5pm Fiction

‘5pm Fiction’ was a feature which ran from Friday 1st June 2012 to 31st October 2013.

I was writing a story each day for Story A Day May and it was great to be writing every day. All writers should and it’s amazing how I found time. I write because I have to, like writing 50,000 words every November for NaNoWriMo… I just do it! If poets like Wendy Cope (who I met a few years ago at a local library talk) can write a poem a day, I thought, I can write a story and I did, for those 17 months.

Using the following prompts (explanations below), I posted the stories on this blog every day (weekdays only from September 2013) at 5pm then put the links to them on this page, until they became available as a collection of fifty in eBook format (links to the individual volumes below). These are the formats I used…

• MONDAYS: Sentence starts = what they say on the tin. You can start the beginning of the story with them or a later sentence but they’re a great way of kicking off. My 365-Day Writer’s Block Workbook (Vol 1) eBook has over 1,000 of them (plus 50+ writing tips).
• TUESDAYS: Keywords = the words have to appear in the story but can be in any order and can be lengthened (e.g. clap to clapping). 365-Day Writer’s Block Workbook (Vol 2) is also available and based on a similar format to Volume 1 but three sets of five keywords per day – one set, two sets or for a real challenge, all three sets, to be included in your story or poem. Volume 2 is available exclusively to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk (and other Amazon countries).
• WEDNESDAYS: Monologue (a one-sided conversation) or dialogue only = this is where you literally just write a conversation between two people. No ‘he said’, ‘she said’ or description, just speech and the reader has to be able to keep up. 🙂
• THURSDAYS: Single-word prompt = sometimes all it takes is one word to spawn an idea. Sometimes it easy, sometimes hard, but invariably fun.
• FRIDAYS: Second-person = some of you will know that I champion. The prompt can be in any style but has to be written in second-person viewpoint… oh, what a hardship. 🙂 This 5pm story will be posted on the same day as the latest Flash Fiction Fridays story so a double-dose for fiction lovers.

JUNE

1. 001: Friday – second-person story: Norma goes through her handbag and makes a startling discovery 🙂 – Life in the Old Dog (447 words).
2. 002: Saturday – one-word prompt: weird – Strange Little Girl (425 words).
3. 003: Sunday – mixed bag: an undertaker, a schoolboy, a book, on a bus, the bus has broken down, claustrophobia – The big black one with the space in the back (655 words).
4. 004: Monday – sentence start: As Amy ran down the hill… – First impression (266 words).
5. 005: Tuesday –  keywords: tablet, typewriter, bigger, value, clap – Joining the 21st Century (365 words).
6. 006: Wednesday – monologue: we hear from an interviewee – They always look at the shoes (223 words).
7. 007: Thursday – dialogue: two men are talking about a new barmaid at their working men’s club – Like out of space or something (173 words).
8. 008: Friday – second-person: your character is faced with breaking some difficult news – Until Daniel (377 words).
9. 009: Saturday – one-word prompt: quiet – Too beautiful for words (356 words).
10. 010: Sunday – mixed bag: motorway worker, ballerina, parking ticket, library, he’s trodden on her foot, insomnia – Phonetics – A Winter’s Tale (670 words).
11. 011: Monday – sentence start: As you turn the key… – Just that extra (297 words).
12. 012: Tuesday – keywords: drop, throw, heading, ability, tick – The innocent brick (158 words).
13. 013: Wednesday – monologue: Bridget is dreading meeting an ex-boyfriend – How’s your mum? (221 words).
14. 014: Thursday – dialogue: old school friends talking about someone missing – Our Joanie (240 words).
15. 015: Friday – second-person: Daniel just been made redundant – Family heirlooms (227 words).
16. 016: Saturday – one-word prompt: face – Art theft (185 words).
17. 017: Sunday – mixed bag: sales assistant, bank manager, handbag, bakery, theft, memory loss – The Chelsea bun (240 words).
18. 018: Monday – sentence start: Listening to the orchestra, Billy… (as a 110-word one-sentence story!) – An alien hum (110 words).
19. 019: Tuesday – keywords: soft, scratch, stammer, steep, swallow – Scratch at the door (67 words).
20. 020: Wednesday – monologue: Sophie’s waiting for her little brother to get ready for school – Thin enough (300 words).
21. 021: Thursday – dialogue: a friend is trying to quit smoking – Having something in your mouth (166 words).
22. 022: Friday – second-person: Irwin has cold feet – Cold feet (145 words).
23. 023: Saturday – one-word prompt: under – Under (467 words).
24. 024: Sunday – mixed bag: air stewardess, factory worker, park, hay fever, bag of essentials, love – Same time tomorrow (587 words).
25. 025: Monday – sentence start: As it started to wobble… – Once the love’s gone (626 words), a prequel to my free eShort April’s Fool.
26. 026: Tuesday – keywords: nose, arm, elbow, hospital, tune – Thinking big (228 words).
27. 027: Wednesday – monologue: And just for a minute, I forget – Sometimes I forget (357 words).
28. 028: Thursday – dialogue: an old couple witness a robbery – Funny peculiar (359 words).
29. 029: Friday – second-person: Fiona is learning something new – Varying degrees of German (346 words).
30. 030: Saturday – keyword: light – Light – a guest story by my sci-fi writing friend Tony Tibbenham! (163 words).

JULY

1. 031: Sunday – mixed bag: bus driver, ballerina, alarm clock, nervous, lost child and beach – Raven hair flying – by Tony again (243 words).
2. 032: Monday – sentence start: Hearing the bone snap as he fell… – Getting off lightly (141 words).
3. 033: Tuesday – keywords: string, accompanied, week, special, boots – Quirky boots (60 words).
4. 034: Wednesday – first person piece: about a sibling – Oh brother! (948 words).
5. 035: Thursday – dialogue: between twins – Double trouble (112 words).
6. 036: Friday – second-person: featuring a new couple – A woman by comparison (270 words).
7. 037: Saturday – one-word prompt: mate – Stalemate (371 words).
8. 038: Sunday – mixed bag: beautician, nurse, art gallery, cuddly toy, talks too much, mistaken identity – I knew a Joyce once (285 words).
9. 039: Monday – sentence start: Susan’s gloves were threadbare… – Every days (155 words).
10. 040: Tuesday – keywords: plot, red, super, path, cottage – Weapon of choice (573 words).
11. 041: Wednesday – monologue: A moment I regret – My one regret (335 words).
12. 042: Thursday – dialogue: character in a difficult position – Bath for two (147 words).
13. 043: Friday – second-person: a speeding car – Her eyes have never been bluer (176 words).
14. 044: Saturday – one-word prompt: bun – Not even as affection (227 words).
15. 045: Sunday – mixed bag: a married couple, retirement villa, lemon, cockerel, talkative, surprise – Just desserts (112 words).
16. 046: Monday – sentence start: The music played despite… – Carry on with the show (886 words).
17. 047: Tuesday – keywords: edge, egg, elephant, easel, envelope – Not imaginary like Jack’s (402 words).
18. 048: Wednesday – monologue: a father / son relationship – Feeding the Father (658 words).
19. 049: Thursday – dialogue: between two siblings – Are you going to tell her or shall I? (347 words).
20. 050: Friday – second-person: a 100-word story – Not visiting day. The first ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ collection is now available as a $0.99 (£0.77) eBook, exclusive to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (and the equivalent other Amazon countries).
21. 051: Saturday – one-word prompt: stagger – No threat to customers (398 words).
22. 052: Sunday – mixed bag: manager, co-worker, painting, theft, large house, too smooth – We all have to start somewhere (1,919 words).
23. 053: Monday – sentence start: As the hand clasped around her waist… – The one she’d bought the dress for (582 words).
24. 054: Tuesday – keywords: python, red, pool, bottle, fine – This is my mother we’re talking about (202 words).
25. 055: Wednesday – monologue: prompt ‘cold snap’ – Nita readings (286 words).
26. 056: Thursday – dialogue: one of the characters has lost something – It brought him luck last time (188 words).
27. 057: Friday – second person: waiting for an important delivery (future tense) – Whatever Aunt Agatha has in store for you (318 words).
28. 058: Saturday – one-word prompt: lead – Once living and pink (182 words).
29. 059: Sunday – mixed bag: a centenarian, robin, sloth, cellar, flood and calm under pressure – Stuffed (44 words).
30. 060: Monday – sentence start: The scream woke up the household – A good deal really (221 words).
31. 061: Tuesday – keywords: skylight, dress, over, fool, spike – Human maybe (126 words).

AUGUST

1. 062: Wednesday – monologue: waiting for an important phone call – Unexpected especially (323 words).
2. 063: Thursday – dialogue: a school run – Belt up (227 words).
3. 064: Friday – second person: mix, fortune, white, smile, bunch – Gripped (268 words).
4. 065: Saturday – one-word prompt: flour – Ruby’s revenge (252 words).
5. 066: Sunday – mixed bag: repetitive, Eddie, animals, expert, quitting smoking – Trillpower (155 words).
6. 067: Monday – sentence start: As Natalie threw the mug… – Sharp edges (142 words).
7. 068: Tuesday – keywords: patient, fade, glass, stripes, yellow – Hot for a man in uniform (137 words).
8. 069: Wednesday – monologue: keywords: bench, brown, tail, umbrella, dark – A goatie to go with it (321 words).
9. 070: Thursday – dialogue: keywords: red, vicar, curtains, laugh, face – Yes, Mildred (212 words).
10. 071: Friday – second person: prompt ‘plant’ – Biological is all it is (531 words).
11. 072: Saturday – one-word prompt: ‘red’ – Sticky red hands (176 words).
12. 073: Sunday – mixed bag: widower, official, allotment, letter, Sunday, weeds – Home visit (305 words).
13. 074: Monday – sentence start: It felt as if he was going nowhere… – No faded circle of skin (373 words).
14. 075: Tuesday – keywords: strong, shut, idea, maybe, blink – Good with his hands (428 words).
15. 076: Wednesday – monologue: not a fan of Christmas – Just a shame they have to die (263 words).
16. 077: Thursday – dialogue: between two neighbours – Who indeed? (280 words).
17. 078: Friday – second person: the three keys – Three keys (276 words).
18. 079: Saturday – one-word prompt: calm – It’ll be over soon (220 words).
19. 080: Sunday – mixed bag: private detective, sister, Hawaiian shirt, rocky relationship, forgetful – More Laura Ashley than Magnum P.I. (288 words).
20. 081: Monday – sentence start: Tipping up the glass… – Sort of funny (228 words).
21. 082: Tuesday – keywords: torch, pop, swallow, beige, snow – Master of the house (135 words).
22. 083: Wednesday – monologue: a character lacking in confidence – Legs and confidence (443 words).
23. 084: Thursday – dialogue: failed relationship – Cheapskate (188 words).
24. 085: Friday – second person: starting ‘As you step up to the bell…’ – Dowdy is a let-down (454 words).
25. 086: Saturday – one-word prompt: disguise – Exotic spice (313 words).
26. 087: Sunday – mixed bag: aunt, stranger, airport, snow, knife, new opportunity – Playing safe (242 words).
27. 088: Monday – sentence start: It wasn’t as if she’d done anything wrong… – They never do (263 words).
28. 089: Tuesday – keywords: black, tumble, naked, soap and hair – Modern-day Cleopatra (393 words).
29. 090: Wednesday – monologue: waiting to be served – Cardboard box in a field (435 words).
30. 091: Thursday – dialogue: keyword ‘powder’ – Off the back of a lorry (328 words).
31. 092: Friday – second person: the bus stop – Standing room only (548 words).

SEPTEMBER

1. 093: Saturday – one-word prompt: nostalgia – Waiting for the number 12 (459 words).
2. 094: Sunday – mixed bag: daughter, camera, secret, silent, money – Rosie an afterthought (262 words).
3. 095: Monday – sentence start: As he stared at the top… – A mountain to climb (361 words).
4. 096: Tuesday – keywords: ticks, push, evidence, different, leaflet – Not a house or car (94 words).
5. 097: Wednesday – monologue: Bert the retired photographer – Popped out for a pint of milk, or something (417 words).
6. 098: Thursday – dialogue: between a couple in bed – The light on the ceiling (185 words).
7. 099: Friday – second person: two generations – Empathy, sympathy, sorrow (326 words).
8. 100: Saturday – one-word prompt: fairy – Josie’s wings (237 words). The second ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ collection is now available as a $0.99 (£0.77) eBook, exclusive to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (and the equivalent other Amazon countries).
9. 101: Sunday – mixed bag:  married couple, bubble, sports car, jealous, affair – Two short (551 words).
10. 102: Monday – sentence start: Barney was extremely patient – Dog collar (60 words).
11. 103: Tuesday – keywords: balls, distinctly, red, door, unfestive – Just like Christmas (213 words).
12. 104: Wednesday – monologue: start ‘He doesn’t look right…’ – He doesn’t look right (133 words).
13. 105: Thursday – dialogue: a couple talking about another couple – Neighbourhood Watch (219 words).
14. 106: Friday – second person: serious – Daddy’s girl (200 words).
15. 107: Saturday – one-word prompt: merry – Red suit and all (150 words).
16. 108: Sunday – mixed bag: doctor, old man, recycling box, knee trouble, parrot – African grey blues (360 words).
17. 109: Monday – sentence start: Michael sat down in the middle… – Cry Baby (284 words).
18. 110: Tuesday – keywords: France, tune, whistle, repetitive, none – Chalk and fromage (251 words).
19. 111: Wednesday – monologue: a recent story told from a different character – Chalk and fromage (part 2) (339 words).
20. 112: Thursday – dialogue: legs – Most people (114 words).
21. 113: Friday – second person: a bad day – The picture on the mantelpiece (199 words).
22. Nothing today as I posted the 500th interview and took the weekend off. 🙂
23. Nothing today either. 🙂
24. Nothing today either, transmission resumed with Monday night’s poetry. 🙂
25. 114: Tuesday – keywords: curve, brushing, newborn, decades, thrill – Like a newborn (347 words).
26. 115: Wednesday – monologue: at a car boot sale – Hand-painted £2.50 (451 words).
27. 116: Thursday – dialogue: someone helping another character – Just a couple of initials (264 words).
28. 117: Friday – second person: Flora – Without knowing (470 words).
29. 118: Saturday – one-word prompt: prank – Until the red light (306 words).
30. 119: Sunday – mixed bag: married couple, shop, breakfast, stocktaking, seven-year itch – Not listening (198 words).

OCTOBER

1. 120: Monday – sentence start: Glenys always thought it a bind… – Dad’s Army (264 words).
2. 121: Tuesday – keywords: paper, red, nut, staple, executive – Others would knock (214 words).
3. 122: Wednesday – monologue: where your character is looking through a curtain – Not red like I asked (465 words).
4. 123: Thursday – dialogue: including the words: stage, photograph, project, page, discover – Stage left, Henry! (262 words).
5. 124: Friday – second person: a house move – Everything that doesn’t remind you of him (342 words).
6. 125: Saturday – one-word prompt: money – A glint of gold (133 words).
7. 126: Sunday – mixed bag: vicar, grandmother, tennis, post office, wolf – She’d expected a whooshing sound (338 words).
8. 127: Monday – sentence start: Russell stared at the photograph – Less than green these days (240 words).
9. 128: Tuesday – keywords: pocket, borrow, meaning, steal, lack – Something borrowed (159 words).
10. 129: Wednesday – monologue: a journey – To no-one in particular (225 words).
11. 130: Thursday – dialogue: idiosyncratic – Idiosyncratic (133 words).
12. 131: Friday – second person: keywords: thread, simple, blue, suspect, time – Almost (233 words).
13. 132: Saturday – one-word prompt: father-figure – Knew better (429 words).
14. 133: Sunday – mixed bag: pineapple, pterodactyl, spoilt children, blue lips, jealousy – Such a pterodactyl (215 words).
15. 134: Monday – sentence start: Fred pulled at the zip… – Valentine’s Day (157 words).
16. 135: Tuesday – keywords: in, out, far, near, use, abuse, thrust, launch, smile, die – A figure to die for (200 words).
17. 136: Wednesday – monologue: starting ‘Lifting up a flap…’ – Thud on the floor (332 words).
18. 137: Thursday – dialogue: prompt ‘thistle’ – Thistle (222 words).
19. 138: Friday – second person: keywords: sheet, energy, beat, stupid, doughy, speck, void, vein, conscious, jovial – Feeling stupid (338 words).
20. 139: Saturday – one-word prompt: scarf – A different kind of speechless (330 words).
21. 140: Sunday – mixed bag: bakery, MP, diary, shop, key, hot – It’s ’ot in ’ere (378 words).
22. 141: Monday – sentence start: Tempted as he was… – As if a new-born (385 words).
23. 142: Tuesday – keywords: trudge, grass, thirty, clock and mark – Stupid is (170 words).
24. 143: Wednesday – monologue: keywords: odd, receive, drum, announce, rub, plant, issue, adhere, computerise, dig – Doing a job I love (533 words).
25. 144: Thursday – dialogue: burglary, in 100 words – Rumbled (100 words).
26. 145: Friday – second person: mixed bag: doctor, horse rider, toothbrush, balloon and shy – Not the wisest of actions (251 words).
27. 146: Saturday – one-word prompt: ‘worry’ in past, present and future tense – Do his best (167 words).
28. 147: Sunday – mixed bag: village hall, clown, 1970s, war, shy – Scream like a girl (354 words).
29. 148: Monday – sentence start: The bells chimed as… – Warped out of recognition (294 words).
30. 149: Tuesday – keywords: school, risk, cinema, late, old – Easy to compare (226 words).
31. 150: Wednesday – monologue: one-word prompt: ‘fortune’ – He’ll know what to do (294 words). The third ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ collection is now available as a $0.99 (£0.77) eBook, exclusive to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (and the equivalent other Amazon countries).

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER / JANUARY / FEBRUARY

I took a break (ha!) from 5pm fiction in November for NaNoWriMo (my fifth time) then in theory December and January on some of the editing (not this NaNo novel but an inbetween one, a mystery written in 2009) as well as getting more eBooks online. That didn’t happen so I took February off too but still bogged down with blogging and related emails, but I don’t want to not write so 5pm fiction returned in March:

MARCH

1. 151: Friday – second person: ‘accident’ – The Accident (393 words).
2. 152: Saturday – one-word prompt: paint – Black paint like tadpoles (314 words).
3. 153: Sunday – mixed bag: policeman (character 1), alien (ch.2), TV (object), High Street (location), scared (dilemma), brave (trait) – A blue one (418 words).
4. 154: Monday – sentence start: ‘As she stepped over…’ – Something portable but durable (239 words).
5. Tuesday – keywords: didn’t write anything today because I was filling in a writing teacher’s job application!
6. Wednesday – monologue: I was away so didn’t write anything. 😦
7. 155: Thursday – dialogue: ‘nut’ – Nutcase (136 words).
8. 156: Friday – second person: attic, affair – A different ending (184 words).
9. 157: Saturday – one-word prompt: nut – Just as the number 12 pulled in (171 words).
10. 158: Sunday – mixed bag: artist (character 1), gardener (ch.2), college (location), bottle (object), nervous (trait) – Travelling in parallel (273 words).
11. 159: Monday – sentence start: ‘Peeking under the…’ – It too hides my features (245 words).
12. 160: Tuesday – keywords: cushion, blue, spiral, lido, sweet – Not the most comfortable in town (234 words).
13. 161: Wednesday – monologue: last line of a novel as first line – Like Mother Like Son (270 words).
14. 162: Thursday – dialogue: two sons – Where Matt came from (171 words).
15. 163: Friday – second person: Warning flag at the rapids (244 words).
16. 164: Saturday – one-word prompt: scarf – Charm just as bright (171 words).
17. 165: Sunday – mixed bag: nun (character 1), taxi driver (ch.2), prison (location), telephone (object), compassion (trait), not taken seriously (dilemma) – She favoured compassion today 253 words).
18. 166: Monday – sentence start: As she opened up… – You’ve got male (215 words).
19. 167: Tuesday – keywords: drab, calculator, Scottish, world, pink – A Breed Apart (346 words).
20. 168: Wednesday – monologue: the character remembers something – And no Lucy either (93 words).
21. 169: Thursday – dialogue: I’m sorry, you’ve been kidnapped – I’m sorry, you’ve been kidnapped (162 words).
22. 170: Friday – second person: set in a remote location – Left by the wayside (232 words).
23. 171: Saturday – one-word prompt: face – Let’s face it (148 words).
24. 172: Sunday – mixed bag: Jordan, Lockwood, 22, Orangeberg, anger, aunt, meerkat, basement – Escapism (and Twitter micro fiction) (28 words).
25. 173: Monday – sentence start: It was the furry… – Centipeding a distinctive diagonal line of dust (279 words).
26. 174: Tuesday – keywords: mist, second, square, blue, half – Like a scene from a Hammer movie (122 words).
27. 175: Wednesday – monologue: in a regular home setting – Who’d have teenagers? (168 words).
28. 176: Thursday – dialogue: an exotic object – Colourful. Loud. Exotic. (118 words).
29. 177: Friday – second person: funeral march – Consequences attached to being brave (137 words).
30. 178: Saturday – one-word prompt: anniversary – Leaving isn’t demure (148 words).
31. 179: Sunday – mixed bag: dentist, wife, prison, fish tank, prayer, therapeutic – Gasping for breath (528 words).

APRIL

Although I’ll be doing Camp NaNoWriMo – April 2013 this month, I still plan to do 5pm too!

1. 180: Monday – sentence start: It had started simply enough – The day Lillian learned to drive’ / Camp NaNoWriMo lift-off! (318 words).
2. 181: Tuesday – keywords: money, great, sort, now, flower – Surrounded by it in life, surrounded in death (432 words).
3. 182: Wednesday – monologue: stranger – A stranger would understand (331 words).
4. 183: Thursday – dialogue: mistaken identity – Cobblers (234 words).
5. 184: Friday – second person: passion – A heartbeat to be attached to (451 words).
6. 185: Saturday – one-word prompt: heart – Have a heart (260 words).
7. 186: Sunday – mixed bag: doctor, alien, Bradford, hungry, worried about stairs – Wait, listen and wait some more (576 words).
8. 187: Monday – sentence start: Connie could almost feel… – Not life or death (487 words).
9. 188: Tuesday – keywords: junk, creature, envelope, birthday and hammer – No junk, no bills (403 words).
10. 189: Wednesday – monologue: from the point of view of a dieter – Treacle Tart (578 words).
11. 190: Thursday – dialogue: between two sisters – Boston, Lincolnshire or Massachusetts (352 words).
12. 191: Friday – second person: shake – Until the shaking happened again (128 words).
13. 192: Saturday – one-word prompt: soul – The curved soul (120 words).
14. 193: Sunday – mixed bag: French couple, variety show, sugar, headache, cinema – L’homme avec les yeux bleus (165 words).
15. 194: Monday – sentence start: Out in the street… – Their world was lacking (386 words).
16. 195: Tuesday – keywords: capacity, guitar, recycle, rip, pet – Pet Shop Blues (174 words).
17. 196: Wednesday – monologue: patience – Like a Sergeant Major (220 words).
18. 197: Thursday – dialogue: in a supermarket – Not a very grand job (490 words).
19. 198: Friday – second person: Twenty-seven minutes – Twenty-seven minutes (448 words).
20. 199: Saturday – one-word prompt: circus – The Eye of the Tiger (290 words).
21. 200: Sunday – mixed bag: sniff, cigarette lighter, library, squeak, water butt – Ticking? Clicking? Dripping? (240 words). The fourth ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ collection is now available as a $0.99 (£0.77) eBook, exclusive to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (and the equivalent other Amazon countries).
22. 201: Monday – sentence start: Stop doing that! – I could have cried (491 words).
23. 202: Tuesday – keywords: comfort, dog, deceptive, patriotic, cares – Even the dog is borrowed (302 words).
24. 203: Wednesday – monologue: set in a care home – Me, myself and I (895 words).
25. 204: Thursday – dialogue: buying something odd – Transparent (433 words).
26. 205: Friday – second person: widower – The ghost of the half-empty bed (622 words).
27. 206: Saturday – one-word prompt: courage – Andrew would have been proud (330 words).
28. 207: Sunday – mixed bag: Mrs Smith, toy bear, carriage clock, bicycle ride, busy – Furry like a dog (698 words).
29. 208: Monday – sentence start: Fred had always wanted to be… – Passion Wagon (60 words).
30. 209: Tuesday – keywords: cuddle, shuffle, whimper, hospital, Daddy – All he wanted (198 words).

MAY

There weren’t any 5pm Fictions in May because I was doing Story A Day May 2013, so still a story a day. 🙂

JUNE

1. 210: Saturday – one-word prompt: best – Best in Show (795 words).
2. 211: Sunday – mixed bag: swimmer, six-year-old, Spain, scissors, battery, heroic – Two backwards, one forwards (476 words).
3. 212: Monday – sentence start: Swinging the gate open… – Full Moon (166 words).
4. 213: Tuesday – keywords: daffodils, bedside, CD, silent, sank – Eddie’s Fault (454 words).
5. 214: Wednesday – monologue: fairy tale from a different perspective – Getting to seven (204 words).
6. 215: Thursday – dialogue: jealous partner – Smile (140 words).
7. 216: Friday – second person: threw, cut, road, cobbled, candle – Incessant Vera (194 words).
8. 217: Saturday – one-word prompt: finger – Elimination (294 words).
9. 218: Sunday – mixed bag: student, tree, gate, bubble gum, moon – Lock jaw (29 words).
10. 219: Monday – sentence start: No-one’s told him… – Hold On (725 words).
11. 220: Tuesday – keywords: cherry, patient, turbulence, doctor, business – They try to with the food (670 words).
12. 221: Wednesday – monologue: 60-worder – Just getting started (60 words).
13. 222: Thursday – dialogue: confession – An American Werewolf in London (710 words).
14. 223: Friday – second person: something isn’t funny – No joke (127 words).
15. 224: Saturday – one-word prompt: city – A lot to learn (933 words).
16. 225: Sunday – mixed bag: grandmother, girl, red jacket, Scotland, autobiography, memory – Sentimental keepsake (547 words).
17. 226: Monday – sentence start: As Rosie drove over the hill… – Ocean Drive (321 words).
18. 227: Tuesday – keywords: Californian, cocktail, model, chest, nervous – Police escort (619 words).
19. 228: Wednesday – monologue: writer’s block – Spice of life (238 words).
20. 229: Thursday – dialogue: funny facial expression – Giving Gene Simmons a run for his money (55 words).
21. 230: Friday – second person: on a bus – Two Rows (567 words).
22. 231: Saturday – one-word prompt: luxury – Half-human (292 words).
23. 232: Sunday – mixed bag: policeman, daughter, bridge, wet steps, mobile, argument – A Bad Feeling (300 words).
24. 233: Monday – sentence start: Learning his lines… – Off by Heart (120 words).
25. 234: Tuesday – keywords: chair, balloon, woman, gun, flap – Hot Air (55 words).
26. 235: Wednesday – monologue: something familiar – Write what you know (141 words).
27. 236: Thursday – dialogue: 55-word story with no ‘e’ – How hard can that b- (55 words).
28. 237: Friday – second person: set in a hospital – All Heart (504 words).
29. 238: Saturday – one-word prompt: through – Through (111 words).
30. 239: Sunday – mixed bag: radio DJ (character 1), phone caller (ch.2), message book (object), by the sea (location), forgets to mute whilst saying something bad (dilemma), nervous (trait) – Curved into a smile (663 words).

I’m having a break from the daily stories in July and August
to recharge my batteries and concentrate on other projects.
Thank you for your support and I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories to-date.

*

I did however write another eleven stories (not appearing on the blog) to complete another set of fifty which became volume 5 (details below):

1. 240: Sunday – mixed bag: guard (character 1), young girl (ch.2), lollipop (object), swimming pool (location) and shy (trait) – Tumble Turn (167 words).
2. 241: Monday – sentence start: Picking up the knife…. – Bringing Work Home (87 words).
3. 242: Tuesday – keywords: path, cardboard, coin, nudge and former – Muddied By Misfortune (163 words).
4. 243: Wednesday – monologue: being on hold on the phone – A Right Miss Marple (333 words).
5. 244: Thursday – dialogue: confession – Mum Thinks It Was Me (210 words).
6. 245: Friday – second person: cheat – Trust Me (391 words).
7. 246: Saturday – one-word prompt: rice – Attracting Airheads (427 words).
8. 247: Sunday – mixed bag: dog walker (character 1), Mrs Mason (ch.2), pocket (location), something special (object), unusually happy (trait), something missing (dilemma) – Erlina Didn’t Mind (94 words).
9. 248: Monday – sentence start: Gripping the wheel…. – First Day (151 words).
10. 249: Tuesday – keywords: according, dream, company, down, tide – Cleaning Up The Town (71 words).
11. 250: Wednesday – monologue: radio prompt – Holding Hands (400 words). The fifth ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ is now available as a $0.99 (£0.77) eBook entitled Fifty 5pm Fictions (Vol 5) from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (and other Amazon countries). The final 11 stories are exclusive to the eBook and never appeared on this blog.

5pm Fiction returns September 2013 but just weekdays as I run an author spotlight or interview on a Saturday morning which now stays up the whole weekend, freeing up time for my other projects such as freelance editing or editing my own novels.

SEPTEMBER

• 2nd. 251: Monday – sentence start: ‘It had been sixteen years..’ – Peeling In Places (100 words).
• 3rd. 252: Tuesday – keywords: kidnapping, scratch, groceries, millstone, strappings – Millstone (486 words).
• 4th. 253: Wednesday – monologue or dialogue: picture prompt – More than I could have thought possible (300 words).
• 5th. 254: Thursday – mixed bag: Mable and Rusty (a beige impala), one of whom is vain, and set in St Ives (Cambridgeshire, UK) – Rusty had to be the weirdest (444 words).
• 6th. 255: Friday – second person: a misunderstanding – Small Steps (162 words).
• 9th. 256: Monday – sentence start: As Emily stepped off the train… – Em… ill… ee… (213 words).
• 10th. 257: Tuesday – keywords: idea, dog, college, advanced, new – Shaggy Dog Story (168 words).
• 11th. 258: Wednesday – monologue: from a creature’s perspective – Green, not like grass (248 words).
• 12th. 259: Thursday – one-word prompt: thread – A Favour (234 words)..
• 13th. 260: Friday – second person: keyword of ‘life’ – The Milkman’s (134 words).
• 16th. 261: Monday – sentence start: Tom put down his case… – Dear John (170 words).
• 17th. 262: Tuesday – keywords: cartoon, tray, lost, past, newspaper – No Pleasing Some (334 words).
• 18th. 263: Wednesday – dialogue: You’ve got to be kidding… – You’ve Got To Be Kidding (188 words).
• 19th. 264: Thursday – one-word prompt: steam – A Different Kind (243 words).
• 20th. 265: Friday – second person: consolation – Consolation prize (301 words).
• 23rd. 266: Monday – sentence start: As their trolleys clashed… – Off Her Trolley (203 words).
• 24th. 267: Tuesday – keywords: December, strip, towel, expert, property – Nesting (233 words).
• 25th. 268: Wednesday – monologue: three things – I Never Listen (249 words).
• 26th. 269: Thursday – one-word prompt: funny – Kind of Funny (219 words).
• 27th. 270: Friday – second person: date night – Date Night (258 words).
• 30th. 271: Monday – sentence start: Cassie stared at the clock… – Hazard of the Job (881 words).

OCTOBER

• 1st. 272: Tuesday – keywords: butter, task, trousers, 31, blue – How Lucky Is That (681 words).
• 2nd. 273: Wednesday – monologue or dialogue: Facebook conversation – Sure It’s All Innocent (348 words).
• 3rd. 274: Thursday – one-word prompt: bat – At (163 words).
• 4th. 275: Friday – second person: chest – Siesta (316 words).
• 7th. 276: Monday – sentence start: Ben shuffled down… – Confrontation (432 words).
• 8th. 277: Tuesday – keywords: hover, chance, over, two, disgust – A Younger Version of Her (142 words).
• 9th. 278: Wednesday – dialogue: If the cap fits – If The Cap Fits (240 words).
• 10th. 279: Thursday – one-word prompt: speculate – Just Enough To Say I’m Here (525 words).
• 11th. 280: Friday – second person: set at an airport – Cocoon (200 words).
• 14th. 281: Monday – sentence start: The party was in full swing… – Bust-up At The Knees-up (192 words).
• 15th. 282: Tuesday – keywords: pineapple, fatalism, baboon, poison, sock, nightingale, cuddle, love, puddle – Only A Matter Of Time (178 words).
• 16th. 283: Wednesday – monologue: loveable rogue – The Reason Why (496 words).
• 17th. 284: Thursday – one-word prompt: yellow – Once A Month (163 words).
• 18th. 285: Friday – second person: chase – The Photo That No One Else Can Get (356 words).
• 21st. 286: Monday – sentence start: Thomas Wickham III looked up from… – Yellowed Greenway Times (470 words).
• 22nd. 287: Tuesday – keywords: smell, boring, blonde, fifth, parcel – Numbers Game (231 words).
• 23rd. 288: Wednesday – monologue or dialogue: advert – Connection (part 1) (341 words).
• 24th. 289: Thursday – one-word prompt: advert – Connection (part 2) (342 words).
• 25th. 290: Friday – second person: money – Root of all evil (387 words).
• 28th. 291: Monday – sentence start: Tony put down his… – Typical (465 words).
• 29th. 292: Tuesday – keywords: scream, red, sign, wasp, over – Zeros (26 words).
• 30th. 293: Wednesday – monologue or dialogue: Twitter conversation – Not Like Back Home (245 words).
• 31st. 294: Thursday – one-word prompt: ripped – Both Sides (332 words).
• I will be writing another six stories to make up a final collection (Volume 6) and will put the link on this page.

I stopped the 5pm Fiction slot as I was writing another novel for NaNoWriMo then I planned to concentrate on getting that and my other six novels (currently sitting in files) online (possibly out to agents etc.) as well as submitting short stories to magazines, competitions etc. My teaching has currently taken over, but I will let you know how I get on. 

So there we have it. If you love short stories / flash fiction, also take a look at Burrst.com, Truelee Fiction and the Indies Unlimited Writing Exercises Contests page, and another story a dayer http://365stories.co.uk.