforts to the linky.

Until next time,

Bruce

Fiction in 50 April Challenge!

April’s Fiction in 50 is a bit of a “choose your own adventure” lark, with a prompt allowing you to fill in the blank!  To play along, just create a piece of poetry or prose in fewer than 51 words, based on our monthly prompt, then post it and link back to your post in the comments.  For more detailed information on how to play, just click on that large button at the top of this post.

So April’s prompt is…

(You fill in the blank!)

I decided to use the prompt as my title for this month, and so my contribution is:

Born to Leave His Mark

Ned dreamed of being influential. 

His vehicle?

Town Planning.  

Ned’s favourite job was naming streets in posh parts of town.  Arm Road crested Pitsmell Street. Greyhair Avenue projected at an unsightly angle from Nasal Passage.  

His greatest achievement was the waterfront.

All those mansions, with pristine views over Pudendal Canal.  

---

I can’t wait to see what others have come up with this time around!

For those who like to be organised, next month’s prompt will be…

Until next time,

Bruce

Fiction in 50 January Challenge: Dredging up the Past…

Welcome to the first Fiction in 50 Challenge prompt for 2016.  If you’d like to participate, simply create a piece of poetry or prose in fewer than 51 words and post the link in the comments.  For more detailed information about the challenge, just click on the image at the top of this post.

The prompt for this month is…

And I have titled my contribution…

After the Funeral

 “You shan’t quibble about grandfather leaving me the silver pitcher? “ My sister dithered.  “It’ll suit my decor.  You got his old tackle box, didn’t you?  More your style!”

Grandfather always said that a tackle box was as good as a bank for storing one’s life savings.

 “I shan’t quibble.”

---

It took me a while to manhandle that one into the required word count, but I got there in the end.  I hope not all the prompts this year will require such brute force!

Our prompt for next month will be…

To get the heads-up on prompts for later in the year, just click here.

Until next time,

Bruce