Monthly Archives: July 2015
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.09
Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 9.
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 from one-hit-wonder (on this side of the Atlantic, anyway) Edwyn Collins.
The tune is… “A Girl Like You”. Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/nkKxGzm98AU
This week’s Judge is… it’s me again.
The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday July 31st.
Now… Go write!!!!!
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.08 WINNERS
We had another low-turnout week here at the MWBB.
I had five great entries to read, and read I did. So… without further ado, here are the Winners.
This week’s Runner-Up is… Ruth Long.
Ruth’s story featured fantastic banter. I’m a total sucker for fantastic banter.
And this week’s Winner is… Pattyann McCarthy!
Pattyann crafted a tale with vivid sensory imagery and an understated, highly effective emotional punch.
Mazel tov to both of you!
Pattyann – here’s a Winner’s Badge for you;
Thanks to all of our writers and readers, and thanks to Judge… well. to me!
See you all a little later with the next exciting episode of the Mid-Week Blues-Buster….
#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – July 26, 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.
Jake has just asked Jed why he still cares about Marisa and her troubles…
“What’s it to you?” he shot back.
“Motivations, Jed. They matter.”
“Don’t pull that high horse crap with me,” he barked. “You’re just a fourth-rate peeper on his way out. You got in that piece of shit Oldsmobile and wound up here ’cause anywhere had to be better than where you were.”
I tried not to blink. His accurate read had me thinking he could’ve been a private investigator himself. Or a used car salesman.
“And yet you want to hire me for a job,” I pointed out.
He reached out and placed his hand next to the pile of cash.
“You’re not from around here,” he said. “Sometimes, that’s enough.”
“The question stands. Why do you still care?”
Heavy blues guitar, greasy and fast, picked up where Etta Jones left off. We made it deep enough into the tune to know it was an instrumental before he answered.
“She’s still my wife,” he said.
“Even though you’re through?”
“Even though.”
“Still sweet on her?”
Anger made his bloodshot eyes open wide and put a splash of red across his ample forehead. He wrestled with it for a couple of long moments, then put it away.
“You can only push a man but so far,” he said in a voice not unlike the first distant rumbles of thunder before a storm.
Thanks for stopping by & thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.
If you’re a fellow Snippet Sunday author, please make sure to visit other writer’s blogs to check out their work!
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.08
Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 8.
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 is a little on the long side, but it’s an intense listen…
It’s, “Flash”, by Joan As Policewoman. Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/Imx9jpSLwAE
This week’s Judge is… well… it’s me!
The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday July 24th.
Now… Go Write!!!
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.07 WINNER
Slow week here at the MWBB.
We only managed four entries for Judge Stephanie Fuller. Still, the Book Hipster read your work and made her decision. As per our policy on weak turnout weeks (numerically speaking) the Judge chooses only one Winner.
Here’s Judge Stephanie;
Howdy!
It has been a while since I’ve participated in a Mid-Week Blues-Buster, but was really excited to help Jeff be a Judge this week.
The hard part…only four pieces! All four are good, too!
So…let’s see…winner…winner…ah yes!
The winner this week is…
@laurengreene
Your “Xs and Os” used a lot of color imagery to help tell the story of John and Jane. I felt that this may not have been the only draft of letter John wrote. 😉
Congrats on your story this week!
Also, to the others that participated, you all posted great stories, as well! Keep on writing!
Thanks for letting me Judge, again, Jeff! 🙂
Mazel tov to our Winner.
Lauren – here’s a Winner’s Badge for you;
Thanks to all of our writers and readers, and thanks to Judge Stephanie Fuller.
See you on Tuesday… I hope!
#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – July 19, 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.
Jake and Jed are still talking business in a booth at Beau’s Bar & Grill. Last week’s snippet ended with the line, “You don’t know him like I do,” spoken by Jed about Deputy Norris. Jake speaks next…
“I don’t know you either.”
“You don’t have to.”
I looked at him out of the corners of my eyes.
“I got friends who’ll vouch for me,” he said. “Ben Franklin. Andrew Jackson. Maybe even Ulysses S. Grant. You know those guys?”
“I have a passing acquaintance with those gentlemen.”
“Take the case and you’ll get to know ’em a lot better.”
“You haven’t asked what it’s going to cost you.”
He leaned to one side and pulled out his wallet, then took a quick glance at the bar, and fished out a pile of bills. He placed them on the table between us. Mr. Franklin winked at me from the top of the stack.
“That enough to get you started?” asked Jed.
We stared at each other while Etta Jones sang about Paris in the jukebox.
He took another look toward the bar halfway through the tune.
My eyes drifted toward the cash. I let it sit where he’d put it.
“Tell me why,” I said.
His face reddened a little and he chuckled.
“Why what, Jake?” he asked.
“Marisa,” I said. I hit him with my best wrecking-ball glare. “Why do you still care?”
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.
If you’re a fellow Snippet Sunday writer, please make sure to make the rounds of everyone’s blogs.
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.07
Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 7.
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 is short and bittersweet…
It’s, “Little Blue One”, by Cowboy Mouth. Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/i2lVwgiHw8w
This week’s Judge is just plain sweet– say hello to the Book Hipster, Stephanie Fuller!
The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday July 17th.
Now… Go Write!!!
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.06 WINNERS
Week 3.06 turned out to be a good one for the MWBB.
Judge Pratibha Kelapure had lots of great stuff to read.
Here are her decisions;
#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – July 12, 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.
Jake and Jed are still talking business in a booth at Beau’s Bar & Grill. Jake’s finally getting some answers to his questions…
“And you say you don’t know who they are.”
“I’m not just saying it,” he insisted.
“Haven’t tried to find out? You seem like a pretty direct guy.”
“You got that right.”
“Ever seen them before today?”
“Once. Marisa pointed ’em out when we were out driving, begged me not to stop. They had three guns on me before I got one leg out of the truck.”
“What stopped them from plugging you right there?”
He laughed.
“A cop car came around the corner. Marisa’s pals put their guns away and backed into the house they came out of. I got my ass back in the truck and hit the gas.”
“Lucky.”
“Yep. If the cop knew it was me about to get shot he’d have stopped to help ’em do it.”
“Deputy Norris doesn’t seem the type.”
He toyed with his empty pint glass.
“You don’t know him like I do.”
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave. If you’re a Snippet Sunday author, please make sure to stop by other writer’s blogs.
Mid-Week Blues-Buster Week 3.06
Welcome to the Mid-Week Blues-Buster Flash Fiction Challenge, Year 3, Week 6.
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 courtesy of singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten.
The tune is… “Serpents”.
Here’s the link; https://youtu.be/hYgyQ20TJAs
This week’s Judge is Pratibha Kelapure, editor of the online journal, “The Literary Nest”!
The challenge opens the moment you read this post and runs through MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME on Friday July 10th.
Now… Go write!!!
The Tsuruoka Files 