Waking Up Warm

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

It's been a cold and snowy time for a lot of people this late fall/early winter.  Many are without power and are expected to continue to be without it for a while longer.  I'm sure lots of them would go to great lengths to wake up to the view above.  Write a little Flashy Fiction what your protagonist went through to escape the cold and wake up warm.

THE MORNING AFTER

It's the morning after Christmas (and I don't let Christmas go that easily). It's called Boxing Day. So in the clean up and discarding of torn wrapping and cardboard boxes, you find one gift that had gone unopened. There's a note:

"Sorry this one got lost in the numbers. In my haste, it had inadvertently gone undelivered. You became the last stop for the year. If this caused you any embarrassment or inconvenience, I'll make up for it next year. Merry Christmas!

Mr. C"

What was the gift? Was it expected? Or was it a total surprise? There is Christmas magic that lasts the whole year. This is a bit of it. Your Flash Fiction concerns this last gift of Christmas!

Your Christmas Wish

What would you wish for if you could sit on Santa's knee and whisper your one big dream to him?  What was it you asked for as a child? Did you get it? How did you feel when you did or did not?

THE BELL RINGER

"Santa" stands in front of the shopping plaza ringing his bell. People pass by without even a cursory glance.
The Santa sees all kinds of things in his observations.
There's a surprised look on his face.

Write a piece that reflects this look. What does he see?
Is it good or bad? Give it a twist and you be the Santa. What strikes you? Write your thoughts into your Flashy Fiction.

Everyone had a little story to tell. Tell yours.

A Wintery Stroll

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

Returning to an apparently abandoned path from earlier this summer, you find the path lit with Christmas lights.  Do you simply bask in the glow as you stroll down the now-lit walkway?  Maybe you're more guarded now, knowing that the location isn't as disused as you thought?  Where are you headed on this wintery night?

LET THE CAROLS RING

The Christmas rush is upon us and here in Buffalo, New York, the signs came early. Christmas music began playing 24/7 at 11:59 PM on October 31st. So by now, I've heard all of the songs at least once. I'm sure by now, most of you have too!

But in keeping with the season, here is your prompt for today. Turn your radio to the local station that is providing your Christmas spirit via song. The song that is currently playing (No scrolling for a good one) is the title of your piece of flash fiction. Write a story behind that song or use that song as inspiration for a totally different piece although retaining the title and the essence of the song.

God, Rest Ye Merry... and write your Flashy Fiction!

A Cozy Igloo

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

This pic shows a cozy looking igloo in a pristine field of snow, the glow of light and warmth emanating from the tiny dwelling.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about this igloo.  Is it a planned dwelling?  An escape from the hustle and bustle of city living?  Maybe it was an emergency shelter to survive a storm.  Maybe, it wasn't even built by the protagonist.  Maybe it is where he finds himself after being rescued by the igloo's owner.

Head of the Table?

  Bad dog or head of the table?  Are they "man's best friend" or are they secretly our masters?  They aren't the ones picking up our poop, right?  Write a little Flashy Fiction with a dog at the "head of the table."  Maybe you could write it from the dog's perspective.

Behind the Falls

What finds you peering out from behind a waterfall?  Did you duck in here to hide from someone or something?  Have you been trapped underground and finally found this the light at the end of a tunnel?  Or maybe you've been spelunking and this is a planned exit?  Write a little Flashy Fiction that explains how you came to be behind the falls.

Word Prompt: Supercilious

Supercilious

"having or showing the proud and unpleasant attitude of people who think that they are better or more important than other people" - as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary: supercilious

Write a little Flashy Fiction based what comes to mind when you see/hear:  supercilious?

Here Comes The Sun

 

A beautiful sunrise.  An early morning commute.  Is the sun a good sign for the day to come or are it's warming rays a hindrance to commuters.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about driving on a bright, sunny morning.

Decorate yourself...

What does this mean to you?  How can you apply this your life?  Write about a time you decorated yourself from the inside out.

A rose by any other name...

Roses have long been associated with love.  It may not be Valentine's Day, but the weather is turning cooler, which means it's a good time for snuggling up with someone special.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about love or roses or snuggling up in the cold.

Criticism bites...

Write about a time you felt criticized.  How big was their bite and what kind of scar did it leave?  Did you learn anything from it and did it help you grow as a person?  That's the biggest lesson for me.

Election Day

It's Election Day.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about it.  Write from the perspective of a candidate waiting to hear the results or as a voter going to cast their ballot.  Maybe the day doesn't go smoothly for one of them.  Maybe something during election day changes how a person decides to vote.  You get to pick the winner.  Just write it up.

Guardians of the Flame

Who are these little guys in the fireplace?  In reality, they are little metal statues with metal bars extending from their backs to support the firewood.  But...maybe...that's not the whole story?  What do you think?  Is there something more to them?  Write a little Flashy Fiction explaining how they got there or what they really do.

Sacred Circle

 

 image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

What do we have here?  It appears to be a mage of some sort, maybe a druid, performing a spell or ritual in the forest.  What's your take?  Write a little Flashy Fiction set in this scene.

My soul was kissed...

I remember the first time I saw him.  His eyes went straight to my soul...and that was before we ever touched lips.  Soulmate he called me, and that we are.  Write about what this quote means to you.

Autumn River

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

Sunlight streams through the changing leaves of the trees.  Autumn is here with a crisp, gentle breeze.  It's a great day for a peaceful trip down this lazy river to view the beauty all around.  Write a little Flashy Fiction set in this scene.

Maize

 

Corn maze in Gloucester, Virginia

 

The corn maze.  A staple of farm country Halloween/Autumn celebrations.  Even knowing there's nothing lurking in the field waiting to do you harm, doesn't completely erase the feeling that the paths are closing in, that something is watching you.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a trip through a corn maze or about unexpectedly finding yourself out in the middle of a corn field.

Furloughed

The dreaded furlough notice.  Write a little Flashy fiction in which your protagonist has been furloughed.  How does he deal with it?  What are his plans if it lasts a long time?  Be creative.

Wicked Tunes

 DJ Evil spinning the tunes for visitors to Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Halloween approaches.  Themes parks are in full swing trying to scare their guests.  At one park, DJ Evil spins out some wicked, bass-thumping, trance music.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a theme park during Scare Season.  Your protagonist could be a scarer or a scaree.  Maybe your story takes place behind the scenes.

I'VE CHANGED

We're swinging into the autumnal times, 
a seasonal change.

Write a bit of flash expounding on change. Change of seasons. Change of plans. Change of life. A transformation of some kind. Your character should come to an epiphany by story's end.

Patriot Day Prompt...

Sorry I missed the last prompt...I was researching some information for a magazine article and the deadline was approaching!  I would like for you to think about this quote and if it speaks to you, write about the vision you have:

"Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers."  ~ Tecumseh

or

"The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.  ~Thomas Campbell"

 

Star People

Lots of people around the world spend their time and money going to concerts.  Some save and spend more to see their favorite artists.  Others buy the cheap seats to just about anyone blowing through town on tour.  Some even take extravagant trips to see artists playing out of town.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a concert.  Is the experience going to be good?  Bad?  Start writing and let us see where it goes.

In the Hive

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

Bzzzzzzzzzzz.  The sound of bees working, moving about their hive.  A loud droning noise, especially if you were small enough to be inside one.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a bee hive.  Your point of view could be one of the bees or a person shrunk down to fit inside.  If you're a bee, are you the queen or a worker?  Maybe it's a huge structure built to resemble a hive that houses spaceships.  Maybe those ships look like bees.

A Different View

What do you see here? An eerie moonlit night? Maybe daytime in a different dimension or world?  Maybe it's simply a filter on a camera?  Maybe it's not a filter, but this is what the camera captured?  Write a little Flashy Fiction that puts your protagonist at the scene looking out between the trees, with or without a camera, with or without a filter.

Two for one quote day!

I apologize for falling down on my job last week.  You can ask Mr. Tuesday, I tried.  He was so busy getting his posts up that by the time it was my turn, we had lost internet connection on vacation.  So I have two for you today: 

"When you are in trouble, people who call to sympathize are really looking for the particulars."  ~Edgar Watson Howe, Country Town Sayings, 1911

 

What is the first thing that comes to mind when reading this quote?  Write a story about it or try the next one:

"It always rains on tents.  Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent."  ~Dave Barry 

Gazing out the Window

Sitting back in your comfy chair, man's best friend at your feet, gazing out the window.  Are you waiting for something or someone to arrive or simply enjoying the view?  Writing a little Flashy Fiction that puts your protagonist in this scene.

WHAT IF...?

Plans and schemes and hopes and dreams all converge to paint a scenario much different than the one we have. Or do they? There are times we live in this "What if?" life, where the green grass just appears more vivid. But it is not necessarily better Write your character's "What if?" life.

On Vacation

Ah, vacation!  A time to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax...or find the hustle and bustle of vacation.  In this week's prompt, we're going to focus on the relaxing bit.  Whether catching rays at the beach, lounging poolside, or just taking in the view with a good friend, write a little Flashy Fiction about relaxing on a vacation.

In a Disused Graveyard

"In a Disused Graveyard" by Robert Frost

The living come with grassy tread
To read the gravestones on the hill;
The graveyard draws the living still,
But never anymore the dead.
The verses in it say and say:
"The ones who living come today
To read the stones and go away
Tomorrow dead will come to stay."
So sure of death the marbles rhyme,
Yet can't help marking all the time
How no one dead will seem to come.
What is it men are shrinking from?
It would be easy to be clever
And tell the stones: Men hate to die
And have stopped dying now forever.
I think they would believe the lie.

Often, we find poems written in response to events, pictures, and other writings .  Today, let's reverse this and write a story based on a poem.  Read Robert Frost's "In a Disused Graveyard" above, mull it over a bit or write spontaneously, and give us a bit of Flashy Fiction based on this poem.

WHAT A CHARACTER!

Today's nudge asks you to construct a character. Flesh your protagonist out with as much detail as you can: with a back story, physical appearance, interests and such. This will be your "pawn" in the stories that ask you to write "your" character into the situations presented. Don't forget to name your new creation. It may come in handy!

Reputation...

Your assignment today, should you choose to accept it, is to write something based off this quote:

“I wrote the story myself. It's about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.” 

 ~Mae West

Are you up for the challenge?

 

 

What do you see?

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

Yep, this is another one of those prompts without a lot of coaxing or guidance.  Look at the image, then write a little Flashy Fiction based on what comes to mind.

...AND THEN, THE RAINS CAME

Looking out my window on a dreary, wet and rainy morning, my thoughts are of nature's power. Write a situation where rain or any other weather phenomenon plays a major part in your tale. You could be a farmer dealing with drought when the rains finally come, or someone sick of the constant barrage of downpours or blizzards, and to what end they bring you. Stretch the limits of things purely out of our control, and tell the story that's inside you,,,

Can I quote you on that?

Since this is new for me, I am going to introduce myself.  I write children's stories that I ummm, have not yet published.  I also write for my own personal blog and I started making my own quote photos to use for my blog's Facebook page in order to inspire those around me.  I want you to look at the quotes I post and write a story that might have inspired the quote, or use it to make the type of character that evokes those feelings when you read it.  Be inspired:

Here Be Dragons!

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

Here Be Dragons!  Found on at least one (real-life) old map, this phrase serves as a warning to travelers that the area ahead is unexplored or that continuing on may lead to danger and death.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a person or group who came upon the scene in the image above.  Maybe they chose to ignore a warning.  Maybe they never saw one.  How will this end for them?

"Bokeh" Your Writing

Discover the Bokeh effect:

Images with blurred lights 

and soft backgrounds.

Stylize this idea into your writing.

Use each of these images as elements in one work, 

or

Write each one into its own piece.

Happy writing Friday Flashy Fiction writers! 

Images=Photobucket

ALL ABOARD

You are at a crossroad in your life. Decisions need to be made and a stricter adherence must be followed. The train is at the station to take you to new life adventures.
If you fail to board, you remain forever rooted in the soil until you're planted there permanently.

The conductor yells, "ALL ABOARD!"

Write a bit of FlashyFiction to tell of your decision/destination. If you stay put, tell the story of why!

First Reactions

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

No suggestions today.  Look at the picture (click the thumbnail above and see the full-size preview so you can see more detail) and write a little Flashy Fiction based on your first reaction to this image.

Sunsets

Sunset.  That time of day when part of the world is transitioning from their period of light to their period of dark.  Some find incredible beauty in sunset, a relaxing peaceful time of transition, while others fear the coming night. Sometimes, a sunset is a metaphor for something else.  Write a little Flashy Fiction about a sunset(s).

What happens at the beach

  What happens at the beach when there's no one looking? Do the sea gulls land and take naps?  Do the turtles and crabs and gulls throw wild beach parties?  Write a little Flashy Fiction that gives a peek "behind the scenes" at the beach.  Certainly, it can be a more realistic take than partying porpoises and sand flea circuses.

Fiction Puzzle Pieces

Person

(Photobucket)

Place

(Photobucket)

And Thing...

(Photobucket)

Okay Friday Flashy Fiction writers!!

Fish from your deep sea muses

find inspiration in these elements if you please. 

Double Take

Ever wonder what the folks designing products and their packaging were thinking?  Did they realize what it looked like?  Maybe it infringed on a copyright/patent.  Today, write a little Flashy Fiction in which a product on display causes folks to do a double take as they pass it in a store.

Setting a Scene...

Focus on surroundings...

(Photobucket)

Bring on the textures...

(Photobucket)

Give us the inside of your mind...

(Photobucket)

Based on these images...

Run with it Friday Flashy Fiction writers!

Push It

Today's story is set in a gym.  Why is your protagonist having blurred vision? Is she pushing it too hard? Why?  Trying to tone up for a fast-coming date/deadline/competition? Maybe he doesn't know how to take it any slower than push-til-you-pass out or he's crying over a break-up. Gas leak in the gym or something more nefarious, like poisoning?  Write a little Flashy Fiction that explains the blurry vision at the gym.

COMIC (BOOK) RELIEF

Pick two characters from two different comic strips or

comic books and have them stranded in an elevator. Write their interaction in a flash!

SNOW WHITE REVISITED

We all know the story of Snow White. Wicked witch... magic mirror... poison apple... true love's first kiss... the seven little guys...

Becocme one of the Seven Dwarves and re-tell the story from your new perspective. 

(Of course, the seven were Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy and Dopey)

idyll

image courtesy of Digital Blasphemy

A stream flows peacefully among beautiful flowering trees.  Write a little Flashy Fiction set in this idyllic locale.  How'd you come to be here?  What's your purpose...romance, tranquility, or something a bit more nefarious?

A BRUSH WITH FATE

A beautiful young woman hands a package to the less-than-handsome stranger. The back of her hand brushes against his arm. In that brief moment she learns everything there is to ever know about him.

Write a vignette about one of the impressions she has made 

through this contact with him.