Free Writing Fridays #031

Your 100 Word Story

December 8, 2023

Your 100 Word Story

A 2023 OPPORTUNITY

I’m giving EVERYONE who participates in these Free Writing Friday challenges THREE comp months in 2024. That gets you access to 14 episodes of Sleight of Hand and the entire 100 Word Stories archive.

But wait, there’s more! If I select your story as my favorite, you’ll get ONE FULL YEAR comped! That means you get to read the entire serial from beginning to end for FREE!

I’m giving away 6 FULL YEAR comps and an unlimited number of 3 month comps every Friday till December 29th!

Time to flex your writing skills and share your best 50 words to add to mine! Clock is ticking on the second weekend giveaway that ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, December 3rd.

IMAGE PROMPT

Consider the owl. Friend or foe? I leave you to decide…

A 100 WORD STORY COLLABORATION

[MY 50 WORDS]

With unblinking eyes it turned its head 180 degrees in either direction. The sky was black. Not a creature stirred. The owl was alone.

It spread its wings and took flight. It’s hoot warning others to keep out of sight. There was much that could only be done at night.

Write your 50 words to follow mine, then copy/paste them into the comments. Be sure to put “[My 50 Words]” first so I know it’s an official entry.

REMINDER: You don’t have to write your story just on Fridays! Take this sentiment and free write all weekend long!

HOW TO JOIN THE COLLABORATION

I write 50 words (see above) then you write an additional 50 words.
My 50 must start. Your 50 must follow.
You have all weekend long to copy/paste your 50 words into the COMMENTS section of this post.
My 50 words will always use the IMAGE PROMPT as inspiration.
I will select my favorite 50 word addition to my story and share it in the following ways:
- Substack Notes (you will get tagged as well)
- Upcoming First Edition email on December 1st and January 1st (respectively)

If you are up for this challenge scroll to my 50 words BENEATH the IMAGE PROMPT! Good luck!

JUST WANNA WRITE YOUR OWN 100 WORD STORY?

Here’s how:

Write exactly 100 words. Not 99 or 101. The Word Count Police are tracking!
Genre? Writer’s choice! So long as you give us all the thrills and the feels.
To Fic or to Non-Fic? You decide. What matters most is that you’re satisfied with the output.
Copy/paste your words in the comments, then share on your own Substack, and maybe, share to social media!
A Note on Substack Notes | Click the 🔄 “Restack with a Note” and copy/paste your story for added reach and growth.

Erica Drayton Writes

Queen of 💯 Word Stories.

Feasts and Fables

December 8, 2023

The Hunt
With unblinking eyes it turned its head 180 degrees in either direction. The sky was black. Not a creature stirred. The owl was alone.
It spread its wings and took flight. It’s hoot warning others to keep out of sight. There was much that could only be done at night.
Swooping lower, circles decreasing, the castle walls rising to meet its descent. Eyes fixing on bodies scurrying into dark corners, senses alert to its nocturnal raid. It had always been this way. As talons alighted on cobbles, one brave villager watched the transformation, seeing the blood on his Lordship’s lips.

Reply
Joseph Wiess

December 8, 2023

With unblinking eyes it turned its head 180 degrees in either direction. The sky was black. Not a creature stirred. The owl was alone.

It spread its wings and took flight. It’s hoot warning others to keep out of sight. There was much that could only be done at night.
The old draoidh looked up as the night hunter circled him. He held out his right arm and watched as the Owl came in for a stately landing.
“What news do you bring me, my friend?” He inquired as he reached up and scratched the owl atop its feathry head.

Reply
1. Feasts and Fables
  
  December 8, 2023
  
  Love it
  
  Reply
Colin W

December 10, 2023

With unblinking eyes it turned its head 180 degrees in either direction. The sky was black. Not a creature stirred. The owl was alone.

It spread its wings and took flight. It’s hoot warning others to keep out of sight. There was much that could only be done at night.

It soared high before reaching civilization, the street lights beaming below. It heard a scream, piercing through the stillness. It descended, coming down gracefully to assert its presence. A group of youths turned, drawing gasps & looks of fear.

‘It’s Night Owl! Run!’

The streets were safe again… for now.

Reply
Alice Meredith

December 10, 2023

[MY 50 WORDS]
(With unblinking eyes it turned its head 180 degrees in either direction. The sky was black. Not a creature stirred. The owl was alone.

It spread its wings and took flight. It’s hoot warning others to keep out of sight. There was much that could only be done at night.)

Wide circles it flew over the country. Its yellow eyes, made for the gloom of a moonless night, searched below for any signs of life, man or beast.

Another hoot announces that all is clear. With silent footsteps through the forest, an army appears, summoned at last. The rebellion begins.

Reply
1. Feasts and Fables
  
  December 10, 2023
  
  Clever. Liking this. I imagine the army appearing out of some mist.
  
  Reply

Erica Drayton Writes