Weekly Writing Prompt

Welcome to our weekly writing prompt.

Every Friday I will be posting a picture and inviting you to write a short story inspired by that picture. The suggested word length for the story is less than 250-words – but there is no minimum. So, if you fancy writing a 6-word story, then go for it!

Don’t feel your story has to have a murder mystery theme to it – simply write whatever the picture conjures up in your mind.

It would be great if you could share your stories. You can do this by putting your story in the comments section below. Let’s go.

Writing Prompt

Here is the picture prompt for this week.

Have fun and don’t forget to share your story in the comments below. Every now and again we will read some of them out in our podcast.

A Home For The Aged

They say this place is home, a haven for the aged. But to me, it’s a prison painted in bright colours, where every day is monotonous, and every meal is a bland reminder of a time long gone. They plucked me from my garden, my sanctuary, where time was marked by seasons, not by pills and appointments. Here, the walls whisper pity in the silence, and faces blur into a sea of forgotten stories.

I never thought I’d end my days in a place like this, a repository for the once-loved. They visit, yes, but their eyes betray the truth—they wish to be anywhere but here. They no longer see the man I was but instead, the burden I’ve become.

Yet, there’s an oddity in my tale, a peculiar twist. At night, when the world sleeps and this place holds its breath, the walls… they speak. Not in the pitiful whispers of the day, but in clear, vibrant tones of life and memories. They recount tales not of my life but of others long forgotten, tales that no living soul could remember.

At first, I thought it madness, a trick of an old mind. But then, the truths they spoke, the secrets of the past they revealed, were too precise, too real to be the fancy of a senile mind.

What sorcery this is, I cannot say. But, I’m convinced, these walls hold souls within them, and at night, I listen to the voices of the past, sharing in their laughter, their sorrow, their lives. In my isolation, I’ve found a bizarre companionship. It’s as if this place, this care home I so despise, is alive with the echoes of those who came before me.

And so, I wait for the night, for the moment when I’m no longer alone. But I cannot shake the chilling thought—what happens when my voice joins theirs? Will a new occupant of this room, years from now, hear my tales, my regrets, whispered in the dark? It’s an eerie comfort, and perhaps, in this unexpected twist, I’ve found my place within these walls.

Tiny Tales – The Park

Here is the second short video telling a very short story. This one is from Kevin who posted it as a story in one of our ‘Weekly Writing Prompt’ picture prompts. Many thanks Kevin.

A great monologue with a very matter-of-fact and chilling conclusion!

If you would like to have a short story (500-words or less) included in this new venture of ours, pop it into the comments below and we will have a read. Alternatively you might like to write a story using one of the picture prompts from our ‘Weekly Writing Prompts’.

Episode 21 – Exploring the Dark Allure of Scandinavian Crime Fiction: A Journey into Nordic Noir

Welcome to another episode of “Only Murders in My Mind,” a Random Thought Production. I’m Carol Bissett, a crime writer, joined by my co-presenters Liz Hedgecock and Mike Jackson. Today, we delve into the enigmatic world of Scandinavian crime fiction, often termed “Scandi Noir” or “Nordic Noir.” This genre has captivated audiences worldwide with its dark, moody narratives and complex, flawed characters.

Weekly Writing Prompt

Welcome to our weekly writing prompt.

Every Friday I will be posting a picture and inviting you to write a short story inspired by that picture. The suggested word length for the story is less than 250-words – but there is no minimum. So, if you fancy writing a 6-word story, then go for it!

Don’t feel your story has to have a murder mystery theme to it – simply write whatever the picture conjures up in your mind.

It would be great if you could share your stories. You can do this by putting your story in the comments section below. Let’s go.

Writing Prompt

Here is the picture prompt for this week.

Have fun and don’t forget to share your story in the comments below. Every now and again we will read some of them out in our podcast.

Tiny Tales

I’ve created a new YouTube channel to experiment with the art of storytelling. This is its first, and at the moment only, story – but there will be more to follow, I promise!

If you’ve got a short story (preferably 500 words or less) that you would like me to create a video and add to the channel then drop it into the comments below for me to see.

Weekly Writing Prompt

Welcome to our weekly writing prompt.

Every Friday I will be posting a picture and inviting you to write a short story inspired by that picture. The suggested word length for the story is less than 250-words – but there is no minimum. So, if you fancy writing a 6-word story, then go for it!

Don’t feel your story has to have a murder mystery theme to it – simply write whatever the picture conjures up in your mind.

It would be great if you could share your stories. You can do this by putting your story in the comments section below. Let’s go.

Writing Prompt

Here is the picture prompt for this week.

Have fun and don’t forget to share your story in the comments below. Every now and again we will read some of them out in our podcast.

Monday Monologue – The Deed Is Done

Another short story for our Monday Monologue spot. This time it is about a man belittled once too often.

The Deed Is Done

The deed is done. My hands are still shaking, but the I feel such relief. As if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. No more nagging, no more arguments, no more walking on eggshells in my own home. 

She always had to have the last word, didn’t she? Always had to undermine me, make me feel small. Well, she’ll never do that again. I showed her who’s really in charge around here. 

I can still see the look of shock and terror on her face as the life drained from her eyes. That pathetic, pleading expression, begging for mercy. As if she deserved any after the hell she put me through. After all the times she belittled me, made me feel less than a man in my own home.

The way she crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath, clutching at her throat. It was almost…satisfying. To see the light leave her eyes, to know that I had silenced her forever. No more cutting remarks, no more putting me down. Just silence. Blissful, beautiful silence.

I stand here now, surveying the scene, and I feel…oddly calm. The adrenaline has worn off, and I’m left with a sense of clarity I haven’t felt in years. No more walking on eggshells. No more tiptoeing around, afraid of setting her off. I’m free. I’m finally free.

Of course, there’s the matter of the body. I’ll have to dispose of it, make it look like she just…disappeared. Maybe a hit and run, or a mugging gone wrong. Something that won’t lead back to me. I’ve thought this through, you see. I’m not some amateur. 

She always did have a flair for the dramatic, so maybe I’ll stage it to look like she ran off with some younger man. That would be a fitting end for the old shrew, wouldn’t it? The humiliation would be the cherry on top of my newfound freedom.

As I look around the room, I can’t help but feel a sense of…pride. I’ve taken back control of my life. I’m the master of my own destiny now. No more living in fear, no more walking on eggshells. Just me, and the sweet, sweet silence.

Yes, the deed is done. And I have no regrets. She had it coming, and I’m the one who delivered justice. I’m the one who reclaimed my life. And that, my friends, is a victory worth savouring.

Weekly Writing Prompt

Welcome to our weekly writing prompt.

Every Friday I will be posting a picture and inviting you to write a short story inspired by that picture. The suggested word length for the story is less than 250-words – but there is no minimum. So, if you fancy writing a 6-word story, then go for it!

Don’t feel your story has to have a murder mystery theme to it – simply write whatever the picture conjures up in your mind.

It would be great if you could share your stories. You can do this by putting your story in the comments section below. Let’s go.

Writing Prompt

Here is the picture prompt for this week.

Have fun and don’t forget to share your story in the comments below. Every now and again we will read some of them out in our podcast.

The Intriguing Life of Georges Simenon: 10 Unusual Facts About the Prolific Author

Georges Simenon, the Belgian writer best known for his creation of the detective Jules Maigret, led a life as fascinating and prolific as the characters he crafted. Known for his rapid writing and vast output, Simenon’s personal habits and experiences were equally compelling. Here are ten unusual facts about this literary giant that offer a glimpse into his extraordinary life.