creativity to grow on

Hello Flames,
Sorry this is almost a day late. Some local lightning knocked our internet out on Sunday night and it wasn't fully restored when I left for work this morning.

For week two, RicoChey challenged us to explore the choice between brilliance and ignorance or to find inspiration in the synopsis,

"For the ailing patient, intelligence is a miserable burden."

How brilliant were our writers? Judge for yourself.

Reading List:

Title: none
Author: hwango
Word Count: 637
Warnings: nope.

Title: The Burden of Intelligence
Author: Shane Bell
Word Count: 2130
Warnings: Drug use.

Vote Here

Good morning, Flames!
Our July contest is almost over. The only thing left to do is read our week four entries for "The beginnings of all things are small."

I hope you had fun writing with us this month. We truly enjoyed having you. Hopefully, you are already cooking up plots for RicoChey's first August challenge. (There was no sign-up so you can jump WRITE in.)

Be sure you invite your friends to read with us and write with us. The more contestants that turn out, the more opportunities for challenge we will have.

Remember to share feedback with your fellow writers. Being voted for is nice, but most of us also want to know how our writing appealed to another - be it our wordplay, our imagination, or choice in character. Talk to each other - share some #commentlove - this is a community to promote growth in creativity and craft.

Your reading list awaits.

Title: it starts small in all directions
Author: alethessa
Word Count: 109 or 211
Warnings: domestic violence implied in one direction of reading

Title: Lunch
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 400
Warnings: none

Title: Prophesied
Author: Bibi Nafeeza Yusuf
Word Count: 400
Warnings: none

Title: From small beginnings
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 317
Warnings: no warnings

Title: Germ
Author: Kathy Boles-Turner
Word Count: 336
Warnings: Experimental; Creative Nonfiction; A Judgment On Humankind

Title: The Text
Author: Kristina Van Hoose
Word Count: 399
Warnings: None

Title: The Camel
Author: Shane Bell
Word Count: 400
Warnings: Severe Language

Title: No. My Birthday.
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 341
Warnings: emotional trigger: abuse

VOTE HERE

Good morning, writers and readers of the Flame!
Last week's reading submissions were excellent. Thank you to all the writers who submitted and to everyone who joined in to read and give the writers feedback. Voter turnout was amazing! It resulted in a tie between Kristina Van Hoose and Shane Bell. Shane won the dance-off vote-off, but now we know there are those with the power to defeat him. Keep an eye on your six, Shane.

We have a new writer joining us this week. Everyone say hi to Bibi! And in case we missed it last week (because I was half asleep) let's extend a welcome to Sonya, Kristina Van Hoose, and Heather who wrote with us the first time on "Knothole". So glad to have you join us :)

Let's get down to it, shall we? The writing topic for the following entries was "Doll's Eyes" and our writers were limited to a max word count of 200. Everyone had the opportunity to submit two entries and there was no (timely) sign-up post so submissions were open to any and all.

Once you've read through the submissions, be sure to share some #commentlove. Just keep your feedback kind and constructive. If you have trouble commenting on anyone's post, you are welcome to leave your comment here and we will pass it on.
Vote for as many entries as you like, but keep in mind we can have only one winner.

Your reading list awaits:

Title: Stare
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 200
Warnings: none

Title: A Lonely Pain
Author: Bibi Nafeeza Yusuf
Word Count: 194
Warnings: none

Title: Babies
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 183
Warnings: hurt/pain'/madness

Title: Life?
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 197
Warnings: none

Title: Doll's Eyes
Author: Heather
Word Count: 201
Warnings: Hints at child abuse

Title: The Eyes
Author: Kathy Boles-Turner
Word Count: 198
Warnings: creative nonfiction

Title: Doll's Eyes
Author: Kristina Van Hoose
Word Count: 192
Warnings: Not sure if it needs saying, but it discusses kidnapping

Title: Celestial Lullaby
Author: quil_quirks
Word Count: 17
Warnings: none

Title: The Doll's Eyes
Author: Shane Bell
Word Count: 200
Warnings: suggestive themes

Title: Doll's Lament
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 133
Warnings: feelings of loss and abandonment

Title: Good Girl Days
Author: Sonya Oldwin
Word Count: 100
Warnings: mature

Title: Too Close To Home
Author: Sonya Oldwin
Word Count: 100
Warnings: implied mutilation

Vote Here

Good morning, Flamefolk!

Pencils down was called a few short hours ago and we have six hearty submissions to read and comment on. Let's see how our writers wielded the prompt for "What is Reality?"

Be sure to welcome our newest writer Shane Bell. He's a personal friend of mine from the real world and has been writing as a hobby for decades.

Your reading list:

Title: Connections
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 3,103
Warnings: None

Title: I am Ilya, we have met, perhaps?
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 1,850
Warnings: None

Title: The Saga of the Song Drifter
Author: Cedar Wolfsinger
Word Count: 4,533
Warnings: Car wreck/medically induced coma/rehab

Title: REALITY: A Poetry Collection
Author: Kathy/darlinleo
Word Count:1,060
Warnings: Weird little poems

Title: Untitled
Author: hwango
Word Count: 2,373
Warnings: mild language, violence, child death, and misfortune. Not my usual sunshine and whimsy.

Title: Aether Geist
Author: Shane Bell
Word Count: 4,868
Warnings: adult situations, references to drug use, sexual references, profanity.

The polls close by 11:45pm on Saturday, May 30 (EDT).
There can be only one winner, but we won't limit the number of votes allotted.

Remember when you are voting to consider how well the writer has met the criteria given.

Be sure to spread some comment love, let your fellow writers know they are appreciated. If it's an off-site blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some [constructive] public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

#govoteflames and don't forget the #commentlove

Voting Poll

Ho Flames! What cheer?

We are down to the third Act, the final scenes of retaliation, recovery, and revelation. RicoChey inspired us with another quote of the Bard - "The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose."

This was taken from The Merchant of Venice, Act I, Scene III and was spoken by Antonio against the money lender Shylock. [ASIDE] Another instance of Shakespeare influencing our modern language. Shylock is now used as a slang term for loan sharks that charge impossible interest rates and are ruthless in their pursuit of repayment. Prior to Shakespeare's use of it, the word or name shylock had never been heard.[]

In the scene, Shylock is rationalizing his profession by making an example to Antonio on why interest should be due the money lender and retells a story from the Bible to make his point. Antonio, who professes to never lend money for the purpose of gaining a profit, says his piece about the devil to his friend Bassanio directly after. Thus begins the drama in The Merchant of Venice which erupts around a cultural conflict that was highly discussed in Shakespeare's time.

Where did our writers find their conflict? Was it personal, cultural, internal? Let's slip in to find out.

Your reading list:

Title: Ilya's story.
Author: bluegerl
Words 1995.
Warnings. I suppose. It is a gangster story.

Title: Cite the Dying
Author: Kathy/darlinleo
Word Count: 265
Cento Poetry

Title: Willa the Wisp Act 3
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 744
Warnings: none

Title: The Devil You Never Consider
Author: jlly_Tami
Word Count: 2,680
Warnings: None

JFF

Title: A King Falls.
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 712
Warnings: a death, of course.

The polls close by 11:45pm on Wednesday (EDT).
With this competition the goal is to write a four part story, so we will suspend weekly eliminations and choose the best, complete work that meets the three acts and an epilogue criteria at the end of the month. There will be a poll each week to provide feedback for the writer on how well received their story was, but the votes that choose a winner will not happen until May 1st.

Remember when you are voting to consider how well the writer has met the criteria given.

The contest is now closed to new competitors, but we encourage any latecomers to submit as JFF if their inner bard is provoked by a prompt.

Be sure to spread some comment love, let your fellow writers know they are appreciated. If it's an off-site blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some [constructive] public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

VOTING POLL

Happy April, Flamefolk!

RicoChey is hosting our themes for the month of April and has challenged us to write a four part play or story over the course of the month. For Week One, Act I she has 'roused us with a quote from Hamlet -
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be." These words were spoken by Ophelia in her grief-wrought ramblings - when everyone thought her mad - and yet the phrase seems so very wise.



Did our writers find it to be wisdom, folly, or something altogether ethereal? Now is your time to decide.

Your reading list:

Title: Growth
Author: ayumidah
Word count: 552
Warnings: none

Title: I know who I am...
Author: bluegerl
Word count: 790 appr.
Warnings: nil.

Title: Know Me
Author: Kathy/darlinleo
Word Count: 152
Warnings: none
Genre: Cento Poetry

Title: Willa the Wisp Act 1
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 707
Warnings: none
Genre: supernatural/adventure

Title: A Stranger Comes To Call
Author: jlly_Tami
Word Count: ~1,500
Warnings: none so far
Genre: science fiction

JFF

Title: I am King tonight.
Author: bluegerl
Word count: 340
Warnings: not really

The polls close by 11:45pm on Wednesday (EDT).
With this competition the goal is to write a four part story, so we will suspend weekly eliminations and choose the best, complete work that meets the three acts and an epilogue criteria at the end of the month. There will be a poll each week to provide feedback for the writer on how well received their story was, but the votes that choose a winner will not happen until May 1st.

Additionally, we'd like to tighten things up around the competition. Typically when we click our vote it is after deciding which story(ies) we enjoyed the most. This month when you are voting, also consider how well the writer has met the criteria given or worked in the weekly prompt. Though we want everyone to be creatively inspired, we also hope to improve our skills as writers by practicing with different forms and writing outside of our comfort zones.

The contest is now closed to new competitors, but we encourage any latecomers to submit as JFF if their inner bard is provoked by a prompt.

Be sure to spread some comment love, let your fellow writers know they are appreciated. If it's an off-site blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some [constructive] public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

VOTING POLLS

Good morning, Flames!

We have started a new month's contest, hosted by our own darlinleo. For week one she has asked us to write about our own "Local Color". I'm eager to read your submissions on this one. I had a devil of time getting started on mine and then ran out of time once I finally got going. I'm glad to see that the rest of you had no such trouble.

Be sure to give a warm welcome to our new writer Flammarionn. We are glad to have you writing with us!

Here's the reading list:

Title: Life Author
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 237
Warnings: none

Title: The Death of Marilyn Monroe
Author: Bardiphouka
Word Count: 208
Warnings: none

Title: Hometown
Author: Bluegerl
Word Count: 340
Warnings: none

Title: Rail by rail, till it is lost in fleeces
Author: Flammarionn
Word Count: 562
Warnings: none

Title: The Colors of the Season
Author: cedarwolfsinger
Word Count: 571
Warnings: none

Title: Reclining on the balcony
Author: missflyer
Word Count: 145
Warnings: none

Get your reading done early and cast your votes by 11:45pm on Wednesday. This will be the new fixed day for voting deadlines on regular contests. It will help us determine who moves into the next round early enough in the week for the contestants to act. For the March week one prompt we will not need to vote to eliminate, just appreciate. For that reason, you have three votes to cast.

Don't forget to drop a note to your fellow writers to let them know they are appreciated. If it's an off-site blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

VOTING POLL

Well hey there, Pilgrims -

Join me by the fire. We'll sit a spell and spin a yarn or two. I brought marshmallows.

This list is made up of submissions written for the drabble prompt -

Heart-shaped Paper

Title: First Sight
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: 4 things about love
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 100
Warnings: 1 swear word

Title: Paper
Author: missflyer
Word Count: 99
Warnings: none

Title: Just
Author: RicoChey
Word Count: 100
Warnings: PG, brief violence

Title: Untitled
Author: cedarwolfsinger
Word Count: 69
Warnings: none

The voting will not be open all week, so get your reading done early and cast your votes by 11:45pm on Thursday. There will be only one winning drabble, but we'll give you three votes to weigh in with the other readers.

Don't forget to drop a note to your fellow writers to let them know they are appreciated. If it's an off-site blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

VOTING POLL

Guten tag mein Flamen!

Welcome to the first reading list of our drabble extravaganza.
Let's welcome the return of bluegerl after her few months hiatus and embrace our returning friend balloonhat with joy.
I'm happy to see all of the submissions. I've been receiving notice of them dropping in all week and each alert made me smile. Let's dive in!

This list is made up of submissions written for the drabble prompt - Curiouser & curiouser.

Title: Onward
Author: amri
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none really

Title: Abrupt
Author: ayumidah
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Curiosity's Toll
Author: Balloonhat
Word Count: 100
Warnings: None really? I warn you that it's been years since I wrote anything. Pardon the rustiness.

Title: Curiouser and Curiouser
Author: bardiphouka "bardi"
Word Count: 98
Warnings: none

Title: People
Author: darlinleo
Word Count: 99
Warnings: none

Title: This Curious Life
Author: missflyer
Word Count: 90
Warnings: none

Title: The Rare Ould Times
Author: RicoChey
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Hearts Desire
Author: urb-banal
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Escape
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Breathe
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Curious: What they want you to think (don’t listen)
Author: skyllairae
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: The Thinker.
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: The Little Girl.
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Curioser and curioser.
Author: bluegerl
Word Count: 100
Warnings: Rating R for... Warning. The Cheshire cat!

Title: Prophecy
Author: cedarwolfsinger
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Insomnia
Author: cedarwolfsinger
Word Count: 100
Warnings: none

Title: Requiem for Miss Ann
Author: cedarwolfsinger
Word Count: 100
Warnings: death of a beloved elder

The voting will not be open all week, so get your reading done early and cast your votes by 11:45pm on Thursday. There will be only one winning drabble, but we'll give you three votes to weigh in with the other readers.

Don't forget to drop a note to your fellow writers to let them know they are appreciated. If it's an offsite blog and you have trouble with commenting, feel free to share your comments here and we'll pass them along. In fact, I encourage you to share some public thoughts below with the community. Let's talk about what we read, together.

We love it when our Embers write, but we also need the community to come together and read what's being submitted. Even if you didn't have time to write this week, please take a few minutes to read and encourage your friends to read as well. Share our fire!

*** VOTING POLL ***