Month: August 2019

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Stonehenge Story Starts: An Important Discovery (Results)

Happy Saturday!  Our writers went on retreat today, so we’re posting a little later in the day than usual.  Today’s story results were all freshly written this afternoon.

This week’s prompt was: “I knew I’d found something crucial when…” (Prompt courtesy of eadeverrell.com)

Three writers wrote for this prompt, including a new author for this blog, Mattias Bergman.

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Karen Blakely

I knew I’d found something crucial when the door seemed to materialize in the wall right next to me. I’d been down this alley several times before and couldn’t remember ever seeing that door. My stepmother would have pointed out that I probably just hadn’t been paying attention the other times; she liked to point out my deficiencies like that.

But this time she would have been wrong. I was — fairly — certain I’d have noticed this door. It wasn’t like the others that looked like utilitarian rear exits into the alley. None of them were meant for customers. This door, however, was definitely trying to coax people in.

It was arched and ornately carved out of some beautiful dark wood that seemed to shimmer in the hot summer sun. There was a bronze plaque on it with the head of a raven emerging from the top. I had to step closer to make out the words engraved on it. I squinted to see past the dazzle of reflected sunlight.

Bookstore

Books for all Tastes and Needs

Welcome

I stopped and stared; the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that this door had not been here two months ago when I’d last walked this way. Could someone really have opened a new bookstore in that short a period of time? And if so, why have the entrance in the alley?

I’d been in lots of bookstores over the years and had read a variety of welcome signs, but Books for all Tastes and Needs was a new one. Especially since the word Needs seemed to be emphasized; the letters slightly larger and cut more deeply into the bronze. And although I made it a habit to never pass up a bookstore if I could help it, for some reason I felt hesitant about entering this one.

Continue reading “Stonehenge Story Starts: An Important Discovery (Results)”

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Stonehenge Story Starts: An Important Discovery (Prompt)

Welcome to Stonehenge Story Starts, a weekly writing prompt and story sharing opportunity.  Each week, we post a writing prompt: an opening line, a concept, a plot hook, maybe an image.  The following Saturday, we’ll post again with the writing the prompt inspired.

This week’s prompt is: “I knew I’d found something crucial when…” (Prompt courtesy of eadeverrell.com)

Our writers will be writing for the prompts, but anyone is welcome to participate!  Just come by on Sunday to see the week’s prompt, write during the week, and send any writing you’d like to share to StonehengeCircleWriters@gmail.com by the following Friday at 8 pm.  On Saturday we’ll post participants’ writing (with credit to the author, of course).

Write as much or as little as you choose: a paragraph, a flash fiction piece (less than 1,000 words) or a short story.  (Note, for long writing, we may choose to post only a selection.)  You are encouraged to be as creative as possible with the writing prompts.  Try to do something unexpected, or explore a particular genre like science fiction or historical fiction.  Take the prompt literally, or decide it’s a metaphor.  Your only limit is your own imagination.

Happy writing!

 

If you like to plan ahead, next week’s prompt will be: Write a story about a magic mirror—what it can do, how it’s used, and who it’s used by (Prompt courtest of @writingprompts)

 

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Confessions of a Lifetime (Results)

We hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

This week’s prompt was: You’re immortal, married to a mortal. Today is the day to come clean. (Prompt courtesy of blog.reedsy.com)

Two of our writers explored this prompt, each taking it somewhat loosely and going in two very different directions!

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Karen Blakely returns to the dragon-shifter she introduced in last week’s post.

I’d always enjoyed being a dragon shifter; an immortal member of the Order of Drakon. I’d never considered the possibility of choosing a mortal as a mate, but the bond had snapped into place the moment I’d set eyes on Nora. I’d despaired that I could lose her in the first desperate days as her fragile body fought to live. I’d rejoiced in her will; her determination to survive, though the doctors had been sure the days of exposure in the desert heat had caused too much damage.

Others in town were furious that I’d brought her here to Dark Seighly. I’d violated the primary rule to hold the town secret. But I hadn’t been willing to lose her. Not once I’d found her.

No one knew what to do with her once it was clear she would survive. But I knew.

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Confession of a Lifetime (Prompt)

Welcome to Stonehenge Story Starts, a weekly writing prompt and story sharing opportunity.  Each week, we post a writing prompt: an opening line, a concept, a plot hook, maybe an image.  The following Saturday, we’ll post again with the writing the prompt inspired.

This week’s prompt is: You’re immortal, and married to a mortal. Today is the day to come clean (Prompt courtesty of blog.reedsy.com)

Our writers will be writing for the prompts, but anyone is welcome to participate!  Just come by on Sunday to see the week’s prompt, write during the week, and send any writing you’d like to share to StonehengeCircleWriters@gmail.com by the following Friday at 8 pm.  On Saturday we’ll post participants’ writing (with credit to the author, of course).

Write as much or as little as you choose: a paragraph, a flash fiction piece (less than 1,000 words) or a short story.  (Note, for long writing, we may choose to post only a selection.)  You are encouraged to be as creative as possible with the writing prompts.  Try to do something unexpected, or explore a particular genre like science fiction or historical fiction.  Take the prompt literally, or decide it’s a metaphor.  Your only limit is your own imagination.

Happy writing!

 

If you like to plan ahead, next week’s prompt will be:  “I knew I’d found something crucial when…” (Prompt courtesy of eadeverrell.com)

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Dragons Overhead (Results)

Happy Saturday!  Today we have two stories for your reading pleasure.

This week’s prompt was: A story involving a dragon.

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Cheryl Mahoney shares a prequel story featuring a character from her upcoming fantasy series.

Xevrix screamed into the stillness.  The sound echoed off the tall trees and the high mountain crags, and a flock of birds in the distance took alarmed flight with shrill cries, their dark shapes disappearing into the murky night sky.

Otherwise, it accomplished nothing at all.

She glowered at the nearest thing in her path, an enormous oak that had probably been rooted in place for a century.  She drew back one hand and launched a fireball straight into the heart of the tree.  It kindled, crackled and in moments was a blazing torch.

It was so satisfying that she would have set another, a third, a dozen on fire—but she could feel her breath catching, her legs quivering, and knew that her reserves of magic were too low for this kind of indulgence.  She wasn’t so blind with rage that it could make her stupid.

She let herself flop down to sit on the ground in front of her flaming oak instead, probably getting dirt on her skirt, and reveled in the fire’s heat and glow, watched the flames lick up from one branch to another.

Xevrix was going to burn Krowyn for stranding her here.  Slowly.  She might make it last for days.  If he thought he could steal all the work they had done together, dump her in the wilderness using part of their findings in a kind of added insult—he would regret it.  She would ensure he regretted it, soon and for every moment that remained of his miserable, severely shortened life.

But first she had to get off of this damn mountain.

Continue reading “Stonehenge Story Starts: Dragons Overhead (Results)”

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Dragons Overhead (Prompt)

Welcome to Stonehenge Story Starts, a weekly writing prompt and story sharing opportunity.  Each week, we post a writing prompt: an opening line, a concept, a plot hook, maybe an image.  The following Saturday, we’ll post again with the writing the prompt inspired.

This week’s prompt is: A story about a dragon

Our writers will be writing for the prompts, but anyone is welcome to participate!  Just come by on Sunday to see the week’s prompt, write during the week, and send any writing you’d like to share to StonehengeCircleWriters@gmail.com by the following Friday at 8 pm.  On Saturday we’ll post participants’ writing (with credit to the author, of course).

Write as much or as little as you choose: a paragraph, a flash fiction piece (less than 1,000 words) or a short story.  (Note, for long writing, we may choose to post only a selection.)  You are encouraged to be as creative as possible with the writing prompts.  Try to do something unexpected, or explore a particular genre like science fiction or historical fiction.  Take the prompt literally, or decide it’s a metaphor.  Your only limit is your own imagination.

Happy writing!

 

If you like to plan ahead, next week’s prompt will be: You’re immortal, and married to a mortal. Today is the day to come clean (Prompt courtesty of blog.reedsy.com)

 

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Solemnly Thunderous Strings (Results)

Happy Saturday!  We hope you’re enjoying some nice summer weather, wherever you’re reading this.  We have one story for you this week, which we hope you’ll enjoy!

This week’s prompt was:

A story using the words “thunderous,” “solemn” and “strings” (Prompt courtesy of @writingprompts)

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Karen Blakely has a follow-up piece to her story of last week, again featuring the heroine of her upcoming novella, Red.

I’d been working on Grandmother’s cottage in the woods for months now, ever since I’d stumbled on it. That’s where I spent most of my days off.

I hadn’t planned to come today, not with the storm coming in. I remembered all too well the first time I’d been here – how the rain came into the bedroom, feeding the moss, further decaying all the organic materials in the room.

I’d planned to stay home where it was warm and dry, but I’d been restless and edgy. I’d finally tired of looking around my living room. It was boring. Sterile. It looked more like a hotel room than the home of a grown woman who’d lived there for nearly five years. Seeing how little I’d done in that space to make it homey like Mom or Grandmother would have made my skin feel too tight.

How could I not have noticed it before? Mom had always accused me of willful blindness. I hadn’t understood what she’d meant by that before, but now, looking around my apartment, I finally got it. I hadn’t wanted to make this look like a home. I was still too resentful of losing Mom, and having to sell our house and most of our possessions to pay her medical bills.

And recognizing that made me feel worse.

That’s what drove me out into the thunderstorm, driving my four-wheel drive SUV deep into the woods, sometimes not sure if I would get stuck in the muddy ruts of the forest service road. But I made it within a couple miles of Grandmother’s house, and hiked the rest of the way.

Continue reading “Stonehenge Story Starts: Solemnly Thunderous Strings (Results)”

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Solemnly Thunderous Strings (Prompt)

Welcome to Stonehenge Story Starts, a weekly writing prompt and story sharing opportunity.  Each week, we post a writing prompt: an opening line, a concept, a plot hook, maybe an image.  The following Saturday, we’ll post again with the writing the prompt inspired.

This week’s prompt is: A story using the words “thunderous,” “solemn” and “strings”

(Prompt courtesy of @writingprompts)

Our writers will be writing for the prompts, but anyone is welcome to participate!  Just come by on Sunday to see the week’s prompt, write during the week, and send any writing you’d like to share to StonehengeCircleWriters@gmail.com by the following Friday at 8 pm.  On Saturday we’ll post participants’ writing (with credit to the author, of course).

Write as much or as little as you choose: a paragraph, a flash fiction piece (less than 1,000 words) or a short story.  (Note, for long writing, we may choose to post only a selection.)  You are encouraged to be as creative as possible with the writing prompts.  Try to do something unexpected, or explore a particular genre like science fiction or historical fiction.  Take the prompt literally, or decide it’s a metaphor.  Your only limit is your own imagination.

Happy writing!

 

If you like to plan ahead, next week’s prompt will be: a story about a dragon.

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Stonehenge Story Starts: Overgrown Room (Results)

We hope you’re enjoying your weekend!  We have two brief, fairy tale-inspired stories for you today in response to our weekly prompt.

This week’s prompt was visual:

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Karen Blakely has another piece featuring the heroine of her upcoming novel, Red.

When I first caught sight of the house, there were no visible signs of damage. I heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of shelter; the storm was nearly upon me. The first drops of rain had just started to fall. At least I had somewhere I could stay dry.

There was something oddly familiar about the house, but I was sure I’d never been there before. It was deep inside the woods, beyond my normal patrol area; in the no-man’s land between where I patrolled and Nick Ratchet’s assigned area.

I knocked, but there was no answer. Instead, the door creaked open under my hand.

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