SmokeLong Quarterly Issue #26 is Live!

My Story, "Weasel", is up at Mud Luscious!

I'm thrilled to have my story, "Weasel", in Mud Luscious, along with these writers: Kate Wyer, Peter Schwartz, Bradley Sands, Mel Bosworth, Richard Osgood, Andrea DeAngelis, Zachary Tyler Vickers, Cortney McLellan, David Peak, Roxane Gay, Gregory Sherl, Steven J. McDermott and Kimberly E. Ruth!

Making it Special Prompt

Write a story about something that most anybody would consider average, but your main character considers special. This can be an animal, a person, a toaster... anything. Have your main character consider it to be very special, and let the story involve the main character's exaggerated adoration of this person/animal/thing.

The "Get Unstuck" Prompt

This is a prompt about feeling stuck or confined in a life. Have your main character work on escape: physically, or spiritually. Have your main character not feel sorry for himself/herself (it's drudgery to read about self pity in a main character, there is nothing worse). Make this character believe there is a way to escape, even if there isn't.

possible words,

cold
wrong
close
scream
rain
morning
dark
shy
trace

Beatles Song Prompt

Pick any Beatles Song (I'm thinking of Lovely Rita, for my own). Take the theme of the song, and write a story from it. You can borrow words from the song, of course!!!

Puce Prompt!

Write a story with some odd color names in it. One good example is.. puce!!! Here are some others:

Palm
pistachio
pea
mint
arugula

an example, "He said he had arugula walls... that his mother picked the color, and he liked the fresh sound of it. In my opinion, his freshly painted walls looked baby pink - but he seemed very proud of this."

See what happens to your characters that are surrounded by fake sounding designer colors!

The Author (me) Interviews a reader (Tim Jones-Yelvington) on Flashfiction.net!

I interviewed Tim Jones-Yelvington about my story from SmokeLong Quarterly, Issue #21, Calfornia Fruit.

The Author (me) Interviews a reader (Tim Jonees-Yelvington) on Flashfiction.net!

I interviewed Tim Jones-Yelvington about my story from SmokeLong Quarterly, Issue #21, Calfornia Fruit.

A Drama Playing Out Next Door

Write a piece that involves mostly observation of the narrator's neighbor's action. Write about what is observed second hand. Let your narrator's imagination get carried away perhaps. Also, perhaps the narrator has some personal hook, some involvement in the outcome of a drama playing out next door.

Here are some prompt words:

legs
curves
wild
power
divide
suit
strip
parakeet
whirl
glitter

Prompt from Facebook Friend's Suggested Words!

Thank you to Marcel Inhoff, Nancy Boutin, Sube Rozza, Susan M. Schultz, Katherine Grosjean, Anne Elliott, Tamara Christie, Cynthia Reeser, Bonnie Hudgins!!!

Try to incorporate ALL OF THESE WORDS. These were compiled suggested prompt words from many Facebook friends.

Try to vary sentence length - make sure one sentence is at least 55 words long, and one sentence is one/two words long. Keep playing with sentence lengths. See what happens!!!!

pillow, curcuma, green,
star, digging, citrus
lifeguard snapshot elm,
plump chalk moan,
cheap, toast, sticky,
salivate, coriander, satisfactory,
spurious, obfuscate, whirligig,
lavender, dew, glow
(for, then, but) overuse these words while working with rhythm!

Video of me reading Leaving Hope Ranch (Storyglossia)

Leaving Hope Ranch republished by Storyglossia!

Thank you so much, Steven J. McDermott, and Storyglossia, for republishing my story, Leaving Hope Ranch! The original magazine (971 Menu) disappeared - and Storyglossia is making the piece accessible again! I'm honored to have Storyglossia as the new home for this piece, it is wonderful.

Troublesome Beauty

Write a piece that has something to do with the issue of physical beauty. Perhaps your main character is beautiful, or worships someone who is, or something... Maybe the character thinks about beauty too much (gee, that would be unusual in THIS culture!) Let the obsession with beauty get you character into trouble!!!

Here are some prompt words to possibly incorporate:

coo
change
feed
champagne
opal
bus
hip
cap
tender
cinder

My story, The Big Dipper, up at Annalemma!

The Science Fiction of Ordinary Life Prompt

Look at the details in your life as one might read science fiction - by this i mean, STARE at the little things that you do that construct your day - things like brushing your teeth, feeding the dog, using your cell phone... let us know the details in one or more of your "boring" rituals! Make it... science fiction... because in a way, IT ALREADY IS! The stuff that seems unimportant is important. Leave it up to the reader to notice how insane life is when you break it down this way.

some words to play with:

open
want
breathe
chair
thanks
sure
dig
quiet
offer
rest

Fighting about the..... toothpaste!

Write a piece in which two characters are fighting about stupid little things, and not the real thing (of course).

here are some prompt words:

slap
paw
napkin
drink
fit
upside down
nice
fingernails
tiny
sponge
button

2 tiny stories at the wonderful elimae: