Good morning all, and thanks for the setup Mr. Bear.

Big snowfall last night, and it snowing pretty hard now. So my day will be shoveling the driveway and sidewalk, and perhaps the neighbors as well, if they haven’t beaten me to it.

Solved the plot problem yesterday, got my thousand words, and should be able to get them today too. Cosmic horror in Iowa cornfields. So far, I like it, but that never lasts long.

Anyway. Coffee would be swell. No treats lately, maybe I will try to bring some. Anyone heard from Cora? Sara? Red?

Seize the carp!

I’m had a rough night with an unusually upset stomach, but I am doing pretty well now.

Hung up on logistical b.s., like 3000 words into the new novel. I’m bummed I’m tripping over plot holes this early into it. The only good thing about being awake feeling nauseous is that you have a lot of time to think about the story.

Anyway. With the able help of Talia and the cats, I am feeling better, and off to write.

A coffee would be swell.

Two more! Too cool! Great comp.

I got nothing this weekend. We might go see that Dylan movie. We might not get past the front door.

Day 2 of novel writing today. It’s pretty boring so far. I will spend the weekend with big sheets of drawing paper look for a coherent plot.

Right now, cat on my lap, Talia on my shoulder. I am content.

Except for my lack of coffee. I need coffee!

Good morning all, and thank you for the setup Ape.

Comp is going strong. Really great set of stories so far. And it’s not over yet!

Back to the writing grind. I didn’t write a huge amount during the holidays (3 flash, 2 micros), but I am on day 2 of a novel now. I don’t have a great track record with finishing novels I start, so I hope this turns out well. I have written three novels, none of them good. Just keep trying.

A coffee and a cookie please!

Okay, I may have had a bit too much to drink last night. I had a Manhattan! Plus champagne and a little bourbon. Good food.

Nice evening though. I am happy heading into 2025. I haven’t written much during the holiday break, but I will write today.

Peace everyone. Coffee would be a dream come true.

Happy New Year’s Eve to everyone (New Year’s Day to Annie!). I hope 2025 treats everyone well.

We have NO plans. Take out Thai food and maybe start season 2 of The Wire (I have seen it before, not Talia). Lazy r us,

Anyone have resolutions? I am going to try to write a horror novel this year. I haven’t figured out the bones of it yet, but I know the general vibe. Cosmic horror in Iowa cornfields.

A coffee and a cookie please!

Quote by WriterGirl

I’m being honest when I say this is the best writing I’ve seen in a comp in a while. Y’all are always good, but the level of writing seems elevated in this one. Maybe this theme just hit everyone in a way that brought out their best. 😊 I hope a lot more entries are coming!

I agree! This is an excellent comp! Not over yet….

Quote by gillianleeza

I hope the movie lives up to the hype. I am tired of being disappointed by movies.

I'm having a hard time dealing with holidays without my mom, and my father now thinks I am his dead sister all of the time. It feels strange, but I am grateful he has adjusted so well to the memory care unit. We thought he would be belligerent and angry and try to leave, but he is calm and docile. I am grateful for that, but it is strange because he was very antagonistic to my brother and me. I'll take it as a win for now.

I am so pleased to see all the comp entries coming in. Now, I need to read them all. However, I have found it difficult to concentrate enough to read all the books I got for Christmas. Stress has gotten in the way of many things.

I hope everyone has a good week and a great start to the new year. Cheers.

It lives up to the hype. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s worth seeing in a theater, all big, without distractions. Ms. Depp is good (and kinda hot).

Oh those memory units, Gill. I feel you. Trippy places. So full of complex emotions, and extremely simple ones too, like love and regret. Someday I will try to set a story inside one. Not sure I have it in me.

So I finished off my writing for the year with three flash and a micro for here and other sites. Most of that I wrote when my knee went out. Nice to know it wasn’t just wasted time.

A coffee please. Any cookies?

Quote by Mendalla

Except it isn't showing as being a comp entry. Did you remember to hit the switch? Weird that Sherzahd didn't notice when approving.

It's good now.

I'm in.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash-fiction/sixteen-minutes

Okay, I'm in. I just submitted. I figured if I sat on it any more I'd just mess it up by over-editing. I went sci-fi on this one. My last story of 2024.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash-fiction/sixteen-minutes

We are off to see Nosferatu today! Almost sold out, we had to get tix in advance. I'm psyched.

Coffee please!

Quote by Mendalla

I know that our dear friend Rump used to advocate against posting on a weekend just due to traffic patterns but I never really did any research to see if it actually worked. Here is probably less of an issue in any case. He had another site in mind.

I did a little research when writing a ton of Flash and found Tuesday is the best day to post, by a slight margin. Friday was the worst.

WG, your story rocks.

Quote by WriterGirl

Loved Wicked!!! I was pleasantly surprised! Let us know how Nosferatu is. I’m seeing it Thursday.

We blew it off in the face of all that laziness (plus the fact that it was selling out). Try again Sunday.

Breakfast with daughter and son today. Then, who knows? The comp entry is ready, but for some reason I don’t like to submit on weekends. Looking forward to reading yours, WG!

Thanks for the setup Ape. I will have a coffee and something sweet.

Lazy lazy days. We have leftovers, we have toys to play with, we have no obligations. I will put the finishing touches on my comp entry, then maybe read any new ones that popped up.

We might go see Nosferatu today. I think we will pass on Wicked, though I am curious. And Babygirl…hmmmm.

No plans for New Year’s. And no plans to get any plans for New Year’s.

Thanks for the coffee Ape.

Thanks for the coffee Ape! I could use it.

Really sweet Christmas this year, hanging out with my daughter and my grandson. He ADORES Talia. And dinner was fab! We brought home lots of leftovers.

I got a fancy Nintendo controller for Christmas, and plan to spend the day playing No Man’s Sky.

Comp is looking good! My entry is done, but I will polish over the weekend.

Merry Christmas and happy Boxing Day!

Okay, I’ve got 1008 words. I will whittle the thing down to size and submit early next week (those last 8 will be like pulling teeth).

Fun entries so far! I’ve read the first 4 entries I think.

Merry Christmas Eve!

We watched Die Hard 2 last night. It was pretty good, though it wasn’t as good as the original. We watch Die Hard 3 tonight. Sam Jackson is in it, so it can’t be too bad, right?

I am halfway through my comp entry. Today will be concluding it before I hit 1000 words. Gonna be tight.

All the Christmas chores are done! Today should be a spectacularly chill day. Merry Christmas Eve everyone! God bless us every one.

Good morning everyone! I love these lazy holiday days. Most of my Christmas stuff is done, and my daughter is doing dinner, so we are chill.

Gonna try and write a comp entry today. I have an idea.

We watched Die Hard last night and have a plan to watch ALL FIVE Die Hard movies this week. Arguing against this plan is my recollection that the other four movies are pretty bad.

That said, the first Die Hard is SO GOOD!

Those cookies look awesome. I will have one and a coffee please.

I am going to work on my entry today. It’s a little weird…

So we went to see the play The Little Mermaid last night. Boy, did I expect to have a bad time. I was tired, and I didn't wat to see a 2 and a half hour long children's play. It was so much fun! Lots of cool puppets, really creative staging, and some excellent performances. The puppets stole the show. Lots of fun.

Didn't sleep well last night either. I am going to chill, read comp entries, and maybe work on mine.

Peace all. Coffee would be swell!

Good morning everyone.

Quiet morning here. Talia sleeping quietly beside me. I think our Christmas work is almost complete. My last big Thing To Do is make a giant batch of green chile chicken enchiladas, a process I enjoy greatly. And my enchies are REALLY good.

Has anyone ever tried Ramen Bae? They make freeze-dried flavorings for ramen, and they really kinda rock. Got one for myself this year, and I am giving one to my daughter. The bag is a little pricey, but it’s big and it lasts forever. For the ramen lover in your life.

A coffee and a tater candy please!

I’m a little flashed out from other comps, but I am sure I will come up with something!

28 Years Later

Nosferatu

No Good Deed

Wonderful theme. No ideas, but I have been in an emotional state these past several days, so I suspect an idea might kick loose. I know how my mind works.

Gill, my heart is with you on this one. I miss talking to my Dad on the daily so much. Painful and sweet at the same time. My beloved aunt who is 84 just had a knee replacement, followed by a femur break. She’s in poor shape, so I have been talking to her every day (I was bedridden too, when we started), and it is like going back in time, hearing all these old family stories. My Dad used to talk to her every day, and they were close, so I guess I am being a Dad surrogate for her. My voice sounds a lot like my Dad’s, minus that Oklahoma accent.

Got a bit of a tear in my eye, writing that. But Talia is home again, and still sleeping peacefully with one of our cats. And my leg is on the mend. And it’s Christmas season. Peace, everyone.

Coffee please.

I would love some coffee. Seeing the doctor today, after a week and a half of waiting. It is starting to get better all by itself. Welcome to American health care!

Still, I shan’t complain, because Talia is home, and she is driving me to the doc, and it is like coming home again to see her coming home again. I swear I am getting so emotional these days.

Hi to everyone! I will write more when I have more energy

Quote by Molly

Good morning/afternoon! Things have been a bit hectic on my end, same as everyone else's. I hope everyone can take a moment for themselves to relax, breathe, enjoy, some sweets, and perhaps write a little. Perhaps in our new competition. https://www.storiesspace.com/forum/writing-competitions-and-calls-for-submissions/the-sound-of-silence-competition

To get you started on the sweets. This is the only Christmas treat I've had time to make. They are my granny's potato candy or peanut butter pinwheels.

Oooh, a comp! Yay Molly! Writing wheels are turning.

Talia is home today! Yay! I will spend much of the day cleaning and preparing. The cat are all atwitter!

I've never heard of potato candy.

I hope everyone is well. Gill, I am sure you will have a wonderful, if bittersweet, Christmas with your Dad. I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks for the setup Mr. Ape. I'll have a coffee and one of those potato candies.

Man on the Inside is SO GOOD. I binged most of it last night. You know that cliche about how you'll laugh and you'll cry? Well, I definitely did, and within the first episode. Gentle, loving writing on that show. And Ted Danson is a national treasure.

It deals with growing old, and Alzheimer's, so if that's a trigger, then don't. But it handles the subjects beautifully. It triggered me in good ways.

Hey, writergirl, glad to see your face! Get through the workweek and it’s a sprint to Christmas. Looking forward to your story.

My daughter and I are both getting slowly better. Daughter is nauseous from the meds but back at work. I am able to hobble around much better, though I am still limping around. Talia home Tuesday, doctor Wednesday, so help is on the way.

Christmas shopping is nearly done, but Lord do I have a ton of wrapping and card-making to do.

Thanks for setting up Ape and Bear. I’ll have a coffee.