Hugh W. Roberts 🏳️🌈<p>Has this ever happened to one of your blog posts?</p><p>Here is your opportunity to catch up on Hugh's Views and News blog posts published in August 2025.</p><p><a href="https://toot.wales/tags/WordPress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WordPress</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Blogging" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Blogging</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/BloggingTips" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BloggingTips</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Halloween" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Halloween</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/HowTo" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HowTo</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/BlogPosts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BlogPosts</span></a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Contact" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Contact</span></a></p><p><a href="http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2025/08/31/august-2025-something-strange-happened-on-my-blog/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">hughsviewsandnews.com/2025/08/</span><span class="invisible">31/august-2025-something-strange-happened-on-my-blog/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social</span></a></p>
mastodon.ie is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
Irish Mastodon - run from Ireland, we welcome all who respect the community rules and members.
Administered by:
Server stats:
1.6Kactive users
mastodon.ie: About · Profiles directory · Privacy policy
Mastodon: About · Get the app · Keyboard shortcuts · View source code · v4.4.3
#flashfiction
25 posts · 23 participants · 0 posts today
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Quantum</p><p>Ever since Wizards and Witches understood that Mana comes in quantum amounts, Wizards have sought how many quantums can fit in a single spell, while Witches have sought how few quantums each spell needs.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
R L Raymond<p>Picture I missed “Pretend there is a hummingbird here” <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Photo" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Photo</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Photography</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Writing</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fiction</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Birding" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Birding</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.ca/tags/Garden" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Garden</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>Wrote a new story for <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BlueSkyArtShow" target="_blank">#BlueSkyArtShow</a> about a Crow that is collecting <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Shiny" target="_blank">#Shiny</a> trinkets for his friend!
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Birds" target="_blank">#Birds</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFiction" target="_blank">#FlashFiction</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Mythology" target="_blank">#Mythology</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fexcbzwhzb55f6ojnuy7w4q6/post/3lx6uvq47uc2f" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fexcbzwhzb55f6ojnuy7w4q6/post/3lx6uvq47uc2f</a></span><br><br><a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/bsky/2025/08/30/shiny.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
The Collector
</a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Pursue</p><p>When he died, his love was so strong that his ghost remained to pursue his efforts and make her love him back at last. But all he got was more shovel blows, now immaterial but still just as painful.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<p><strong><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WordWeavers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WordWeavers</span></a> 2025.08.29 — SC POV: What's your favorite color to wear?</strong></p><p>[Devil-girl who is a supporting character in <strong><em>Reluctant Courier (for the Mob),</em></strong> the current WiP:] Black, midnight blue, midnight red, dark purple, mauve. I never grew out of what you'd call my goth period. I prefer my jewelry silver tarnished black, even though it sometimes irritates my skin. Mind you, having run away from all the responsibility, status signaling, and the clothing thing, I don't have much incentive to dress. These days, clothes and accessories, their quantity or lack of quantity, and quality are more often tools for me, to change my appearance, to blend in, to foster team spirit, to reassure, to distract, or to manipulate and control others. What colors I might prefer matter little. My intended audience's preferences matter far more.</p><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/cozy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cozy</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/mystery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mystery</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sf" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sf</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sff</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sciencefiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sciencefiction</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSReluctanceStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSReluctanceStory</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
Haly, the Moonlight Bard<p>New fiction just dropped for you all! Flash horror dedicated to my love of radio and DJs.</p><p>"Amy On the Airwaves"</p><p><a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/horror" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>horror</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/fictations/p/amy-on-the-airwaves?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=42lga5" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">open.substack.com/pub/fictatio</span><span class="invisible">ns/p/amy-on-the-airwaves?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=42lga5</span></a></p>
GeorgeLThomas<p>Writing Flash Fiction - here are some of the basics for writing flash fiction.<br><a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/writercommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writercommunity</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/amwriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>amwriting</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/writerslife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writerslife</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/flashfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.world/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingCommunity</span></a></p><p><a href="http://georgelthomas.com/2017/07/21/writing-flash-fiction/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="ellipsis">georgelthomas.com/2017/07/21/w</span><span class="invisible">riting-flash-fiction/</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Planet</p><p>Tired of waiting until each planet agrees to align, the Sorcerer had devised a spell to put them in place and thus be able to transmute lead into gold.</p><p>Then the immobilized planets started to fall toward the Sun.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<p><strong><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WordWeavers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WordWeavers</span></a> 2025.08.28 — Do you create unique character names, or use "real world" names?</strong></p><p>I am writing two main series of stories at this moment, one fantasy, one SF fantasy. Neither have our cultural connections to our own civilization. It would be ridiculous to have Bob, Carol, or Jack show up. Even in our culture, names once were descriptive and reused until Robert, Carolyn, and John shed any nuance except for those parents that named their children and looked up the word's origin. In the Reluctance Series, people make up their own names and actually change them at whim, though usually only for significant life reasons. I take guidance from native American and transliterated Japanese names, and sometimes use them (transliterated), but more often simply use the styling of something beautiful, meaningful, or aspirational as sounding name-like. </p><p>In <strong><em>Inklings</em></strong> (the Wands Universe), the MC is was named Wintereyes by her parents, but her eyes are never described other than being striking. She's never explicitly describes herself (she's the 1st person POV) except for her magical scars. </p><p>The MC in the current WiP, <strong><em>Reluctant Courier (for the Mob),</em></strong> is named Lightning Bolt, and goes by Bolt. She then made up a name on stage, kind of a pen name, <em>Good Eye,</em> when she needed to give a name to a newspaper who wanted to publish her pictures. In today's writing, I realized she'd made up Lightning Bolt when blackmailed by the mob to protect her family. Using the name she'd used since a child might have allowed her to be traced back to her family. There are no surnames for reasons I'm not going to share. The main series antagonist is named Rainy Days and her brother was named Harvest Days. I never shorten either. Neither their father or mother where a "Days" or had a weather related name. The SCs of record are Midnight On Fire (referred to as Fire) and Steamed Milk and Sugar (referred to by the MC as Shugh but by his girlfriend as Sugar). He chose that name because he cynically expected he would be treated in his workplace as someone who would be made to fetch coffee and not allowed to be an actual journalist.</p><p>Yes. Naming the characters Bob, Carol, or Jack would have made it easier on the reader. One might think Bob, Carol, or Jack would be ideally transparent, but in the context of depicting a radically different culture with different gender roles and expectations, the reader will eventually look for social and historical connection to our "parent" culture—for which there are none—to explain why those names exist. Better, I think, to dive wholeheartedly in the naming chaos that is the character's heritage, whilst coming up with crutches to make them work in narrative, like using simply "Shugh," "Sugar," "Fire," and "Bolt."</p><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSInklingsStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSInklingsStory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSReluctanceStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSReluctanceStory</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
NessoAsks<p>"Here goes nothing!"</p><p>"Jacob, every time you say that, something bad-"</p><p>Reggie never got to finish his sentence. Their newest test unit emitted a large "pop!" and then started smoking. Jacob rushed over and covered it with the fire blanket to try to avoid setting off the data center fire alarm. Again.</p><p>"Why is this so difficult! I've built things like this before," Jacob lamented.</p><p>"It's because you're rushing it," Reggie said.</p><p>"No, that's not it. Nesso, did you get any data off of that one before the capacitors blew?"</p><p>::Enough to determine that your development velocity is too high for the hardware to keep up::</p><p>"Come again?" Jacob asked.</p><p>"Nesso thinks you're rushing it," Reggie translated.</p><p>"Gah!"</p><p><a href="https://techhub.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://techhub.social/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://techhub.social/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Wreck</p><p>In space, there's strict rules for survival. You don't get near black holes and asteroid fields, and most of all, you avoid getting too close to a wreck. There's a *reason* for it to have become one, and it might well be contagious.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
Shantell Powell<p>My flash fiction "Never Mind the Betel Booth" is shortlisted for the RUNNR Residency Challenge. This is my always-a-bridesmaid story. It's been shortlisted twice, but never published. YET. <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/runnrmag/p/runnr-residency-challenge-winner" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">open.substack.com/pub/runnrmag</span><span class="invisible">/p/runnr-residency-challenge-winner</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingCommunity</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Gardian</p><p>Ah ah no, I'm out of it. This treasure's guardian is a woman. She won't challenge you in a single combat before the gates, no. She'll kill you from two hundred yards away without warning from a crenel. She means business.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<p><strong><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WordWeavers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WordWeavers</span></a> 2025.08.26 — Has anything unusual happened to your MC at school or work?</strong></p><p>Well, lots, since one story takes place with her attending a "magic" school. After being enrolled, the vice principal snags the top student, who happens to be an arrogant bully, to show my very capable and dangerous MC around. Well, I'll let her tell the story, redacted for <em>reasons</em>.</p><blockquote><p>[Bully:] "So, show me what you got."</p><p>[MC:] "What I've got?"</p><p>"Please don't blow a hole through the city all the way to the lake. That's been done already. Wasn't funny."</p><p>I laughed <em>brightly.</em> A real <em>comedienne,</em> I thought, as we climbed a staircase. Two could play at that game, and since I felt appearing harmless was my best strategy for staying on the good side of the school brainiac bully, I decided to do something every one could do but with an extra-goofy flare.</p><p>As we circled back around the central open area of the school on the third floor, with the banners of the school's sun logo waving, I spun up <em>Illuminate.</em> I scrunched up my nose as I applied my stolen simplification codicil to ramp the miracle up to fifth level. I stopped walking and ensured all the math balanced. My halo lit. Blinding digits zipped across my vision in my arithmocosm, but I held my numbers together as I wiggled my nose harder and harder.</p><p>I sneezed.</p><p>I performed the miracle as I did so, my head propelled into chaotic motion. Mostly, the bright luminosity sprayed across the atrium, spattering the long flag depicting the Director of Home [who was also the principal], but I managed to splat banisters, floors, lockers, ceilings, two dozen students who squealed and ducked or banged into one another, and one teacher who immediately stomped toward the stairs. </p><p>My escort looked down. Her chest and legs glowed in all the colors of the rainbow, all in the proper prismatic order.</p><p>It wasn't snot, but I said it anyway. <em>"Ewwww!"</em></p></blockquote><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2023, 2024, 2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>Day 3 of <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23InverteFest" target="_blank">#InverteFest</a> - and a third story for those who would like to read one about Heikegani 🦀
<a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/bsky/2023/09/05/eldritch.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ss.lucidillusions.in/bsky/2023/09...</a>
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ShortStory" target="_blank">#ShortStory</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFiction" target="_blank">#FlashFiction</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Invertebrate" target="_blank">#Invertebrate</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:36h6ttx2g23zqr4accilbvo7/post/3lxcu7xhwuc2g" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:36h6ttx2g23zqr4accilbvo7/post/3lxcu7xhwuc2g</a></span><br><br><a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/bsky/2023/09/05/eldritch.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
Eldritch
</a></p>
SharonMcConnel<p>Lightening strike in corner of the corn field,<br>no miscreants or evil-doers hit,<br>corn scorched.</p><p><a href="https://syringa.social/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://syringa.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a></p>
Haly, the Moonlight Bard<p>I know what you need.</p><p>New <a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> work dropping this Friday.</p><p>More in the back taking shape for the future.</p><p>In the meantime...</p><p><a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://writing.exchange/tags/Horror" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Horror</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://fictations.substack.com/p/blink?r=42lga5" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">fictations.substack.com/p/blin</span><span class="invisible">k?r=42lga5</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>Day 2 of <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23InverteFest" target="_blank">#InverteFest</a> - how about a <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFiction" target="_blank">#FlashFiction</a> answering the big question - What if… the Moon was a giant egg and it just hatched?
Go ahead and read: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐚
<a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/shortstory/2025/06/24/lunar-cicada.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ss.lucidillusions.in/shortstory/2...</a>
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ShortStory" target="_blank">#ShortStory</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Invertebrate" target="_blank">#Invertebrate</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:36h6ttx2g23zqr4accilbvo7/post/3lx64otatfc2l" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:36h6ttx2g23zqr4accilbvo7/post/3lx64otatfc2l</a></span><br><br><a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/shortstory/2025/06/24/lunar-cicada.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
The Lunar Cicada
</a></p>
Allison Wyss<p>10 weeks, Mondays, Sept. 8-Nov. 10, 12-2pm Central, $200</p><p>Each week we look at one or two pieces of published writing to study the craft of them & turn those tools into writing prompts. Then we share the results for light, inspirational feedback. Expect to write a lot and learn a lot.</p><p><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaSPHJDa9rMmgFl0ZvQyy1jOapNJ8hRsbing_DgDK5axvEPw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=109553212956936077425" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI</span><span class="invisible">pQLSeaSPHJDa9rMmgFl0ZvQyy1jOapNJ8hRsbing_DgDK5axvEPw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=109553212956936077425</span></a></p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingCommunity</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/WritingClass" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingClass</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/WritingConversations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingConversations</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/WritingCraft" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingCraft</span></a></p>
TrendingLive feeds
Mastodon is the best way to keep up with what's happening.
Follow anyone across the fediverse and see it all in chronological order. No algorithms, ads, or clickbait in sight.
Create accountLoginDrag & drop to upload