Crimson’s Creative Challenge #37

#CCC37

Pride

He lies under the colourful umbrella, in his colourful underwear. He savours the soft caress of the summer breeze and drifts into slumber to the lazy lull of the ocean waves.

“Would you look at that man? Shameless! What’s this world coming to?”

He cracks open one eye, peering at the couple.

The woman is pointing at him. Her partner is shaking his head. “I don’t understand why they would defy God in that way,” the man sneers.

This time, he lifts his head and pulls his sunglasses off. “Hark, ye love-hating hypocrites! Thou dare speak on behalf of God? Doth thou hast no shame? Such venomous words dripping from thy mouth! Begone, ye hell spawns!”

The couple, startled by his reaction, hurry off. They do not even dare to look at him.

Cowards, he thinks and lies back down.

He does not take any shit. Not today.

(148 words)

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The whole story seems prosaic. The only thing remotely interesting is probably the shift to Elizabethan English. I always enjoy inserting Elizabethan English into my stories to insult people, making the entire scene ridiculous.

Disclaimer though, I can’t be too sure of the authenticity of my use.

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

Here’s how it works:

Every Wednesday I post a photo (this week it’s that one above.)
You respond with something CREATIVE

Here are some suggestions:

• An answering photo
• A cartoon
• A joke
• A caption
• An anecdote
• A short story (flash fiction)
• A poem
• A newly minted proverb, adage or saying
• An essay
• A song—the lyrics or the performance

You have plenty of scope and only two criteria:

• Your creative offering is indeed yours
• Your writing is kept to 150 words or less

Prompt: Crimson’s Creative Challenge #37

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Twittering Tales #146 – 23 July 2019

Cenote Cave in the Yukatan by mattiaverga at Pixabay.com

Frogs in a Pot

The swimmers enjoyed themselves in the limestone pool, splashing around in the cooling waters. The summer sun continued its relentless heat waves.

None of them noticed the rising temperature of the limestone waters until it was too late.

By then, sukiyaki was ready to be served.

(277 characters)

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Another piece of mine with a strong reference to environmental issue. When are we going to stop our destruction of Earth before global warming (or climate change, as it is called now to prevent confusion) or other natural disasters kill us all?

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. This is important as I have noticed that some of the ping backs have not been working. If you would prefer to post your tale in the comments (some people have very specific blog themes but still want to participate), I am happy to post a link to your site when I post your tale in the Round Up.

Prompt: Twittering Tales #146 – 23 July 2019

I Write Her Weekly Haiku/Senryu Challenge #29

Keith Alexander

blackout

corrosive waters
interrupted one track mind
breaking train of thoughts

– – – – –

regrets

coach rose from the depths
freighting haunted memories
ghostly horns echoed

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I believe Susi really outdo herself this time with the image prompt. This really got my gears moving (pun? pun-ish?) and I came up with two senryuu. It sounds rough and the meters seem a little off, but I like it.

If you are interested, the prompt the linked below.

PLEASE follow them! I’d hate to not see your piece(s) represented in the recap the following week! Confused? Any questions – email me at sushibocks@gmail.com   

For more detailed information, read about this challenge here.

• Create a standard three line, 5/7/5 syllable count haiku/senryu
• Deadline to submit for this week’s challenge will be 11:59pm 7/27/19
• Up to 3 pieces permitted
• Link your piece to this “IWH Haiku/Senryu Challenge” on your post
• Always give photo credit if there is one

Prompt: I Write Her Weekly Haiku/Senryu Challenge #29

100 Word Wednesday: Week 129

Image by Bikurgurl

“Like I explained, this part of the city is closed because we have detected the possibility of sinkholes and we are rectifying the situation,” the spokesperson repeated amidst the barrage of questions and the tension.

“When are we able to go home then?” someone shouted.

“Yea, what about our lives? We can’t stay in the shelter forever!” another woman shouted.

Everyone started clamoring for answers and the situation was deteriorating.

No one would be protesting in front of the road closure signs if the spokesperson had told them the truth.

That mutant groundhogs were launching an invasion to the surface.

(100 words)

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If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

How to participate? A few guidelines as we begin….

1. Simply check my feed, or search the reader, for the 100WW or tag #100WW, post each Wednesday. I’ll also be posting on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Feeds.
2. Write your submission on your blog, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook Feed and ping back to the weekly blog post. Feel free to use the image provided or your own. Please do credit the artist whose image we use — Links provided.
3. I have not enabled automatic pingbacks due to a plethora of spam messages attempting to link up. Do feel free to also continue posting your links and I will enable your pingbacks as I check my blog. Thank you for understanding!!
4. I’ll provide a Weekly Summary, or Windup, of posts on or by Tuesday; take the opportunity to read and comment on your fellow bloggers posts {keeping in mind to give each other grace and space}. I try to read them all and post your submission in the Weekly Windup.
5. Have fun! I enjoy reading your challenge submissions!

Prompt: 100 Word Wednesday: Week 129

Weekend Writing Prompt #115 – Judge

Magistrate in Court | PICRYL

Ruler in My Heart

The old judge remained calm at the young judge’s accusation. He smiled.

The young judge reminded him of his own brazen youthful days. Beckoning the young judge over, he held a quill and drew a line on the papyrus.

“Is this line straight?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t have a ruler, so there’s no way of knowing,” the young judge retorted.

“But I’ve drawn it to the best of my ability and believed it to be straight,” the old judge replied kindly.

The young judge’s eyes widened when he understood the old judge’s wise words.

(95 words)

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If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

The challenge is simple: each week you will be given an exact number of words you can use to write a poem or piece of prose.  You can use any format or style you like; go wherever your inspiration takes you.  The only rules are these:

• your poem / prose must contain this week’s word.  The word does not have to count towards the exact word count total – it can be in the title, or the first letters of the lines of a poem can spell it out – you can be as creative as you want as long as it’s there somewhere.
• the length of your poem / prose must match the number of words stated in this week’s challenge.  No more.  No less.

Prompt: Weekend Writing Prompt #115 – Judge

Scintillating Saturday Share #15

Ian Dooley|Unsplash

sweet sin within my grasp

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I’m getting a craving from this prompt…

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

Every Saturday, I will share a photo that touches my heart, makes me happy, or lifts my spirits in some way. The purpose? To send love, light, peace, and kindness out into the ether. Scintillating Saturdays: one definition of the word scintillating is as follows: witty; brilliantly clever.”

Now, it’s your turn. This’ll be our “Scintillating Saturday Share #15.” You can respond to this post, reblog and respond, or create a standalone post of your own, but please ping or tag this post so that I’ll know to read and respond to yours.

Using up to 7 words, tell me what this photo sparks in you.

Care to get creative with me for this scintillating Saturday share?

Prompt: Scintillating Saturday Share #15

Friday Fictioneers – 19 JULY 2019

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Three Wise Monkeys

“Yes, I know, I’ve already informed the owner. She’s left,” he answered, holding his phone to his ear. He gave the owner a thumbs-up and smiled. “OK, boss,” he acknowledged before hanging up.

“Here, extra spicy with mustard, just how you like it,” Betsy handed the hot dog to Channing. “Careful, it’s hot.”

“Thanks, Betsy. Anyway, my boss’s leaving soon. Just hide here for a while, ” Channing informed.

“Thanks, Channing, you’re the best.”

“Hey, gotta look after our own, right?” Channing grinned. “See no evil, hear no evil -”

“Give no shit,” Betsy and Channing said in unison, laughing.

(100 words)

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I saw the white statue covering the eyes and the security guard seemingly speaking into his mobile phone, I could not help but think of the three wise monkeys. And given that lady barely bothered by the security guard’s presence, this story slowly surfaced into my mind.

I was honestly surprised by where this story took me, actually, as I started without a single idea where it was heading. But in a way, I like how this story ended, showing how the base people could hardly care about what the higher management wants. So I guess everything works out in the end.

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

Prompt: Friday Fictioneers – 19 JULY 2019

Twittering Tales #145 – 16 July 2019

Photo by Zoë Pappas at Pexels.com

The Message

He tapped the pen twice on the paper before naming philosophers. He and his friend deconstructed and debated the arguments all day.

Homeland Security thought their discussion was insightful, not realising their target had disclosed national secrets in the coded exchange.

(270 characters)

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Ooh, who doesn’t love a good spy movie? This probably would not work in real world situation but if it does, the entire scene would be surreal and would have done James Bond proud.

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. This is important as I have noticed that some of the ping backs have not been working. If you would prefer to post your tale in the comments (some people have very specific blog themes but still want to participate), I am happy to post a link to your site when I post your tale in the Round Up.

Prompt: Twittering Tales #145 – 16 July 2019

Three Line Tales, Week 181

photo by Neil Armstrong (via History in HD on Unsplash) 

Landing on exoplanet TRAPPIST-2g7 in the TRAPPIST system was the moment of greatest triumph in humankind’s deep space exploration, opening up opportunities to rare resources.

Reports of the planet as habitable was favourable; the developments of inter-galactic gates was already commissioned and several multi-national companies, Starbucks and McDonald’s among the strongest contenders, were bidding for inter-dimensional expansion.

The collective human civilisation fell when cannibalistic aliens, waiting patiently for their livestock to expand, attacked.

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When the mantis is preying on the cicada, the oriole is just stalking behind. How often are we unaware of the dangers around or behind us when we are pursuing for short term gains?

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

You’ll find full guidelines on the TLT page – here’s the tl;dr:

• Write three lines inspired by the photo prompt (& give them a title if possible).
• Link back to this post (& check the link shows up under the weekly post).
• Tag your post with 3LineTales (so everyone can find you in the Reader).
• Read and comment on other TLT participants’ lines.
• Have fun.

Prompt: Three Line Tales, Week 181

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #36

#CCC36

We Interrupt Your Voyage To Bring You This Announcement

“Hello, everyone. This is not your captain speaking. He’s…indisposed at the moment. I’m sorry for intruding. However, I must warn everyone my colleagues are impatient, so please listen carefully to what I’ve to say and follow the instructions.

“First, remain calm. Screaming, shouting or protesting is useless. Retaliation is also unacceptable. My colleagues are easily startled into violence. And please, no flash photography or video recording.

“Next, please lie on the ground with your hands over your heads. We do not wish any involuntary limb amputation for anybody.

“Finally, please surrender all your valuables in an orderly fashion. My colleagues will go around with a bag. For ladies, please deposit your jewellery and purses. For gentlemen, your watches and wallets. Please don’t give feeble reasons like family heirloom or otherwise.

“If everything goes smoothly, this operation will finish in 30 minutes. I thank you for your attention and co-operation.”

(149 words)

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Ooh, I had a lot of fun writing this. Isn’t it weird to see a polite pirate? But then, society is progressing so…there you go?

If you are interested, the prompt is linked below.

Every Wednesday I post a photo (this week it’s that one above.)
You respond with something CREATIVE

Here are some suggestions:

• An answering photo
• A cartoon
• A joke
• A caption
• An anecdote
• A short story (flash fiction)
• A poem
• A newly minted proverb, adage or saying
• An essay
• A song—the lyrics or the performance

You have plenty of scope and only two criteria:

• Your creative offering is indeed yours
• Your writing is kept to 150 words or less

If you post a link in the comments section of this post I’ll be able to find it
If you include Crimson’s Creative Challenge as a heading, WP Search will find it (theory)
by ‘Searching’ in the WP Reader (fingers crossed)

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN.

Prompt: Crimson’s Creative Challenge #36