Accountability as an Antidote to Drifting

I have been drifting a little lately – it’s quite evident from the lack of content I’ve been adding here in the last few weeks. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I needed to forgive myself for that. I also needed clarity about which direction to go in, in several areas of my life.

FF – Come To The Masquerade

I couldn’t allow my family to show me up this week. And besides it was such a great picture prompt to work with. So here is my offering for this week’s Friday Fictioneers. As always, rules can be found at the online home of our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s picture is by Kent Bonham, and is apparently from Barcelona, although that is not where I go in my story. To read this week’s other stories, all you need to do is click on the Linx creature below my story.

Thought for the week – Forgiving Yourself

It’s almost a year since I started this blog, when I had an idea of what my next book would be about. Reflecting on the progress I’ve made, the truth is that there is not much to show for that year. I found myself over the weekend wondering just how many times I will need to refocus and attempt to get myself organised (you may have read about some of my efforts here over the year, but none of them have been the magic answer).

My first thoughts were that I am human, and ordinary, and fallible.

Friday Fictioneers – Skills

Welcome to Friday. Today the sun is shining, and I have another little offering for Friday Fictioneers, the 100-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. I am still trying to stick to exactly one hundred words, which gives me practice at editing! No fairies this week, just general fiction. This week’s photo prompt is courtesy of Claire Fuller, so please respect her copyright, and if you fancy joining in, the rules can be found at Rochelle’s blog.

Thought for the week – How can we fight disease?

I saw an advert on TV last night for the British Heart Foundation (an organisation which educates on and researches into heart disease). In this advert the organisation has adopted kind of terminology which has for a long time been associated with cancer charities. We are told by everyone in the advert that they HATE heart disease, and we are urged to donate to the fight. I wonder if I am the only one whose heart sinks at this wording.
There must be something in us that this way of describing a disease appeals to immensely.

Friday Fictioneers – Escape

Well, I managed to post a story last week, but that was about as far as it got. Thank you very much to everyone who visited and apologies for not returning the favour. I’m a bit more ‘present’ this week so should manage to get around some of the stories.

For anyone not already aware, this is Friday Fictioneers, a writing challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Simply write a hundred word piece of flash fiction based on the photo prompt. This week’s prompt (courtesy of Janet Webb) is shown below, and full details are at Rochelle’s blog. As always I welcome your comments and constructive criticism.

Copyright Janet Webb

FF – Moving On

Ah, that’s better. It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the Orchard household, so apologies for our absence. This was a truly lovely picture prompt (courtesy of Sandra Crook) for the Friday Fictioneers flash fiction challenge. This is managed by our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields over at her blog Addicted to Purple, otherwise known as Friday Fictioneers Central. Sorry for going AWOL boss! And apologies to Sandra for the fact my story is only very loosely related to the prompt at all. My story follows the picture and the rest of this week’s stories can be found by clicking on the blue link monster.

Copyright Sandra Crook

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Moving On