challenge

Watcher Doings 6

/ Liz H-H / 23 Comments
juicy tangerine wedges

The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: SACK. Visit, comment, and write & post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. (Link goes active Wed night)  The Café is open. Come as you are!

The game of Mumblety-Peg went on as expected…and on and on: two gnomes stand face-to-face about two feet apart; the thrower hurls a knife into the lawn between the bettor’s wide-spread feet; the knife nearly always lands point down; if the knife lands point down and sticks, the bettor moves the foot closest to the knife inwards, inch by inch, narrowing the gap; the thrower inches closer to the bettor, and tosses the knife again, until a fail condition happens.

Gnomish Mumblety-Peg adds another condition: throwers must remove the knife from between the bettors’ feet with their teeth.

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So Long, Farewell

/ Liz H-H / 15 Comments
© Ayr/Gray

Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, THE UNICORN CHALLENGE.  (07/18/2025). No more than 250 words in length.

The room is cool, a soothing respite from the blistering heat outside its door. Her bare feet shuffle across the smooth wood floor. She reviews each object of art: bucolic landscapes, highland towers, night streets, dawning oceans. Paintings stop in interesting places, to continue with other voices, other rooms. Perhaps a novel, or love-lost poem?

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Fini!

/ Liz H-H / 8 Comments

So this is the end of a month-long challenge to write to prompt every day. I’ve done this group challenge for several years, as well as ones for the month of November. Productivity goes way up for the month, usually followed by a brief period to recharge, before jumping back into it. Usual output is a number of flash stories, not-great poetry, and very creative non-fiction (thematically true, but not necessarily true to MY life).

As we say in a favored Saturday morning writer’s group, “Remember: All of it’s true, none of it’s true.” to which I add, “That’s not really the point anyway.”

So, Basta! Fini! It’s the last Friday of a month that has been challenging in so many ways. I know there’s a bowl of Tatertot Hotdish ready to be heated up, and a lowball of Whisky Black with my name on it. And another Episode of a very popular Dystopian DVD waiting for me. It all seems very appropriate right now. Hope to read you all next year. And thank you, Linda Hill, for getting us organized!   

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)

Just Jot January Day 31 Prompt: FINI, by our generous hostess, Linda. Be sure to visit their blog to read or just say hi!  See what other folks have done with the prompt, or add your own! https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/31/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-31st-2025/

Formulaic

/ Liz H-H / 9 Comments
As described in the story here. Welcome!

© Ayr/Gray

“Dunno, Jimmi.” Patrick stared at his cell and the clouds that gathered there. Building themselves into a wall of alarming color, they ticked across the screen until the county outline was obliterated, over and over again. “Weathercast says storms all day. The summer festival is gonna be a washout.”        Continue reading →

Song of the Sea

/ Liz H-H / 25 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

From Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr’s photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (03/24/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

“So many to choose from,” Douglass breathed, mouthpiece in one hand, carefully considering his next step. He’d waited under the dock, saving the oxygen in his scuba tank. The docks ceased their sway and rattle as the heavy footfalls of captains and crew stumbled up to the clubhouse for an exclusive marina fundraiser. They’d strung lights on boom, mast, and stays, sure that the sea gods wouldn’t rain on their parade.           Continue reading →

Savage Starfish

/ Liz H-H / 20 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

From Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr’s photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (03/15/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

Trigger Warning: Do NOT read this before bed!  

Stella Starfish had heard all about it from Momma Bear. While Poppa and Baby built sand castles down the beach, Momma had leaned in, broad, clawed toes in the water and gripping the sand, related how Goldie had lured Poppa Bear into an affair with her golden curls, intense blue eyes, and silky hairless skin. Granted, Poppa wasn’t the brightest — some even said he was a couple sandwiches short of a picnic – but still!                                  Continue reading →

Tears and Rain

/ Liz H-H / 20 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

First step? Draw the chalk outline.

Berta sat back on her heels, trying to remember the next step from Baba’s grimoire. She was sure she’d gotten all the right ingredients: white chalk, pint jar of honey, ten pound sack of dirt from Janeesa’s grave. There were words she needed to say, herbs to sprinkle as she said them.    Continue reading →