Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.05

Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 5.

This is a flash fiction challenge. The prompt is a song. You are not required to write about or even mention the song. It’s there only to get the ideas moving around in your brain pan. If you want to write about the song (or the video- it’s all good here) go for it but don’t feel like you have to.

The rules;
500 words, but it’s a slushy 500, meaning you can go up to 700 or as low as 300.
Post your entry right in the comments section of this post.

MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR TWITTER HANDLE NEXT TO YOUR WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POST. IF YOU’RE NOT ON TWITTER GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR SOME OTHER WAY TO GET A HOLD OF YOU!.

The challenge starts whenever I post this on Tuesday and ends at MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday. You read that right. Pacific Time.

This week’s song prompt comes to us from the Department of Art Imitating Life (or vice versa). The tune is the cruelly ironic, “Rehab”, by the late, great Amy Winehouse.

Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/KUmZp8pR1uc

This week’s Judge is author and ace word-wrangler… Cara Michaels!

The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday July 3rd.

Now… Go write!!!

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Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.04 WINNERS

We managed six entries for this week’s edition of the Mid-Week Blues-Buster.

Judge Louisa Bacio had some good reading material to work with. Here are her decisions;

I enjoyed the varying levels of thematic elements in these pieces. Although the prompt says it doesn’t have to include anything from the musical inspiration, several contained feline elements. Sometimes, it’s hard not to be influenced.

Thank you for the chance to judge this week. It’s always fun to look at stories in a different light. Remember, all comments are totally subjective. It was a tough choice between one and two.

Third:

@PurpleQueenNL

“Poof.” The story is nice and tight, and contains a high amount of drama. The pacing keeps the reader going, and the dialogue moves with the storyline. It’s tough in a short piece, but would like to see some emotions. Is he jealous? Does he love her or does he just not like to be rejected?

Second: Ella Gray

@ellagrey26

What we could do to take over the world! It’s like we get a fantastic idea that sparks and “squirrel.” I love the way Amanda keeps the Apocalypse from happening.

The short was entertaining, with an easy-to-read banter, and the descriptions were different, setting it apart:

“Damn, she really didn’t want to move but that feeling lingered. With all the strength of a new-born and the grace of a heavily hungover troll, Amanda tugged down her bedsheets and rolled onto her other side.”

I had to laugh at the line: “Nay a sip of a slippery nipple will pass these lips.” Nice alliteration.

First:

@mishmhem

Ah, when you reach the end of the story, the title takes on a new meaning. Readers get that extra, “I got it” moment.

Immediately, the reader’s attention is captured. With a wife of three hours, one would imagine bliss, not conflict. Instead, we get “The flames that had burned so hot had turned to something so cold that the space between them like was an arctic wasteland.”

Now of course, as a mostly ménage writer, I’d love to see the story turn the other way. 😉

Mazel tov to all of our Winners.

@mishmhem – here’s a Winner’s Badge for your collection;

Thanks to all of our writers and readers, and thanks to Judge Louisa Bacio!

See you on Tuesday…

#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – June 28, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s snippet picks up where my last one left off.

We’re just heard this exchange between Jake and Jed;

“She told me she had someone who needed hurting, right after she asked me if I knew how to hurt people. I assumed she meant you.”

“You assumed wrong.”

“Did I?”

Here’s this week’s snippet;

He glared at me for about a second less than it would have taken to start round three. I could sense Beau behind the bar, already calculating the cost of repairs.

“What else did she say?” he asked, breathing out his anger.

“That about covered it,” I replied. “I’m starting to wonder how much she told you.”

“I got the who out of her. Never did find out the why.”

“Care to share that information?”

“That depends. You taking the job?”

“You haven’t told me what the job is yet.”

We sat through most of an Eva Cassidy and Chuck Brown duet without speaking.

“Back in town you said Marisa never goes far when she takes off,” I said. “She step out on you that often?”

He curled his fingers to make a fist but gave up halfway through.

“Not while we were living together,” he answered.

I paused to enjoy a little of James Carr’s rendition of, “The Dark Side of the Street.” Beau’s juke box had a sense of humor.

“Since then?”

“Every piece of shit drifter to hit town gets the treatment.”

The cracked smile he hit me with was made even uglier by his mangled lips.

I spun the Wheel of Responses and came up, “Let it slide”.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

If you’re a fellow Snippet Sunday author, please take the time to go visit other writer’s blogs to check out their work. This only works if we all help each other out!

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.04

Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 4.

This is a flash fiction challenge. The prompt is a song. You are not required to write about or even mention the song. It’s there only to get the ideas moving around in your brain pan. If you want to write about the song (or the video- it’s all good here) go for it but don’t feel like you have to.

The rules;
500 words, but it’s a slushy 500, meaning you can go up to 700 or as low as 300.
Post your entry right in the comments section of this post.

MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR TWITTER HANDLE NEXT TO YOUR WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POST. IF YOU’RE NOT ON TWITTER GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR SOME OTHER WAY TO GET A HOLD OF YOU!.

The challenge starts whenever I post this on Tuesday and ends at MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday. You read that right. Pacific Time.

This week’s song prompt in inspired by the silver screen and comes from the soundtrack to one of my favorite horror flicks.

The artist is… David Bowie. The tune is… “Cat People”.

Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/VpdHMaccjw4

This week’s Judge is another first timer with us here at the MWBB. Say hello to author, editor, and confirmed lover of the dark… Louisa Bacio!

The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday June 26th.

Now… Go write!!!

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.03 WINNERS

Well, we regressed to our usual number of entries, this week– four.

Good thing we’re all about quality, not quantity here at the MWBB.

Judge Rose Ketring had some good stuff to read.

As we had only four entries, I asked Judge Rose to choose one Winner only.

Here is her decision;

This week @LurchMunster dropped me right into a POV that most daren’t enter. I really loved how the story is told from the “guilty party,” outlining and then coloring it in with his own humanity.

Mazel tov to our WINNER.

Mark – here’s another Winner’s Badge for you;

Thanks to all of our writers and readers, and thanks to Judge Rose Ketring.

See you on Tuesday… I hope!

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.03

Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 3.

This is a flash fiction challenge. The prompt is a song. You are not required to write about or even mention the song. It’s there only to get the ideas moving around in your brain pan. If you want to write about the song (or the video- it’s all good here) go for it but don’t feel like you have to.

We had a great turnout last week– ten big entries. Here’s hoping it’s the beginning of a trend and not just a blip on the radar…

The rules;
500 words, but it’s a slushy 500, meaning you can go up to 700 or as low as 300.
Post your entry right in the comments section of this post.

MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR TWITTER HANDLE NEXT TO YOUR WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POST. IF YOU’RE NOT ON TWITTER GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR SOME OTHER WAY TO GET A HOLD OF YOU!.

The challenge starts whenever I post this on Tuesday and ends at MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday. You read that right. Pacific Time.

We’re doing something a little different with this week’s song prompt. Every so often, I like to throw something instrumental at our writers. Let the music to the talking, absorb the rhythms and the feel… let it take you somewhere…

The prompt is by Vas. The song is, “Moksha”.

Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/QPqixTXgnTM

This week’s Judge is NaNoWriMo writer and unrepentant bibliophile… Rose Ketring.

This is Rose’s first time out with us, so let’s give her lots to read!

The challenge starts as soon as you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday June 19th.

Now… Go Write!!!

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.02 WINNERS

All right…. Week 3.02 is in the books.

Judge Jessica Maybury had eight great entries to read through. She kept things short and sweet.

Here’s Judge Jessica;

hello! sorry I’m late!

I’d go with mysoulstears for first, vagrant rhodla for second and alan s young for third!

Mazel tov to all of our Winners.

Mark – here’s another Winner’s Badge for you;

Thanks to all of our writers & readers, and thanks to Judge Jessica Maybury.

See you on Tuesday…

#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – June 14, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s and snippet is another slice of the conversation between Jake and Jed in the bar… Jed has just told Jake that he wants to hire him…

“Hire me? To do what?”

He finished his beer before answering my questions. He grinned a little as he set the glass down.

“Brass tacks, Jake. You a private eye or not?”

I blinked at him, stalling while I tried to work it out. I could only think of one way he’d know.

“Marisa went through your wallet,” he said.

Bingo.

“I’ve always been a heavy sleeper,” I replied.

The barb bounced off him and faded into the darkness of the booth. Their romance was as dead as he said it was.

“I sleep light,” he said. “Didn’t help.”

I straightened up and sat all the way back on my bench.

“I’m only licensed in New York, you know.”

“That’s weak, bud.”

I eyed the lonely suds at the bottom of my empty glass while he waited for my curiosity to win.

“What do you have in mind?” I asked.

“What did she tell you?”

“She told me she had someone who needed hurting, right after she asked me if I knew how to hurt people. I assumed she meant you.”

“You assumed wrong.”

“Did I?”

Thanks for stopping by to read & thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

If you’re a fellow Snippet Sunday writer, please take the time to visit as many of us as you can. This only works if we all support each other’s work.

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.02

Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 2.

This is a flash fiction challenge. The prompt is a song. You are not required to write about or even mention the song. It’s there only to get the ideas moving around in your brain pan. If you want to write about the song (or the video- it’s all good here) go for it but don’t feel like you have to.

We had a great turnout last week– ten big entries. Here’s hoping it’s the beginning of a trend and not just a blip on the radar…

The rules;
500 words, but it’s a slushy 500, meaning you can go up to 700 or as low as 300.
Post your entry right in the comments section of this post.

MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR TWITTER HANDLE NEXT TO YOUR WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POST. IF YOU’RE NOT ON TWITTER GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR SOME OTHER WAY TO GET A HOLD OF YOU!.

The challenge starts whenever I post this on Tuesday and ends at MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday. You read that right. Pacific Time.

We’re going back to the music of my youth for this week’s song prompt. Say hello to The Cure, everybody…

The tune is, “A Forest”. Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/RGT4V6JmINA

This week’s Judge is a MWBB first-timer. Welcome to author & all-around cool person, Jessica Maybury!

The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday June 12th.

Now… Go Write!!!!!

Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.01 WINNERS

So I’m sitting here, waiting on the results to come in for Week 3.01 of the Mid-Week Blues-Buster, when I remember… I’m the Judge this week!

We got an almost unheard of *ten* entries this week. It’s almost as if people like us!

Here’s what Judge Me came up with;

Third Place

Pratibha – The Decision

Welcome aboard, Pratibha! This is a powerful, poignant entry.

Second Place

Cara Michaels – untitled entry

I just love this one for so many reasons that don’t need to be discussed right now… 😉

First Place

mtdecker – Walking Away With Death By My Side

I love the feel of this story, the starkness and the wry humor that comes out as the narrative moves along. Very crisp, and I’m a sucker for good, crisp prose.

Mazel tov to all of our Winners.

mtdecker – here’s a Winner’s Badge for you;

Thanks to all of our writers and readers… and thanks to Judge Me!

See you on Tuesday for another exciting edition of the Mid-Week Blues-Buster…