Seven Swans A'Swimming ...

Today's writing prompt:

In this near-today world, increasingly outrageous behavior designed to get public attention has been the norm.  In the last decade, there has been a significant social backlash.  Our heroine, a canny manipulator of public perception, has taken full advantage.  She’s set herself up as the public arbiter of manners and good taste.  Much of her early success was due to her use of a piece of technology she stole.  At the time, she had no idea she’d become so successful.  Now, she suspects the owner of said technology has developed something else, and may be coming for her.  Like a swan, she must look stately and graceful above the surface, while underneath, she’s paddling for all she’s worth.  To survive, she …

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Six Geese A'Laying ...

Today's writing prompt:

Working on another world, our hero discovers that the deposits of material <x>, much needed and highly-valued by his society, are actually caches of eggs.  Momma isn’t pleased …

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Five Gold Rings ...

Today's writing prompt:

Still coping with the loss of a loved one, our hero finds himself (herself) in a situation where he must save an entire <family, ship, planet, civilization>.  He is offered help by a mysterious figure, but soon finds himself alone, walking in a circle.  He finds the clue required to get out of the maze, only to end up in another circle.  In all, he traverses five.  In each of them, he finds the means to get to the next one.  At some point, he discovers there is more to it than he dreamed …

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Four Calling Birds ...

Today's writing prompt:

Four school chums keep in touch with one another via social media.  Each of them is now living in a different place, with his(her) own lifestyle and career.  Suddenly, a fifth person inserts himself into their group.  He (she) claims to be a friend from their school days.  No one remembers him.  They discover he is an alien, making first contact.  He has been monitoring several communication streams, but he chose them because …

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Three French hens ...

Day three of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' writing prompt challenge: 

It’s the time of the second world war.  Three sisters, members of the French resistance, are trying to bring an end to the conflict.  They’re all geniuses, some of the brightest minds of their day.  Because of their gender, no one in a position of authority will take them seriously.  However, one of them has invented a device that allows her to plant ideas in the heads of others.  Now, each of the ladies can plant thoughts so convincingly that the recipient will believe it’s his own. 

There are two catches.  First, their subject must already be receptive to the idea, or it won’t stick.  And second, the women need several minutes in close proximity for the device to work.  They decide to …

It's been a near thing, but so far, I've got them all out on the correct day.

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Two turtledoves ...

It's day two of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' writing prompt challenge. 

Here's today's writing prompt:

It’s the near future.  The world has split in two, cold-war style, and every country has chosen a side.  Your scientists have further developed the intelligence of crows.  Now, the birds can drop small bombs and set explosives, and they can detonate them at the appropriate time.  They can correctly identify people, addresses, even vehicles.  They can also follow instructions.  

Lately, explosives have gone missing, and targets are being detonated that weren’t on the list.  It appears, the birds have continued to develop in intelligence, and now have their own agenda.  They …

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... and a partridge in a pear tree.

Well, it's evening, but I've finally got my first 'twelve days' writing prompt up.  I left it until late, because it's a bit of a downer.  Anyway ...

here it is:


The pears and apples being fed to schoolchildren in some neighborhoods have been chemically engineered.  Over time, the fruit renders the children sterile, permanently.  Given which children are being targeted, the obvious suspect is a group with neo-nazi ties ...

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