Category: writing prompts

Message in a Bottle

Chris Hall58 Comments

The ocean beckons,
what shall we do today?
I know what we can do,
let’s throw a pretty bottle in to the sea.
Oh yes, it’s always nice to send one out.
It needs a note, of course,
we’ll write it together;
a moment later, it was done.
We just need to bung the cork back,
and off it goes.

~~~~~~~~~

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

Image credit: Tanya Barrow @Unsplash

This image shows a set of steps leading to a structure on a beach with multiple directional arrows pointing in different directions. Some of the names written on these arrows are Hogwarts, London, New York, Saas Fee, Dubai, Area 51, Bangkok, etc. In the background, you can see the ocean waves and sand.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #304 photo prompt.

Plus, Di of Pensitivity 101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: BOTTLE, BUNG, CORK

What do you see # 304- 1st September, 2025

Another bar

Chris Hall61 Comments

Photo Prompt © Dale Rogerson

She had been staring for some time. She’d been cradling a large brandy glass, and it still wasn’t empty, it was warm and mellow, like she could’ve had a small cigar in the past. But that was long ago, it was so different then.

She watched the young things, who were dancing in the moonlight. She began reminiscing – so many ideas and plans, but nothing was real.

She put down her glass, as she took something out. She fiddled with it, and put it back again. Nothing worked.

She stood up, and walked away.
But no one saw her.

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

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

29 August 2025

Lovely France

Chris Hall59 Comments

I’m looking down,
in this interesting place,
I haven’t been there before.

It’s very beautiful,
and such a lovely day,
I’ve always liked France.

I’ve been over the sea,
but the warm land
is even better.

I’m a seagull
is there any food here?

~~~

Image credit: Eugenia Pankiv @Unsplash

This image shows the rooftop of a building, with turrets and a sloping roof! There are different birds sitting on the roof, including a seagull. There are bird droppings all over the turret, chimney, and the roof.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #303 photo prompt.

What do you see # 203- August 25,2025

What’s in that building?

Chris Hall50 Comments

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

‘That’s a big building.’
‘What’s in there?’
The two of them had been walking around, since they were on holiday and in another city.

‘Well, it’s open…’
‘… and free, apparently.’
Half way up they realised it was a new venture – art, lots of art.
‘It’s a gallery.’

‘Ooh look at these. Installations – and huge ones.’
‘But what do they mean?’
‘Do they mean anything?’

There was several storeys, and all very odd.
‘Gosh, look at these…’
‘… lots of mannequins and umbrellas.’
‘It’s called Art on the Roof.’

‘Beyond bizarre. That’s enough for me.’
‘Shall we go for lunch?’

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

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

Inside and Outside

Chris Hall55 Comments

Inside and Outside

Pitter patter raindrops,
as I’m looking outside,
while that pretty bench
continued to drip, drip.

I’m tempted to go out,
since it was not cold,
in fact, it was rather warm,
so why not do so?

I grabbed my umbrella,
and then ran outside,
I danced across that pretty bench
and what fun I had.

~~~

Image credit: Richard Stachmann @Unsplash

This image shows the view of a white wooden bench through a fog stained window. There are trees and green grass behind the bench. There is evidence of rain!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #302 photo prompt.

What do you see # 302- 18 August, 2025

Just graves?

Chris Hall49 Comments

© J Hardy Carroll

I’ve always liked graves. Admittedly I’d only go in the daytime. But I’d be there from morning to evening, since I was a writer and it was such a peaceful place.

I’d write small stories, but they would be fun (mostly), while using my notebook and a couple of pencils. Nothing fancy like a laptop – not invented then.

But then I found that the darkness was even better. I’d fallen asleep and something had changed. After that it seemed that something else was required. But never mind about that.

Just have a look – my little fangs are so pretty!

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

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

In her prime

Chris Hall42 Comments

she’s a beautiful girl
she’s in her prime
and now she has two youngsters
they are bold and fun, and running around
but she keeps one eye on the boisterous wee boys
and the other in the distance
but all is fine just now

~~~

Image credit: Johan Siggesson @Unsplash

This image shows a lioness with two cubs standing in long grasses. The lioness is looking to her left with narrowed eyes.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #301 photo prompt.

What do you see # 301- 11 August, 2025

That Book

Chris Hall38 Comments

That Book

She looked at the cover,
and then picked it up,
she wondered who had written it
since there was no signature.
The back cover was also blank,
so time to open that book.

And what did she find?
Actually… nothing.
It’s her to write it you see.

~~~

Image credit: Eveling Salazar @Unsplash

This image shows a book with a title – Free forever printed on its cover. The image in monochrome where the book is greyish white and the background is dark.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #300 photo prompt.

What do you see # 300- 4th August, 2025

Walking around the Castle

Chris Hall42 Comments

She’s wearing her red coat, which is warm and long, and it’s perfect. She wonders what she should write today, since she has a small notebook in her pocket. She strides across the ancient bridge; she stops in the middle. She surveys the large loch, pulls out her pencil and paper, and scribbles a few lines: it’s a haiku – from Scotland to Japan.

from heather
to cherry blossom;
just divine

~~~

Image credit:  Christian Crocker @Unsplash

This image shows the back view of a woman dressed in modern day attire, and a red coat, walking towards an ancient castle in Scotland, over a stone bridge.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #299 photo prompt.

What do you see #299- 28 July, 2025

Margot and her 2CV

Chris Hall25 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Gosh, this will be fun,’ grinned one of the boys.
‘Yes, we’re all going on an adventure.’
‘We have got everything we need,’ smiled Great Aunt Margot. ‘Now get into the back of my 2CV boys, we are going to the woods, since it’s autumn so we can get some mushrooms, and maybe some truffles.’
‘Truffles? What are those?’
Great Aunt Margot waved a hand as she continued to drive, and rather fast, ‘truffles are very good and very expensive, but we will see.’

The three of them tootled around in that little car for a bit, when suddenly Great Aunt Margot stopped, and then reversed, and stopped again. ‘Look boys, there’s eggs available. You can get out and ask,’ as she gave one of them some notes.

The two boys trotted over to the sign, and then into the little farm.
‘Is anyone here?’ shouted both of them.
For a moment it seemed that no-one was around, but just a little later, a very nice lady appeared.
‘Ah, that would be Madame Margot,’ the nice lady said. ‘Two dozen, I imagine,’ as she waved back.

Soon that was sorted, they were off again. ‘Time to find some mushrooms and do some truffle hunting,’ grinned Great Aunt Margot.

They walked around the woods, and all three of them had lovely mushrooms, although sadly they didn’t find any truffles this time.
But they did see something in the distance…
Yes, that’s right, a couple of unicorns – and yes, they are real.


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

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.