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[Jimor]

Now that school is over, I want to get back into the flow of writing. Toward that end, I've set a challenge to myself as a daily warmup: to write a 100 word story.

I thought I'd extend the invitation for anybody who'd like to join in. The idea is not to be perfect, but to simply get some ideas out of your head and onto paper. I'm personally going to be doing mostly science fiction and fantasy, but all genres of fiction or non-fiction are welcome -- for example reviews, essays, poetry, whatever. I'm also going to try to hit exactly 100 words with each, but that's not a hard rule. My overall goal is to do 100 of these. I don't know if I'll stick with it, but I really need to dust the cobwebs out of my brain so I can get back into some larger projects (like my poor abandoned serial novel further down the page).

Anyway, the tl;dr version of the thread rules.

1. Write exactly 100 words and post it here.
2. Fiction or non-fiction, any genre, any subject.
3. Do this 100 times, over whatever time period works for you.
4. Relax and have fun.

[Jimor]

Story #1, "The Porthole"

I looked out the porthole and witnessed the dying gasp of the dreadnought Mandible. From so far away, the crystallized atmosphere and floating debris glittered in the harsh sunlight. Thankfully, I couldn't distinguish corpses from this distance.

I tried to remember the names and faces of my former crewmates. Two years, and my memories of that time have been clouded by intervening events. I'm a prisoner on this ship. I sighed, but didn't know if from relief or guilt. We won. We survived. As appalled as I was at my use of that pronoun, this was how I felt now.

[Jimor]

Story #2, "A Deal"

The dragon slept now, but Herrtan knew the peaceful visage was an illusion. He just hoped the old beast upon wakening would remember that they now had an agreement.

Herrtan didn't want the dragon's treasure; he wanted information. That's why he didn't sneak into the lair, but clambered recklessly through its passages. After several hours imprisoned within a cage of claws answering to Jiwanatil's suspicions, they reached a deal. The price: one shiny brass buckle.

Somewhere in the dragon's deep memory of human events might be knowledge of who had murdered Herrtan's great grandfather and had stolen his family's legacy.

[Jimor]

Story #3, "The Client"

The little alien in my office seemed pleasant enough, but I knew they had a quick temper. Frankly, I didn't want his business if I could help it.

"What exactly is this job you have for me, Prefect Leezit?"

"You must murder our ambassador to your planet."

Correct, I did not want his business. The Beradeen never joke, and they hate disappointment. I'd have to be careful.

"Is there a particular reason I should kill him?"

"Yes. If you do not, there will be war, and billions of your people will die."

The Beradeen never joke.

"Please take a seat."

[Jimor]

Story #4, "The Vision"

"What do you see, child?"

"I see a bunch of men on horses, riding into the village."

The old woman rubbed her temple. Everything the boy saw came true, usually within days.

"What are they doing now?"

The boy closed his eyes again, waited, opened them, tears welling. "They were talking to Elder Gareg, but then they hit him. He didn't get up."

She stared out her cottage window. Gareg lived 3 doors down.

"Come, we must go, child."

"Are we going to warn the Elders?"

Would it make a difference?

"I will write a letter after we are gone."

[jackmort]

This topic may be 4 months dormant but I've only just arrived and I fancied a go





I stand amongst the broken shells and feel the sand between my toes
I gaze across the rolling sea and watch the gaily swooping gulls
Behind me stands a verdant jungle full of secret hidden life
vibrant birds and biting spiders, primates swinging branch to branch
Above the clouds roll deftly onwards ever without haste or care
I walk the coast for half a day and find myself retracing steps
bellow the sea my ship is sinking slowly deep'ning to its bed
It drifts to deeper blacker seas and comes to rest by startled fish
and I am all alone