Tag: flash

  • 81 Words Breaks World Record

    81 Words Breaks World Record

    81 Words Breaks World Record

    Most contributing authors published in a Flash Fiction Anthology: world record set by 1000 Authors

    Jun 15, 2022

    I am pleased to have been part of this project.  They published my story, “Dreams Do Come True as item 942 on page 478.

    “ In 1974, Sam had a dream that changed his life forever.

    He fell asleep in a class and saw the most beautiful woman in the universe talking to him. She haunted his life for years. He went to the ends of the earth to find her.

    Then she walked off a bus, out of his dreams, and his life to become his wife three months later. That is the beginning of the rest of the story.”

    As most of you know, this is based on a true story. You can read more here:

    NEW YORK CITY, New York, United States–The ’81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology’, a book containing 1,000 stories written by 1,000 authors, contains 1,000 stories that are exactly 81 words in length, the result of almost seven years of hard work and the generosity of writers living all over, sets the world record for The Most Contributing Authors Published in a Flash Fiction Anthology, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY,

    The world record book was published by Victorina Press, an independent UK publisher that follows the principles of biodiversity (the cultural diversity applied to the writing and publishing world, developed by a group of Chilean independent publishers). Because there are authors from many different countries featured in the book, this felt like the perfect project for them to be involved with.

    “I’d like to thank VP’s Managing Director, Consuelo Rivera-Fuentes, and the rest of the Victorina Press team (Sophie, Jorge, Page, and Amanda) for supporting this project and publishing the anthology, says Christopher Fielden, the book’s Editor.

     

    “Their involvement adds credibility to the unofficial world record attempt and will help the book (and every author featured in it) gain more exposure.”

     

    “The challenge was conceived by Adam Rubinstein, a self-professed educational basket-case from the ’70s who says he finds his sense of meaning and well-being through creativity.

     

    “The 81 Words writing challenge was originally launched on 81words.net. It became part of my website and I soon developed the challenge into a world record attempt for the most contributing authors published in an anthology. The 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology was published.”

    The 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology contains 1,000 stories submitted to the 81 Words writing challenge.

     

    The 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology contains 1,000 stories written by 1,000 authors who submitted their work to the 81 Words Writing Challenge run on Chris Fielden’s website. Each story is exactly 81 words in length.

     

    In April 2022, the 81 Words Anthology was shortlisted in the ‘Best Anthology’ category of the Saboteur Awards, run by Sabotage Reviews. And on 14th May 2022, the book was announced as the winner.

     

    Victorina Press also won the ‘Most Innovative Publisher’ category.

    TESTIMONIALS from Amazon:

     

    “I loved Lee Kull’s devilish story. I wonder what that sly herbalist will concoct in future readings for her next heavy-handed victim!”

     

    “I’ve been pleased by the variety of stories all told with just 81 words. Not only are the stories diverse, but the authors are too. Ranging in age from 4 years to many more lived years, the authors come from all over the world. It’s a terrific book to leave out in a waiting area or by your throne for an enjoyable few minutes of very short and entertaining distraction. I highly recommend this book.”

     

    “The quality and variety of stories in this book are magnificent and I love the mini-biography for each author after their short story.
    I am author No. 533 but hadn’t read any of the other work until I purchased it on launch day and although I knew the quality of writing would be good I had no idea how high the standard would be.
    Well done to all involved and thank you to those who have purchased.”

     

    “A lot of work has gone into creating this anthology of tiny stories so well done Chris Fielden. Well done to all the authors too – 81 words isn’t a lot to work with to create a rounded story. A great book to dip into and would make a good Christmas present……and it supports the Arkbound charity too.”

    The 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology is available in print and eBook formats.

     

    Proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Arkbound Foundation, a charity that aims to widen access to literature and improve diversity within publishing by running projects that empower people from disadvantaged backgrounds and deprived communities to get their voices heard.

     

    The book can be bought from all of Amazon’s websites. You can find it by searching for the book by name or the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN):  B09JZXVYL8

     

    You can buy paperback copies of the book from Victorina Press here:

    https://www.victorinapress.com/product/81-words-flash-fiction-anthology/

     

    You can also buy paperbacks from Amazon here.

    The 1,000 Writers In The Anthology

    Here is a (rather epic) list of the 1,000 contributing authors featured in the anthology. There are more than 1,000 writers in the book because some of the stories were written by two-person author teams. As mentioned further up this page, all the details are in the introduction of the book. Here is the list, presented alphabetically based on first name/initial:

    1. A. Rubin
      A. Gustafson
      A.H. Creed
      Aaron McDermott
      Abby Shue
      Abhi Shan
      Abigail Rowe
      Abigail Williamson
      Adam Bevan
      Adam Down
      Adam Rubinstein
      Adam Waters
      Adam Wright-Johnson
      Adele Evershed
      Adrian Hall church
      Adrian Nichol
      Aerin Bernstein
      Ahmad Abu Sharkh
      Aigbonoga Omoh
      Aishwarya Harikumar
      Akindu Perera
      Alan Barker
      Alan Barker [Note: same name but a different human being to the previous Alan]
      Alan D. Przybylski
      Alan Dale
      Alan Greaves
      Alan Pattison
      Alan Ridley
      Alcuin Edwards
      Aleah Bingham
      Alex Blair
      Alex Fullerton
      Alexandra Klyueva
      Alexio Gomes
      Ali Bounds
      Ali Clarke
      Alice Hale
      Alice Payne
      Alice Penfold
      Alicia McGrath
      Alicia Sledge
      Alicia Yau
      Alison Clary
      Alison Reese
      Alison Wren
      Alistair Forsyth
      Allen Ashley
      Ally Cook
      Alyson Faye
      Amanda Garzia
      Amanda Huggins
      Amanita Peridot Festoon
      Amberlie Robinson
      Amelia Brown
      Amisha Bansal
      Ana D.
      Anastasia Bromberg
      Anastasia Mosher
      Andre Othenin-Girard
      Andrew Ball
      Andrew Carter
      Andrew Dawkins
      Andrew James Spence
      Andrew Jones
      Andrew McGill
      Andrew Perry
      Andrzej Christopher Marczewski
      Andy Langdale
      Angela P Googh
      Angelique Dusengimana
      Ani Martin
      Ania Kovas
      Anita Goveas
      Ankush Vijay Chawla
      Anna Capstick
      Anna Ferrar
      Anna Sanderson
      Anne Copeland
      Annie Francis
      Annika Franke
      Anu Roy
      Arlene Everingham
      Arthur KC Chan
      Arya Amlani
      Ash Gray
      Ashleigh Whittle
      Ashley Kim
      Ashley Scott
      Ashley Vohrer
      Ashutosh Pant
      Austrian Spencer
      Ava Groth
      Avery Pryce
      Ayesha Hassan
      B. K. Bolen
      B. P. Garcia
      B.C. Ong
      Barbara Eustace
      Barnaby Page
      Barry Rhodes
      Barry Smith
      Bart Elbey
      Bec Lewis
      Becky Benishek
      Bekk Escott
      Benjamin Noel
      Bernard Hicks
      Bernard Muslin
      Bert Velthuis
      Beth Greenwood
      Beth Kander
      Betty Hattersley
      Betty J Burton
      Blake Holcomb
      Blerina Kapllani
      Boaksey
      Brett Elliott-Palmer
      Brian Johnstone
      Brian Mackinney
      Brianna Damplo
      Bridget Blankley
      Bridget Scrannage
      Bridget Yates
      Brinkinfield
      Brittany Holmes
      Bruce Millar
      Bruce Wyness
      Bryan Keefe
      Byron Coulson
      C. H. Connor
      C.R. Berry
      Caiden Lang
      Caleb Jansen
      Cameron Crebs
      Campbell Hinshelwood
      Carl Palmer
      Carla Vlad
      Caroline Cowan
      Caroline Wright
      Carolyn Roden
      Carolyn Ward
      Carrie Hewlett
      Cath Allwood
      Catherine Broxton
      Catherine Cade
      Catherine Harkness
      Cathi Radner
      Catrin Rutland
      CB McCall
      Ceris Brewis
      Charles Bonkowsky
      Charles K Manila
      Charles Lee
      Charles Murphy
      Charles Osborne
      Charlie Taylor
      Charlie Turner
      Charlotte Ella Read
      Charlotte Farrell-Banks
      Charlotte Ward
      Charlotte West
      Cheah Yin Mee
      Cheryl Buck
      Chip Jett
      Chloe Frost
      Chloe Nkomo
      Chloe Testa
      Chris Black
      Chris Cantor
      Chris Espenshade
      Chris Green
      Chris McLoughlin
      Chris Pritchard
      Chris Tattersall
      Christian Andrei Nuez Laplap
      Christian Obaitan
      Christianna Sahadeo
      Christina Burton
      Christina M. Y. Chow
      Christine Bukania
      Christine Hursell
      Christine Kingshott
      Christine O’Donnell
      Christine Reeves
      Christine Tapper
      Christopher Fielden
      Christopher Searle
      CJ Nicol
      CJ Wigg
      CL Wearne
      Claire Allinson
      Claire Apps
      Claire Gagnon
      Claire Gee
      Claire Lee
      Claire Schön
      Claire Taylor
      Claire Temple
      Clara Baird
      Clare Owen
      Clare Tivey
      Clarrie Rose
      Cleiton Pinho
      Colette KrielColleen Hue
      CompletelyBoofyBlitzed
      Constance Bourg
      Crilly O’Neil
      Cristina Bresser
      Cynthia Akagi
      Dan McConnell
      Daniel L. Link
      Daniel McClaskey
      Danielle Linsey
      Danny Macks
      Darci-Leigh Robinson-Askew
      Darren Hackett
      Dave Firth
      David Batteiger
      David Brewis
      David Conway
      David Don
      David Guilfoyle
      David Heaton
      David John Griffin
      David Lowis
      David McTigue
      David Rhymes
      David S Mitchell
      David Silver
      David Turton
      David Vargas Alfonso
      David Viner
      David Wright
      Dean Hollands
      Debaprasad Mukherjee
      Debbie Rolls
      Debbie Singh
      Deborah Wroe
      Dee La Vardera
      Dee Tilsley
      Denis Joseph
      Denise Senecal
      Derek McMillan
      Devin Greene
      Devon Goodchild
      Dez T.
      Diana Senechal
      Diane de Anda
      Diane Harding
      Dianne D. Pingalo
      Dimiana Wassef
      Dinesh Shihantha De Silva
      Dionne Burton
      Diontae Jaegli
      Don Bartlome
      Don Marler
      Dorothy Francis
      Doug Forrest
      Doug Hawley
      Douglas J. Shearer
      Dr. Sriharsha Sripathi
      DT Langdale
      Duane L. Herrmann
      E. F. S. Byrne
      Edmund Piper
      Edward Mortenson
      Edward Rouse
      Edwin Stern
      Eileen Baldwin
      Elaine Carlyle
      Eleanor Dickenson
      Elena Zhuang
      Elizabeth Lamb
      Elizabeth Stanley
      Ella Cass
      Ella Wilson
      Elliot Cambrey
      Em Daurio
      Emily K Martin
      Emily Knight
      Emma Burnett
      Emma Nokes
      Emma Robertson
      Emma Stammeyer
      Emma Wilson
      Erin Hardman
      Esosa Kolawole
      Evelyn Hawke
      Everest Pen
      Evie Nicol
      Ezeh Michael Ogonna
      Fabio Crispim
      Farzaneh Hajirasouliha
      Fay Franklin
      Fee Johnstone
      Felix Castrillon
      Femi S. Craigwell
      Finlay Thomas Tweedie
      Fiona Aitken
      Fiona Campbell
      Fiona Flower
      Fliss Zakaszewska
      Franca Basta
      Frances Tate
      Francesca Pappadogiannis
      Francisca Staines
      Frank Daurio
      Frank Havemann
      Frank Hubeny
      Frank Radcliffe
      G. Gaurav
      Gail Everett
      Gary Couzens
      Gary McGrath
      Gavin Biddlecombe
      Gemma Bevan
      Gemma Martiskainen
      Geoff Freedman
      Geoff Holme
      George Cornilă
      Gillian M Seed
      Gillian Macleod
      Ginger Marcinkowski
      Gitanjali Escobar Travieso
      Glen Donaldson
      Glo Curl
      Gloria Ames
      Glynis Ann Downey
      Gordon Williams
      Gowravy Ravanan
      Grace Turner-Higgins
      Grannd Kane
      Grant McKain
      Grant O’Townson
      Gwyneth Williams
      Gwynne Weir
      Hajra Saeed
      Haley M. Hwang
      Hannah Brown
      Hannah Cole
      Harley Logan Thompson
      Harriet Payne
      Hazel Turner
      Heather Haigh
      Heather Stuart Primbs
      Heidi Lobecker
      Heidi Vanlandingham
      Helen Aitchison
      Helen Combe
      Helen Matthews
      Helen Merrick
      Hervé Suys
      Hilary Taylor
      Holly Garcia
      Holly Webster
      Huguette Van Akkeren
      Hullabaloo22
      Ian Andrew
      Ian Buzard
      Ian James Stewart
      Ian Tucker
      Ibukun Keyamo
      Imogen Argent
      IR Belletti
      Irene Banfield
      Iris & Phil Hatchard
      Irving Benjamin
      Isabel Flynn
      Isabella Rae Wharton-McLellan
      Iuliana Khadyxa Filisanu
      Ivan Richardson
      Ixai Salvo
      J. L. Harland
      J. Rosina Harlow
      J.S Taols
      Jace Henderson
      Jacek Wilkos
      Jack Dabell
      Jack Dudley
      Jack Hanlon
      Jack Purkis
      Jackie Batteiger
      Jackie Hindmarsh
      Jacky Ellis
      Jade Swann
      Jaimen Shires
      Jaine Irish
      Jake Cosmos Aller
      James Braun
      James Byrne
      James Colfox
      James Crerar
      James Hornby
      James Louis Peel
      James Northern
      James Pemberton
      James Sanders
      James Smart
      Jamie Graham
      Jamie Welch
      Jan Brown
      Jan Courtney
      Jane Fell
      Jane Imrie
      Jane Sleight
      Janet L Davies
      Janet Lister
      Jasmine Hunt
      Jasmine Lee
      Jasmine Tan Chin Chwee
      Jason B
      Jason Barbo
      Jay Bee
      Jayanta Bhaumik
      Jaycee Durand
      Jayne Morgan
      Jaz Leigh
      Jeff Kemp
      Jeffrey H. Toney
      Jeni Lawes
      Jennifer Hankin
      Jennifer P. L. Leong
      Jennifer Riddalls
      Jenny Butler
      Jenny Drury
      Jenny Simmons
      Jerome Parsons
      Jerry Wilson
      Jessica Bowden
      Jessica Everitt
      Jessica Joy
      Jessica Kirby
      Jessica Richard
      Jessica Turnbull
      Jill Lang
      Jimmy Doom
      Jo Howarth
      Joan C. Hobart
      Joanna Ball
      Jocelyn Wong
      Jodi Nicholls
      Jodi Novak
      Joe Bailey
      Joe Brothers
      Joe McMullen
      Johanna McDonald
      Johannah Lipscher Simon
      John Bevan
      John Cooper
      John D Lary
      John Hannan
      John Holland
      John Holmes
      John James Morris
      John L Bell
      John Lane
      John Mark Miller
      John Notley
      John Rivers
      John Robertson
      John S Alty
      John Vandore
      Jon Drake
      Jon Spencer
      Jonathan Fryer
      Jonathan Hastings
      Jonathan Hunter
      Jonathan Inglesfield
      Jonathan Martindale
      Jonathan Pacheco
      Jordan B. Jolley
      Jordan Bahnub
      Jordis Fasheh
      Jose Luis Torres
      Joseph Lancaster
      Joseph Mould
      Josephine Queen
      Josh Joseph Dixon
      Josh Leeson
      Josie Gowler
      Joy Thomas
      Joyce Bingham
      Joyce Walker
      JS Cline
      Judi Edwards
      Judy Reeves
      Julia Graves
      Julia O’Dowd
      Julia T. Spano
      Julia Wood
      Julie Goodswen
      Julie Howard
      Julie Mayger
      Julie Stone
      Justine Quammie
      Justyce Solomon
      K. J. Watson
      Kaelin Lee
      Kailin Guo
      Kaitlin Ellis
      Karen Bevan
      Karen McClure
      Karen McDermott
      Karen Rust
      Karen Waldron
      Karen Walker
      Karen Western
      Kate Hamilton
      Kate Leimer
      Kate Miller
      Katerina Hellam
      Katherine Kogoy
      Kathleen E Williams
      Kathleen Hearnshaw
      Kathleen Keenan
      Kathryn Dixon
      Kathryn Evans
      Kathryn J Barrow
      Kathryn Joyce
      Kathryn Smith
      Katie Chapman
      Katie Labbe
      Katie Pepper
      Katie Singer
      Katy Clayton
      Kavitha Yarlagadda
      Kay Sandry
      Keian Murray
      Keith Pearson-Sandelands
      Kelly Van Nelson
      Kelsey Gallo
      Kelsey Juean Irving
      Kennedy Meechan
      Kenneth Cahall
      Kent Raddatz
      Kerry Robinson
      Khamis Kabeu
      Kim Hart
      Kim Montgomery
      Kim Steindel
      Kim Witbeck
      Kimana McCallum
      Kimberly Owen
      Kira Inglis
      Kirk I. Holden
      Kitty Litteur
      Klaus Gehling
      KM Arhel
      Kolade Ajila
      Kudakwashe Chirapa
      Kwame M.A. McPherson
      Kylan Fedje
      L J King
      L J McQueen
      L. A. Cunningham
      L.E. Daurio
      Laila Miller
      Laura Besley
      Laura Day
      Laura Foakes
      Lauren J. Phillips
      Lauren M Foster
      Lauren Raybould
      Laurie Hicks
      Layla Ahmed
      Layla Calarco
      Layla Rogers
      Lee Foley
      Lee Holland
      Lee Kull
      Leigh Hastings
      Len Saculla
      Lena MacDonald
      Lesley Anne Truchet
      Levi Earl
      Lewis Ayers
      Lexikon
      Liam Hogan
      Liam Lawer
      Liam Rayner
      Libby Batteiger
      Lidia Giusa
      Lim Swee Kim
      Linda Foy
      Linda Hibbin
      Linda Jones
      Linda Lewis
      Linda Scogings
      Linda Smith
      Linda Taylor
      Lindsey Esplin
      Lindy Gibbon
      Linn Kier
      Lisa Miller
      Lisa Reynolds
      Lisa Stone
      Livia Furia
      Liz Berg
      Liz Howard
      Liz Krogman
      Lorna Dougan
      Lorna Stewart
      Lorraine Smith
      Louise Burgess
      Louise Furre
      Louise Goulding
      Louise Snape
      Lucinda Thelwell
      Lucy Camilla
      Lucy Lucy
      Lucy Morrice
      Lumen Ros
      Lydia Collins
      Lyndsay Lomax
      Lynn Gale
      Lynn Morcombe
      Lynn White
      Lynn Zeleski
      Lynne Arnot
      Lynne Chitty
      Lynsey Calvert
      M Anthony David
      Madamraj Mrinalini
      Maddy Hamley
      Madeleine McCabe
      Madeleine McDonald
      Madeline Green
      Madiana Dethan
      Madison Pickering
      Maggie Elliott
      Mahek Khwaja
      Mairead Robinson
      Majella Pinto
      Malcolm Richardson
      Manda Riehl
      Mandy Raywood
      Mandy Whyman
      Marci Girton
      Marco Cardoni
      Margaret Bell
      Margaret Davis
      Margee Unger
      Maria Carvalho
      Maria DePaul
      Maria Noble
      Mariam Bibi
      Mariam Mansuryan
      Marie Arbon
      Marie McGinn
      Marieta Maglas
      Marilyn Rucker
      Mark Burke
      Mark J Towers
      Mark Johnson
      Mark Pritchard
      Mark Stocker
      Marsha K. Hanson
      Martin Strike
      Mary Daurio
      Mary Dharsi
      Mary Papageorgiou
      Mary Prior
      Mason Bell
      Matilda Pinto
      Matthew Bines
      Matthew Dawson
      Matthew Galic
      Matthew Gooch
      Matthew J Morine
      Matthew Kerns
      Matthew Willis
      Max Dobb
      Maxine Smith
      Maxx Dominic
      Maya Barnett
      Mckenzie Tompson
      Medeia Sharif
      Meg Gain
      Meghan O’Brien
      Mehak Vijay Chawla
      Melanie Goodell
      Melissa Odom
      Melody Bowers
      Meredith Argent
      MF Mika
      Mhairi Bakertzi
      Michael E James
      Michael Farmer
      Michael Hardy
      Michael J. Labbe
      Michael J. Lowis
      Michael Lane
      Michael Mclaughlin
      Michael Rumsey
      Michael Swift
      Michael Ward
      Michaela Mechura
      Michele Kelly
      Michele Witthaus
      Michelle Compton
      Michelle Cook
      Michelle Konov
      Michelle Weaver
      Micky Rowe
      Mike Blakemore
      Mike Scott Thomson
      Miriam Hurdle
      Misa Hennin
      Mohamed Atta Amer
      Mohit Dass
      Muriel Garvis
      Murodova Marjona
      Myron Dunavan
      N. J. Spencer
      N.B. Craven
      Nam Raj Khatri
      Natalia Wojcik-Smith
      Natalie Marshall
      Natalie Wu
      Natasha Ali
      Natasha Nagle
      Nathaniel David Knox
      Neil Brooks
      Neil D Cross
      Neil Davie
      Neil Goodwin
      Neil Phillips
      Neil Renton
      Niamh Burke
      Nick Fairclough
      Nicole Loh
      Niina Olenbluu
      Nikki Butcher
      Nili Roberts
      Noel Alcoba
      Norm Veasman
      NT Franklin
      Nurholis
      Oghogho Odiase
      Olatz Irigarai
      Oliver Lynton
      Olivia Ackers
      Olivia Magnuson
      Olivia-Ann Saxton
      Olusanya Anjorin
      Oort Kuiper
      Oriel Dobb
      Oscar Kenway
      Özge Göztürk
      Paige Murray
      Pam Jackson
      Pam Knapp
      Pamela Hibbert
      Pamela Pope
      Pappo Nindo
      Parzival Sattva
      Pat Hough
      Patricia Mudge
      Patricia Tarrant Brown
      Patrick Antonio
      Patrick Christian
      Patrick Moorhouse
      Patrick ten Brink
      Paul Mastaglio
      Paul Phillips
      Paul Rhodes
      Paul Shaw
      Paula Lacey
      Paulette Pierre
      Peggy Gerber
      Penelope Henry
      Pete Armstrong
      Peter Gregory & David Gough
      Peter J. Corbally
      Peter Loftus
      Peter Stanton
      Phil Maud
      Phil Thomas
      Philip Charter
      Phoebe Tatham
      PJ Stephenson
      Prajith Menon
      Prisha Gupta
      R. J. Kinnarney
      R.A. Krueger
      R.J. Saxon
      Rachael Hinshaw
      Rachel Smith
      Rachel Wood
      Rafe Bellers
      Rajagopal Kaimal
      Ray Sarlin
      Raymond E. Strawn III
      Raymond Sloan
      Rebecca Capel
      Rebecca Hubbard
      Rebecca Krohman
      Rebeccah Yeadon
      Reed Markham
      Reha Tanör
      Renate Schiansky
      Rene Astle
      Rex Charger
      Richard Anthony Morris
      Richard Freeman
      Richard H. Argent
      Richard Stanley
      Richard Swaine
      Ripunjoy Borgohain
      RJS Cantwell
      RK
      RL Comstock
      Rob Bray
      Rob Vogt
      Robbie Brown
      Robbie Porter
      Robert Adams
      Robert Alan Ryder
      Robert Brewis
      Robert Kombol
      Robert Tucker
      Robert Wood
      Roberta Scafidi
      Roger Newton
      Roger West
      Rohana Chomick
      Ron Smith
      Ronald Hall
      Ros Byrne
      Ros Masterson
      Rosalind Adam
      Rosalind Newton
      Rose Farris
      Roshna Rusiniya
      Rosie Arcane
      Rosie Cullen
      Ross Lowe
      Rowan Lewis
      Roz Levens
      Rudy S. Uribe Jr.
      Rui Soares
      Rupert Payne
      Ruth Pedley
      Ryan Fell
      Ryu Ando
      S Thomson-Hillis
      S. M. Chiles
      S. Rupsha Mitra
      S. W. Hardy
      S.B. Borgersen
      S.E. Taylor
      Sachin Prakash
      Sagar Jadhav
      Sai Muthukumar
      Sally Skeptic
      Sam Freer
      Sam May
      Samantha Gentzel
      Samantha Gunton
      Sandee Lee
      Sandra ‘Chas’ Hines
      Sandra Orellana
      Sandra Purdy
      Sarah Ann Hall
      Sarah Brown
      Sarah Burrett
      Sarah Charmley
      Sarah Engeham
      Sarah Everett
      Sarah Fletcher
      Sarah Hoad
      Sarah Jae Walsh
      Sarah Littleton
      Sarah Mosedale
      Sarah Stansfield
      Sarah Stephenson
      Saras Ojha
      Sarthak Das
      Saskia Ashby
      Scott Parent
      Sean Bain
      Sean Tobias May
      Sebastian Cowen
      Seth Turner-Higgins
      Shahnaz Ali
      Shannon J Alger
      Sharon Pinner
      Shaun Clarke
      Shauna Elizabeth Murray
      Sheannah Guillemette
      Sheila Rosart
      Shelly Teems
      Shirley Muir
      Shobha Wilson
      Sidonie Baylis
      Siegfried E Finser
      Sihaam Osman
      Silver Morris
      Simone Wallace
      Sivan Pillai
      Skylar Kim
      Smritirekha Talukdar
      Sophia Manubay
      Sophie Henson
      Sophie Scriven
      Sreedevi Ganti Mahapatra
      Stefan Dimitrov
      Stephanie Ngoei
      Stephanie Potts
      Stephen P. Thompson
      Stephie Simpson
      Steve Lodge
      Steven Barrett
      Stuart Atkinson
      Sue Johnson
      Sue Moos
      Sue Partridge
      Sue Vincent
      Sunshine Tibod
      Susan Howarth
      Susan Wickham
      Susanne Berger
      Susi J Smith
      Susie Frame
      Swi Neo Mary Yap
      Sydney Clarence
      Sylvia Ketchum
      Syreeta Muir
      T. Luxton
      T. W. Garland
      T.L. Shenkin
      T.N.M. Sheppard
      Tamires Cunha
      Tamsin Partington
      Tanya Butler
      Tanya Hill
      Tanya Johnson
      Tarquin Calver
      Taye Carrol
      Taylor Elliott
      Taylor Moore
      Ted Bragg
      Tess M Shepherd
      Tessa Elliott
      Thatchayani Ravanan
      Thomas Belmar
      Thomas James Busby
      Thomas O’Mara
      Tiarnán Murphy
      Tiffany Williams
      Tim Gomersall
      Tim Warren
      Tom Bullimore
      Tom Gaunt
      Toni G.
      Toni Peers
      Tonia Nem
      Tony Lawrence
      Tony Mooney
      Tony Thatcher
      Tony Tremblett
      Tracey Maitland
      TS Lanchbery
      Ty Hall
      Umme Ammarah
      Val Chapman
      Valerie Fish
      Valerie Griffin
      Valerie J Shay
      Veena Rah
      Veronica Crerar
      Vesper Wunderlin
      Vichar Lochan
      Vicki Murray
      Vicki Sinclair
      Vicky Garlick
      Victoria Gaylor
      Violet James
      Vishnu Nandan
      Vivian Oldaker
      Vivienne O’Boyle
      W. E. Jones
      W. G. Miller
      Waltraud Pospischil
      Wanda Wright
      Wayne B. Chorney
      Wayne Hewitt
      Wendy Christopher
      Wendy Fletcher
      Wendy Roe
      William Telford
      Wright Stone
      Wyatt Payne
      Yabo Anderson
      Yelena Kart
      Yvonne Clarke
      Yvonne Mastaglio
      Zoe J Walker
      Zoey Rowan

    The End

     

     

  • flash fiction challenge updates

    flash fiction challenge updates

    flash fiction challenge updates

    Ten Minutes To Doomsday

    More February Flash Fiction

    February Flash Fiction Updates

    February Flash Fiction Challenge

    Inspired by Writers Digest Flash fiction February Challenger 2022 prompt to write a story that takes place in ten minutes.  Not posted or published.

    February 22, 2025, 2025 7:00 pm WDC 10 minutes before doomsday

    General Sam Adams was on duty on February 22, 2025nd at 7:00 PM in NORAD Command Center in Colorado when he received the flash notification that incoming nuclear missiles were being detected coming from North Korea. China and Russia using hypersonic missile technology. The best estimate was they had 10 minutes before Washington DC, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and NORAD would be obliterated by ICBM bombs.

    The flash notification went out to hundreds of top-secret users throughout the world including of course the White House situation room, When Sam got the notification, he immediately put in a high-priority call to the White House, and was connected to President Al Wilson.

    “Mr. President, Sam Adams, General in charge of NORAD here. We have received notification that incoming nuclear missiles are using hypersonic technology en route to Washington DC, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and NORAD. We are trying to verify that this is indeed correct not a computer glitch but given the recent international situation, we feel that it is probably the real deal. We should have a confirmation within 30 seconds we recommend an immediate evacuation of the White House to the alternate command center in Pennsylvania. we also recommend that President announce this to the American public and the world. We recommend going to Defcon Five and that we go prepare for immediate counter-reaction. We will know in two minutes where the missiles are coming from and we can get our missiles in the air in three minutes.”

     February 22, 2025 7:01  9 minutes to Doomsday

    Sam Adams turns to his staff and demands verification status.

    “Damn it what’s the status is it’s real is it’s a glitch?”

    Col. Joshua Smith responds.

    “ Sir, as far as we can tell it’s real, and we also know exactly from where they’re coming from. The missiles are coming from China, North Korea, and Russia.  There are 10 missiles in total. all ICBMs use hypersonic technology and we have 9 minutes before detonation.

    We believe that this facility will not be destroyed because we are so deep underground, but DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York will be destroyed with an estimated causality of ten to 20 million people. We will have the countermeasures ready for your approval and Washington’s approval in two minutes.

    Oh CNN is announcing that the US is under nuclear attack.  somehow they found out about it.

    “Get Me CNN right now.”

    “Sir, go ahead you are life.”

    “This is general Sam Adams.  I don’t know how you found out because that is top secret need to know but since you found out, I can acknowledge that the US is under the US is undercounted under military attack with incoming hypersonic ICBMs coming from China, North Korea, and Russia targeting DC,  Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York City,

    The president will be addressing the nation in two minutes. I can assure you and the American people that vigorous countermeasures will launch within 5 minutes targeting North Korea Beijing and Russia best guess estimate is about 20 million people who die and we have 8 minutes before detonation.”

    February 22, 2025  7:02 pm WDC  8 minutes Before Doomsday

    The newly elected president Wilson assembled his national security team in the situation room in person and virtually he started the meeting by looping in genome Adams who gave an updated brief and then he turned to his staff and said we have 8 minutes before detonation in two minutes I will make his speech to the United States to the American people in the world and seven minutes we will launch countermeasures and in six minutes we will evacuate to our alternative headquarters we may not make it there in time recommendations?

    General Tony Smith, Joint Chiefs speaks up,

    “Have we deployed missile defenses?”

    Sam Adams responds,

    “Underway but we may only knock out one or two missiles. They’re just going too fast.  Our missile defenses are not capable of tracking and taking down hypersonic missiles. “

    The president speaks up,

    “Ladies and gentlemen we have just a few minutes before we have to leave.  Here’s what I want to do call the Presidents of China, North Korea, then and Russia and tell them we are launching 200 missiles at them unless they have the means to either destroy the missiles en route or recall them. Then speak to the American public and move to the underground bunkers under the WH and hope that they hold up.  Bring me the football.”

    February 22, 2025 7:03 pm WDC 7 minutes Before Doomsday

    President Wilson calls the Presidents of China, North Korea, and Russia on a video conference call.

    Gentlemen, you have launched an unprovoked attack on the U.S. Don’t deny it.  I am authorizing 200 ICBM’s to be launched at your key military sites and your capital cities. They will launch in two minutes and reach their destination in 30 minutes.  Once launched they can not be stopped or recalled.  If you can destroy your missiles or recall them I suggest you do so now.”

    President Stanislaus of Russia responded,

    “This was an unfortunate accident, a computer glitch.  Unfortunately, once launched they can not be recalled. But if you launch missiles at us we will have to respond in kind.”

    “Okay, you give me no choice. I am authorizing release right now” He opens up the football and enters that day’s code, authorizing 200 missiles to be sent to China,  North Korea, and Russia and turns to Sam Adams,  Is that it?”

    “Yes, I will send a flash notification confirming that this is not a drill and is authorized. Done. The missiles should be in the air in five minutes.

    February 22, 2025 7:04 pm WDC  6 minutes to Doomsday

    The president addresses the nation.  My fellow Americans, the United States is under attack by hypersonic missiles coming from China, North Korea, and Russia targeting WDC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York.  The ten missiles will detonate in ten minutes.  Power is likely to be shut off for most of the United States for several weeks at least.  If you are in the affected areas, we pray you will somehow survive.  I am going to an emergency bunker and if I survive will direct the reconstruction efforts.  I have authorized sending 200 ICBMs to China, North Korea, and Russia targeting their military and control centers. We hope that will end this exchange of missiles. Good night and God bless America.

    February 22, 2025 February  7:05 pm WDC  5 minutes to doomsday

    The president and the senior command staff are rushed to helicopters and take off.  With any luck, they will escape the blast radius and reach the alternative command center in 15 minutes.

    There is total panic as everyone tries to flee the city at once.  Most will die in traffic.

    February 22, 2025 7:06 pm WDC  4 minutes to Doomsday

    Sam Adams briefs the president by phone on preparations.

    ‘Mr. President, the ICBM’s are en route to their destinations. There is no indication that any more missiles are headlining out the way. I do have good news, our missile defense worked and two of the eight have been destroyed over the Pacific ocean but the rest are closing into their targets.  Los Angeles and Las Vegas will be hit first, DC and NYC about ten minutes later.  We will keep trying to knock them out.

    February 22, 2025 7:07 pm WDC 3 minutes to Doomsday

    The senior staff are out of the dangerous area and will arrive at the alternate command site before the missiles arrive.  They are watching the chaotic traffic and monitoring the news.  The president has been calling allies around the world and evoked Article Five of NATO.  All the allies agree to help with the reconstruction. France and the UK agree to launch additional ICBMs targeting military targets in China, North Korea, and Russia after the US ICBMs reach their targets.  The president also persuades Wall Street to suspend trading for two weeks.

     

    February 22, 2025 7:08 pm WDC  2 minutes to doomsday

    With two minutes left, The president authorizes private calls to families affected.  His wife and children had made it to the Choppers on time but most of the white house staff, congress and Senators, and federal government employees were in the blast zone.  The president discusses with his staff what they will do immediately after detonation and how they will start the reconstruction process.  He declares a state of national emergency and martial law with dusk to dawn curfew across the country and calls upon the military to deploy to non-affected cities to keep order after the detonation.

    February 22, 2025 7:09 pm WDC 1 minute to doomsday

    Everyone is watching the approach of the missiles via television news crews who are in the air over DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and NYC.  They see five missiles hit Las Vegas and Los Angeles and see the mushroom clouds before the transmission dies.

    February 22, 2025 7:10 pm WDC  Doomsday Zero Hour Los Angeles and Las Vegas

    15 million people died in the U.S. ten minutes after the bombs arrived.  Massive out of control wildfires killed millions more.  Power was out everywhere. Telecommunications were out everywhere as well. The president and his senior staff arrived safely.  DC and NYC were destroyed five minutes after arrival.  30 million people died in China, 10 million in North Kore, 5 million in South Korea, ten million in Japan (the North Koreans nuked both), and 30 million in Russia. There were no more nuclear exchanges as the leaders of the three countries perished in the US counter-launch.

    The End

     

    • Hypersonic weapons incorporate the speed of a ballistic missile with the maneuvering capabilities of a cruise missile. Hypersonic weapons refer to weapons that travel faster than Mach 5 (~3,800mph) and have the capability to maneuver during the entire flight.

    hypersonic weapons who has them?

  • February Flash Fiction Updates

    February Flash Fiction Updates

    February Flash Fiction Challenge

    The February Challenges Updates

    I have completed ten flash fiction pieces as part of the Writers Digest Flash fiction challenge. I have posted two of them below, “Deam Girl” and “Timeless Love Stories.”  I also completed two micro flash stories for the Writing Com micro flash contest, and daily haiku for the Poetry Magum Oopus challenge.  Enjoy.

    Day 1 Keys
    Day Two Prompt Circular
    Day three Prompt limitations
    Day four mystery
    Day Five: A Dream that Came true
    Day Six: a character who tries to be
    Heartful”
    Day Seven: Workplace conflict
    Day Eight: re-gifting
    Day Nine Grim reaper
    Day ten romance story

    I have finished ten flash fiction pieces so far this month.

    Hidden Keys to The Universe.
    End of The Beginning, Beginning of The End.
    A Man Has to Know His Limitations.
    Where Did All the Blacks Go?
    Dream That Came True.
    Sam Adams Crisis of Conscious
    Sam Adams Workplace Conflict Leads to a Bad Day.
    Sam Adams reignites the War on Christmas
    Timeless Love story

    My posted entry for week one:

    “Dream Girl”

    Published in ‘Dreams and the Unexplainable” by the Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers. Also on my blog, the world according to cosmos.

    Line count 816

    You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

    The dreams started when I was a senior at Berkeley High School in 1974. About a month before I graduated, I fell asleep in a physics class after lunch and had the first dream:

    A beautiful Asian woman was standing next to me, talking in a strange language. She was stunning—the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was in her early twenties, with long black hair, and piercing black eyes. She had the look of royalty. She looked at me and then disappeared, beamed out of my dream-like in Star Trek. I fell out of my chair screaming, “Who are you?” She did not answer.

    About a month went by, and then I started having the dream repeatedly. Always the same pattern. Early morning, she would stand next to me talking. I would ask who she was, and she would disappear. She was the most beautiful, alluring woman I had ever seen. I was struck speechless every time I had the dream.

    I had the dream every month during the eight years during which I went to college and served in the Peace Corps. When I joined the Peace Corps, I had to decide whether to go to Korea or Thailand. The night before I had to submit my decision, I had the dream again and she made me sure that I knew she was in Korea waiting for me.

    ll she said was when I asked again as always who are you? Where are you?”

    “I am in Korea”

    After the Peace Corps, I still hadn’t met my dream woman. I got a job working for the U.S. Army as an instructor and stayed in Korea. I kept having the dream until I had the very last one: She was standing next to me, speaking to me in Korean, but I finally understood her. She said, “Don’t worry, we will be together soon.”

    Why was that the last time I had the dream?

    Because the very next night, the girl in my dream got off the bus in front of me. She went on to the base with an acquaintance of mine, a fellow teacher, and they went to see a movie. I saw her and found the courage to speak with her.

    We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet that weekend.

    The next night, she was waiting for me as I entered the Army base to teach a class. She told me she was a college senior, and she had something to tell me. I signed her on to the base and left her at the library to study while I taught, and then we went out for coffee after class.

    She told me she was madly in love with me, and that I was the man for her. I told her not to worry as I felt the same.

    That weekend, we met Saturday and Sunday and hung out all day. On Sunday night, I proposed to her. It was only three days after we had met, but for me, it felt like we had met eight years ago. I had been waiting all my life for her to walk out of my dreams and into my life, and here she was.

    Her mother did not want her to marry a foreigner. One day, about a month after we met, she invited me to meet her parents. I brought a bottle of Jack Daniels for her father, and drank the entire bottle with him. He approved of me, but her mother still had reservations.

    After a Buddhist priest told her my future wife and I were a perfect astrological combination, she agreed, and we planned our wedding.

    The wedding was a media sensation in South Korea. My wife explained it to me years later. At the time, I was overwhelmed just by the fact that we were getting married and I didn’t fully understand how unusual this was.

    My wife was of the old royal clan, distant relatives to the former kings of Korea. In the clan’s history, only two people had ever married foreigners: my
    wife, and Rhee Syngman, who was the first President of South Korea. My father, who was a former Undersecretary of Labor, came out for the wedding, which fueled even more media interest.

    Our marriage defied the stereotypical Korean-foreign marriage where the women
    married some hapless GI just to escape poverty and immigrate to the U.S. We were the first foreign/Korean couple to get married at a Korean Army base. Over 1,000 people came to the wedding, and my father was interviewed on the morning news programs.

    This all happened thirty-nine years ago, and I am still married to the girl in my dreams. Now in my dreams, she watches over me when we are apart.

    Another  submission  (February 10) prompt to write a Romance story

    from my unpublished Novel, ‘Timeless Love stories”

    General Zoran (Sam Adams) and Lady Zarina ( Maria Lee’s timeless love story began 5,000 years ago when General Zoran, the red Sirian reptilian governor of the Atlantis colony,  met Zarina the leader of the Green Sirian opposition party.  Zoran was related to the royal family back home, the seventh son of the emperor, and was the royal governor of the Atlantis colony.  The colony had 1.5 million Sirians, (red Sirians, green Sirians, canines, felines, primates, and insectoids) and two million human slaves.   The red Sirians considered humans to be savages and treated the local slaves badly.  The other races were more sympatric as were the Green Sirians, all faced discrimination from the dominant Red Sirians who were the traditional elite in the homeworlds.

    Twenty Five years after the colonization, Zoran faced a dilemma.  The human slaves were turning out to be a problem. They were intelligent, cunny, devious creatures, and deeply religious worshiping a multiple of Gods. Some thought that Sirians were Gods, most thought that they were evil devils from a mythical place called Hades.

    The central question for General Zoran and the central command had what to do with the humans.  The Policy line that the Central headquarters had laid down, was for Atlantis to establish itself as a Bridgehead and then after 10 years or so millions of colonists would arrive.  This was the policy line, and he was supposed to carry it and not question it. Questioning orders and doctrine in his opinion usually did not turn out well.  He hoped someday to become Emperor as he was in the imperial line of succession, but he would have to kill his seven siblings.  His siblings were all also governors and various planets and senior positions.   Once their father died, they would probably be as usual a short Civil War, and one of the siblings would emerge as the emperor and he was determined to be the emperor, the losers would have to be executed and their family members as well. Just the way things happened in the Sirians Empire.

    When these profound troubling thoughts filled his head as he drank his morning coffee, preparing for his first meeting with Lady Zarina the new head of the green political party.

    When Zarina and Zoran met, it was love and hate at first sight. Zarina was a stunningly beautiful woman, very competent highly intelligent, and very sexually aggressive.  In short, she was a kind woman that was his fatal attraction, and he knew it.

    Zarina was an activist, working to improve conditions for the local human subjects. As such her work concerned Zoran.  Zoran was agnostic overall about the human subject thing, thought that they needed the labor but that perhaps humans could and should be treated better.  And Zoran sometimes regretted the “final solution” thinking that perhaps a policy of assimilation might have worked given time.

    Zoran and Zarina had a long passionate talk about humanity and the Sirian treatment of humans.  Zoran was instantly attracted to her but also felt that she was too idealistic and naïve about the humans, although she had changed his mind and his heart a bit.

    For the reptiles of his social class, arranged marriages were the norm, it was overdue time to get married.  General Zoran had not yet married but had several potential mates selected for him from his ambitious mother, the second wife of the Empire.  All he had to do was say yes to the proposed match and they would join him after getting married back home.  He was due to return for a visit in a few weeks anyway.

    Zarina was the leader of the Green Sirians and they were openly talking about revolting against the established leadership and establishing a free Republic of humans and Sirians on earth – outside of the Empire.  Zoran was determined to crush the rebellion but that would mean he would never be able to be with her as she was now his mortal enemy.  And he did not want to lose but allying with her would complicate his plans to become Emperor.  Perhaps he could go along with her, revolt against the Empire then persuade her to join him in rebuilding a more just Empire?  She was extremely ambitious too and came from one of the most prominent opposition political factions.

    They met and soon had a torrid love affair.    Both found the other to be quite different, exciting, ruthless, ambitious, and very sexy. They were very different and yet shared Zoran’s Imperial ambitions.  She convinced him to stand with her and declare the birth of the Free Earth Republic as they called it.

    Unbeknownst to Zoran, his siblings had heard of his and Zarina’s plans and were determined to destroy him and his Imperial ambitions.  The leader of the Red Sirians, his deputy, and a man he had considered to be his best friend betrayed him and led the coup against General Zoran and the hated Zarina who was widely seen as having corrupted General Zoran with her dangerous thoughts and actions.

    Zoran and Zarina’s love story ended when Zarina and Zoran were assassinated by his elder brother who declared himself the emperor. The word was in – the earth was forbidden to all Sirians immigration and would be monitored for the next five thousand years.   And just before they died, their last words were

    “See you in the next life my timeless love” and they vowed to defy the laws of nature and man and find each other in the next life as they both had begun to believe in reincarnation which was a minority opinion among the largely atheistic Sirians.   That line and the knowledge that they were true soul mates destined to meet again and again sustained them throughout the next 5,000 years of history and they came back over and over again until finally in 1982 they overcame their cursed fate.

    Writing Com Flash Fiction contest  – Sign-up now CLOSED!!!

    What is micro fiction?

    A micro-fiction piece is a story told in 300 or fewer words. For our purposes, we limit the word count to 100.

    It’s a subset of flash fiction, which limits stories to 1000 words.

    Ernest Hemingway wrote the most famous micro-story. He used only six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

    The challenge of writing a micro-story is to make every word count. You must pick meaningful words and build strong sentences.

    The structure of a micro-story:

    Like any other fiction piece, a micro-story has a sequence: a beginning, a middle, and an end.

    It includes a twist or a conflict: either it’s a change in the character (character arc) or a twist in the plot.

    The micro-story also has a scenario, which doesn’t need much detail – you don’t have enough length to incorporate descriptions.

    Start with the conflict

    In a micro-story, there is no space for descriptions, backstory, or character-building; you start writing in the middle: straight to the conflict.

    Focus on the character arc

    Flat characters offer nothing to readers. Something must happen to your character: a drastic event, a deep emotion, a discovery. He/she must end the story differently from when it started.

    In the end, the character should feel or do something different than he/she was doing before.

    Write your story as long as you wish

    Like any other first draft, yours will be a micro-story told with many unnecessary words.

    To elaborate your micro-story, write everything that comes up in your mind: describe the emotions, the scenarios, the characters. The goal is to form the story inside of you, to feel it.

    By writing everything down, you’ll be able to choose what’s relevant and what’s not.

    Chose only one POV

    Micro-fiction uses a single point of view [POV]; there’s not enough word-counting to swap POV without losing the coherence of the story.

    Choose either the 1st limited or 3rd person limited POV as they perform better in connecting the reader to the characters.

    Cut the fluff

    Now that you wrote the first draft, it’s time to cut!
    The remaining wording in your story will be the ones that matter, that add value and significance to your story.

    Polish each sentence

    The last step in writing a micro-fiction story is to polish the sentences.

    Each word must contain meaning: an emotion, an action, a detail. The sentences should also have a meaning, but also as part of a whole, it actively builds up the story.

    Ensure your first and last sentences are the strongest. They are the entrance and the exit of the story. The first sentence will hook readers to continue reading; the last one will make them chew on your story. And even re-read it, to savor it one more time.

    Create an appealing title

    The title is the presentation, the promise of what’s coming: the title is the first impression of your story.

    Name your story, revealing the theme, but not giving away any event. Note: The title does not count toward your total word count.

    Enjoy the process and keep practicing.

    Writing micro-fiction is a challenge, but — in my modest opinion — one of the best challenges in the writing set.

    Once you try it, you will come for more. With practice, your first drafts will become shorter; they will be the closest version of your final draft.

    Writing micro-fiction it’s an effective way to hone your writing skills: it demands focus and the use of strong verbs and emotional words. Your writing will develop into a sharper and more concise version.

    My first  entry

    “Sam Adams Swears It Was Self Defense”

    “Well, Sam Adams, you are in a lot of trouble. Better tell us what happened. How did you end up killing Bill Lee?”

    “Well, I should speak to a lawyer and the Embassy first, but what the H.

    Bill Lee and I had a relationship so to speak, we were frenemies. I known him for a long time since we were children and I knew that he was a real bad dude at heart.
    We had gone to the Cosmos Bar that night to have a drink. When he attacked me, I responded of course., It was self-defense. and that’s how the fight started.

    my second week entry

    Bullseye

    Sam Adams one strange day woke up and found that he had been transported to another time and place. He did not know where he was, and why he was there.  He was now a member of a military scouting team behind enemy lines engaged in a battle.  Somehow he knew the language, and everyone seemed to know him. He was wearing a bow and arrow.  They encountered the enemy, giant orcs. He watched the other archers, then got into combat mode.  He instantly reacted scoring a bullseye killing his first enemy. They pushed on finally conquering the enemy lines.

    Poetry Magnum Opus February Haiku Challenge

    February is Haiku Month

    Tinker posted a topic in Playground

    …Reading that February is Haiku Month was the spark that I needed to ease in. So here I am on February 1, 2022, Chinese New Year – The Year of the Tiger. Maybe a haiku a day for 28 days will

    get me going. You are welcome to join me if you feel so inclined. I missed this community. ~~Tin…

    free but requires registration  Tinker’s list of poetry forms is quite comprehensive!

    My haiku for February 1

    What is Groundhog Day?
    Why does seeing his shadow
    Mean early Spring?

    My haiku for February 10

     

    The whole universe
    Is divine if we can see it
    Like the cosmic cat

    Author note:

    I am not conventionally religious, but I am somewhat spiritual. I believe the whole universe is alive and filled with the divine spirit. Cats are spiritual creatures who know.  Most humans are blind to the divine all around us. The prompt was to write a spiritual Haiku.

    This week’s event is to write a SPIRITUAL HAIKU

    . You can write about your personal religion or philosophy WHATEVER IT MAY BE. Please use a picture that you like and that is relevant to the poem. ============================================================================== MODERN HAIKU is the English adaptation of Classic Haiku. It’s written in one to four lines with no strict syllable count, but brief and often with a long/short or short/long asymmetry. These poems use a pause usually marked by a dash before the satori (an insightful twist to ponder). Images don’t need to be taken from nature, though they often are. Seasonality is optional, though often featured. Alliteration and metaphor are okay. Never rhymes. the em-dash ( — ) is used to emphasize an interruption in speech before the satori. Haiku usually doesn’t have a title but in fanstory we have to have one. ============================================================================== CLICK HERE to read MODERN HAIKU RULES– The Haiku Foundation of America ============================================================================== EXAMPLE: ============================================================================== … inhale division ============================================================================== … exhale loving unity – ============================================================================== … one breathe for one world ==========================================================

    The End

  • 81  World Stories Published

    81 World Stories Published

    81 Words published

    81 words has published my short story,
    “Dream Girl”

    You are receiving this email because you have had one of your stories published via the 81 Words Writing Challenge run on my website.

    We have now confirmed the official publication date for the 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology. It will be published on Saturday 20th November 2021.

    The printed version of the book is available for pre-order from Victorina Press. It will also be available globally from Amazon by the release date. Victorina Press will be registering the book with the Nielson database, meaning it will be available from Waterstones and many other book retailers over time. Please note that this may not be in place by the release date as it can take a while to go through their system.

    You can pre-order the book from Victorina Press here:
    https://www.victorinapress.com/product/81-words-flash-fiction-anthology/

    The eBook version of the anthology is also available for pre-order now. You can find more details on my website:
    https://www.christopherfielden.com/books/81-words-flash-fiction-anthology.php

    I’ve developed a three step strategy for launch day. It’s super simple: BUY – REVIEW – SHARE. There is a page on my website that explains the plan in more detail, showing why it’s used:
    https://www.christopherfielden.com/writing-challenges/how-to-sell-books.php

    With your help, we could make the 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology an Amazon bestseller. Please visit the page, read it carefully and follow the plan on launch day – you’ll help us sell more books, gain readers for your stories and generate money for charity 🙂

    The launch party will take place on Saturday 15th January 2022 online, via Zoom, at 7pm GMT. It will be held in conjunction with Talking Tales, an established storytelling event. There will be many readings from the book, plus readings by other writers via Talking Tales. You are welcome to read your 81 word story at the event, or just come along and listen if you prefer. If you’d like to attend, please reply to this email.

    I will be sending another email to everyone specifically about the launch party nearer the time. I will also set up a Facebook event for the launch.

    In case anyone missed my previous emails, sent in January and June 2021, here is a recap: We received our 1,000th story on 17th January 2021 and are now preparing to publish the unofficial world record breaking anthology. Proceeds from book sales will support The Arkbound Foundation, a charity in the UK that aims to widen access to literature and improve diversity within publishing. The book is being published by Victorina Press, an independent UK publisher who follow the principles of bibliodiversity.

    A note re communication. All the other writing challenge books I’ve published have 100 authors in them. I would usually just send updates via BCC (blind carbon copy) from Outlook. Because this project requires 1,000 people to be contacted, I have set up an email list in Mailchimp for communication – it’s the only safe way I can send that many emails at once. So, you are on an email list but it will ONLY be used for updates about the 81 Words project. This should result in around 5 or 6 emails that communicate release dates, where you can find the book, details of the launch party etc. Once the book is launched and we’ve undertaken the launch party, the list will be permanently deleted and you will not be contacted again.

    If you have any questions, please reply to this email.

    Cheers, Chris

    ==============================================
    You are receiving this email because you have had one of your stories published via the 81 Word Writing Challenge run on Chris Fielden’s website. The challenge has been running since April 2017. We received our 1,000th story recently and are now preparing to publish an unofficial world record breaking anthology. You can find all the details here: https://www.christopherfielden.com/writing-challenges/81words.php

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