Category: writing prompts

Shall I run?

Chris Hall36 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lori Wilson

Desperately don’t want to go there. Horrid, really horrid. Actually, pure hell. No really. These things are more than scary. Nope. Not going there.
Once was enough. So… So…
I’ll say nothing.
Definitely not.

My mind is made up. And why not? It’s my choice. Just my decision. No-one else.
Got that?
I’m looking at you… and you… and anyone around here.
It’s not going to happen.
There’s no mystery. It’s not that. Sleight of hand?
It sounds like a magician, perhaps? But no. Not that. That would be daft.
..

..

No. It’s those mannequins. I’d run a mile from them!

~~~

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

29 May 2026

Another nonsense poem!

Chris Hall37 Comments

Shall we smile?
but of course!
we’re happy
and almost always.

We’re like peas in a pot,
and we love buttercups,
so pretty!

We’re not off our heads,
since that’s rather rude.

We’re still happy,
because we’re pencils
what a lovely life we have!

~~~

Image credit: Nik @Unsplash

This image shows a few yellow smiley face badges in green grass. Some of them are deliberately out of focus- giving an impression of a yellow aura to the smiles.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #342 photo prompt.

What do you see # 342- 25 May, 2026

Such a fun treat!

Chris Hall41 Comments

‘What fun,’ grinned one of the boys.
‘Yes indeed,’ said the other one, ‘especially since we hopped on a bus, then we got out by this river in the Norfolk Broads.’
‘We have brought some sandwiches and we are wearing our wellies.’
‘And we have some fishing tackle, and we might even catch a couple of fishes.’

The two boys walked purposely.
‘It’s a bit deep by those reeds, and that’s going to be rather tricky,’ as one of them remarked.
But a moment later they heard an interesting sound.
‘Ooh, it’s a chug-chug-chug noise, and it’s getting closer.’
And very soon a cabin cruiser appeared.

‘Do you want to hop over here on the next bend?’ shouted an old guy on the boat. ‘I’m sure both of you will enjoy this.’

And so they did.
The two boys didn’t manage to catch a fish, but it was still fun.

~~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #087

Her dilemma…

Chris Hall54 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lisa Fox

Okay, time to get rid of all this stuff, as she smiled to herself. All this waste of nonsense, it’s got to go, and soon, very soon.
She began to move things around. Aha, there’s a big box here, and another big box there, plus many, many cartons. There are even in those darkest areas, there are some old tea chests. She’s determined not to open any of those.
Really?
Yep, she’s focused.
Should she have a little poke inside?
No. Don’t even think about that. No… and no.
Hmm.
Shall she do this for another day?
Yep, that’s fine.

~~~

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

22 May 2026

Repurpose!

Chris Hall61 Comments

Look at these,
aren’t they awesome,
so very cool,
such lovely colours.

Repurposed,
and so clever,
who would’ve thought
to do this, and so well.

So gay,
since spring has sprung,
there’re daffodils, tulips
and pretty pansies.

Aren’t we lucky to be in Amsterdam!

~~~

Image credit: Chris Weiher @Unsplash

This is a shot of a wall. At the bottom, a metal tub sits, full of colorful flowers growing in it. On the wall, there are five shoes nailed and in three of them, flowers are stuck in them- all of them are yellow. There are two red shoes placed higher than the yellow ones and those are empty.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #341 photo prompt.

What do you see # 341- 17 May, 2026

A deep pool

Chris Hall47 Comments



up, up, up, from the deep pool
this pretty water maiden
is hungry, actually ravenous
she scans the pool edge

aha, there’s wild wood garlic
there are artichokes and chives
and even some watercress
this’ll be a great feast

so she’ll munch and munch, and burp
since there is no one around
she’s sometimes sad, but not much
she lives a good life

one day she will find a mate
and that will be quite awesome
but now everything is fine
going down, down, down

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #086
#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 64, Let’s tell a story 05/12/2026

Ooh, a keyhole

Chris Hall63 Comments

Photo Prompt © Fleur Lind

‘Look, a huge keyhole over there.’
‘Let’s get closer,’ as the two boys hurried across.

‘It’s an interesting opening.’
‘Ouch.’
‘It’s… it’s, what?’
‘Perspex, perhaps?’

Gingerly, both of them touched the see-through wall.
‘Weird.’
‘Intriguing though.’

One of the boys tried to press his face to see further. The other one saw an interesting plaque.
‘Look, it’s a dragon up there.’
‘Can we touch it?’

‘Ooh, sweet, isn’t it!’
‘But it’s not helping, sadly.’
‘Oh well, it’s teatime now, but we’ll be back.’

The two boys had gone, so the tiny dragon burst out and grinned:
‘Hasta la vista, baby!’

~~~

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

15 May 2026

A library

Chris Hall56 Comments

A library, a library, how exciting! Magnificent isn’t it. Beautiful, beautiful books, and so many too. Some of them are pretty old, and there are some rare ones as well.

We must be careful though. We don’t want to bend a book and we don’t want to crack a spine. Gosh, no!

So we will browse and wander around, and this will take a morning, or even longer if we want. There’s no problem, since we are pensioners, although we will need some lunch!

we are bookworm fans
it is such fun, all those books
let’s just read and read

~~~

Image credit: Ahmet Yüksek @Unsplash

This image shows a section of a library, with multiple bookshelves stacked with beautifully bound books. There is a window next to the bookshelf with a white filmy curtain.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #340 photo prompt.

What do you see # 340- 11 May, 2026

Young Dragon

Chris Hall44 Comments

young dragon
was living in a deep forest
he pottered around there
and life was so good
but a problem
then reared up

poor dragon
he hadn’t expected that
such a great tragedy
it was cold and wet
freezing, but what
could he do?

young dragon
fled and flew into a cave
it was dry and warm too
and he mostly dozed
but then he sniffed
is it spring?

dear dragon
then flew down, back to that forest
he skipped and jumped too
his dragon wings
were beautiful
life was good!

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #085

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 63, April Showers Bring May Flowers! 05/05/26

Our moon

Chris Hall48 Comments

Oh
wow, this
is my moon.
She is always beautiful
from very thin to full
and often she’s so, so clear.
You’ll find her from north to south,
but we have only seen her lovely front.
However, now we have seen her wonderful dark side,
and we believe that she’ll start to sing a melody.

~~~~

~~~~

Image credit: NASA @Unsplash

This image is of the dark side of the moon and you can see the earth on the horizon- setting. Artemis II crew took this picture on April 6th.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #339 photo prompt.

What do you see # 339- 4th May, 2026