goodbye

Gone.

My muse.

My inspiration and creative outlet.

They left me.  Eventually, they always leave me.

There’s nothing left but the gun in my hand.

Cocked.

Pressed against my temple.

I pull the …

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Word Count: 33

The Trifecta Writing Challenge is stepping away before they lose the passion that has been the driving force over their run of prompts, critiques, and community building.  This week they offer their final prompt:

“For the final challenge here at Trifecta, we considered some flash and dazzle, a wild prompt to send us off with a bang. What we realized was the most achingly beautiful, haunting and dazzling words we’ve read from our brilliant community have been the ones you chose when you were given the freedom to write with abandon. So we’re lovingly, and eagerly, placing the choice in your hands. There’s no topic, no word, just a free write. Go anywhere your mind wants to travel. Take us there too. Just make it count, leave your blood all over this page. Thirty-three words exactly. Of course. We couldn’t end it any other way.”

I will definitely miss their prompts and the challenge to come up with something worth saying in so few words.  And you, dear kingdomites?  Can you leave your blood on the page in 33 words?

nothing personal

“I couldn’t worm nothing out of him.”

“You used pliers?”

“Yeah.  He screamed a lot but wouldn’t give up his friends.”

“Get rid of him.”

“Nothing personal,” he’d always wanted to say that.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Word Count: 33

I feel like I could tackle this challenge every day this week and come up with something different.  There were so many ways I wanted to go with it.  There was so much more detail I could have put in if I’d been allowed a few more more words.  Who’s the boss?  Who’s the henchman?  Who’s their captive?

I might have to revisit this story later to expand on it anyway.

But, for now, these 33 words were in response to the current Trifecta Writing Challenge:

WORM (transitive verb)

1a :  to proceed or make (one’s way) insidiously or deviously<worm their way into positions of power     — Bill Franzen>

 b :  to insinuate or introduce (oneself) by devious or subtle means

 c :  to cause to move or proceed in or as if in the manner of a worm

2 :  to wind rope or yarn spirally round and between the strands of (a cable or rope) before serving

3 :  to obtain or extract by artful or insidious questioning or by pleading, asking, or persuading —usually used with out of<finally wormed the truth out of him>

Remember:

• Your response must be exactly 33 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.

• Only one entry per writer.

• If your post doesn’t meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.

• Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.

Have you ever used your powers of persuasion to worm information from someone?

time for ice cream?

I was alone in our apartment and, strangely, still hungry for ice cream.

I’d asked if she was ready to leave, but she packed her things and left before I could stop her.

That wasn’t what I meant.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Word Count: 38

This bit of silly sadness brought to you in response to this week’s Trifextra:

We want 33 words in addition to and preceding the following:

That wasn’t what I meant.

So, to clarify, you write 33 words and then you tag on the five that we’ve given you.  Our five come after your 33 for a grand total of 38.

And you, dear kingdomite, how would you get to that closing line?  What have you said before that someone took differently from how you meant it?

The words wouldn’t come.

The words wouldn’t come.  They felt forced.  They felt false.

He pounded away at the typewriter anyway, hoping that one word would spark the rest and ignite his imagination.  The verbs wouldn’t catch.  The adjectives failed to provide the proper breaths of life.  The nouns were inadequate fuel.

It was hopeless.  He was in a writing funk and there wasn’t the faintest hint of smoke rising from fingers or paper.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Word Count: 69

I’m keeping my response to the Trifecta Challenge short this week.  I could probably tack on extra words but that would truly feel forced.  Anyway, as you may have guessed, this week’s word is:

FUNK
(noun)
1 a :  a state of paralyzing fear
b : a depressed state of mind
2 :  one that funks :  COWARD
3 :  SLUMP
<an economic funk>  <the team went into a
funk>

Remember:
• Your response must be between 33 and 333
words.
• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
• The word itself needs to be included in your response.
• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
• Only one entry per writer.
• If your post doesn’t meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.
• Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.

big mistake

A bit of a flush crept into his cheeks the longer he remained on one knee with his face pleading earnestly.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head once.

He felt like an idiot.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Word Count: 33

This bit of silliness brought to you in response to this week’s Trifextra:

This week we're asking for exactly 33 of your own words about love gone wrong.  But we're asking that you not use any of the following words:

love

sad

tears

wept

heart

pain

This weekend’s challenge is community judged.

• For the 48 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.

• In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link. To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.

• You can vote for your top three favorite posts.

• Voting is open to everyone.