Category: writing prompts

Bad ending?

Chris Hall30 Comments

Bad ending? Maybe,
but hold on, it’s a new day,
something will occur.

We could play Scrabble?
What do you think? Got the board
right here… excellent!

Who’s going to start?
Okay, it can be you then;
so now we’re busy.

Happy face, good!

~~~

Image credit: Puscas Adrian @Unsplash

This image shows 4 colourful keys, not usually part of a keyboard. The black one has “bad” printed on it, the white one says “end,” the grey one says “ing,” and the orange one has a sad face.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #331 photo prompt.

What do you see # 331- 9 February, 2026

He is a poet

Chris Hall42 Comments

he is a poet
and he walks outside today
and he’s pottering
as usual while he is
pondering a new poem

he is fiddling
around the garden, picking
bits and pieces, here
and there, as he drops broken
pots into the rubbish bin

an interesting thought
appears like a dart, as he
rushes inside, grabs
a pen and a notebook as
he scribbles the first stanza

~~~

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 54, Imagist poetry, 3/3/2026

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #076

Very modern, isn’t it?

Chris Hall58 Comments

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

‘That’s odd.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well… look.’
They both stopped.

‘It’s a new building.’
‘So?’
‘All those structures feel unreal.’
‘What??’
She continued to stare. ‘Definitely peculiar.’

‘But I wonder whether we could get a coffee there?’

They walked up to the building, but then they were both stumped.
‘There’s no doors.’
They peered into the coffee area, although there was no coffee brewing.
‘I don’t think they are real people. They’re definitely busy, but I’m sure they are all bots and artificial cloning things.’

Suddenly all the windows became opaque.
‘More than weird.’
‘Let’s back away… and quickly.’

~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

6 March 2026

Ooh, a forest…

Chris Hall54 Comments


Ooh, a forest…

Intriguing, she thought,
as she walked around  
this wonderful canopy.
It was vast.
It was magnificent,
and there were
so many different trees.
What else would she find,
as she continued to marvel?
Would she hug a tree?
Well, why not.
She was about to open her arms,
but then disaster.
It was a huge snake!
She backed away,
and stood there for a moment.
Then she turned around, and ran.
And she continued to run
until she was in the car park.

This is a great place in Cape Town – have a look: Tree Canopy Walkway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Ali Kazal @Unsplash

This image shows a wooden platform/ bridge in a jungle like environment. The bridge is made of good quality seasoned wood and so are the railings. We can see tall pine trees on the front and sides of the bridge.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #330 photo prompt.

What do you see # 330- March 2nd, 2026

Let me look at that river

Chris Hall41 Comments

It was the first of March and a rather chilly day, but I decided to have a little walk in the fresh air. It had been wet and muddy underfoot so I put my wellies on. I trudged across a few roads before I came to the park and the smallish river.

I stopped in the middle of the bridge, and peered across and down to the river. Not much to see though. No fishes unless they were at the bottom, but that was probably true. No birds around either, as I turned to look and the other side of the bridge. This was the upside of the river, the right place to play Pooh Sticks, as I grinned to myself, although it’s not much fun to play on one’s own.

It was time to head back. And time to think about some hot coffee and a couple of Hobnobs!

~~~~~~~~
150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #075

A sunset surprise

Chris Hall70 Comments

Photo Prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

‘Aliens? Can’t be.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘Oh… nothing.’

They stood together watching another glorious sunset, and saying nothing for several minutes.

‘So why did you mention aliens?’
‘Whoa. Look.’ She pointed her finger as a bright light zoomed across the sky.
He said nothing.
‘Didn’t you see it?’
‘Nope.’
‘Hmm,’ she huffed.

She was still looking around the sky, when another one happened. ‘It’s that little bright green light again.’

But then it dawned on him. ‘Our son’s sitting just inside. He’s playing with a laser pointer pen and it’s green.’
‘Well, at least he’s stopped doodling on our walls!’

~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: It’s been one of those weeks.
Words that Don’t Particularly Count: 100

27 February 2026

Sunflowers 🌻🌻

Chris Hall43 Comments


A Sunflower Tanka 🌻 but of course!

this tanka is good
even inspired, I’m thinking
it’s a lovely day
let’s open the double doors
and walk out to the garden

the fragrance is sweet
there’s a second flush of toms
basil, rosemary, dill
I have my watering can
to hand, I potter around

summer is waning
yet flowers are still thriving
roses are glorious
as I continue to walk
and there they are… sunflowers

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻


~~~~~

Image credit: Húng Pham @Unsplash

This image shows two hands touching a big sunflower, that is growing in a field of sunflowers.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #329 photo prompt.

What do you see # 329- 23 February, 2026

Back to those two boys!

Chris Hall45 Comments

‘Come on, another race?’
‘I’m game, let’s go further into the woods.’
The two of them pedalled as fast as they could until both of them stopped… dead.

‘What a fantastic tree. It must have been chopped down.’
‘But that’s a shame.’
‘I guess so… but, well…’ as he trailed off with a thought.

The two of them dropped their bikes. They walked around that huge broken down tree. They climbed up for a while, until both of them dropped down again. They stood together just a few metres away, and they stared and stared again at that upside down tree. For a while, they seemed to be mesmerised, but then they started to giggle.

And who can draw something as good as they did?
Now that end of the tree has a proper face, a big nose, a sad mouth, and two tiny eyes.

‘Cute,’ as they grinned together.

~~~~~~~~
150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #074

Barbeque?

Chris Hall50 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lori Wilson

Barbeque? Well, not usually called it here. We prefer the word ‘braai’.
But it’s just a way to say, ‘howzit’.

It’s time to open some beer… naturally, and to make sure all the meat is arranged around the grill, since everyone has something different.

The women have brought salads and stuff. They’re already ‘skinnering’ (gossiping), and very happy with that. Now it’s the perfect time for ‘sundowners’ for the girls… some lovely white wine – and chilled.

Route 66? Almost. This is Route 62!

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

20 February 2026

Ship ahoy (or boat in fact)

Chris Hall44 Comments

Ship Ahoy! (or boat, in fact)

This is a beautiful boat,
sailing around a huge ocean.
It has been a peaceful time so far,
but I can see a storm ahead.

So mind the tillers and stuff.
The rudder needs to be straight and safe;
it’s going to be a long night and day.

And it was, and worrying,
but the following day,
it was lovely again.
Next stop will be Cape Town.

~~~

Image credit: Amein Shareef77 @Unsplash

This image shows a sailboat in a vast body of water. The skyline/horizon is clear, and the water is calm. This photo was taken from another boat nearby.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #328 photo prompt.

What do you see # 328- 16 February, 2025