NaNoWriMo November

I think that says it all…
Image Courtesy of a meme generator (most likely).

Hello fellow writers, readers, readers of writers and NaNoWriMo enthusiasts! That’s the big thing, yes the whopper of a challenge, a commitment like no other (though there are ones that match it – Movember anyone?). Yes, it’s November and that can only mean: National Novel Writing Month.

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Three-minute reads – Haiku

Our three-minute reads give you the perfect excuse to have a cuppa.
Image Courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk

A selection of three Haiku to enjoy over a brew and biscuit, which should take you approximately three minutes for each.

  • One minute to read
  • One minute to ponder
  • And one minute to decipher

For those readers who aren’t familiar with Haiku, they are a Japanese short form of poetry consisting of five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the final. Although we traditionally classify the 5-7-5 pattern as syllables, they are often referred to ‘on’ or ‘morae’ in Japan, which can lead to a different syllabic pattern.
Our selection of three-minute reads are below: Continue reading →

The City of Koku

China’s Atlantis; the Lion City. Image courtesy of http://www.lovethesepics.com

Written by Lilith

Off the north eastern shores of the great continent of Silvera hides a marvel of engineering, a secret wonder which most only dream of seeing, and many believe to be nothing more than a myth. Contained within one huge air bubble at the bottom of the sea is a city, and that city is named Koku for the four brothers who built it. It is well maintained; fresh air runs through pipes that lead to the surface, and there are many ways to travel between the city and the world outside, though few choose to leave the security of their secret world. And the city itself is not just a marvel, but also a beauty. Tall, twisting towers reach up to the very peak of the bubble, and the glass of a thousand windows winks in the half-light; the only light that the bottom of the sea can get. Here, it is always dusk. Continue reading →

Pop!

Written by Rob

We all like our personal space, but there’s a real bond between us too.
Image Courtesy of lifeandhorses.com

Normally, we’re just too strong to entertain the idea. Although we like our personal space, and every one of us moves independently, there’s a real bond between us too. You can see it clearly at the edge of the group. No-one wants to be at the edge but, obviously, some of us have to. Anyone finding themselves at the edge tries to fight their way back into the throng. This causes quite a bit of tension.

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A new month, a new challenge

Hello!

As it’s the start of a new month – or shall we say, almost mid-month now – we’ve got a new half hour challenge for our team of writers: Bubbles.

They are simple, playful and fun to catch and burst, so Inkblots thought it would be awesome to have a theme that evokes happiness. Of course and as always, the theme is intended to be taken in any direction the writer wishes, so we may just find a few surprises, whether they are bizarre, sad or uplifting.

Once again, we shall choose three of the best pieces to go up here, so keep your eyes peeled for them in the next couple of weeks.

– Silver, Inkblots Editor

Yayyyy bubbles!!!
Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Lonely Hamster

Look it’s a bird, no, it’s a plane, but no wait – it’s a flying hamster!
Image Courtesy of Aviary.com

Written By Sparky

“Get your filthy paws off me you mongrel freak!”

Life had always treated Ulysses unfairly, not only had he been inflicted with a rather unfortunate parentage, everyone around him had constantly poked fun at him all his short life. See, there was something different about Ulysses. Something that he couldn’t hide no matter how much he wanted to.

Ulysses had wings. Yes that’s right, a hamster with wings. Impossible I hear you cry and well you may think so. However, the evidence is clearly there, either side of Ulysses’ small rodent body were two wings, covered in the same tan fur that kept him warm. This had been as big a setback as anyone could imagine, no-one would have anything to do with him. Even his own mother abandoned him soon after birth. He was a very lonely hamster to put it bluntly.

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The Recurring Nightmare

Written by Silver/Silvershadowfly

Forever searching: Ensnaring dreamers, ensnaring memories.
Image Courtesy of wiki.urbandead.com

Luring dreamers into Hell, he finds desires to ensnare.
Seducing his subject, controlling mind as matter,
spilling blood with tortured screams: he welcomes your nightmare.
Breaking – bones to build his pyre; consuming bodies in the flare,
he taunts the sleeper into disaster.
Luring dreamers into Hell, he finds memories to ensnare.

Memories to ensnare.

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October

Written by Lost in a Dream/xnicc

Golden horizon: The fragrance of summer, sun-kissed.

Harvest is past, summer is ended, And we are not saved.
Jerimiah 8:20

I stare longingly at the photo in the frame.
I remember the smells that coloured the scene
Salt, coconut, cigarettes–
The fragrance of summer, our summer.
Sun-kissed. Golden. Happy.
You, me and the horizon.
Encapsulated. Contained. Perfect.

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