Happy Friday or, what feels like, the end of week 3,434 of 2020. This year seems to have been going on forever.
And if a heatwave, politics, and a pandemic aren’t enough to deal with, my state has burst into flame, thanks in part to lightning storms earlier in the week. Surely we must be reaching the end of the biblical plagues by now, aren’t we?
The air has a distinct campfire smell (with out the associated fun of s’mores) and my backyard has a dusting of ash from the fires which are, thankfully, fairly far from me. I do worry about all of those in the path of the flames, as well as all those doing their best to keep the fires contained. What a mess.
As often happens during fire season, especially in recent years, this is a time for folks to look around the house and mentally figure out “what to save in a fire” as well as to pack that emergency bag for “just in case evacuations.” Being earthquake country we should already be prepared, but it’s always a good idea to update things.
I’m currently off work for a few days, though the plans to take photographs at the beach have been abandoned, since breathing outside is not a healthy option right now. Instead, I think I’ll just putter around the house, read a little, and update the earthquake kit.
Before I check on the status of the emergency food rations that are probably 20 years old, I’m going to give today’s writing prompt and random words at shot.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope either today’s random words or writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
What if: “Your character is making plans for an emergency?
Feel free to interpret the “What” any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
fortune swamp mirror drum
apology predict glitter vision
gimick snake bold lemon
basement blurry mushroom hangover
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future “what-if” prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
Sorry about your cancelled photography plans, Elizabeth! The air is awfully murky out there, isn’t it? It feels like campfires in my living room, and my eyes are sticky. Very unpleasant, and we are miles away. Those poor folks who live closer to the fires, and all those who are evacuated—I really feel for them. And of course it’s tragic that already the fire has claimed so many lives.
I’m not sure that my sprint ties into an emergency, exactly, but you know, a person has to go where the muse takes them…
The Contender
Fable Montrose knew an apology when she heard it. And this one was a real apology, not a gimmick, like the ones that that snake Gulliver usually proffered when he’d done something stupid during a hangover.
“I predict you’ll be a fabulous politician,” she said. “You’ll slither right through that bipartisan swamp muck. And make a fortune doing it.”
“There’s a bold vision.” Gulliver straightened his bland, mushroom-colored tie in the mirror. “Is this mirror working? Because I look blurry.”
Fable laughed. “It’s not the mirror,” she said. “It’s an excess of lemon vodka. Better hurry, brat. I hear the drumbeat of an anxious press corps out there.”
“That’s not the press—what you’re hearing is the drumbeat of a citizenry hungry for hope,” Gulliver said as he left their basement dressing room.
“Sure, throw some glitter around, that’ll work.” And Fable followed him up the stairs.
Nice job, Kay.
Emergency. . . politics . .I think your sprint tied in just fine. I love how you managed to get in the words in a handful of sentences. Obviously you’ve reached Expert Level in random word sprinting.