A Week Of Flash Fiction Prompts : Week 23
Story Stacks, Poetry, Micro Fiction, all in one place!
As sure as we survived mind numbing heat this week here are the prompt written stories that developed. One led to writing a number of story stacks! The feeling moved me and I followed.
As we approach Canada Day I wish you a peaceful and enjoyable long weekend.
Thank you to my subscribers and followers for your continued support of my work. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Please click the heart or leave a comment if you wish. I always appreciate your acknowledgement. It helps lift the spirits to know someone appreciates what you have written.
I find I am gravitating towards writing Story Stacks: The Separation Method as a favourite form of writing. There is a challenge in creating five different stories to fit the picture prompt, each of a different word count.
The following stackers are among those I regularly write to prompts they provide. Each is acknowledged in the story or poem. The list here is for you to explore their writing.
Microzine Behind Every Door Challenge
Tales of the Zeitgeist HOUSE OF HAIKU PROMPT:
Izzibella’s Substack: Drabble Time
Erica Drayton, Happy Place
Previous Weeks Of Flash Fiction Prompts can be read here:
https://billferguson.substack.com/s/flash-fiction-from-prompts
May You Live Long And Prosper.
No Great Loss
June 23 2025
Prompt: Prompts of Resilience: 100 Word Story from Photograph (Heat) @megpokrass.
Prompt words: banana, suntan lotion, toenails, sweat, mom, chirp, plastic, argument, peppery
Banana suntan lotion has a calming effect on me but today it doesn’t
Ron, the plastic, sweaty, chirping argument why getting older should be less about peppery image, arrived.
Since he got here he has spent his time trying to convince my mom that he was strong enough to hold her up in the air above his head on one arm. Who did he think he was, the figure skater of the beach? Like really?
Her painted toenails pointed skyward, until he dropped her.
When the EMS workers arrived he was nowhere to be seen.
That was no great loss.
Side By Side
A Story Stack: Separation Method
June 23, 2025
Prompt by:Microzine: Behind Every Door Challenge #9
6 words
A railing couldn't define their relationship.
25 words
George stepped out to pick up his evening newspaper.
“Love the dress George,” called Mabel. “The five o'clock shadow takes away from the effect though.”
50 words
“They painted their door red,” Geoffrey moaned to his wife.
Sally looked up from her computer. “I think it is a lovely colour,” she reflected. “It’s bold and makes a warm, welcoming statement.”
“White makes a statement!” Geoffrey reflected.
“Yes,” replied Sally. “Just not the statement you think it makes.”
100 words
Joseph opened his bedroom window and slipped out backwards. He looked down at the red box above the door and lowered himself to it. With one foot on the box he reached down and lowered himself to the lintel above the door. Once both feet touched the lintel he reached down and lowered himself to the railing where he turned and jumped. Immediately he squealed a surprise gasp.
“Heading somewhere?” asked his neighbour Blake.
“Maybe,” replied Joseph.
“Next time, check to see who is out here first,” replied Blake.
“There won’t be a next time,” Frank, Joseph's father, stated sternly.
150 words
Connie was putting clothes away in her teenage son's closet when she noticed something funny. She cleared space so she could have a good look. Reaching out she pulled the sheet of drywall away. It had been expertly cut into a square.
“I didn’t know that he knew how to drywall,” reflected Connie a little tensely.
She got down on her hands and knees and pushed her way through the opening. Noticing the drywall there had been cut too she pushed her way through and gasped.
As she stood up she realized that she was standing in her neighbour's teenage daughter's bedroom.
In her anger Connie marched to the stairs and down to the living room. Marge looked up, surprised to see Connie.
“You need to see this,” intoned Connie as she led the way back up stairs.
Surveying the hole Marge quipped, “Maybe we should put in a door?”
Loneliness?
June 24 2025
Prompt by: Writers' Hour Magazine: ⏳ Weekly Writing Contest | June 22: The Shape of Solitude 500 words
Artwork by Emma Winterschladen
“Aren’t you lonely going to all these places by yourself?” questioned Paddy’s mother.
“Lonely?” 14 year old Paddy reflected. “To my mind that indicates something is wrong with me, that I am missing something.” He smiled. “I ask around but no one is available so I go anyway. I am living an enjoyable life.”
“It’s not right that you are by yourself,” stated his mother. Something could happen to you.”
“When I go to a movie I am surrounded by many people. When I go on a solo bike ride I am always moving.” he further considered her point. “The thing is, something could happen to me anywhere, including here. I can’t lock myself up because something might go wrong. I am careful. I am aware.
“Don't you miss having your friends with you?” she pressed on.
“Of course I miss them but I also know that I am sufficiently comfortable with who I am to do things on my own. Loneliness is just a perception. I am always busy, doing something, thinking something, writing something. On those occasions that I need to talk to someone I find them or they find me.”
His mother spoke in a wary tone. “They find you? Who finds you?”
Paddy laughed. “My friends for the most part. People I meet when I am out. Not everyone is evil.”
“You just be careful Paddy.”
“Yes mom,” he replied as he walked out the door. He got on his bike and rode to the library.
“Hello Mrs. Brooks,” he said cheerfully to the librarian as he settled into a chair with a book. “There are so many people to talk to that I am not sure I could ever be lonely,” he reflected.
A Change of View
June 24 2025
Prompt by: Writer pilgrim Substack:Writing Prompt 121
Photo by Writer Pilgrim Substack
Adam stood on the deck of the boat gazing down the Thames River.
“It is hard to believe that this is where most of the famous British explorers started their journeys.”
Beth closed her eyes. “I can picture it now. All these little ships being laden with enough supplies for a 6 month journey. They must have been masters at doling out just the right amount of food so that they had enough for a return trip.”
“It must have been a magical time,” added Adam.
“Not really,” explained the Captain. “We have grown to see the world in rich colours but it was anything but that back then. Dirty and grimy with things looking less than clean. It was a different world.” He regarded Adam and Beth closely. “Where you are going is much better than those times. At least in prison you will have 3 square meals a day, some heat in the winter. Some cooling in the summer. All nice and comfortable instead of being beheaded for your crimes.”
“Thank God for that,” Beth stated quietly.
A Barking Solution
June 24 2025
: For the Fiction Dealer: 80mg of Bark
Photo by:SplitShire - Photography
Jon said to his boss. “The neighbours' dog is barking all day. I can’t sleep. I’m grumpy. I’m tired.”
Kevin smiled. He handed Jon a box. “This should solve your problem. There are plenty more where that came from.”
Jon looked in the box and laughed. “I should have thought of this.”
“Works like a charm every time.”
That morning Jon removed a bone from the box and heaved it over the fence.
“One less obstacle to sleep,” Jon opined.
That’s Just Wrong
June 24 2025
Prompt by: what now?: Prompt #78:That's just wrong.
Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash
“You know, you could be wrong,” said 13 year old Jack in a quiet voice as he looked at Vince.
“What daya mean,” replied his friend Vince, a little upset.
Jack calmly responded. “C’mon Vince. Any number of times you have been wrong. This could be the same.”
“Give me an example,” Vince requested.
‘Well,” started Jack, “There was that time when you said lefty tighty. It was the wrong way to tighten a bolt. And then there was that time…”
Vince interrupted Jack. “Alright, alright. I get your point. You don’t have to hit a guy over the head with it.”
“No hitting Vince, just a quiet reminder. So what are we going to do this time?” asked Jack.
“We will look it up,” replied Vince as he pulled out his cellphone. “Wikipedia, Youtube or just ask AI?”
“I know AI would give us the answer but I would rather watch an expert show us in a video. YouTube it is.” replied Jack.
Once the video was loaded they watched it a couple of times.
“So, the positive wire is red. The negative wire is black.” said Vince as he set the new battery into place on the old car they had been working on. “I’m glad we looked it up.”
“Me too," replied Jack.
Jack made the correct connections and signalled to Vince with a thumbs up when he was finished.
Vince turned the key. The engine started right away.
“We are a success when we work together,” said Vince.
“Indeed,” replied Jack as he silently thanked Youtube.
A Murder of Haiku
June 25 2025
Prompt by: Tales of the Zeitgeist: HOUSE OF HAIKU PROMPT: WINDOW
One sided windows
Many opportunities
Missed in reflection
Windows opened doors
Making tasks much easier
Now replacing jobs
Panes, pains, paynes hustled
Through windows, keeping us sharp
Success or menace?
Canada Eh!
June 25 2025
Prompt by: Nissa Harlow: The Diurnal Drabble Dare: Week 26
Here are your prompts for Week 26: CHILDREN, PUDDING, SIGN LANGUAGE, ALPHABET, CAMERA, METEOR, CANADA
Harvey signed, ”I love Canada,” and smiled.
Genevieve, his mom, signed back. “What do you love about Canada?”
Harvey turned to watch all the other children running around having fun. “Everything,” he emphasized. “Chocolate pudding, Alphabet cereal,” he paused. “Everyone is so friendly and seem to be enjoying themselves.They even talk to me!”
Genvieve took out her camera and asked a man to take their picture with the CN Tower in the background. Harvey had a smile that lit up the picture like a meteor.
“Can we live here?” Harvey excitedly asked.
“We shall see,” his mother quietly replied.
Fireworks
June 29 2025
Prompt by: Gibberish: FFF - Gold Sparks: Prompt for 27 June 2025: Write about a bad time for fireworks
Photo by Cristian Escobar on Unsplash
Simon flipped the light switch off. Immediately he caught a full display of fireworks in places where they should not have been. He flipped the light on and they disappeared. He turned the light off. There they were again, a blistering side show of light sparkling all over his eye ball.
“This can’t be good,” he thought.
Simon consulted with his optometrist who concurred and immediately sent him to see an ophthalmologist. Before he could say “Bob’s your Uncle,” Simon found himself lying back in a surgeon's chair where the fireworks in his eye, while mind numbing, saved his eyesight.