#ThursThreads - Week 119 - Winners

Week 119 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Jeff Tsuruoka for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc. And next week there will be NO #THURSTHREADS. We'll be back on May 22nd.

Entries:

• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Mardi says: This was really hard to do. All of the entries were interesting.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider

Jeff says: Beautiful, lyrical prose & strong imagery.

Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke

Jeff says: Love the whole feel of this piece. Great imagery-- especially the rain & the wetness-- and the ending is just perfect.

MT Decker | @mishmhem

Jeff says: Tight, tense little piece of office nastiness. Very effective use of repetition with the prompt.

Week 119 Winner

Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky

Jeff says: Perfectly captured slice of life. Just enough of the history between the characters is dropped in and it ends with a moment we've all lived through at least once in our lives. Love the clean, clear prose.

Andria slides her hand over my collarbone, slipping the satin pink bra strap over my shoulder. I bat her hand away and adjust my bra.

“Ouch,” she says, withdrawing to her end of the couch. “I took a shower this morning.” She picks up her neon pink coffee mug and takes a sip.

“I love you.” I scan my pile of papers, frantic to finish my report before the deadline. “I’m just…”

“Busy,” Andria offers. She takes another sip, watching me.

“I’ve got to finish before Grandma’s birthday party tonight.”

At the silence, I realize my mistake. “Look, I’m sorry. I know you want to go, but it’ll be tapioca pudding and cake with dull conversation.”

Two patches of pink appear on Andria’s cheeks, and she clinks her cup onto the ceramic mosaic coaster. We chose the set together when she first moved in. “You act like you’re ashamed of me.”

I groan. “We’ve gone through this a thousand times. That’s not how my family works.”

“Huh.” Andria stands up and carries her mug to the kitchen sink. “Thought I was part of your family.” She returns to the living room and sits in the chair furthest away from me.

I pound away for five full minutes until I give in. Andria has silent treatment down to a science. I can apologize, but it won’t change anything. “I need some space,” I plead.

“That can be arranged.” She stalks out of the room and slams our bedroom door.

Congratulations Anastasia, Robin, Olivia, and MT! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 119

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 119 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 119:

Daily Picspiration contributor, #flashfiction host, and monster-story writer, Jeff Tsuruoka.

Jeff on Facebook

Jeff on Twitter

Jeff on Google Plus

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“That can be arranged.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads - Week 63 - Winners

Week 63 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales! Thanks to all who came to write yesterday. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write. And I'm delighted to see new writers stopping by. Great thanks go to Jeff Tsuruoka for reading the stories.

Entries:

• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels 
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Jeff Hollar | @Klingorengi
• Theresa Breaux | @theresabreaux
• Rebecca Brennan | @bexbrennan
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Antonio Angelo | @AntonioAngelo21
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Susan Hayes | @capricia13
• Dr Magoo | @drmagoo
• Sandra Bunino | @SandraBunino
• Meredith Smith-Lane | @squee79
• David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Grace Black | @blackinkpinkdsk
• Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
• @LupusAnthropos

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Jeff says: Got a big laugh out of this one... A great take on the prompt.

Susan Hayes | @capricia13

Jeff says: I love the pacing of this story, the whoosh of urgency carried from the first line right through the ending.

Dr Magoo | @drmagoo

Jeff says: What a powerhouse of a first sentence... and the rest of it stands up just as well. Perfectly rendered.

Week 63 Winner

Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1

Jeff says: Beautiful uncluttered prose partners with intense imagery and strong atmospherics.  Great stuff.

Justice

She felt his arms around her and shivered. Her stomach fluttered as his hands closed around hers, positioning her fingers around the cold instrument.

“Never point it unless you intend to use it. Aim… like this.” He guided her hand up, aiming the gun at the target that was in front of them. “The safety is here. Cock the hammer. Pull the trigger.”

Tanya squeezed and felt the kickback reverberate through her arms. He held her steady and showed her how to balance her stance so that it would be easier. She breathed in his scent. She had longed for her best friend’s brother for a long time now. She and Amy had once joked that they could be sister-in-laws if Jacob would only notice her. He never did and now it was too late. Amy was dead, the victim of a rapist that had been terrorizing the city and Jacob’s arms around her didn’t bring the comfort she had once thought.

After an hour he declared that she would at least be able to defend herself without shooting out an eye.

“Any questions?” He asked.

She had lots, but none that would provide a suitable answer. She had been there when Amy was attacked. No one knew because she had hid, watching… too afraid to move. But she’d seen his face. She knew who Amy’s killer was.

She cocked the hammer and put the gun to his head. Then she pulled the trigger.

Congratulations THREE TIME WINNER Lisa, Cara, Susan, and Dr. Magoo! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :)

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 63

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked, and #ThursThreads, the Challenge that Ties Tales Together. Let's get started. It's Thursday again, so what should you be doing? Writing #flashfiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 63 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt as written anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 63:

Monster movie lover, fry cook, and Daily Picspiration author, Jeff Tsuruoka.

Jeff on Facebook

Jeff on Twitter

Jeff at Daily Picspiration

 So now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Any questions?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck! :)