Hello, flash-fictioneers, and welcome to Microcosms 109. I’m struggling for a theme again this week, so I’ve had to fall back on my usual source of inspiration. Today (09-FEB) is the anniversary of the birth or death of several famous writers: BIRTH 1737: Thomas Paine, English-American philosopher, author, and activist – “Common Sense” (1775-6) 1863: Anthony…
Hello, flashionistas, and welcome to Microcosms 108. Today (02-FEB) is Candlemas, the Christian festival of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, where Simeon recognised the holy infant as the Christ Child. There was once weather lore that clear weather on Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter. This was extended in the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if…
Greetings, everyone, and welcome to Microcosms 107 – at last. Abject apologies for last week’s no-show. We hope it hasn’t put you off and that you will be energised and raring to take on the challenge. In this round, Steph Ellis has valiantly responded to my last-minute plea for help, and acts as guest host.…
Apologies, everyone, but due to health issues (KM) and other commitments (Geoff), MC 107 has been postponed until next Friday – 26-JAN. Share the joy 89Shares1970
Greetings, everyone, and welcome to Microcosms 106. As KM is indisposed, you have me running the show again this week; but the good news is that the Whirl-o-matic slot machine of story elements has been refurbished, and is ready to serve you throughout 2018. This week’s contest concerns people who have shuffled off this mortal…
Another Friday, another year… Welcome to Microcosms 105, the first post of 2018. Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a great festive period. Yes, we’re moving effortlessly (I wish!) into the third year of Microcosms; who would have thought we’d still be here with all the ups and downs we’ve had? I trust…
Microcosms 102. Woo hoo! Lots of interesting things happened today in history… the opening of Schindler’s List, Jean Paul Getty III was found in Italy, and famed bandleader Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel. All of those events are pretty intriguing to me, so I thought I’d use them all for inspiration. Due to…
All right, settle down, class. This may be Microcosms 101, but it’s not an Introduction to Flash Fiction. We’re looking for top-notch stories; so, sit up straight and pay attention to our guest host, Stephen Shirres: 75 years ago, one of the greatest, most beloved and most quotable films ever made was released onto the silver…
WOW! Microcosms 100! I can hardly believe it. Who knew we could make it this long? We wouldn’t be here without you fine folks, and I want you to know how much we appreciate everyone’s continued support and participation. It really means a lot. I’ve been giving this lots of thought over the last few…
Welcome to Microcosms 99, flashionistas. This day – 24-NOV – marks the anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, and is internationally observed as Evolution Day. You have 24 hours to nurture the evolution of your selection of raw elements into a fully-formed flash fiction phenomenon. This time round, I’m eschewing (lovely…