Icarus' Flight To Perfection

Informal Exercise #2

2011-03-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Ah, here we go again. Another visual prompt-

If you're going to take this challenge up, we would prefer that you write a story, but a poem is semi-acceptable. The minimum word count is 150 words and the maximum should be 1,300, poems should not exeed 100 lines. As before, please no overt politics. There are plenty of political blogs and I don't want this place to devolve into flame war or to attract extremist nuts. Please keep the sex tasteful and make sure that the violence is non-gratuitous. Please note that we would appreciate that you list in the comment section that you have finished your story. It makes it easier to retrieve the link and for everyone else to read the story. Especially if you've done multiple posts for that day, because then your link to the story won't be in the author's column anymore.

The due date? May 2nd, 2011. Good night, good luck, and the cat did it.

Informal Exercise #1 - The Stories

2011-03-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

So much time has past, and here it is again where deadlines seem to be sneaking up on us. Cormac was wonderful enough to post a challenge of a different sort requesting we tell how the Piano ended up on a sandbar in Miami along with a picture for inspiration.

So lets see how we did:

Sue H takes us to a brighter side of death.

Cormac surprises us at the party of the year.

Nicole makes us ponder a cover-up.

Check This Out!

2011-02-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

I'm giving my book rating a little early this year, but it is by far one of the best books I've read in a while... what is it???

A Crime thriller that is getting rave reviews, and not just from me! Read more at Richard's site (http://www.richardgodwin.net/) or just click below to buy the book already!

APOSTLE RISING

The continuing saga of the piano from Excercise #1

2011-02-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

An author who wrote a book about a cow having an existential crisis, capitalizes on the piano.

But wait, I thought someone claimed the thing.

Informal Exercise #1

2011-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

Cormac, here. Until Nicole gets a regular Internet connection, I'd thought we all could try a little experiment along the lines of a visual prompt.

"How a grand piano ended up on a sandbar about 200 yards from the Miami waterfront in Biscayne Bay remains a mystery," was the caption that the newspaper provided along with this picture. This challenge will revolve around that, and if you except it, you will write a story about how the piano got there.

The usual rules will apply*: We would prefer that you write a story, but a poem is semi-acceptable. The minimum word count is 150 words and the maximum should be 1,300, poems should not exeed 100 lines. As before, please no overt politics. There are plenty of political blogs and I don't want this place to devolve into flame war or to attract extremist nuts. Please keep the sex tasteful and make sure that the violence is non-gratuitous. Please note that we would appreciate that you list in the comment section that you have finished your story. It makes it easier to retrieve the link and for everyone else to read the story. Especially if you've done multiple posts for that day, because then your link to the story won't be in the author's column anymore.

*Except the deadline isn't until March 1st, 2011.

Goodnight, good luck and, ebony, and i-vory.

I co-started a blog and wound up in Texas

2011-01-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons why I ended Friday Flash Fiction was because the blog was because cutting into both my time with my family and it was screwing up my writing deadlines. I knew that if I were to recommence with another writing prompt blog, it couldn't be a repeat of the last experience. Well, I had good momentum on a project going into this last session, and Icarus just shot that down. Come last Saturday morning, we had exactly two stories turned in, and David, because he was preoccupied with getting things in order with the Flash Fiction Offensive, turned his in a little tardy.

Now, before I say anything else, I would like to reemphasize that Nicole is without a steady Internet connection at this time. She would like to participate more, but this still might be a challenge in the near future. Whatever she does with this blog, I will support her wholeheartedly, but I will no longer be co-moderating it. Whatever you may feel about me, please, Nicole deserves your support. She has put in a lot of time, love and effort into this project.

Sincerely,

Cormac A. Brown

The Fourth Session: The Stories

2011-01-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Off we go into the wild blue yonder!

Nicole and Katherine provided the starter sentence rocket fuel. Miss Hirschi said, "And that's why I don't own a gun," and, "The bell tolled not once, not twice, but three times." And she provided these four words: Fence, Mend, Court, and Misled.

Miss Tomlinson said, "In the moonlight the blood looked quite black."

Let's see the results-

Katherine gets up close and personal.

Cormac peeks over the wall.

David sends this session off with a bang.

The Fourth Session

2010-12-23T00:37:00.000-08:00

It was once said that in order to gain perfection you must try, try, and try again...

...but we couldn't get more than two sentences for a poll? Ah, c'mon people! ; )

Our sentences this month are:

"And that's why I don't own a gun."

"The bell tolled not once, not twice, but three times." Both from Nicole.

"In the moonlight the blood looked quite black." From Katherine.

Or you have a choice of including the following four words:

Fence, Mend, Court, and Misled. All from Nicole.

Remember, If you fail to continue trying, you may end up like this...

Whichever of the four selections that you choose from, you must write a story (or poem) with a minimum 150 words and maximum of 1300 words. The sentence or words can be anywhere in the story, but it must be there in its entirety.

This sounds simple enough, but if you've done this before, then you know better. If you are in, please say so. Have your story done by Saturday @ 9 AM Pacific, January 22th, all right?

Line Up Those Starter Sentences!

2010-12-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

Line up those faces!

Wait a minute, that's not right. I know, I know, watch this video-

Then, line up those starter sentences!

Well, you the reader can submit one sentence in the comment section of this post before December 23rd, @8:30 PM, PST. Then, we will load that into a poll. The winning result of that poll, will be posted on December 26th, @2:30 PM, PST.

The Third Session: The Stories

2010-12-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

C'mon, baby! Strike one more blow and evil Santa will tumble like a Christmas tree perched on a wobbly stand! Well, our third session is already in the bag and the REAL Santa has delivered some presents early. We had three sentences to choose from-

David said, "When you say you're in, you're in. Get it?"

MRM said, "The red sky that morning should have been my warning."

Cormac said, "Sometimes...promises are made to be broken."

Without further delay, let's see the results-

Nicole looks at clouds from both sides now.

Beach takes us out of the frying pan...

Cormac goes poetic.

Katherine shows us the challenge one undergoes with oaths.

David reveals a certain man's true nature.

The Third Session

2010-11-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

Look up in the sky!

It's a bird!

No, it's a plane!

No, it's Icarus' Flight To Perfection!

While one moderator is with little or no Internet access, the other hides in a corner and rocks in a fetal position (obviously not Nicole/Coraline). Maybe since it is almost December, we need a third moderator that has frankincense and myrrh? Well, I'll crawl out of my mental hole long enough to set up the third session by using two previous starter sentences from our first poll-

David says, "When you say you're in, you're in. Get it?"

MRM says, "The red sky that morning should have been my warning."

Plus, I'll add this one, "Sometimes...promises are made to be broken."

Whichever of the three selections that you choose from, you must write a story (or poem) with a minimum 150 words and maximum of 1300 words. The sentence can be anywhere in the story, but it must be there in its entirety.

This sounds simple enough, but if you've done this before, then you know better. If you are in, please say so in the comments section of this post. Have your story done by Saturday @ 9 AM Pacific, December 18th, all right?

The Second Session: The Stories

2010-11-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Times Up!

Ready or not, the Second Session is here! There were three sentences to chose from-

"The first time his/her/their payment was handed over I figured it was a one time deal, but the second time?"

"Of all nights that I had to trespass into the world of darkness it was this night."

"It was Sunday, and there shouldn't have been a letter in the mailbox, but there was."

Let's see the results-

Beach leads us into some intrigue.

Denise shows us a prelude to war.

Flannery takes us into the wild west again.

Nicole reveals to us what can happen under a full moon.

Cormac steams open an envelope.

48 Hours and Counting!

2010-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you don't have your pieces done, you still have time - Me included!

... and someone please make that ticking stop!

Remember, post them on your blogs and leave a link to it in the comment section of the challenge.

So looking forward to reading your stories...

The Second Session

2010-10-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Wax those feathers and make ready for flight, your starter sentences are:

"The first time his/her/their payment was handed over I figured it was a one time deal, but the second time?"

"Of all nights that I had to trespass into the world of darkness it was this night."

"It was Sunday, and there shouldn't have been a letter in the mailbox, but there was."

Whichever of the three selections that you choose from, you must write a story (or poem) with a minimum 150 words and maximum of 1300 words. The sentence can be anywhere in the story, but it must be there in its entirety.

This sounds simple enough, but if you've done this before, then you know better. If you are in, please say so. Have your story done by Saturday @ 9 AM Pacific, November 20th, all right?

Starter Sentece Poll #1

2010-10-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Only you can save this poor animal...

...by choosing one of the following three starter sentences!

J.C. Montgomery says, "It was Sunday, and there shouldn't have been a letter in the mailbox, but there was."

David says, "When you say you're in, you're in. Get it?"

MRM says, "The red sky that morning should have been my warning."

The winning result of this poll, will be posted on October 29th, @9:30 AM, PST. And that sentence will be one of the three that you can chose from, for our second session.

NoHo Noir @ Patch.Com

2010-10-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

NoHo? Where in the world is "NoHo?"

Who is this woman? And who is she talking to? Who did these dynamite illustrations? All will be revealed at Katherine Tomlinson's tale "House Blend," which can be found at Patch.com.

Line Up Those Starter Sentences!

2010-10-23T23:24:00.000-07:00

You can stare at the laundry all day, but I don't think it's in there, Mr. Cat...

...So, this is where you, the authors and readers of Icarus' Flight To Perfection come in. For November's session, Nicole will come up with two starter sentences and everyone else will come up with the third starter sentence, so that Mr. Cat won't have to keep checking the laundry. How can everyone come up with a sentence at the same time? Well, you the reader will submit one sentence in the comment section of this post before October 27th, @8:30 PM, PST.

Then, we will load that into a poll. The winning result of that poll, will be posted on October 29th, @9:30 AM, PST.

The Premiere Session

2010-10-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Soar like you never have before...

...because here is the Premiere Session of Icarus' Flight To Perfection! The authors had the choice from one of the following two sentences, or creating a story using this group of four words-

"It occurred to him just a little too late, that a good woman really is worth more than her weight in gold."

"He pulled the mask over his face and whispered, 'c'mon, baby needs a new pair of shoes.'"

Trip, Triptych, Pick, Tropic.

Let's see the results-
Gabby takes us to a place where even compasses are lost.
Nicole chronicles a real mystery date.

Mal reveals a best friend's true worth.
Cormac talks to us about a man's grave condition.
MRM stuns us with a tale about logistics.

There are just less than forty-nine hours to go

2010-10-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

I hope that you're ready, because there are just a little under forty-nine hours to go before the deadline of our inaugural session.

It's time to shine...

Here is some reading to tide you over until October 23rd

2010-10-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Cormac Brown has a story up at Dark Valentine's October Flash Frenzy, called "Introductions Are In Order."

Speaking of Dark Valentine Magazine, Editor Katherine Tomlinson has an E-book out called "Just Another Day In Paradise"

Life in the big city is not for the faint of heart. Shadows lurk in sunlight; blood spills on floors; hope and dread are just two sides of a neon sign; and loneliness is a paper cut on the heart, an invisible wound that eventually kills. In these stories, Katherine Tomlinson explores the dark heart of urban living. It is what it is...Just Another Day in Paradise.

Information on this outstanding anthology and a sample of the first ten pages are right here at Smashwords.com.

There are still some slots left over for Dark Valentine's October Flash Fiction Frenzy

2010-10-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

There are still some spots left for Dark Valentine Magazine's October Flash Fiction Frenzy.

Editor Katherine Tomlinson says, "While I don't want to distract anyone who's polishing a story for your own fiction challenge, thought I'd mention that there are five (5) open slots left. I prefer flash at this point (under 1200 words) because I need time to read and edit and assign So if anyone is feeling frenzied, they should submit to us at: submissions@darkvalentine.net."

The October Flash Fiction Frenzy has begun!

2010-10-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

Thirty-one days.

Thirty-one stories.

Thirty-one illustrations.

This will be an October to remember. Starting today, October 1st, Dark Valentine Magazine will post a new story a day. The frenzy begins with a real chiller, “Animal Lover” by Kat Parrish. It's illustrated by Mark Satchwill, and the frenzy will end with a Lovecraftian tale by Barbara Emrys, also illustrated by Mark Satchwill. You won’t want to miss a single story.

Icarus' October Flight To Perfection

2010-09-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

For the Premiere Session; you can chose from one of the following two sentences, or the four words.

"It occurred to him just a little too late, that a good woman really is worth more than her weight in gold."

"He pulled the mask over his face and he whispered, 'c'mon, baby needs a new pair of shoes.'"

Trip. Triptych. Pick. Tropic.

Whichever of the three selections that you chose from, you must write a story (or poem) with a minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 1,300 words. If you chose from one of the two sentences, the sentence can be anywhere in the story, but it must be there in its entirety. Likewise, the four words, but obviously they can be in any order.

This sounds simple enough, but if you've done this before, you know better. If you are in, please say so. Have it done by Saturday @9 AM Pacific, October 23rd, all right?

An Introduction And The Rules

2010-09-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

This is not my first foray into providing flash fiction prompts, but this time? I will not be doing this alone, as I've brought along the lovely Nicole with me. She is not only a talented writer, she is also quite a creative force. Nicole will definitely make quite a moderator and task master, and hopefully, you will up to her expectations.

The Foundation

For the first session, you will get to chose from two sentences that we will provide, and a group of four words. This way you will have three different paths to select from and the chances will improve that the stories won't be too similar in tone. For the next session and every one thereafter, you can submit a starter sentence and a poll will determine what the third sentence will be. If a sentence that wasn't a winner in popularity in a previous poll seems to be a sleeper? We might revive it.

Story Requirements And Word Length

We would prefer that you write a story, but a poem is semi-acceptable. The minimum word count is 150 words and the maximum should be 1,300, poems should not exeed 100 lines. Mind you, this isn't flash fiction, and so hopefully it won't look like you stitched it together. You will have a lot more time to edit it than the last place. So hone it, tone it, and own it.

The Rules

This time around, the moderators reserve the right to be mercurial. You, Nicole and I are volunteering our time here. We are building a community and we're trying to improve our writing. If any of us have to waste our time with negative energy, it is a detriment to us all. If you are given two strikes by either of us, well, you can please write somewhere else.

You will add comments to that post indicating your desire to participate and the completion of your story. You may join in at any time prior to the deadline. You will display your story as a post on your own blog and it will be done by the designated Saturday @ 9:00 AM PST.

As before, please no overt politics. There are plenty of political blogs and I don't want this place to devolve into flame war or to attract extremist nuts. Please keep the sex tasteful and make sure that the violence is non-gratuitous. Please note that we would appreciate that you list in the comment section that you have finished your story. It makes it easier to retrieve the link and for everyone else to read the story. Especially if you've done multiple posts for that day, because then your link to the story won't be in the author's column anymore.

The Starter Sentences

Give it your best, and you definitely want to submit something that inspire everyone. Let's try not to use songs or other people's stories unless they are pretty much ingrained in our popular culture and language. It would not be cool if we had an outstanding session that had to be pulled, because some overzealous lawyer decided that they have to prove to a music corporation or publisher that they are actually working, instead of just collecting a check.

Don't Be Late

Once the deadline is set, barring a reprieve from one of the moderators, the stories that are submitted late will not be posted. If there is a familial or computer emergency, obviously that will be taken into consideration. Genuine distress or not, please do not inundate our mailboxes with explanations, and one email will suffice.

Good luck and don't fly to close to the sun.