Welcome to the end of another week. The days are getting noticeably shorter, which makes my after-work walks a bit of a challenge. At this rate, I’ll be taking my walks at lunch time. On the plus side, at least I won’t have to worry about melting in the heat.
Shorter days also mean that November and NaNoWriMo are both on the horizon. Looks like I have about a week to gather the Fall decorations from the garage and outline the story I’ll be working on for the month. I’m cautiously optimistic about the success of both activities, though there is a definite chance I might be distracted or sidelined by one of the books in my TBR pile. Especially one of the mysteries. I don’t know about you, but I have the devil’s own time putting one of those down once started.
Providing I manage to log off work at a reasonable time and avoid the lure of the TBR pile, I plan to give today’s writing prompt and random words a try.
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 wins a big prize?
Feel free to interpret the “What” any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
landscape flight evidence crazy
ambitious dozen cryptic recent
parrot nightfall limousine comfortable
diamond cottage divine crayon
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 
I can’t believe how we’ve gone from major heat wave to flannel sheets in a matter of minutes. Good luck with all your activities, Elizabeth!
The Dream Home
Beryl Boxer frowned at her sister, who until recently had shown no evidence of insanity.
“This is crazy,” she said. “What do you mean, we won our dream home?”
“I entered us in one of those raffle contests,” Indra said. “We won! The place is divine. You won’t believe it. Get in the limousine, will you? We’re going to be on TV!”
“It’s in the next state,” Beryl said. “Or two states over. I’m not sure.”
“It’s actually on Diamond Head,” Indra said.
“That’s in Hawaii,” Beryl said. “We can’t take the limo to an island.”
“We take it to the airport. Our flight’s in three hours.”
“I don’t want to go. I have things to do.”
“The limo is very comfortable,” Indra wheedled. “You can look out the window the whole way. The landscape is gorgeous. We’ll get there before nightfall.”
Beryl looked over at the liveried driver standing beside the open door of the limo. A crayon-colored parrot sat on his shoulder. “What about him? Not to mention, the parrot.”
“That’s Ahmed. He’s very cryptic. Not a dozen words out of him so far. The parrot is more talkative.”
“What happens to him when we get to the airport?”
“He goes with us all the way to the dream home.”
“And then what?”
“He stays in the lodge keeper’s cottage.”
“There’s a lodge keeper?”
“Just the cottage so far.”
“Does Ahmed want to be a lodge keeper?”
“I’m not sure his ambitions run that far.”
Beryl smiled. “Maybe the parrot would be interested in the position.”
“Maybe he would. So are you ready now?”
“I am,” Beryl said. “Let’s go check this place out.”
I used to love to watch those “Win a Dream Home” shows on HGTV where they would build/remodel an awesome house and then raffle it off. I had high hopes for the house that was not too far away in the Napa area but, alas, no such luck.
I enjoyed your sprint, especially the crayon-colored parrot.
I had dreams of those homes once, too. There was a lovely one in San Francisco one year. Well, the property taxes would kill us, so I guess it’s all well and good that it remains a dream.
Do you know almost no one who wins those houses keep them? What a disappointing thought. You’re right – the taxes are killer.