Three Line Thursday Light Lines Anthology Release! Happy National Poetry Day!

Exciting news!

I’ve tried, as often as I can, to participate in the weekly competition run by poet Grace Black, Three Line Thursday.  Each week, Grace provides an inspiring image as a prompt, and asks that people write three lines (no more than 10 words per line) in response.  Anyone can participate by posting three lines in the comment section of the week’s competition page.  There is a fantastic community of writers there who are talented and supportive of one another.  On Saturday of each week, a winner, runners up, and special challenge winner are announced.

I’ve had a wonderful time challenging myself to get as much meaning as I can into 30 words or fewer.  I’ve learned a lot from reading the work of other talented writers there, and through this process.  I’m grateful to Grace for this continuing opportunity.

Over the past year, I’ve been honored to place in the top a few times, and even to be the winner once!  I was very excited to hear that Grace was planning to put together an anthology of poetry from the first full year of Three Line Thursday, including all the winners.  The poetry anthology was released today, October 8, 2015, just in time for National Poetry Day!  Winning poems from the past year appear in the collection, and Grace also gave us the chance to write an additional poem, following the same guidelines, for this year’s National Poetry Day theme: Light.

The anthology is called Light Lines.

I’ve ordered my copy and can’t wait to read the talented writers included there and be inspired, as I am every week at Three Line Thursday!  Thanks, Grace!

Speaking of Three Line Thursday, it is, in fact, Thursday, so it’s time to write and try out this fun and inclusive competition!  Or, as Grace would say, “come lay down ink” with the Three Line Thursday crowd!  If you order the anthology, let me know what you think!

Click here for U.S. link to order the anthology

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What’s been going on? I’ve been writing–I promise!

So, I’ve been negligent with regard to my blog lately!  I’ve been feeling guilty about that, but I have been writing!  It’s also been a busy time grading work and making sure my senior students have their ducks in a row for graduation (or at least doing as much as I can in the teacher role and trying not to feel too nervous about a few of them!).  It’s also been a busy time for my family…more to come on that later.

My main writing focus in the midst of the chaos has been three stories for the upcoming FlashDogs Solstice Anthology (coming soon!).  I won the opportunity to write for the anthology through participating in Three Line Thursday.  I’ve been getting wonderful feedback from Brian S. Creek and my writer’s group, and I feel pretty good about two out of three of the stories I’ve been preparing, but that third one still needs some work.

I’ve also been editing and submitting a short story with elements of dark fantasy, “What We Bring Home.”  I’m hoping I can find it a good home.  Though I’m working on a novel with paranormal elements, I’ve only submitted one paranormal story for publication before (“Not Safe” in Black Petals issue 70), so it has been an adventure doing research and figuring out where to submit.  I’ve been shooting high so far (Why not, right?  What is there to lose?) and have been rejected from Clarke’s World, Nightmare, and Apex.  I’ll let you know if I make some progress on this front!

I’ve also fallen behind on weekly prompts, but plan to get back in the habit!

“Returning” – Friday Fictioneers – Flash Fiction

This story was written for the weekly Friday Fictioneers photo prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields on her blog, Addicted to Purple.  Check out her blog and click on the blue InLinkz frog below to read other stories and to add your own.

By the way, I have some news: I am honored to be the winner this week of the Three Line Thursday contest!  Check out the link to see the stunning photo prompt and to read my entry along with some other fabulous responses.  This context runs each week, so if you’re not writing three lines already, you could be very soon!

Copyright Douglas MacIlroy

Returning

(100 words)

Struggling to see through the planet’s haze, they almost missed the station.

“Thank God,” Ray said.

“They must be worried,” Maya said.  “So long.  They—“

The station door was ajar.

They clutched their guns, advancing.

The only thing out of place was a large green stone in the center of the empty room.

“Maybe they went to find us?”

“No,” Maya said.  “We’d have seen them.”

She grimaced, aiming her gun at the green rock.  Suddenly, it began to crack and expand.  Unable to move, they watched until it became something with a mouth.  Then, it was too late.

“The Final Concert” – Friday Fictioneers – Flash Fiction

This story was written for the Friday Fictioneers weekly prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields on her blog, Addicted to Purple.  Check out her blog and click on the blue InLinkz frog below to read other stories and to add your own!

Copyright David Stewart

The Final Concert

(100 words)

The last generation of night creatures rustled.  The band in the gazebo watched the conductor.

The tuba let out a low moan, too soon.  The conductor shook his head.  No one turned to look.  Though they’d practiced, they understood that this was no rehearsal, and nerves would play their own part in the final concert.

The first flute waved to her son and grandchildren, arriving with a picnic blanket.

A distant grumble sounded; the earth shook.  The conductor raised his baton, there was an intake of breath, and the last musicians of the world played an accompaniment to its end.

I hope you’ll also check out my story published with Necessary Fiction this past week.  I’ve also been participating in the Three Line Thursday contest run by Grace Black, and won a Golden Ticket from the FlashDogs this week to write for their upcoming anthology!  I’m very excited for the opportunity!  Check out the FlashDogs on Twitter through #flashdogs and write three lines each Thursday based on a lovely photo prompt!