FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-30

Welcome back! It's been a tough month here. Perhaps February will be better. Thanks for joining us this week! I hope you're inspired by the prompt and write something amazing. Have at it.



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...



Our Judge today is Patrick Stahl. Read his winning tale from last week here! Patrick Stahl is a freshman Creative Writing major (French minor) at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.  He dabbles in speculative fiction and Protestant ministry.  Patrick aspires to become an editor or publisher of SF/F/H.  He spends his free time playing the mandolin, reading, writing, and watching television (to bolster his writing skills, of course).  His blog can be found at intotheravenousmaw.blogspot.com, and his Twitter handle is @patrickjstahl.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-30 is:

There were only three rules in the camp, and I broke all three in one night.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Make clear what the rules were without actually stating them in the story (then write what they were after the story).

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-29

Welcome back! So sorry again about last week, but we're here this week and raring to go! We hope you are too! Go read the prompt and write something amazing! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...



Our Judge today is Patrick Stahl. Read his winning tale from last week here! Patrick Stahl is a freshman Creative Writing major (French minor) at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.  He dabbles in speculative fiction and Protestant ministry.  Patrick aspires to become an editor or publisher of SF/F/H.  He spends his free time playing the mandolin, reading, writing, and watching television (to bolster his writing skills, of course).  His blog can be found at intotheravenousmaw.blogspot.com, and his Twitter handle is @patrickjstahl.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-29 is:

If [he] knew how much [he] meant to [me], [he] would probably think [I] was really weird.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Show both points of view, either by making the story consist of multiple scenes or by hopping heads in-scene.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-28

Welcome! We're glad to have you here today! Hopefully your year has started off on a positive note and you're getting into the swing of 2016. I look forward to reading your stories this week. Go read the prompt and write something great!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...



Our Judge today is Tara O'Dowd. Read her winning tale from last week here! Find her on twitter @TaraODowd1. Tara worked for ten years as a union organizer in the United States. She now lives in Amsterdam where she is writing picture books and her first novel and goggling at bicycles. Unfortunately, she can't quite seem to get rid of her subversive tendencies.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-28 is:

It was an inviting piano, but it came with a ghost.

 

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Use all five senses to describe the ghost.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-27

Welcome back and Happy New Year!!! I hope you've taken the time to evaluate where you've been and where you want to go. New Years resolutions don't have to be here today and given up by February; they can be goals you're reaching for continually. Perhaps one of those goals is to write more. Then join us. Go check out the prompt and write something great!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...



Our Judge today is Audrey Weinberg. Read her winning tale from last week here! Find her on twitter here. Audrey (Gran) Weinberg was born in Los Angeles just a few months before JFK was shot, but she swears she didn't do it. After years of living in different countries, and having experienced both much love and great loss, Audrey is now gratefully leading a "pretty mundane existence" with her sweet husband and 2 pretty amazing teenage children just outside of Amsterdam. 

Audrey has published 2 short stories and is currently figuring out how to edit her first novel. She co-authors the Studyleaks blog (studyleaks.blogspot.nl) together with a group of her students under the pen name 'Study Leaks Amsterdam.'

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-27 is:

The minute the [peace] talks began, [she] knew [she] should have told them [her] secret.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

I dare you to come up with a successful story for the Middle East! Which means: 

a. Dare to dream up a positive solution to these talks. 

AND/OR 

b. Set them in the Middle East.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-25 & 26

WELCOME! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! We're going to do things differently this week. With the holiday season being a bit crazy and our time being not entirely our own, I've decided to keep this installment of FTT open for the duration of the holiday season. So, we will be live until after the new year! I hope that you will find time to fit in a story around the myriad of obligations during the next couple of weeks. You can even fit in two. We will go back to the normal schedule in January.

I have TWO first sentence prompts for you to choose from (or you can do a story for each). I also have FOUR different special challenges you can fit into one or both of your stories. You may choose to do only one of them or all four, whatever (or none, as is always an option).

I will be judging this round, BUT the winner will not be asked to judge the next round (though I reserve the right to ask for another day down the road depending on the popularity of keeping the contest open for a week). The winners of our Holiday Bash will be announced as soon as possible in January, depending on the number of entries.



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST (Dec 21 - Jan 2)
8. Only one (two) entry(ies) judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Alissa Leonard. (That's ME!) Alissa is a mom of three elementary aged children. She is also a substitute teacher. In her spare time (Wait! I have spare time???) she writes. She is working on her third edit of a YA fantasy novel, and is just about finished with a first draft of a MG fantasy novel. The number of really-cool-books-she-would-like-to-write-but-hasn't-yet is painfully long, but she is determined to WRITE ALL THE WORDS!!! She reads mostly fantasy and science fiction, but enjoys books from across the spectrum of literature. She loves TONS of geeky things, but Doctor Who is her favorite, followed closely by superheroes, Star Wars, and Star Trek. She's also a huge board game fan. You are already on her blog ( ;) ) and you can follow her on twitter @lissajean7.

 Your first sentence(s) for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-25 is (are) (Pick one):

It came upon a midnight clear.


"It'll be different this [year]."

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE(S) from the judge is (are):

Include onomatopoeia.

Include a kiss.

Include any of the following objects: star, bib, glue, thumbprint, journal, staple, platter, egg nog

Include any of the following verbs: thrust, gargle, shimmy, hurl, tiptoe, bellow, warble, lament, flounce, wallow, snicker

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-23

Welcome! Welcome! We're so glad you've joined us today for the fun. I'm getting this posted late and I have a sick kiddo, so this will be even more brief than usual. Go ahead and read the prompt and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-23 is:


credit: Gregory Carrico

[Tabbi] had never touched anything as [soft] as the [rabbit] she held in her lap.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include at least two embarrassing anecdotes related by your character(s).

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-22

Welcome back as we jump into December with both feet! If you've just completed NaNo: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU ARE FINISHED!!! Whether you're a 'WINNER' or you just wrote a few words: I'm proud of you! Words toward a goal are to be celebrated. My personal goal for the month was somewhere around 30K or when I've finished the novel. Right now I'm just under 25K for the month with a day to go and a scene and a half to write (I think...). (I've passed 50K for the novel.) So my goal is certainly within the realm of possibility. Anyway, let's keep the good writing vibes going through the month of December! Go check out today's prompt and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Catherine Custard. Read her winning tale from last week here! Find her on Twitter @cat_custard. Catherine is a mother of three teenagers who teaches English riding lessons and leads fourth graders on Civil War/Civil Rights tours in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. She’s just discovered flash fiction which is a welcome distraction from the mystery novel she’s dangerously close to finishing!

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-22 is:

Officer [desperate plea], I can explain!

Desperate plea is optional; you may fill the bracket or leave it out as you see fit.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Reference 3 human body parts AND include at least 3 of the following words:

cat

blue smoke

hair

winding staircase

putrid

snout

hose

fog horn

hot chocolate

trifecta

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-21

Welcome! Thanks for joining us! I'm attempting to finish the first draft of the novel I'm working on for NaNo and I may be able to do it. I won't hit 50K, but I love how NaNo pushes me and the community encourages me. I may never "win" NaNo, but I'm a winner - every year. Plus, I still have a week. Go check out the prompt, and keep writing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Geoff Holme. Read his tale from last week here! Geoff is semi-retired, insofar as he does not have any paid employment. So he spends far too much time writing flash fiction which he discovered in September 2014. He lives in West Sussex, UK and is reachable on Twitter (@GeoffHolme)

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-21 is:

It was all in [the timing]; something like this was bound to [come out] sooner or later.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include the names of two or more winners of Academy Award for Best Picture. 

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-20

Welcome! We're glad you've come to test yourself against our prompt today. So go ahead and check it out and write us something amazing! 



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-20 is:

Somewhere in a lonely [hotel room], there's a [guy] starting to realize that eternal fate has turned its back on him.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

A near-death experience.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-19

Last week I expect you were all gung-ho with your NaNo projects and didn't have time to incorporate another prompt into your writing life. That's cool. I hope you got TONS of words last week. Perhaps this week you're struggling to know where to go in your project. Well, we have another prompt for you. WOOHOO!!! Get to it!




If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-19 is:


Credit: Robert Aspirin

There is something infinitely satisfying about doing something you know you aren't supposed to.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Write two alternate endings (last 100 words or less). You may exceed your word count by the length of the alternate.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-18

WOOHOO!!! Welcome to November! If you're doing NaNo, may this prompt spark amazing things in your project. If not...WHY NOT??? :) Either way, write something amazing. I can't wait to read all about it. Go check out the prompt and HAVE AT IT!




If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last week here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-18 is:


borrowed from Carrie Underwood:

[I] took a Louisville Slugger to [both headlights].

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Write for a specific target audience: Mrs. Grundy. Make her scowl or make her smile, as you prefer. (Mrs. Grundy is a tyrannical prude who enjoys scathing gossip and considers herself the arbiter of respectability. A tendency to be overly fearful of what the respectable society might think is also referred to as grundyism.)

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17

Welcome to the fun as we round out October. Go check out the prompt and show us the amazing inside of you. Also, let me know if you're doing Nano this year (my name over on the boards is lissajean if you want a friend) and if you're a pantser/planner/rebel/etc. Go write! Have fun! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Foy S Iver. Read her winning tale from last week here! Foy S. Iver cultivates a normal life that sprung up from abnormal soil. She is a Dragon, FlashDog,  and, as of recently, an Editor for Firefly Magazine (for this, she is human). Find her on the Twitter machine @fs_iver or on her website www.foyiver.com. And remember, don't touch that button...

Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17 is:

No one tells you it's the good memories you'll resent the most.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Imbed 2 truths and 1 falsehood about yourself or your past.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16

Welcome! I'm glad you're here today. Go check out the prompts and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Holly Geely. Read her winning tale from last week here! Check out her website at hollygeely.wordpress.com. Follow her on twitter @hollygeely. Holly Geely's fiction pops up now and again in online magazines and she's a proud FlashDog. She recently added a fourth furbaby to the family, and the puppy is an adorable terror.


Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16 is:

[Jared] could not outrun the echo of the bone-chilling laughter.  

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include at least two traditional Halloween monsters.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15

Welcome back! We're almost halfway through October, so if you NaNo I hope you've picked a project. If you're a planner, I hope you have a pretty solid outline (if not, no worries! There's still time!) If you're a pantser, I hope you have a spark (if not, no worries! Start bashing things together and you'll come up with something amazing!). If you have no idea what NaNo is... Well, it's community, encouragement, inspiration, and challenge all rolled into a reason to finally write that novel you've been meaning to - someday. That day is now. Go check out their website: http://nanowrimo.org/ There's still plenty of time to sign up. :) Go check out the prompt for today and get that brain in gear. Have fun!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Ashley Gardana. Read her winning tale from last week here! Ashley Gardana (@agardana09) is a DC based writer who spends her time working on flash fiction, poems, and short stories. When not writing, she is enjoying her pup Marvel and this wonderful fall weather! You can find her work at ASGardana.wordpress.com



Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15 is:

I want to introduce you to someone.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include math. 


AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-14

Welcome back! I hope your October has begun splendidly. Thanks for joining us for the fun this week. Go read the prompt that the judge picked just for you. Then get writing. :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Pratibha Kelapure. Read her winning tale from last week here! Pratibha is the editor of The Literary Nest, an online magazine of fiction, poetry, and art. She hangs out with the flash fictioneers on Twitter, and that's how she discovered Finish That Thought contest. You can follow her @needanidplease.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-14 is:


Last line from The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen:

She was seventy-five and she was going to make some changes in her life.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Incorporate two original unrhymed lines of poetry. 


AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-13

Are you ready for a challenge today? Because our judge has thrown down the gauntlet! I am super-duper excited to read what you all create because this is going to be fun (And hard. Did I mention hard?)! Let's finish out September with a bang! Have at it!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Richard Edenfield. Read his winning tale from last week here! Follow him on Twitter @RichardEdenfie1. Here's what he has to say about himself: I live on a very small planet with a single rose under a glass. I am an Aquarius. Besides that, I like lemonade.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-13 is:


First line from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky:

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Write at least 300 words without a period. Write as if no one will ever read it.


Bonus points: End your story with the word, "Mayonnaise."


Extra Bonus Challenge for Super Stars:
Lewis Carroll has a famous riddle that no one (scholars, academics, Einstein...) has ever been able to figure out: Why is a raven like a writing desk? Work an answer into your story and you can knock 100 words off of the special challenge and still qualify (only a 200 word sentence).



AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

(I mentioned hard, right? Go! Go! Go!)

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-12

Welcome! We're glad you could join us for the fun this week! If you haven't, make sure you check out the rules. Otherwise, go read the prompts and get writing! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Danielle Donaldson. Read her winning tale from last week here! Danielle writes from Southern California where she lives with her husband and young son. In addition to currently being a human incubator and body host to her second son, she uses her afternoons and rare spare moments to write young adult and contemporary romance. Her poems and short stories have been published in various literary magazines. She has an upcoming paranormal romance novella release this Halloween. Keep up with her work on Twitter @WriterDonaldson or WriterDanielleDonaldson.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-12 is:

"[I] practically died."

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include a theme or aspect of romance and/or someone on a carousel. ;)
 

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!