Lily's Friday Prediction - Thank you and goodnight

Damn it, but I can't see; I seem to be awash with emotion. As if the Olympic Torch starting its journey to the UK today and Donna Summer dancing over to the other side aren't enough - letting go of The Prediction has hit me even harder than I thought it would.

I'll have a few more words to say after I announce last week's winners...

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Stunning, stunning entries. How could I possibly choose? But it's tradition, and so I declare the winner of the Feardom's final Prediction challenge with a spiralling, mythical tale of primal beauty is...

R.S. Bohn, and One Night. The extraordinary vision, so beautifully crafted drifts us in and out of the creation process, grasping and grateful for freedom. I loved it. Your writing never fails to stir me and this is a wonderful example of your delicate skill. Congratulations Rebecca.

I have two runners-up, because I could not choose between them, different though they are:

Aidan Fritz's Brüder - so clever, so inspired. As I said in my comments, Aidan never fails to educate me - pointing at historical or mythical events and characters I feel I should know. I genuinely suffer from a very short memory so no matter how passionate I am about a topic - I will forget. I did know about the Deutches Wörterbuch - once. Thank you for the reminder, for bringing Grimm and the 'players' together and for that last word. And please sell this as the next box-office smash.

asuqi's Smile and No Harm Will Be Done gathered together so many symptoms of society's expectations and failures in 100 words, and despite a daily urban horror event in itself asuqi's unique wordcraft lifted this piece to an ethereal level. "bites through his crust and impersonates a woman" will stay with me forever, as will those creaking Northern Lights - do they...?

Very well done Aidan and asuqi, and all the rest of you too.

Words for 18 May 2012...

...are up at The Prediction's new home at 9am UK time where the weekly challenge rises like a fiction Phoenix, courtesy of Phil Ambler - to whom I will be forever grateful.

A Last Word, or So

To all the friends that have come, gone, stayed awhile, and hung around for two years. Thank you - you've changed my life, and for once - I'm struck dumb.

I do hope you'll come back and play in my darkened hallways; the doors will always be open to you. Pull up a velvet cushion, take a sip of wine, tea or whatever you need and tell me your story, even if it is filled with silence - I will still hear your words.

ALL HAIL THE PREDICTIONEERS:

• Absolutely*Kate
• Shaun Adams
• Chris Allinotte
• Phil Ambler
• Hilary Ashton
• asuqi
• Stu Ayris
• David Barber
• P Blacksaw
• Rebecca Bohn
• Col Bury
• Steven Chapman
• Lily Childs
• Erin Cole
• Colleen
• Steve Cormier
• Anthony Cowin
• Sandra Davies
• William Davoll
• Craig Douglas
• Jenny Dreadful
• Elspeth
• Matt Farr
• Aidan Fritz
• Ellie Garratt
• Reginald Golding
• Grogan
• Sue Harding
• Herbedaceous
• Matt Hilton
• SJI Holliday
• Jack Holt
• Helen Howell
• Lee Hughes
• AJ Humpage
• Susan May James
• Joleen
• Kallandra
• Kim (scratchypen)
• Andie King
• Pixie J. King
• kittylefish
• Reba Kovar
• laplace
• Laura
• Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw
• Lissa101
• Jodi MacArthur
• MRMacrum
• Henrietta Maddox
• mimimanderly
• Melenka
• Marietta Miles
• Marc Mimouni
• Nick Mott
• Sandie Owen
• Bill Owens
• Paul (Crimson Archer)
• Phantasmagoric
• Nina Powers
• Ragemore
• Ravenways
• Sean Patrick Reardon
• St Force (Jack)
• Nick Roberts
• Darren Sant
• Rosalind Smith-Nazilli
• Ronnie Soak
• Michael Solender
• Sulci Collective
• Liam Sweeny
• Alfred M Taitague Jr
• Amber Taitague ( Muckie Duckie)
• Nathaniel Tower
• ttofee
• Cindy Vaskova
• Charlie Wade
• Carol Wills
• Dion Winton-Polak
• Antonia Woodville
• John Xero
• Zaiure
• Angel Zapata

Don't stop telling tales...

Lily's Friday Prediction - end of one era - birth of a new

And so we come to a close, dear friends. This is the final Friday Prediction fiction and poetry challenge here at The Feardom.

I want to thank you all for your continuing support of each other's work and for dallying in and out of my corridors over the last two years.

I'll have more to say next Friday 18th May when I announce my final winner(s) before handing over to Phil Ambler. As you know, Phil has generously committed the time and effort to take on The Prediction Challenge - and as he is an immensely talented writer with an astute eye, not to mention a lovely, considerate man - I am in no doubt Phil will welcome us all in with open arms. I, for one, am looking forward to the first three words he'll be giving us next Friday. THANK YOU PHIL.

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

The piece of work indelibly engraved on my brain, snapping at my synapses is the bizarro-erotic horror that spilled from somewhere deep and dirty within Shaun Adams' mind. The winning story is his incredible tale Red Wigglers. Congratulations Shaun!

Two runners-up this week: AJ Humpage dragged us screaming into Hackett's world again, a dreadful, dreadful place that radiates with horrific beauty. Supinus. Gorgeous writing.

Helen Howell left us asking questions with a similar scenario but no-less chilling Taken. The subtleties in this gritty vignette touched me, unnerved me - and I like that.

Well done AJ and Helen!

Words for 11 May 2012

Here. The last words from my old tome before I wrap it up to send to Mr Ambler...

• Impersonate
• Elegant (all forms acceptable, including elegance, elegantly etc)
• Shovel

Let's make it a good one.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 17th May 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 18th May. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

I can't wait to read what you dig up for our delight...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Thank you to everyone that sent best wishes for my wedding anniversary - bubbly and dinner at a tiny French restaurant did the job!

In case you didn't realise (our) John Xero's 101 Fiction is now open to submissions. Please take a visit and support John in this excellent endeavour. I'm really looking forward to submitting a tiny tale or ten myself.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Well, it's been a long week of tears and gnashing of teeth for one reason or another so perhaps this has influenced my decision. Every entry was so-well written, and I really enjoyed the diverse themes - especially with Tartan dancing in for the kill. But the entry that had me grinning with visceral joy, and is my winner is Under A Killing Moon by Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw. Zombies freak the hell out of me, and Veronica Marie captures the essence of whatever it is that terrifies me every time. Back at ya, VM - my turn to sleep with the light on! And congratulations.

Runner-up is Nick Roberts with the multi-layered Grief. Such an emotional journey - I haven't been able to get it out of my mind yet I confess I still don't quite understand it - and I really like that. Beautiful and tragic. Well done Nick.

Words for 04 May 2012

And so we hit the penultimate Friday Prediction Challenge at The Feardom. Don't forget - it's a minibus over to Phil Ambler's place from 18th May for a Prediction rebirth party. But in the meantime, what do we have here...

• Psycho... (use it on its own or as a prefix. Freedom!)
• Belt
• Purgatory

Ha! Made for us. Let rip - I intend to.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 10th May 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 11th May. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

So strap up your imagination until it's ready to burst. I'm hungry...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction - and Exciting News!

There is light on the horizon; a deep, dark red enticing kind of light. So I won't tease you with a preamble, won't ramble on for ages... here's the news:

A friend and fellow Predictioneer has cleared a space in the vast attic of his mind - and will be taking on the Prediction from Friday 18th May. Who is it? IT'S PHIL AMBLER!! Huge round of applause!

Thank you so much Phil for this generous offer; I'm sure I won't be the only one rushing to your domain to join the rest of our community in the continued search for inspiring words to be challenged by. (Pretty sure that was terrible English, but I'm too excited.)

So, put it in your diaries folks - 18th May - over at Phil's place http://phlambler.blogspot.co.uk where he'll look after you behind a new set of doors.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

I am giving a concentrated award this week - the winner will have to water it down - and that's because it's an acclaim for one writer, with two stunning stories. So congratulations Sandra Davies for the ongoing saga of The Blacksmith's Wife - parts 8 and 9. I hope the BBC is reading - it needs this.

No runner-up I'm afraid - they were so good I truly couldn't choose between them, so a mutual back-patting is in order. Well done everybody!

Words for 27 April 2012 (my wedding anniversary, I'll have you know)

The old tome isn't going to last much longer so will probably sigh when I put it down for the last time, but let me just - oof - pick it up and spread its pages. Here we go...

• Backyard 
• Tartan
• Prowl

Something springs straight to mind!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 3rd May 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 4th May. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

A rush and a push and a... gotya! I can see the words forming inside your brains - birth them; I'm ready...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Britain is lying beneath a squally sky this week, but despite my getting soaked to the skin, nay - to the cold, cold bones on several occasions the Lords of Thunder have withheld their purple storms. I am bereft - I need a crashing and a flashing - 'tis my drug of choice. Please? Just a little one...?

Prediction Plugs

Before I start on winners and words, a quick plug or two for a couple of Predictioneers.

Col Bury's brilliant ebook MANCHESTER 6 - six gritty crime stories from the streets of Manchester - is half-price for a limited time. It's a study of harsh realities blended with rash humour. Do read this book - it will remind you what a skilled writer the UK has in Col Bury. The novels are coming - we need to be ready.

You can download it, 'Like' and 'Agree with these tags' at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.

John Xero, if you didn't see his post in last week's Prediction comments is starting a new fiction challenge of his own at 101 Fiction. It will open soon for submissions, so please pay our friend a visit and send him your best!

Your support is most welcome.

Winners of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

His language in last week's entry broke my bleeding heart; the winner is Shaun Adams with the haunting, terrible The Morning After. So much atmosphere in so few words - I feel am being rained upon by desperation in this hopeless situation. Brilliant. Congratulations Shaun.

Runner-up is Anthonia Woodville with the breath-stopping Suspense. I almost had a panic attack envisioning the narrator's trapped scenario and was then hit by that incredible last line! Well done Antonia.

Words for 20 April 2012

My fingers fumble, treading the pages. I stab - and open my eyes... This week's words are:

• Fathom
• Forget (all forms acceptable)
• Gallant

I think my pages must have gotten stuck! Good luck everyone.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 26th April 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 27th April. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

May your words tremble upon the paper, may they evanesce from your minds to the screen...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction - and an Announcement

My dear Prediction friends, it is with regret that I must announce the imminent demise of Lily's Friday Prediction. It is only fair to give you some notice - the final challenge will be posted on Friday 11th May.

Since I started the Prediction Challenge back in May 2010, the Feardom's corridors have throbbed with horror, crime and beauty. An entire community has grown up around the weekly fiction and poetry fest, and I'm so proud that a regular dangle of three little words has been enough to prompt and inspire writers to develop their drabbles and poems into much longer, successful pieces.

My decision has been a long time coming, and my reasons are as follows:

• I love supporting writers here and on other platforms but I've barely written a word myself since early February. I need to write. I want to write. And I am serious in the desire to complete my first two novels as soon as possible.
• I am Horror Editor at Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers. I haven't been able to dedicate the time I need to do this to my own satisfaction.
• Ebook promotion is incredibly hard-work and time consuming. Although I intend seeking an agent in the hope of going down the traditional publishing route for my novels, I will still be releasing short story collections as ebooks and need to be able to do this properly.

I am sorry if anyone feels let down or disappointed by my decision, but I hope you respect my reasons.

If anyone would like to take the Prediction on as a project on their own blog or elsewhere, please email me or fill in my contact form.

It has always been my intention to collect Prediction entries and publish them in a series of ebooks, as long as the authors are willing. I'll be in touch as soon as this becomes a possibility.

Thank you, one and all for your incredible words over the last two years. It's been an honour.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

The Easter fortnight has been busy for us all and the number of entries dropped accordingly - but the quality didn't.

My winner is Aidan Fritz AGAIN with the incredible flip from the domestic to the horrific in the botanical terror that is  Seeds. Congratulations Aidan, this blew my mind.

Runner-up is AJ Humpage with Last Hiding Place. A heart-breaking glimpse at Anne Franks' final hope that had me holding my breath. Well done Ally.

Words for FRIDAY 13TH, 2012

My old book is falling apart, with some pages stuck together but it still lets me perform a little bibliomancy. Let's see which words it will allow us to (ab)use:

• Commit
• Barrel
• Courage

Good luck with these three!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 19th April 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 20th April. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

If you are afraid of Friday 13th, twist that fear and put it into words. We want to read them...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Apologies for the tardy posting. It's been a long day, lovely day, sad day, fun day... and a slightly poorly day (damn the common cold!) A friend and long-term colleague has retired to a life of scrabbling around graveyards - as is only right (for whatever reason). I'll miss her.

But back to unreality...

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

A challenge indeed. But you weren't stumped.

The winner of last week's Prediction Challenge is our wandering Aidan Fritz with Cupid's Arrow. I braved billowing clouds to trail this meandering myth, laughed and loved with its characters and fell hard with Monday's rebirth. Congratulations Aidan, you've left me wistful and yearning.

Runner-up, with a tale that evoked the same emotions as Aidan's but with an awe inspired by nature itself, is Pernicious Petals by Alfred Taitague. Well done Al! This beautifully-entitled/written piece puts me in mind of Crazy Town's exquisite Butterly video.

Words for 30 March 2012

Firstly - you have two weeks to enter this challenge so the pressure's off. Here's what you've got to play with:

• Amsterdam
• Hammer
• Personal

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 12th April 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 13th April (Any Paraskevidekatriaphobics/Triskaidekaphobics out there?) If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

May Ostara's leaping hare bring you fertility where you need it this Easter. And if that means putting lead in your writing pencil, so be it...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Spring is here! The Equinox has brought us beautiful warm days here in the UK, but we are already in a state of drought so Mother Nature gives with one hand and takes away with the other. There's always balance whether we like it or not.

A Pause for Punctuation

I know The Prediction Challenge is a bit of fun but I've noticed the state of punctuation has been slipping in some Prediction entries over the last couple of months. Can I please send out a request to do a final proofread before you submit.

Check your apostrophes, make sure you put a full stop (period) before you start a new sentence. Where you do start a new sentence, the first word should have a capital letter. Indeed, capitals are one of my main niggles; they seem to be sneaking in on nouns mid-sentence. Why is that? Please check for this too.

The majority of you obviously do edit and proofread but I don't think it's unreasonable for me to request the best from everyone. After all, punctuation slips are often enough to get a submission for publication rejected by editors - regardless of the voice or the power of a story.

Thank you.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

The winner is a writer, rather than a single story - it has to be John Xero! Three outstanding pieces, each of which thrilled and shocked and were exquisitely-written - truly. John - why isn't TOR or a similar imprint grabbing you? Your writing is crying out for the big time. Congratulations on winning the little Prediction trophy (there's a drop of bubbly in there if you look deep enough.)

Runner-up, with a tale and a character that still chills me - Marietta Miles' untitled piece. Well done Marietta - Pastor Friend needs to be locked up, but not before you've imprisoned him in a full-length thriller for us (please).

Words for 23 March 2012

• Monday
• Notch
• Speed

Quick - what comes to mind?

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 29th March 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 30th March. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

I sense a shift in theme this week; where are you going to run to?

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

I have been completely bowled over by last week's Prediction challenge entries and have found it the most impossible task ever to choose a winner. Everyone - please know that the quality, and depth of your writing is outstanding, not to mention total bliss to read.

Whilst I make my very final decision, I'm just going to plug my new eBook CABARET OF DREAD, which is out NOW at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. I won't labour the point, but I would be immensely grateful for any purchases, reviews, 'Likes' and tags, not to mention spreading the word. Thank you my Prediction friends - your support is immeasurable. [Read more...]

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Every week many of you say, how does Lily choose a winner when the quality is so high? Well, it's always hard but this week - hell has erupted from the frozen lakes of my chambers and stumped me. However - it must be done. There will be just one winner, and no runner-up... because every single entry is a runner-up. Well done, one and all.

My winner is Sandra Davies with the second part of her harrowing series The Blacksmith's Wife. This tale is screaming to be told and I cannot even begin to anticipate what will happen next. Many congratulations Sandra - don't leave us dangling!

Words for 16 March 2012

Flipping those pages, shutting my eyes... plonk. Here we go:

• Curdle
• Cherub
• Rip

Get your teeth into those!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 22nd March 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 23rd March. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

If you've been scared to enter the darkness up to now, then spread your wings - and dive.

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

This old brain of mine is so full of holes I'm leaking all the good stuff. Better scoop it all up or I'll turn into a zombie, and I'd rather use my brain than eat others'.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Great to see new Predictioneers and the return of long-lost friends. This marvellous mix of writers makes for magic and mayhem - and it is so, so dark. Yum, yum. The only dilemma is how to select a winner. I've just re-read them for the 'nth time, and it is so close but...

I have two joint winners, Veronica Marie's violently emotional poem 3.A.M. battled with metaphorical addictions. Such a clever concept - I couldn't leave it alone. And Muckie Duckie's Disbursement of Sin filled my hungry veins like chocolate; totally delicious and wicked. Who wouldn't want to see those "beautiful things"? Congratulations both!

My runner-up is Anthony Cowin with The Dark Children. A highly visual terror treat that is surely waiting for the big screen. I would love to read a full story/novel of this Tony. Well done!

Words for 09 March 2012

Do you realise that the deadline for the new challenge will be The Ides of March? Might be best to get your entries in before Thursday perhaps? Here are your words, all ready to play with

• Carousel
• Spy
• Joker (not 'joke')

Can't wait to see what you make of these.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 15th March 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 16th March. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

That carousel's music is jangling, its horses galloping in a never-ending circle. Are you up for the ride?

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Somewhat distracted - I've gathered 43 horror stories to go in volume 1 of my Horror Compendium Cabaret of Dread. Of course half of these are Prediction drabbles but they'll be acting as wicked teases in-between the full-length short stories.

It took a while to decide which pieces should go in this first of two volumes - very difficult not to pick out my favourites! But chosen they are, and the order too. The cover is ready. Now all I need to do is prepare the front matter, the table of contents and acknowledgements before a final edit sweep.

Very excited now!

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Thank you for sticking with the Prediction while I was having to take some 'personal time'. Your support is much appreciated.

I found the words quite trying, I must confess so was particularly impressed with what you came up with. And so... my winner is Dion Winton-Polak's classic horror Darwin's Mirror. I found this beautifully-written vignette absolutely riveting, my heart shuddered in fear and sadness. Congratulations Dion - a stunning write.

Runner-up is Sandra Davies. Red Magic evoked a sensation of Victorian occult theatricals, and I was totally absorbed. Great penning. Well done Sandra.

Words for 02 March 2012

Oof; this old book is getting heavy! Or perhaps my strength is failing. What will my fingers find, I wonder...

• Negotiate
• Cleanse
• Cage

Are you ready? Go!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 8th March 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 9th March. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

The South East of England is swathed in fog right now, a perfect horror setting. What will creep from your mists...?

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Thank you for understanding that I was unable to comment on entries this week (see my final comment last night if you missed it). You're a wonderful, talented group and I am always so proud that this growing community takes the time to not only enter the weekly Prediction challenge but to read, give feedback and support to each other.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Despite not being able to comment, I did read everyone's entries and my, were they varied with a particularly grizzly feel. Nothing wrong with that!

My winner this week is S. K. Adams with Whips .N.Chains. The first of many tales of revenge, but that final line - "...what was that damned safe word?" has chilled me all week. Consistently good writing over the weeks, it's always a wicked pleasure to read Shaun's short snaps of horror. Congratulations Shaun!

I have two runners-up - and they are both new to the Prediction!

Phantasmogoric's untitled entry was 'riddled' with deliciously disturbing description and I loved the gore, detritus and deity invoked. Perfect.

Tina's work-a-day tale Riddle shows promise with a full-scale novel-bound murderer. I really enjoy stories where reality becomes warped by terrifying events, and this is a great example of that.

Well done Phantasmogoric and Tina. More please!

Words for 24 February 2012

Quick fingers, do your walking...

• Mandarin
• Assemble
• Spume

Blimey - toughies there. But I know you'll rise to the challenge.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 1st March 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 2nd March. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

I learned a lesson this week, that I thought I already knew: never judge a book by its cover. Can you trick me with the words from your book...?

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Apologies for the lateness of today's post. School half-term means snatched time here and there - even moreso than full-time work! But my little gorgeous girl comes first - sorry!

Now I'm a blub of tears - an old Soul girl - I've been listening to a new complication of tracks whilst I cooked up some Poulet Basquaise, all of which I already possess over and over on (original) vinyl, tape, CD and MP3. So -"Give Me Just A Little More Time" and I shall become Chair(wo)man of the Feardom Board - vaguely organised. If you're under 40 - forget what I've said.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

New Predictioneers will not be familiar with her writing but R.S. (Rebecca) Bohn's writing sends me - every time. I'm so glad she dipped in to the Feardom's Prediction challenge this week, for her beguiling and disturbing piece Heiress is my winner. Congratulations Rebecca - an exquisite experience from your pen.

Forgive me, but I cannot decide on a runner-up this week. There are four that make me tremble in completely different  ways which just shows the overwhelming talent here, and I don't thing it's fair to split the vote. Apologies - if you have read all the entries I'm sure you all understand.

Words for 17 February 2012

I'm slipping my fingers into the dictionary's pages - ooh, it's tight tonight. Here we go...

• Riddle
• Hook
• Venus

May your synapses glisten.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 23rd February 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 24th February. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

If your lethargy is getting you down, look out the window. Whether you see an apartment block or an open field - study the finest detail, become awed, write about ants, or dust, or murder...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

I'm having a Banshee moment. I caught something on BBC4 about Siouxsie Sioux and have been thrown into a whipped-up sea of reminiscence.

I can't count how many times I saw this extraordinary woman perform. I love everything about her - her look, her voice and lyrics but perhaps most of all her determination to be herself in a very greedy and narrow-minded music business. Hail Siouxsie Sioux!

(Oh and I'll always remember getting thrown out of a friend's parents' snooty Golf Club dinner/dance for my personal performance of Mad-Eyed Screamer back in Siouxsie's Creatures days. It made my, and the DJ's night.)

Talking of highly-talented women, please don't forget to read the incredible dark fiction in this month's FEBRUARY FEMMES FATALES showcase. Several Predictioneers are sharing their work and would love your feedback.

And Gentlemen, just because the showcase pieces are written by women it doesn't mean the stories are only for women - please dip in and support your fellow writers. You can flip back through the posts here on the Feardom, or go to the FFF page where the posts are listed in date order as they go live.

Thank you!

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

A healthy pot-load of Prediction entries last week despite that 'mangle' word! We have one - my hubby uses it for print-making.

I've read and re-read your wonderful words - even with fewer entries than the previous weeks it doesn't make it any easier to chooser a winner. But the job is done:

My winner is Jack Holt with the atmospheric and intriguing vignette Fallout. This strange nameless woman and the even stranger location stayed in my mind for days. Is this a derelict casino? And what is she about to do? Do tell. Oh, and congratulations!

Runner-up, with Big Boys Don't Cry is AJ Humpage. The vivid description of this horrendous accident is so powerful you can smell the carnage. Well done AJ.

Words for 10 February 2012

I've rambled on for England so I'll make this quick...

This week's words are:

• Conserve 
• Hare
• Crucify

(All verb and noun forms accepted on the first and last words).

Good luck!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 16th February 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 17th February. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it. Do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - we all appreciate it.

Slide down your Helter Skelter and finger some great fiction. I want to be left Spellbound...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

As we teeter on the edge of "will it snow, or won't it?" all I can think about it is locking myself into a cosy sitting-room in front of a roaring fire and writing, writing, writing. Alas - this isn't going to happen!

And so life goes on.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

We owe John Xero huge applause for taking the time to comment on the truly varied entries over the last two weeks. I offer my personal thanks to him for holding the fort while I wasn't quite myself (make of that what you will) - I'm on the mend now - but thank you John!

Over to our guest judge...

"Wow... this is not easy. And you do this every week? How? ;)

There were some really creepy characters, chilling moments, shudder-worthy descriptions. But my winner has to be the piece that had them all...

Tiptoe by Dion Winton-Polak

Some great descriptions, with little touches like the Tchaikovsky and her mind pirouetting on into the future that really round it out. A horror in itself and for its reflection of the real world. Brilliant.

My runner-up was a close contender for the top spot too, and much gnashing of teeth there was in deciding.

Revolution by Phil Ambler

For a depth of description you rarely see in under a hundred words, for capturing a scene and a moment so wholly. Impressive writing."

And there we have it. Congratulations Dion and Phil!

Words for 03 February 2012

Here we go...

• Mangle
• Penalty
• Dice

What can you do with these naughty little'uns?

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 9th February 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced on Friday 10th February. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Get those frozen fingers walking. Your pages are blank and begging for your words. And so am I...

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction - On a Sunday!

What a monster this last ten days have been! Thank you all for your patience and wonderful support of each other. Unfortunately the infection is still stopping me from being able to breathe/sleep properly, and just when I think I'm on the mend, I plummet.

And as many of you might have noticed, Blogger is behaving like a spoilt bitch at the moment. I've been trying to comment on your mind-blowing entries all weekend and have been repeatedly thrown out or 'put on hold.' Just as I reached Reba's (RR Kovar) post this evening Blogger put up the barriers. I couldn't 'Reply'; I could add no more Comments.

I couldn't hold on any longer - HAD to announce the winner and post the new words, so my apologies to Reba, Michael, Tony, Phil, Kim, John, Nathaniel, MuckieDuckie, David and Asuqi - I have read all your entries, but it looks like commenting is rightly f*cked.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge
... and Guest Judge of the New One!

You are all astounding storytellers. Your imaginations have really run riot and I don't believe The Feardom has ever seen such a frenzy of fiction and poetry. Thank you, one and all for giving me such pleasure (I won't deny the self-indulgence.)

My winner - and the Predictioneer to judge your entries over the next TWO weeks (more later) is John Xero with the terrifyingly visual Testimony. John, I just loved how you threw us straight into the horror - and then, good God - made it worse! I actually gagged at the penultimate line then drifted into oblivion with the dreamy quality of the last.

Congratulations!! If you'd like to contact me I'll email you back about the judging side of things.

Every entry could be a runner-up but this week I'm choosing Rosie Smith-Nazilli's disturbing tale of familial massacre, Slaughter. A shocking and superbly-written glimpse into a dreadful state of war. Well done Rosie!

Words for 22 January 2012

Finally. Due to my mucking everyone about this week. my commitments and my health I'm extending the entry period for this challenge until Thursday 2nd February.

So with no more ado here are the new words:

• Follow
• Ballet
• Organ

All forms and tenses are acceptable for these words.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have until 9pm UK time on Thursday 2nd February 2012 to enter.

The winner will be announced by our Guest Judge John Xero on Friday 3rd February. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Good luck John! We're all behind you.

___________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

I may be a bit quiet for the next six weeks. I wrote over 10,000 words towards the novel this week and want to bury myself in finishing it.

Today is the deadline for entries to February Femmes Fatales 2012 - which is very exciting! - but it's a lot of work so please bear with me.

Thrillers Killers 'n' Chillers is receiving some wonderful horror fiction, including some crackers from Predictioneers - and I will be spending time scheduling these for posting over the next couple of months.

As you can see, I am somewhat committed time-wise (and need to go to work every day too!) So don't worry - I haven't disappeared.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

And the winner of last week's challenge is... me! No, only kidding.

My (genuine) winner with his trademark, excellent use of dialogue is David Barber and The Package. This was a really powerful excerpt from, hopefully, something bigger. I often think Dave's work lends itself to scriptwriting - is that a consideration Dave? Either way, many congratulations!

Runner-up this week is Amber Taitague (MuckieDuckie) with the gloriously macabre Party Guest. I thought the twists in this piece uncoiled really well as we discovered the truth about Marie. Well done Amber!

Words for 13 January 2012

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: whoever wins this week's challenge gets to judge the following week! Don't let that put you off, on the contrary.

UPDATE 19 JANUARY: Please accept my sincere apologies. I've been very poorly all week and been off work. I am going to postpone my comments and announcing the winner/judge - as well as the new Predicition words - until Saturday 21st or Sunday 22nd. I hope you'll forgive me, fine friends. Thank you.

So what are we dealing with here?:

• Evacuate
• Ruby
• Blade

A colourful challenge, methinks.

Rules

Note: if you prefer you can now add your comments as a Reply to each other's individual entries. Please include their name in your reply though, as anyone subscribed by email simply gets your user name and your comment THROUGH. Thank you!

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 19th January 2012 to enter.

Winner - and the guest judge - will be announced on Friday 20th January. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Let's start the year in the most wicked way you can think of... Fiction only - of course.

_________________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

A record number of Prediction Challenge entries for the first week of 2012! Well done everyone.

I hope you all have a successful writing year and that it brings you good health and happiness. It's not just me - but there seems to be a shift this year, in attitudes and intentions. Not your usual New Year's resolutions but a general feeling of 'I'm not putting up with this anymore' and of taking more control of our own futures. Like Ttofee's victim in last week's challenge, a finger up to the world that tries to tell us what to do.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

I feel as though you have all beaten me around the head with pens, pencils, quills and a multitude of digits. How will I ever choose a winning entry from this amazing, brilliantly-written lot...?

But I have.

My winner is Aidan Fritz with the chilling, post-virus tale Daredevil. It really got into my bones and I loved the delivery and language. Congratulations Aidan!

I have two runners-up because I truly could not choose between them. First runner-up is Nathaniel Tower with Late Nights and Bloody Knuckles - lots of gasp-making twists in this gruesome story. Joint runner-up is Mr Col Bury himself with AGAIN. I was blown away by the telling of this tale and reactions of the killer; horribly disturbing. Well done both!

Words for 06 January 2012

• London
• Sham
• Collect
  (Collection/Collector etc and all forms/tenses of the verb are acceptable)

Enjoy getting your synapses around those.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 12th January 2012 to enter.

Winner will be announced on Friday 13th January (what a day!) If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Let's start the year in the most wicked way you can think of... Fiction only - of course.

_________________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Now that the neighbours have stopped partying at 7am I'll attempt to get my brain in gear which, unlike theirs is stone-cold-sober but very, very tired. Thank you guys. 

However, not to be discombobulated I shall persevere, submit the Love story I've written (don't laugh - it's in a Lily Childs flavour) and write a synopsis on something else. Deadlines are tomorrow.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

Firstly, I want to thank everyone that has taken part in the Challenge this year, and taken the time to comment and support each other in our little community of Predictioneers. The quality of writing is consistently outstanding and I just want to read more of your work! I can't count the number of times we've said of each others' entries "this needs expanding" or similar. 

I so wish I could afford to set up my own Small Press and publish you all - but that lottery win never happens. In the meantime, I wish you all a very successful 2012 for your writing - and when you're all best-selling superstar authors don't forget to pop in and give us a Prediction from time to time.

On to winners...

Hell. I wish I'd chosen one of you to guest judge - this is a killer.

As we had two weeks to write I'm being naughty and choosing two winners and two-runners up. I hope that doesn't dilute the wins.

Congratulations to my final winners of 2011 Anthony Cowin for the savage horror Apron Strings and John Xero for the epic and powerful Warsmith. Both absolutely stunning.

The runner-up shields go to Charlie Wade for the best twist I've read in ages in The Perils of Washing Up and Dion Winton-Polak for his extraordinarily beautiful and tragic poem Salvation. Very well done both.

Words for 30 December 2011

I swear this old book is getting heavier - oof. My fingers are ready:

• Knuckle
• Connection
• Dial

Right. A challenge indeed.

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have the whole week until 9pm UK time on Thursday 5th January 2012 to enter.

Winner will be announced on Friday 6th January. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

A very Happy New Year to you all. Charge your pens - I await your creations...

_________________________________________

Lily's Friday Prediction

Love it or loathe it, Predictioneers are about to get a Christmas gift - that of TIME itself!

It's a double-edged sword, this time thing - I'm figuring that most of us will be in a semi-frantic state in the lead-up to Yule and beyond - so writing will take a back seat. But then afterwards - we'll have relaxing, extra time when writing will be tickling and teasing us, desperate to pour out. So... I'm giving you TWO WEEKS to enter the penultimate Friday Prediction Challenge of 2011.

Winner of Last Week's Prediction Challenge

The Institution overwhelmed us this week, I feel. And so it should - it provoked some incredible visions and brilliantly-crafted entries.

My winner, with that dangerous sicko Harker is AJ Humpage's cold and terrifying Viewing Room. The cruelty this creature is capable of absolutely petrifies me - but I can't leave it alone. Congratulations AJ!

Two runners-up; aesthetic and twisted, Stu Ayris's untitled entry is a vicious and clever attack on our conscience whilst David Barber's The Game is terrifying in the murderer's normalcy. Well done both!

Words for 16 December 2011

Here you go then - two weeks to write whatever you want (though please - have some respect - keep it dark and disturbing):

• Apron
• Lash
• Grail

Little but pokey!

Rules

The rules are: 100 words max flash fiction or poetry using all of the words above. Please add your entries in the Comments box below. You have two whole weeks until 9pm UK time on Thursday 29th December to enter.

Winner will be announced on Friday 30th December. If you can, please tweet about your entry, using the #fridayflash hashtag, and blog if you feel like it.

Release the Christmas spirit - mine's a Vodka and Russchian please - and imbibe on inspiration...

_________________________________________