Category: writing prompts

Just the two of us

Chris Hall24 Comments

Just the two of us by Chris Hall lunasonline

Let’s go up to the lake today, Frankie!

Come on, it’s such a beautiful day. You can do a spot of fishing.
Maybe you’ll catch something and I can cook it for us later.
Wouldn’t that be nice, Frankie?

You’ll have to help me down those rickety steps, mind.
I can’t quite manage them on my own.
Not like the way I used to.

We’ll walk along the shore, dipping our toes in the water and picking up pretty pebbles. Remember the tiger eye you found that time?
Where is it now, I wonder?

And then we can sit on our bench and watch the pretty boats.

And listen to the sound of the water lapping.

Just the two of us.

*

Frankie?

Where are you, Frankie?

Frankie?

*

Tell her he’s just popped out for a minute. It’s better that way.
Otherwise it’ll be like she’s lost him.
All over again.

 

Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #24

The challenge this week was lake.

The Rubicon

Chris Hall15 Comments

What do you see 7

She clutches the coin,
her mind’s eye not satisfied
with memories alone.

She needs an affirmation,
a token to cling to
when all else is gone.

Now in the shadow-lands
the mystery deepens,
her sight dims, her heartbeat slows.

In that moment, she fights,
desperate to break their pact,
but still onward the ferryman rows.

Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #7′ photo prompt.

Blackout

Chris Hall29 Comments

Dark Lake by Chris Hall lunasonline

The lights have all gone out. Mist closes in, swallowing up the moonlight. Darkness prevails. She throws another log on the fire, flares a match and lights a candle. At least the woodshed is full, the larder too. Her eyes flit about the room: every technological trapping is now defunct. Useless.

She’s more resilient than most, living alone in her little lodge on the lake. She’s just put new batteries in the radio, but no-one’s broadcasting. Empty airwaves.

Cut off. Cut adrift.

She takes up her pen and pulls her notebook towards her. All she can do now is write.

Written in response to a prompt new to me from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #23

The challenge this week was communication.

Greta’s Ark

Chris Hall26 Comments
what do you see 6 by chris hall lunasonline
John Towner@unsplash

TRACTION BEAM ZONING IN… LOCKING ON…. AND ENERGIZE!

– Thank you Mr. Attenborough, we really couldn’t have completed our collection without you.

– Ms Thunberg, it’s been a privilege to meet you. In my long career, I’ve had many fascinating experiences, but I never expected to meet someone from the future. I’m humbled that you singled me out.

– You were the obvious candidate. You’re certain we haven’t missed any of the 21st century earth species?

– You have a pair of every living species for your trans-space-time settlement.

– Excellent.

– You will be returning to us won’t you, Ms Thunberg?

– In the blink of an eye. Remember, I can be in two places at once.

– Ah yes, you explained: quantum superposition; only a theory in the 21st century.

– You will keep my little secret?

– Of course. Although perhaps I might be permitted to share it with Brian Cox?

Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #6′ photo prompt.

Imagination

Chris Hall14 Comments
what do you see 5 by chris hall lunasonline
Island perspective by Chloe Smith

As the world turns,

you turn with it

always just a little out of kilter;

existing within a land of virtual friends

and made up characters,

submerged in the limpid pools of your mind’s eye,

where with every throw of the dice

you win.

Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #5‘ photo prompt.

The Epic Journey

Chris Hall17 Comments

what do you see 4 by chris hall lunasonline

He’d battled over the Melancholic Mountains of Mythndlore,

scythed through thick forests where Dark Shadows lurk

stumbled across Mind Leaching deserts and now

wading through the stagnant Green Marais

at last he’d found what he was seeking.

The light at the end of his personal

Tunnel of Angst

…

Finally, he types

‘THE END’

Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #4′ photo prompt.

The Writer’s Gift

Chris Hall19 Comments

what do you see 3 by chris hall lunasonline

Waves of words wash over her

transporting her through

space and time

to other realms

where dreams come true

and the adventurer knows no bounds.

 

Riding the White Horses of the Camargue

Dancing with Wolves

Searching for The Beach

 

She journeys to the Centre of the Earth

explores King Solomon’s Mines

and witnesses the Return of the King.

 

Laying aside her book

she drifts, dreams,

and the waves of words

still wash over her.

Written in response to Sadje‘s ‘What Do You See #3‘ photo prompt.

Take a moment

Chris Hall11 Comments

Take a moment by Chris Hall lunasonline

Look up at that little tree,

sparkling in the moonlight,

lit up by the stars.

Take a moment to remind yourself

of what is truly precious.

One life, one planet,

last chance.

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

The Audition

Chris Hall25 Comments

what do you see by chris hall lunasonline

Freya admired her newly-polished talons. She glanced over her scaly shoulders at her wings, freshly adorned with the finest lapis lazuli, mined by the dwarves of Zendor. The elves had done a fine job on her.  It had cost her several gold coins from her secret horde, but it would be worth it. She was ready for the audition.

As a young actress she’d been an extra in the final Lord of the Rings film. She hadn’t enjoyed flying on by herself all the way to New Zealand. It had been exhausting. But there’d been no way she would have agreed to go in one of those flying metal contraptions, crated up like an animal. And then, after all that, her scene had ended up on the cutting room floor.

Her other big regret was to have just missed the part in the BBC TV series, Merlin. She’d have loved to have worked with John Hurt, but they’d said she was too pretty. Fair enough, she’d thought; the role had, after all, been for a considerably older dragon, and a male at that.

Now she was pinning her hopes on the Game of Thrones. This could be her big break!

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

And in memory of our friend, Hélène Vaillant. I’m so pleased that Sadje has revived this!

A Tom’s Life

Chris Hall17 Comments

A Tom's Life by Chris Hall lunasonline

Romeo clung to hope as fiercely as he clung to the gutter, eavesdropping on Nero as he chatted up the new little cat in town. The pretty princess had never given Romeo a second glance, but his hope swelled when he heard her rebuff his rival.

Nero leapt down, landing with the soft thud of paws on paving-stones. Immediately Romeo swung himself up onto the roof and stretched seductively before the little queen.

She slammed her paw down on the tiles. ‘Enough of you toms, you’re just after one thing! I’m going to hang out with the girl cats.’ Tossing her pretty head, she flounced off into the night.

Romeo stared after her open-mouthed. He peered down into the street below where Nero was twitching his tail in irritation. He jumped down and landed beside him. Nero turned his head. ‘No luck either?’ Romeo shook his head. ‘Wanna go rat-catching?’

From  a prompt by Hélène Vaillant of Willow Poetry: What do you see? June 4, 2019