REVENGE - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

She planned it before he died, so at the right moment they took his body away. The drop of blood they returned was bigger than she expected, but she hung it up in the sitting room, and turned to the fashion channels. No more sport, she whispered. My turn now.

STUCK - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

She sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but she’s been comfort eating so much she can’t get out. And it’s safe with her chocolate and her sweets. So she watches the light thinking that tomorrow she’ll change her life. But now, she’ll sit here. Eat some more.

CAUGHT - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

He fell over in the middle of the labyrinth. They said it didn’t matter, but he stumbled again as he got up. For the rest of the week he felt lost. It was as if he was blindfolded. He dreamt of walking round. And round. There was no way out.

THE EMPORER'S NEW HAIRCUT - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

Harry doesn’t really believe the hairdresser when he says this is the latest cut. Even when he sees the result, Harry leaves a tip. The laughter in the salon follows him out to the street. A child points at him. It’s good to be ahead of fashion, the hairdresser said.

CAUGHT IN THE NET - a 50 word photostory

He wants to know how she found out. He was so careful. But she accused him straight away. He hadn’t even got into bed. She doesn’t say she saw the grid marks on his naked body. That she recognised the chair he’d got them from. That she’d sat there too.

On Hardship (and Kendal Mint Cake) - a 50 word photostory

They start the explorers off with cosmetics. Ranulph Fiennes drops out when he’s caught crying because they’ve discontinued his perfect Chanel lipstick. Then Sir Edmund Hillary faints because his corset is laced too tightly. Bear Grylls lasts the longest. He’s spotted trying the gladiator sandals, his glittery false eyelashes fluttering.

(More fifty word photostories here.)

(pps You all did know I'm climbing Kilimanjaro, right?....!)

HE JUST LIKES ATTENTION - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

There’s nothing wrong with the boy, his mother says, apart from liking attention.

So they ignore his dresses, the songs he screams, even his self-inflicted injuries. But when he replaces the faces in every photograph with his own, they worry.

He's deserves a better audience, says his mother.

DYING - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

It was on Monday when Joe first saw the colours surrounding people. The red round Mrs Robins was so strong he couldn’t look at her. His friend Caryn was yellow, like sunlight. He ran home. Gasped as he saw the bright beautiful white light coming from where his father waited.



More 50 word photostories here.

CURLING - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

Toast crusts make your hair curl. She tells her daughters this, watching the way they both cram their mouths full, put their fingers up to their heads hopefully. It’s just a way of getting you to behave, she wants to yell. But she cries instead. Tells them they’re good girls.



More 50 word photostories here.

PRICKLY - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

Graham tells her she should be softer. What has she got to lose? But he doesn’t know the last man she loved left her in debt and still hurting. It’s only recently she’s started to trust again. She rubs her arm, feels the goosebumps like small prickles under her skin.


More 50 word photostories here.

HUNTED - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

She told Harry she was an expert rider. Even rode point-to-points. Such fun, she said, tossing back her hair. She thought he’d only be a one-night stand. Not her Mr Right. Mother’s desperate to meet you, he tells her. She’d almost given up on me meeting a proper horsey girl.



More fifty word photostories here.

STRAIGHT THINKING - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

She’s learning to change her mind. She’s putting all the old twisted thoughts behind her, and concentrating only on positive happy things. Like puppies. Who grow into barking dogs. What about daisies? Chains to tie you down. Rainbows. Which automatically mean rain. Babies. No, she doesn’t want to go there.




More 50 word photostories here, and do feel free to leave your own 50 word version in the comments section.

FILLING THE WELL - A 50 WORD PHOTOSTORY

Who would have thought they would miss water? After the decree about only drinking wine, there were celebrations. Everyone came into work late the next morning. And the next. Until they cursed at Chardonays, moaned over Merlots. I don’t like to tell you what they did to the Pouilly Fuisse.

More 50 word stories here.

Run Rabbit Run - a fifty word photostory

Don’t go to any trouble, he says. He means it. He’s going to tell her it’s not her fault, it’s his. He’s not worth the trouble she goes to. He won’t say it embarrasses him. That one month together isn’t worth celebrating anyway. She should get a life. Without him.

Shhh... a fifty word photostory

Their honeymoon was cut short when a romantic midnight walk goes horribly wrong. People whisper about the insurance settlement, but no-one likes to talk too much. She wears black, rarely leaves her house. Opens the door only at night to a stranger no one likes to talk about. Just whisper.

More fifty word stories here

Cutting the Family Tree - a fifty word photostory

Her family tells her that if she carries on behaving like this she will just be cut off. She laughs, imagining an old-fashioned will and testament being torn up. Until they don’t return her calls. Or answer letters. And what’s worse is she can’t remember who she is any more.

More stories here.

Sticks and Stones - a 50 word photostory

Her mother says just to ignore the bullies. That one day she’ll look back and wonder what the fuss was about. But she knows that’s not true. She’ll be carrying the words around forever … fat, smelly, stupid, worthless … and a thin skin hurts more than any broken bone.

Neighbours for Supper - a 50 word photostory

Linda seems nervous, but I can hear her husband talking loudly even as I slip out to the kitchen. Originally I’d planned to reveal how I knew about my husband and Linda over pudding. But now I’m not sure. I overhear talk about barbecues, daytrips, cards. It sounds nice. Neighbourly.

Decisions - a 50 word photo-story

It's been a while since I've done a snap, but I've missed them. For those new to the blog, these are 50 word stories linked to a photograph. Please leave your own 50 word version in the comments section - or link to your blog - if you want. Writing small is an interesting - if sometimes frustrating! - exercise:



She doesn’t want a complete memory destruction. Just her childhood. Although not the good bits. Or the bits she survived. Which was it all, so could it zap her adult life instead? But not the bits with John. Or without. Actually maybe she could just not remember the future. Although…

HOW TO STAND OUT - a 50 word photostory

I don’t like to merge into the background. It comes from being one of four daughters no-one could tell apart. The first murder just brought the rest of us closer, but by the third everyone knew me. To begin with, they called me the survivor, but then just evil.