Hello, friends.

As many of you know, I live near the worst of this in Washington state. My county has the highest number of deaths in the U.S., but no cases have been reported in our town yet. Mr. Rascal and I are observing all the distancing guidelines and are practicing strict sanitizing protocols. We’ll get through this.

All my best to everyone here. Thank you for your patience with submission verification as we all tend to more pressing matters in our lives right now.

From their website:

“Timeworn Literary Journal welcomes unpublished historical fiction submissions in English under 5,000 words. They should be set before 1996, rooted in history and voice-driven.

We're looking for ‘Historical Fiction from the fringe.’ Work with a bend toward the surreal, the dream-like, the strange. The offbeat kind of story that settles into your heart long after reading. That said, we also value beauty and warmth and a generally well-written story with soul. Romance, Mystery, Crime and the Gothic are all acceptable. Speculative elements strongly encouraged.”

Details here:

https://www.timewornlit.com/submit

I wonder if anyone has heard anything about the eBook we were going to put together called the Dirty Martini Anthology. That simply disappeared from our consciousness didn't it?

<img src="/images/emoticons/icon_flower.gif" alt="flower">

It didn’t so much disappear as it was pushed aside by some items of major importance in my personal life. I’m still keen on the idea if others are interested.

<img src="/images/emoticons/icon_geek.gif" alt="geek">

Thanks for the good info, Keith. In my circle of family and friends, we’re big believers in herd immunity. <img src="/images/emoticons/icon_thumleft.gif" alt="thumbright">

All of the submission calls can be found here:

https://www.authorspublish.com/21-themed-submissions-calls-for-october-2019/

I've updated the first post with links to all the stories posted so far in the challenge, and included a link to the backtoschool tag , so they will be easy to find.

Thanks to everyone, they're all great and each one is distinctly different. So much fun to read!

Thank you, Gypsy! <img src="/images/emoticons/icon_thumleft.gif" alt="thumbright">

Challenge Champ badges have been awarded to participating writers as of Sept. 28.

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this site since I started writing my first story. I'm happy to hear what you think about it. If you're interested, It's called The Queen of Back Bay, a story about a student who has an eccentric uncle. I can't seem to make links in here, so tips on that appreciated as well!

I can usually be found in Brockton or Cambridge, Massachusetts, but online I have a number of locations:

Website:dbennettfinearts.com

Facebook: DarrenRobertBennett

Instagram: @d.bennettfinearts

Thanks for reading!

Darren


Welcome to Stories Space, Darren! <img src="/images/emoticons/hello.gif" alt="hello2">

Once you reached 20 forum posts, you’ll be able to include links and upload images. This requirement was put in place to deter spammers. Our Games and Word Play forums are great places to increase your post count, or stop by the Break Room for some casual conversation.

Thanks, Gypsy, this will be a fun challenge!

Participants meeting all the requirements set forth will receive a Challenge Champ badge.

https://upload.storiesspace.com/1738598434-gold medal.png
(Medal depicted is not the actual badge)

Any member may post a writing prompt or challenge (no more than one per week, please).

Writing Prompts may take many forms. For example:

• Write a paragraph about your childhood
• Write a haiku about today's weather
• Tell a story about a photograph (you must have taken the photo yourself or have the photographer's permission to post a photo prompt)
• Write a story that must include specific items or phrases

Prompts do not require that whatever is written be submitted and published here, although they certainly may be if the author wishes. The idea is simply to provide a creative spark. No badge is offered for following a writing prompt.

Challenges should have a set of guidelines, including a tag or title requirement that will enable us to keep track of participating submissions. Pieces written in response to a challenge must be submitted for publication. Participants will receive a Challenge Champ badge that displays the number of challenges completed.

If a writing prompt or challenge is found to be inappropriate, it may be revised or removed.

Please contact me with questions or comments.

https://www.storiesspace.com/magnificent1rascal

Thanks, Anna – this is a great challenge! Those who complete it will receive a Challenge Champ badge.

Have you found them? Don’t worry, most people can’t on the first try.  They’re there, all right, but only reveal themselves to those who are ready to believe, to accept, to embrace.  Close your eyes and open your mind. Clear away the prejudices, fears and preconceptions. Suspend your skepticism. Relax and let all your senses — even those you don’t fully perceive or comprehend, and may...

Added 02 Mar 2019 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 533 | 12 Comments

Sipping dirty martinis Watching girls in bikinis And strumming on my Les Paul Albert King ambles through Riffs ‘I’ll Play the Blues for You’ Man, I really got it all CHORUS It’s a dream vacation No place I’d rather be Yeah, a dream vacation Not sure where I’m at But it suits me Checking out pics From my Exakta 66 Can’t believe what I see Don’t remember all those Sometimes, that’s how it goes...

Added 07 Oct 2018 | Category Songs | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 551 | 10 Comments

  MARTIN HANDED A MUG of fresh coffee to Jane and slid into the seat opposite her at the breakfast table, pausing a moment before he spoke. “Jane, I need to ask you something.” Caught off guard by the statement, she slopped a little of the steaming liquid. “You always do that when I’m holding a drink,” she chided gently, dabbing the spill with a napkin. Her lighthearted tone belied...

Added 13 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 395 | 7 Comments

  THE CALENDAR TAUNTED JANE, its little yellow-highlighted square outlined in a bold red stroke mocking her lack of progress. ‘You’re going to miss the deadline, you know. I’m just six weeks away now,’ it scoffed. ‘Whatever made you apply for that fellowship anyhow, and what could the panel have been thinking when they gave it to you? You’re no writer; you’ve proven that over the past...

Added 12 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 518 | 7 Comments

Note: This compilation occurred to me more than a year ago. In fact, the reason I logged on to Facebook on March 14, 2017, was to reach out to Alan and propose that we combine our efforts, merging his Colorado Calling and my Jersey Rejoicing into one poem. Instead, I learned that morning of Alan's passing a few days earlier. It threw me for a loop, and the idea got pushed to the back of...

Added 17 Mar 2018 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 595 | 6 Comments

  1. NaIgnoNaNoWriMo: Just ignore all the NaNoWriMo hoopla and hype. Pretend you didn’t read this or anything else about the writing frenzy that occurs every November. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s almost impossible to ignore NaNoWriMo anymore. But you can say you did. I promise not to tell anyone otherwise. 2. NaNanoWriMo: In the short time remaining, craft some kick-ass nano fiction....

Added 30 Nov 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 2 | Avg Score 5 | Views 809 | 2 Comments

You always did like surprise endings, A twist no one could see coming, And that last one of yours was a doozy. Days later, we're still reeling, Not from the shock, which dissipates, But from a grief that lingers. You probably never knew The regard people held you in, For it seemed to sneak up As we chatted and laughed About topics big and small. Our esteem grew Alongside your virtual...

Added 17 Mar 2017 | Category Poetry | Votes 21 | Avg Score 5 | Views 965 | 11 Comments

The president is doing great Only a fool would think Otherwise Most everyone believes We should trust him There is no cause for concern But some are saying The country is in danger People are scared Nothing could be further from the truth Everything is going to be fine Now read from the bottom up… * * * © 2017 by M.P. Witwer • All rights reserved    ...

Added 15 Feb 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 14 | Avg Score 5 | Views 857 | 15 Comments

There was a crooked man Who ran a crooked race [1] And with his crooked words, Put opponents in their place He chopped them down, one by one ’Til a single foe remained On merit, she’d win handily, So he painted her with disdain [2] This shameless huckster’s style Is totally ‘in your face’ At any time in memory, It would have brought him great disgrace But that isn’t how it happened, Not...

Added 16 Jan 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 930 | 8 Comments

1. NaNO!WriMo: Do not write anything — not a single word — for 30 days. The challenge is tougher than it might seem. 2. NaDoWriMo: Chronicle every episode of The Simpsons in which Homer exclaims, "D'oh!" This, of course, requires watching every episode of The Simpsons. Not a bad way to spend the month. 3. NaSloWriMo: Writing shouldn't be a race. Take it slowly, savoring the...

Added 05 Nov 2016 | Category Humor | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 827 | 8 Comments

When a noted writer hits the wall with her current project, she heads to the beach to concentrate on her work, but instead finds a charming distraction. This award-winning short story (approximately 4,500 words) has been called “magnificently well-crafted,” “clever,”...

A timely tale of just 2,300 words, “Lost and Found” is the second story in the Short Tales series, an affectionate look at a few of the pitfalls and mishaps faced by a couple navigating a new romance. Jane and Martin both have past histories: love, loss and unforeseen changes, but...