Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 4-1-11

(Source image: "Dita's Bear" by Sean McCall)

Your challenge for this Friday, 4-1-11, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of 100-200 words. Since everyone seems to be enjoying the required phrases, please use this phrase in your submission:

"...smoky haze..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for my take on the challenge and the list of participants, and then again on Monday for the next FFF challenge! And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 3-25-11: "Café Confidential"

(Source image: "Casablanca" by TC Reiner)

She was everything I'd come to love about Casablanca: full of grace and spirit, a glint in her eye and spring in her step, white teeth agleam in face kissed by the sun, body taut but full of promise. For weeks my waitress at this dusty little streetside café, she danced right along the edge of flirtation but never overstepped it.

Till the day I brought my guitar. From the first chord I struck there was something in her eyes, dark and flickering. I wrapped cadenzas around her, held her fast with fingers dancing on the strings, her gaze locked with mine, the spark jumping.

After, she settled onto my lap with a swirl of skirts. “So beautiful,” she sighed with a lilting French accent. “Why did you not tell me you played?”

“Better to show you,” I grinned.

“Ah! yes, it is better to show,” she agreed. “Like....this?” Her eyes danced, flicking downward, to where she had pulled up her skirt. She was bare beneath it.

“Very much like that,” I agreed, and slid my hand up her thigh.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 119-187 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...kissed by the sun..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track: 

Originally I'd planned to call this one "Moroccan Fire" and play up the sensation of heat I got from looking at the photo. I pictured long, humid glances of passion between the players in the tale, sultry heat in a café, sweat rolling down bodies, torrid romance building slowly. And then my research on Morocco and Casablanca informed me that it has mostly a very pleasant and mild climate with neither extreme highs nor extreme lows. That threw that approach out the window.

So I seized on the guitar instead. Music is always flowing through my head, and so it was almost effortless to fit a fiery Moorish rhythm into the story I had in mind next. I tried to suggest this was a glimpse into the Casablanca of yesteryear, before its jeweled luster dimmed, by giving her a French accent. Maybe the waitress wouldn't give him the time of day, but she went all to pieces when he played for her. Stranger things have happened. It makes me wish I had more musical talent than I do, but I'll settle for wordsmithing any day of the week. I hope you enjoyed this little fanciful tone poem.

Please note that I am no longer collecting the participants list. If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below using the widget. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. 

-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 3-25-11

(Source image: "Casablanca" by TC Reiner)

Your challenge for this Friday, 3-25-11, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of 119-187 words. Since everyone seems to be enjoying the required phrases, please use this phrase in your submission:

"...kissed by the sun..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for my take on the challenge and the list of participants, and then again on Monday for the next FFF challenge! And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 3-18-11: "Broken, Beaten, Scarred"

(Source image: "I Am So Hidden" by China Hamilton)

The tile was cool and smooth against her bare feet. Her eyes were hopeless, lost, through the eyelets of the mask. Her breasts heaved with suppressed emotions, her whole body shivering as if in a high wind.

The door swung wide and he entered. She twisted to face him, arms crossed protectively before her. Shock skirled across his face and was gone in an instant.

"My God," he whispered. "What have they done to you, my darling?"

Trembling, she reached up and removed the mask.

And he smiled, the sun bursting through clouds. "Is that all?" he murmured, reaching up to caress her scarred visage. “You had me worried there for a minute.”

And he kissed her passionately, hands moving over her body, and she responded ardently, though the tears still trickled down the ruins of her face.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 85-135 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...cool and smooth..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track:

This picture fascinated me. At first I had planned a sort of Phantom of the Opera tie-in, with the Phantom taking a lover from among the dancers and musicians of the Opera House, but with a twist -- that he would require her to hide her own face while they made love. I decided against that one because it seemed there'd be very little intimacy with the faces of the participants hidden, but it's still given me ideas for some semi-anonymous fantasies that may yet see life here (I understand that semi-anonymity can be a powerful turn-on, at least in some of the stories I've read). We'll see.

In any case, the approach I wound up going with actually came over me when I happened to see a woman on TV whose husband had left her after a horrific burn accident left her scarred. I'm one of those old-fashioned people who thinks that love does conquer all, so I promptly wrote this sort of fairy-tale approach (fairy tales AGAIN; I really do need to stop that) where our heroine had been the victim of horrible torture that left her face scarred but her body intact. Naturally, she is terrified that her lover won't want her anymore. Most men, I think, would look only at the body and still be titillated, but would they react well if and when she removed the mask? Our heroine's lover isn't at all fazed by it, but (as seen by the TV show I watched) real life is not always so forgiving.

So, after last week's lighthearted take I go right back to the introspective darker stuff. What's my mind coming to? I don't know. Let's see what you all come up with.

Please note that for the past few weeks I have been trying something different with the participants list. If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. 

-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 3-18-11

(Source image: "I Am So Hidden" by China Hamilton)

Your challenge for this Friday, 3-18-11, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of 85-135 words. Since everyone seems to be enjoying the required phrases, please use this phrase in your submission:

"...cool and smooth..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for my take on the challenge and the list of participants, and then again on Monday for the next FFF challenge! And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 3-11-11: "Splish Splash"

(Source image: "Good Clean Fun" by John Hogl)

Submerged with only my nose above the water, I luxuriated in heat and silence, a vessel adrift. A small part of me wondered when my beloved might get home.

Timeless minutes later, I found out. Her small hand stole into the water and caressed my sleeping penis; it awoke to her touch, as it always does, raising its head happily.

I shuddered pleasantly and broached, scattering water everywhere. Straddling me, she settled down and onto her favorite toy. I moaned as I was enveloped in warmth and silk sleekness. Clinging to each other, we rocked to and fro softly, loving the day's stresses away.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 69-119 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...enveloped in warmth..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track:

I consciously tried to make this week's pic and phrase more happy and upbeat, as I'd had more than enough of the negative side of things over the past few weeks. I chose something that just made me beam from ear to ear when looking at it. Look at those two, the expressions on their faces, the tenderness in their embrace. That's not just sex, that's not just fucking, that's lovemaking. If you get the distinction.

I've never been surprised in the bath like this, but over the years I've had some wonderful loving interludes that are great for scrubbing away any unpleasantries of the day (or week). I've had one of those weeks this week, actually. Sadly, though my partner is loving in many ways, I doubt it would ever enter her mind to surprise me like this. But hey, that's what fantasies are for, isn't it?

If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. 

-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 3-11-11

(Source image: "Good Clean Fun" by John Hogl)

Your challenge for this Friday, 3-11-11, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of 69-119 words. Since everyone seems to be enjoying the required phrases, please use this phrase in your submission:

"...enveloped in warmth..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

As with last week, I am no longer collecting the participants list, so you no longer need to notify me by email or leaving a comment here if you're planning on playing along on Friday. Instead, once you've posted your Friday entry, just drop by here to see my own Friday post (which will be scheduled for 12:01 AM on Friday morning) and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry.

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for my take on the challenge and the list of participants, and then again on Monday for the next FFF challenge! And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 3-4-11: "A Learning Experience"

(Image source: "Schlampenfieber" by Ben Marcato; all websites I have found for Ben are currently down)

“Please, Mistress,” he begged. “I can't.......breathe.......”

“Shut up!” she snarled. Her thighs were burning, straining to hold this ridiculous position. He was paying her for this?

She slapped his face, realizing simultaneously that she was starting to slip. She lost her balance and slid forward. There was a sharp crack and suddenly his head dangled loosely, lifeless.

Shit. Apparently being a domme really wasn't for her.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 40-70 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...a sharp crack..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track: 

Surprise! There's more to being a domme than one would guess, I imagine. Never having been into the whole pain vs. pleasure thing, I can nevertheless appreciate that you've got someone else's body in your care, and possibly their life as well if you're playing around with binding or erotic asphyxiation or anything else that presents real danger. I have no doubt that there are plenty of doms (and dommes) out there that know what they're doing, and take plenty of care with their victims. But what would happen, I wondered, if a housewife was trying to indulge her fantasies and discovered that she wasn't very good at it?

Naturally, from there it was just a quick jump from "she's not very good at this and she's not enjoying it" to "she screws up big-time and the guy pays the price". I don't know, maybe I've got a pessimistic outlook on life. Okay, I tell a lie, I already know I do.

Next week's offering will be more cheerful, I promise. At least the photo will be more bright and sunny. Flying Spaghetti Monster only knows where I might go with even a bright and sunny photo these days....

Please note that this week, as for the past few weeks, I am trying something different with the participants list. If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. We'll see how this works out.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. 

-- PB