#dailywritingprompts

[thesquidsink]

Daily #28

"For ten galactic standard years, the war with the machines has raged," said the representative of the Lkems, clacking its mandibles for emphasis. "We have followed the rules of engagement, for we all agree that we do things a certain way. In that time, interstellar civilizations have lost system after system. Single-system species have been wiped out. Our greatest weapons remain effective, but we are outnumbered and outmaneuvered at every turn." It spread its wing-like arms. "What other options remain available to us, but this? But... them?"

The eight hundred and seventy-three representatives of the Galactic Committee all turned their various sensory apparatus to the two humans sitting near the center of the chamber: President Kara and Commander Marc. Marc frowned at the President; he didn't like all this attention, and he certainly didn't like being pulled out of retirement for one last job. He'd seen the holos. It was certain death. You don't come back for one last job and live happily ever after.

The voice of the Lkems spoke over murmurs and whispers and suspicious glances. "Yes, the humans devastated the militaries of several member species in blatant violation of many points of the Galactic War Crimes Treaty before making peace, and we understand how hard it can be to trust them. But the humans are the only species in the galaxy that has held their system against the invaders, and we ask - we implore the human queen to assist the people of the galaxy by any means necessary."

Marc could see the President trying to decide whether to comment on that "queen" remark. Humans were the only interstellar species in the galaxy that weren't a hive mind under a single leader. After a few moments, Marc suppressed a grin as Kara sighed and chose not to correct the Committee with her proper title.

President Kara stood, and simply said "We accept. Commander Marc, please share our plans and our greatest military secret with the Committee."

Marc's eyes widened. He didn't expect her to give in so easily, without any kind of negotiation for payment or compensation of some kind. What was her angle? Perhaps she wanted to overcome the bad reputation, sanctions, and restrictions on humanity's expansion and military. Marc called it "the leash", as in, it sounded like he was about to be let off the leash.

He shrugged to himself. Maybe this would be interesting after all.

He stood, adjusting the battle-worn composite armour that he'd had brought out of storage, and addressed all eight hundred and seventy-four hive mind representatives. The core intelligences of the species were all on their homeworlds, but each had developed some form of faster-than-light communication that allowed their minds to spread across the stars.

"We humans aren't a hive... our minds work differently than yours. Every individual has their own mind, with no communication other than through our physical communication and senses." He waited for the typical wave of shock, confusion, and revulsion that always came with a hive mind finding out about how humans worked. Most of these species had already heard, but maybe fifteen percent expressed the usual horror.

"Our plan to stop the machines is the same as it has been against the member species we encountered before we learned to communicate properly: we will send a small, elite strike team into the heart of the machines, and destroy their central mind."

Once again, Marc paused for the expected wave of disgust. This time it was a lot more than usual. A member species of the Galactic Committee proposing to commit the very highest, most severe, most destructive war crime of all - xenocide, the destruction of an entire intelligent civilization? How could any of them agree to this?

Marc put his hands on his armoured hips and raised an eyebrow at President Kara. She gave him a flat stare and shrugged. He'd told her this would happen.

"Do you want the machines stopped, or not?" roared Marc over the hubbub of distress. The voices quieted, and reluctant acquiescence moved through the sea of strange anatomies.

"That's what I thought," he said under his breath. He waited for the inevitable - ah, yes, the representative of the Krrrr/r'm mind asked Commander Marc how a strike team could possibly dream of penetrating the battle lines of a war mind more sophisticated than any the galaxy had ever seen.

"We'll stop them the same way we stopped every other species we fought," said Marc. "We know how to hear your thoughts."

He tapped the interpreter in his helmet to the higher setting, and watched as nearly a thousand tracking lines erupted into chaos and panic. He pressed another button which sent out a signal on a very special frequency, and the panic went flat.

Marc shut off the system, scratched his chin, and explained. "You all can communicate over vast distances. To you it's just how things are. To us, who have spent centuries developing communication technologies to allow our billions of separate minds to speak to each other over long distances, it was simply another kind of signal to crack. Our communication devices allow you to listen to your star-minds... and to those of the machines."

He paused to let that sink in. His readout showed that it had the desired effect: widespread awe. "We were able to defeat member species, and we are able to hold off the machines, simply because we can hear your star-minds. We know where you will strike, and where you do not expect us to strike. My team of elite human commandos will take one ship to the machine world, sneak into the machine core with a singularity bomb, and destroy it. We can do this tomorrow."

Marc sat down and shut off his feed. He didn't care what they said to each other anymore. He didn't care what kind of extreme measures or sanctions or restrictions the Committee would place on humanity after he ended the war - that was President Kara's concern. He was going to save the galaxy, and probably die, but ensure that the machines could never make it to his home. His family.

They argued for hours. Marc closed his helmet, muted its inputs entirely, and took a nap. When he woke up, they still weren't done.

Eventually, finally, they got the go-ahead.

If they'd ever had the slightest hint that he was the one who'd pulled the trigger on humanity's early wars, before he understood what he was dealing with, they would never have let him in the room. Or the planet. Hell, this entire ring of the galaxy. He wouldn't be the one leading the strike force, he'd be made an example of. If the other species could ever wrap their heads around how human minds worked, they could understand that each time, it wasn't humanity that had made the call collectively - it had been Marc. As the sole being responsible, the Committee would be free to punish him, rather than the whole species.

The Committee, after all, did things a certain way.

Marc wasn't proud of it, and it wasn't a good feeling, but there certainly was a unique feeling to being let off his leash. Not pride, never pride, but Marc knew that one day he would be the most famous war criminal in galactic history, on his way to exterminate his eighth entire sentient species.

At least his family would be safe.

_____

Based on prompt:

[thepurplequote]

Stop letting age put a barrier on your dreams💌 . . . . . . . . #trustquotes #trustyourintuition #trustyourself #faith #belief #hope #trust #quotes #dailyquote #dailywriting #dailywritingprompts #writersofig #writersofinstagram #thepurplequote #quotesinpurple #writerscommunity #writing #writings #writewritewrite https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYNeclpq4o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dimplesdotcom]

Dreams Come True - Daily Writing Prompts

Dreams Come True – Daily Writing Prompts

When you were young, you knew without a shadow of a doubt that you would make your dreams come true. Now that you’ve grown up though, things could have changed. It might seem daunting enough to even speak them out loud, lest the dream goblins sabotage you with reality. Happy Make Your Dreams Come True Day. Today our characters throw caution to the wind and strive to make their dreams come…

[enchantingepics]

Story Prompt 1

Once upon a time, in a coastal town where the whispers of the sea echoed through narrow alleys, there lived a couple bound by the ebb and flow of life's uncertainties. It was a picturesque evening when he took her hand, the sandy shore beneath their feet, and the sun setting on the horizon painted a canvas of serenity.

Yet, beneath the beauty of the moment, a storm brewed within her. The waves mirrored the turmoil she felt, questioning the course of her life as she compared herself to the progress of friends and family. In the midst of this internal tempest, he stood by her side, a lighthouse guiding her through the darkness.

Amid seagull calls and the rhythmic lapping of the waves, he reminded her of the overlooked joys and passions that colored her existence. From teaching children about sea creatures to creating chaotic kitchen masterpieces, their shared experiences were the palette that painted their unique love story.

He, her anchor, was the personification of success in her life. While acknowledging the importance of self-love and independence, he brought an extra layer of sweetness to her coffee, making her foundation stronger. As a breeze swept through, she nestled into his side, finding solace in his silent support.

Eventually, their steps led them to a forgotten stone structure, a place that held the echoes of their laughter and the memories of their early days. As they climbed the stairs to the terrace, the world unfolded before them like a breathtaking masterpiece. The sun, a fiery red orb, cast its glow on clouds adorned in hues of gold, while birds danced in the distant sky.

In the midst of this enchanting scene, he dropped to one knee, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. His heartfelt words echoed through the stone walls as he asked her to share a lifetime together. Overwhelmed with emotion, she could only manage a tearful "Yes."

Their embrace marked the beginning of a new chapter, a union born from love's enduring journey. As tears flowed freely, the couple reveled in the warmth of the moment, knowing that the storm within her had finally subsided, making way for a future filled with love, laughter, and shared sunsets. And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon, it signaled not only the end of a day but the start of a lifetime adventure for two souls intertwined by the sea and sealed with a promise of forever.

[preppygirlygirl]

Lauren Elizabeth: You Should Write This Down Capture every inspiring word from Lauren Elizabeth as she shares her invaluable wisdom. You won't want to miss this.

[my-youngworld88]

Favorite Candy

“Favorite Candy” My daily writing prompt post #blog #blogger #blogging #dailywritingprompt #words #wordsbyjaneeng #janeengauthor #janeengwriter #candy #favoritecandy #writer #author #amwriting #writerslife #authorslife

What’s your favorite candy? I have to be completely honest, I’m really not a big sweets person. It’s very rare that I would want to have Candy and my kids find that oddly disturbing! But when I do crave anything sweets, my favorite Candy to go to are Hershey’s cookies and cream and a bag of skittles. I just love the creaminess of the candy and the hint of heresy’s chocolate in it. To be honest…

[hellion-blackwood]

Important things to carry with you, in the African Vampyre Chronicles

#DailyWritingPrompt - What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time? #Dailyprompt; #Wordpress; #Write; #HellionBlackwood; #DarkFantasy; #WritingCommunity; #BloggingCommunity

Daily writing promptWhat is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?View all responses My most vital companion is my leather-bound journal. Its pages a portal to realms I seek to unravel, a canvas upon which I paint the words that breathe life into my supernatural. As with any writer, I too carry the intangible weight of curiosity. It’s the driving force that compels us to…

[writersencyclopedia]

Writing Prompt No. 127 Check out a full list of Prompts at Writer’s Encyclopedia Prompt Library! Link in bio. . . . #writing #writingprompt #wordgasm #writersofinstagram #writingprompts #writerslife #amwriting #prompts #dialogue #authorsofig #writingpromptsdaily #author #writer #writingpromptsandtips #writersencylopedia #indiewriter #indiewriters #dailyquotes #dailywritingprompts #dailywriting #writerscommunity #writersnetwork #writersblock #writerssupportingwriters #writersfollowwriters #writersconnection https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TjzRZpI89/?igshid=1eyjnvzfox34i

[graceintheshadows]

365 Days of Writing Prompts - 31 January 2020 Happy storytelling... #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writingprompts #dailywritingprompts #inspiration #imageprompt #happystorytelling #365daysofprompts https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ABkHSg_m7/?igshid=cywm31ftfazt

[nv-rivera]

Have you checked out @sprinkledinspiration yet?? I was honored to be a part of #guestpromptfriday this week! Head over to the @sprinkledinspiration bio and sign up for the mailing list so you too can get daily writing prompts from the fabulous @authorheatherlhuffman and her weekly guests delivered right to your inbox! #sprinledinspiration #dailywritingprompts https://www.instagram.com/p/CO27AhRLQC_/?igshid=1qll9d2hmjoag

[featherscharm]

Hello everyone! Here’s today’s #februaryprompts #challenge post! Today’s one is inspired by @les__miserables__ the actual tome by Victor Hugo, not the film. 📚📚📚📚 Why? Well...if you’ve been keeping up with me last year, you’ll know that I’ve been slowly trying to get through “The Brick” because I’ve been obsessing over the musical and I needed to read the story for myself, to see what the difference is, and actually appreciate the story a little more. 🧐 And let me tell you, I’ve cried at the book as many times as I’ve cried at the musical. I mean just the first few volumes just has that effect on you! I’m now at the point where the kids (because that’s essentially what they are) have made the barricade and are waiting for an attack. Honestly, I’m scared for these boys, even though I know what’s going to happen, and just thinking about it now, I’m already welling up! 😭😭😭 So, that’s why I wanted to write this prompt. I sort of wanted to give a tribute to those who actually took place in the Second Revolution of 1848, because that revolution wasn’t an easy one. It took 18 years for the people of France to overthrow their monarchy, and I give props to those that died through it all. I salute you boys! 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️ (sorry there isn’t a salute emoji) Anyway, here you go guys! If you’re all about revolutions, this one’s for you! Well that’s it from me today, I’ll see you guys tomorrow! And don’t forget to like, subscribe, follow and share for more updates and new posts on featherscharm.com! The link is in my bio! With love, Feather . . . . . #featherscharm #blogpost #writing #creativewriting #writingprompts #writingprompt #dailyprompts #dailyprompt #dailywritingprompts #dailywriting #dailywritingprompt #daily #prompt #prompts #story #storytelling #stories #poems #poem #poetry #lesmiserables #revolution https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHMECGBzff/?igshid=yx9y2ggqendy

[thesquidsink]

Daily #47: Horror Protagonist

I have a stubborn streak. If you bet me I wouldn't do something, or dared me to do something you thought I'd refuse, I'd do it. Then and there, no questions asked. I'm no coward, and I'd prove it to you at the drop of a hat.

I just changed my mind. I think I'm good now.

Bobby bet me that I wouldn't spend the night in the Johnsons' abandoned house. Told me no one is brave enough to go sunset to sunrise in that murder house that wouldn't sell, no matter the price. Told me that if he ever met anyone brave enough, Bobby would go on a date with them and do anything they wanted - but it would never happen.

I knew he said that thinking about girls, not boys, but I don't think he knew how stubborn I am.

We were passing by after class - his first day, new in town, and he'd asked me to show him the way home. On the way past the Johnsons', Bobby told me he'd heard about it, that the house was famous, even back where he came from. An octuple murder-suicide with a bowling ball, the worst thing to ever happen across all twelve counties on this side of the state, so bad that the crime scene guys refused to clean it up. Sounded almost too ridiculous to be true, but everyone knew about it. Even the old people walked on the other side of the street from the Johnsons'.

Bobby told me that no one in the world was brave enough to spend the night, and that he'd do anything for whoever did. I said okay, Bobby, just watch me.

He tried to stop me, but I was already over the fence, old enough that I could slip through the cracks. The door was locked, but warped, so it was easy to push open. Before I walked in, I checked the battery on my phone - eighty-three percent, more than enough even if I got bored. It seemed like any old house. Dusty and dark, but nothing scary.

Not until I saw the blood stains, anyway.

They were way too old to be fresh or smelly, they just looked kind of rusty and brown. But they were everywhere. The floors, the walls, the ceiling, on the glass, once dripping from the cabinets, even inside the still-open fridge. There were shriveled-up chunks of... something... that were too dry to stink. And there, in the middle of the kitchen floor, a bowling ball, cracked in half and covered with desiccated flakes of brown.

I took out my phone to take a picture, prove that I was really there. The low battery alert vibrated, and then my phone shut off.

No sir. No thanks. That's it. Absolutely not. Fuck that. This is the start of a horror story, and I'm the guy too stubborn to leave until he gets his face caved in with half a bowling ball. Not today, though. That's not me. Not anymore.

I walked right back out the door. Bobby stood there, gripping the gate with white knuckles, sweating. He wiped his face and pretended like he was never scared at all. He told me he knew it, no one was that brave, he'd never have to pay out that bet.

I just shrugged and told him he was right. I didn't care enough anymore. I don't need to be that guy. If some asshole out there is trying to write me back into that house, fuck off and find another generic protagonist to do your

__________

Based on prompt:

[thepurplequote]

Missing that special someone 💔 . . . . . . . . #heartbreakclub #heartbroke #trustquotes #trustyourintuition #trustyourself #faith #belief #hope #trust #quotes #dailyquote #dailywriting #dailywritingprompts #writersofig #writersofinstagram #thepurplequote #quotesinpurple https://www.instagram.com/p/ClnfeSrp9-2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dimplesdotcom]

Take a Walk Outdoors - Daily Writing Prompts

Take a Walk Outdoors – Daily Writing Prompts

The past couple of years have reminded us just how important it is to be free to take a walk outdoors. This day celebrates our innate need to leave our repetitive confines, unwind, breathe fresh air and be outside. Happy Take a Walk Outdoors Day Today our characters will get a chance to take a walk outdoors, smell the roses and generally explore the outside world. Continue reading Untitled

[introverted-n-anxious]

Thanks but no thanks.

When my sister and I were very young - early primary school years - our parents took us to a modelling agency for what I suppose you’d call an ‘assessment.’ 

We were both dressed in the same dress with matching white tights and shiny black shoes and my dad had styled our hair with extra care. 

We arrived at a building where my sister and I were told to sit side by side in the waiting room while our parents disappeared behind a door with an agent. I was still quite young, so it wasn’t entirely clear to me why we were there or what to expect. All I knew is this is where little girls go to start their modelling career, so I found it somewhat exciting. I’ve always been up for receiving attention. 

Several moments passed before my parents emerged and we all exited and made our way to the car. My sister asked what the agency had to say about us, and that’s when it became clear to me why we couldn’t sit in the meeting room with them. 

They said they saw definite potential in my sister and they felt I would be wonderfully suited to pursue acting. 

....pause to let that sink in....

You don’t have to be an industry insider to understand model equals pretty, but actress doesn’t always equal pretty (though I’m sure it helps.) 

Tell me again how a painfully shy, introverted child with zero known talent can be assessed as a potential actress based on sitting in a waiting room chair. 

Despite the fact that the actress suggestion was clearly made in order to spare me my feelings, I have still held a tiny bit of pride in thinking, “Someone thought I could be in movies!” They unwittingly planted this seed of interest in my mind and I have often entertained the fantasy that maybe I really could be a good actor. 

So, look out for my star on the Hollywood walk of fame! Just as soon as I get over my crippling anxiety, shyness, lack of funds to pursue the interest, fear of rejection, zero experience, zero knowledge of the industry and total lack of motivation to get started. 

*Side note - I relayed this story to my parents decades after the event and they were horrified to know that not only did I remember it , it was also literally one of my earliest childhood memories. 

[2103miles]

Daily Prompt 6 - Write a six word story about a lone mitten ~ Helen

At last I’m free. Adventure awaits.