Summer - 55 Word Challenge

Scorching heat emanates from the pavement. Even the sun seems to pity the land below, unknowing how to handle the heat it brings forth.

To top it all, water begins to run short.

It's summer, an exceptionally hot summer, and all everyone wants is to get away to a sea breeze.

My entry WON Over Achiever in the 55-word challenge - YAY
 
It was an entry for Over Achiever for this week's 55 Word Challenge. Used all three pictures and was mostly inspired by this year's summer in Egypt - several heat waves and a two-day water cut.

My piece is 51 words long.

Wise Feline

The night shifted to grey, no sun to be seen, no warmth to be felt. Footsteps echoed on the wooden planks of an old, abandoned house. 

“Lila! Where did you run off to this time?” a man rasped though he looked young.

At the broken down window, the descendent of Bastet stood wise and proud.

This piece is an overachiever attempt for this week's 55-word challenge. Over achiever tries to use all three pictures in the piece.

Lingering Stories

The earth is old. It knows all our stories, our laughs and worries. It has seen and felt children playing and others crying. It has laughed with them and wept with them.

Their stories will always be etched in its dirt and trees, to be carried and remembered for all eternity.

This piece is for this week's 55 Word-Challenge – Week 11. It's 51 words and I used all three pictures.
I won HONOURABLE MENTION for this challenge. Check out all the winners here.

Weekly Online Flash Fiction Contests

So I’ve been working on compiling a list of the fun, free Flash Fiction contests I have come across over the past couple of weeks. Below is the list of contests that run every week. More info can be found at the link/blog of each contest. You can follow the authors/holders of these contests on Twitter to get updates as well.

I’ll be adding more whenever I can and keep you posted.

*If you hold a weekly/monthly 'free' online contest, please reply to this post with the link and details so I can add you to the list.

Enjoy!

Friday

Flash Friday http://flashfriday.wordpress.com/about/how-to-play/

Prompt varies. Prize is e-badge, personalized winner’s page, and feature in “Sixty Seconds” post the following Wednesday. Possible feature in Monday “Flash Points” post.

The Friday Picture Show http://jendauthor.wordpress.com/the-friday-picture-show/

100 words exactly and up to 2 entries per person (posted separately). (not working now)

Friday Fictioneers http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers-2/

Picture prompt and up to 100 words.

Friday Night Write http://www.sweetbananaink.com/friday-night-write/

Starts Friday, ends Sunday. The Challenge: 1 song, 60 hours, 500 words.

Saturday

#SatSunTails http://rebeccaclaresmith.blogspot.com/

145-155 words. Starts Saturday and ends Monday.

Monday

Cara Michaels' Race the Date: http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate 
The challenge runs for 26 hours, from 0500 EST on Monday until 0700 EST Tuesday. Prompts are inspired by the different time zones. Word count: min. 100, max. 300 words. 

Monday Mixer http://www.jeffreyhollar.com/p/monday-mixer.html

#MotivationMondays http://www.wakefieldmahon.com/motivation-mondays.html

Trifecta Writing Challenge http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/p/challenge-instructions.html

Hosts two challenges: a weekday challenge and a weekend challenge. Check the instructions for further details. 33-333 words.

Tuesday

Finish that Thought http://alissaleonard.blogspot.com/

Write up to a 500-word story using the provided opening sentence (includes an optional challenge).

Mid-Week Blues Buster http://thetsuruokafiles.wordpress.com/mid-week-blues-buster/

The prompt will be a song.  A link to either a video or audio file will be posted each Tuesday. Challenge runs Tuesday through Thursday. Word count range: 300-700 words (no less than 300, no more than 700).

Wednesday

VisDare – The Visual Dare contest is a weekly picture-prompt challenge, where writers can exercise their pens. The challenge is to write a story in 150 words or less. http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/

Jezri’s 55-Word Challenge http://www.lisamccourthollar.com/

55 words or less. Posted Wednesday and ends on Thursday.

Thursday

Five-Sentence Fiction (5SF) is “about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week there will be a one-word inspiration. Anyone wishing to participate will write a five-sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.”

http://lilliemcferrin.com/

Thrush Thursday: 100-250 words

http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/p/thursthreads-challenge.html

Holding On - Jezri's 55-Word Challenge

Once upon a time, I had a dream, a child of my own flesh and blood, mind and soul; a dream that came bearing joy and love, a dream that left as a light goes out. Now, I hold on to a memory and a lonely teddy bear.

- Story is 48 words and inspired by all 3 pictures.

I also had Jackie Barreau, her ordeal and poetry collection "Through a Mother's Eyes" in mind.

More about Barreau here

Check out my review of her book here