Writing Challenges 2026

Taffy’s Ice Cream Shop

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WP Prompt: Who are some underrated people in history?

She was walking out of an ice cream shop called Taffy’s at Fremont Mall. I saw her for a second, maybe two, As she walked by me   she looked up at me from her overstuffed waffle cone she smiled and that night  I was inspired to write a story about a serial killer-she was the killer.

Such quiet and brief encounters have filled works in  art galleries, libraries and concert halls since the beginning of our time.

Those people, these brief encounters have provided the spark that led to a creative fire in the imagination of writers and artists are most part nameless, forgotten

it’s a shame really.

The Bare Bones

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Gertrude Abercrombie, Pink Carnations, 1939

One day

my brother and I were talking about the stuff we had accumulated over our lives.  In my case that would be my guitars, books, Halloween decorations, some artwork my collection of Pez Dispensers and my Gargoyle collection.

My Brother looked at me the way our Dad did when he caught me being a world class idiot and he said, ” you know, you should get rid of stuff that doesn’t really matter.

” Like what” I asked him. ” which of my treasures should I get rid of first?”

” Well. Those Pez things are junk and do you need all of those books? Be real,  you know that you CAN  happily exist without  a gargoyle collection. ”

I pictured myself in a coffin, wearing a dress I didn’t like, which would be ok because it’s dark in there.  I saw the pictured myself covered with dust and mold and I also  pictured my brother digging me up, prying open my coffin lid and looking down at me with that same look our Dad used to give me when he caught me being a world class idiot ( which was often ) and saying…

” Anita. Did you REALLY need to take this with you to your grave? REALLY?

“Yes,”I’d say as I worked open my rotting jaw to answer him.

Absolutely.

Yes”

The Heart Beat

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Artist Unknown

Daily writing prompt : What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?

I don’t remember when it was that I first  saw the movie ( maybe ) or heard the Poe’s ” Tell Tale Heart ” but I remember crawling under my sister’s crib when I was about 5 years old and I remember pressing my ear to the floor because I was looking, I was listening for the sound of a heart that I was positive was beating under the floor boards.

I also remember checking the floor in my closet, and the walls in our  unfinished attic when I was about 6 years old.

When I was feeling brave I’d even go down to our basement and stand in the middle of a little room that had once housed a coal bin.

As I got older and my imagination became more, how shall I put it- more rich and creative the sound of a beating heart was the scariest sound in the world to me. It was scarier then the sound of ghosts wailing in the night and footsteps creaking up the stairs to my bedroom.

I’m not sure how I became aware of Poe’s story, but I understood it before I could read a word.

“The TellTale Heart” is a short Gothic horror story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. The story is narrated by an unnamed character who insists on their sanity while describing the murder of an old man, driven by the old man’s “vulture-like” eye. The tale explores themes of guilt, madness, and the psychological effects of crime, ultimately leading to the narrator’s confession as they are haunted by the sound of the old man’s beating heart. The story has significantly influenced the genre of psychological thrillers and is considered a classic of American literature.

Britannica

The Prince of Them All

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I have been to so many concerts in my life.

I’ve seen The Ramones, Abba, J Giles Band, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, The Who, Alice Cooper, Everclear, Santana, Ray Davies, The  Bee Gees, Poison, The Go Go’s, The Pretenders, Kiss, The Runaways, AC/DC , Sha-Na-Na and countless local bands.

I also have gone to many, many symphonies.

But the best concert, both in musicianship and stagecraft was a concert I went to with my sister and even though I wasn’t a huge fan before I went, I was a huge fan AFTER and that concert was put on by Prince.

Over the years I admired Prince- he was one hell of a guitar player, but when heard him play his guitar live I was blown away.

When Prince passed away, my sister was broken hearted and if you want to know the truth so was I.

I thought Prince would keep making great music and that I would get to see him in concert again. All I can say is, I am so glad I got to see him that one time because of all the concerts I’ve been to, his was truly unforgettable.