Clare C
@cing56.bsky.social
Forever over-optimistic writer and lover of pretty shiny things.
Jo rang.
'Sorry, can't make party tonight - crazy busy. You go though.'
Lou replied with well-practiced chirpiness.
No. That's ok Jo.To be honest I'm so behind with my wrapping.'
Lou slumped on her bed, pushing aside her new sparkly top, the shiniest thing in her dull, dreary bedsit. #WriteCBC
'Sorry, can't make party tonight - crazy busy. You go though.'
Lou replied with well-practiced chirpiness.
No. That's ok Jo.To be honest I'm so behind with my wrapping.'
Lou slumped on her bed, pushing aside her new sparkly top, the shiniest thing in her dull, dreary bedsit. #WriteCBC
November 7, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Jo rang.
'Sorry, can't make party tonight - crazy busy. You go though.'
Lou replied with well-practiced chirpiness.
No. That's ok Jo.To be honest I'm so behind with my wrapping.'
Lou slumped on her bed, pushing aside her new sparkly top, the shiniest thing in her dull, dreary bedsit. #WriteCBC
'Sorry, can't make party tonight - crazy busy. You go though.'
Lou replied with well-practiced chirpiness.
No. That's ok Jo.To be honest I'm so behind with my wrapping.'
Lou slumped on her bed, pushing aside her new sparkly top, the shiniest thing in her dull, dreary bedsit. #WriteCBC
What a bargain! 50% off a room at Seaview hotel! I threw my bag on the bed, then pulled open the heavy curtains. But it was a window onto nothing: a dark void. No sea view, no carpark, no light. Just a greyness, a thick fog, and a sound like the tide carrying something hideous towards me #WriteCBC
October 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
What a bargain! 50% off a room at Seaview hotel! I threw my bag on the bed, then pulled open the heavy curtains. But it was a window onto nothing: a dark void. No sea view, no carpark, no light. Just a greyness, a thick fog, and a sound like the tide carrying something hideous towards me #WriteCBC
The shiny little medal saying 'You Survived!' still made me smile when I held it. A warm feeling I realised. Not the dreaded pain of loss. We’d missed the coach home as a result, which Izi thought was hilarious. A precious moment well worth the white lies and the almighty kerfuffle it had caused.
September 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The shiny little medal saying 'You Survived!' still made me smile when I held it. A warm feeling I realised. Not the dreaded pain of loss. We’d missed the coach home as a result, which Izi thought was hilarious. A precious moment well worth the white lies and the almighty kerfuffle it had caused.
It’s the kid. She stares past me as I hold the door ajar.A damp patch grows round her boobs, almost as if she can smell baby.
“Can I help Mia?”
Her fingers clench the skateboard she wields; scared, I hope, not violent. She's so young.
Still,I'm relieved. Mia's baby's gone, already sold #writecbc
“Can I help Mia?”
Her fingers clench the skateboard she wields; scared, I hope, not violent. She's so young.
Still,I'm relieved. Mia's baby's gone, already sold #writecbc
June 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
It’s the kid. She stares past me as I hold the door ajar.A damp patch grows round her boobs, almost as if she can smell baby.
“Can I help Mia?”
Her fingers clench the skateboard she wields; scared, I hope, not violent. She's so young.
Still,I'm relieved. Mia's baby's gone, already sold #writecbc
“Can I help Mia?”
Her fingers clench the skateboard she wields; scared, I hope, not violent. She's so young.
Still,I'm relieved. Mia's baby's gone, already sold #writecbc
I can’t look at mum, so I turn to the dresser and grab the best plates.
She notices me. I feel her watching and start to hum.
I should be excited for my special tea, after a day out.
But I picture Fred's gaunt face, behind bars in that awful place, and now I know my mum put him there. #WriteCBC
She notices me. I feel her watching and start to hum.
I should be excited for my special tea, after a day out.
But I picture Fred's gaunt face, behind bars in that awful place, and now I know my mum put him there. #WriteCBC
May 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I can’t look at mum, so I turn to the dresser and grab the best plates.
She notices me. I feel her watching and start to hum.
I should be excited for my special tea, after a day out.
But I picture Fred's gaunt face, behind bars in that awful place, and now I know my mum put him there. #WriteCBC
She notices me. I feel her watching and start to hum.
I should be excited for my special tea, after a day out.
But I picture Fred's gaunt face, behind bars in that awful place, and now I know my mum put him there. #WriteCBC
Near Amsterdam? It looks like somewhere I stayed. Great photo!
April 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Near Amsterdam? It looks like somewhere I stayed. Great photo!
Not sweat, not water; something wet and sticky caresses my toe, my foot, which sticks out over the end of the bed. I dare not move. I dare not look, as a fetid, damp hiss envelops me with each shallow breath I take.
Then beneath me, the bed springs seem to soften and the writhing begins. #WriteCBC
Then beneath me, the bed springs seem to soften and the writhing begins. #WriteCBC
April 3, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Not sweat, not water; something wet and sticky caresses my toe, my foot, which sticks out over the end of the bed. I dare not move. I dare not look, as a fetid, damp hiss envelops me with each shallow breath I take.
Then beneath me, the bed springs seem to soften and the writhing begins. #WriteCBC
Then beneath me, the bed springs seem to soften and the writhing begins. #WriteCBC
Wind screamed and rain lashed me as I fought my way across the heaving deck of the schooner Brenton. Monstrous waves tossed the ship around mercilessly, like a cat playing with its prey. A sliver of moon appeared then vanished; just long enough to view the harbour lights, or so I thought. #WriteCBC
March 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Wind screamed and rain lashed me as I fought my way across the heaving deck of the schooner Brenton. Monstrous waves tossed the ship around mercilessly, like a cat playing with its prey. A sliver of moon appeared then vanished; just long enough to view the harbour lights, or so I thought. #WriteCBC
A great prompt which took me to places I hadn’t expected. Wouldn’t have wanted to be a lodger in any of them!
February 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A great prompt which took me to places I hadn’t expected. Wouldn’t have wanted to be a lodger in any of them!
I try not to catch the eye of the stags on the wall as I gaze around the huge hall, wondering why this guy wants a lodger.
‘Alexa light oven’.
The deep baritone sets my heart thudding. I look up but there’s no-one, just a speaker.
Clicks emanate from a kitchen, drawing me towards it.
#WriteCBC
‘Alexa light oven’.
The deep baritone sets my heart thudding. I look up but there’s no-one, just a speaker.
Clicks emanate from a kitchen, drawing me towards it.
#WriteCBC
February 6, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I try not to catch the eye of the stags on the wall as I gaze around the huge hall, wondering why this guy wants a lodger.
‘Alexa light oven’.
The deep baritone sets my heart thudding. I look up but there’s no-one, just a speaker.
Clicks emanate from a kitchen, drawing me towards it.
#WriteCBC
‘Alexa light oven’.
The deep baritone sets my heart thudding. I look up but there’s no-one, just a speaker.
Clicks emanate from a kitchen, drawing me towards it.
#WriteCBC
My goal is to make ‘The Baby Trail’ so gripping to read that I’ll be fighting off the publishers. I’m just loving how my characters are taking the story in unexpected directions. But they need a little guidance!
January 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
My goal is to make ‘The Baby Trail’ so gripping to read that I’ll be fighting off the publishers. I’m just loving how my characters are taking the story in unexpected directions. But they need a little guidance!
Thank you for the shout out! I loved taking part - it has such a good festive feel. Also really enjoyed reading everyone's contributions to the story.😍
December 16, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Thank you for the shout out! I loved taking part - it has such a good festive feel. Also really enjoyed reading everyone's contributions to the story.😍
Reposted by Clare C
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
December 15, 2024 at 9:59 PM
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
December 15, 2024 at 9:59 PM
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
Ella gazed into the fire as a log crackled. Two bright sparks stared back at her as the ice tightened its hold, rising, crushing Ella as it spread. The sparks! The memory of the blaze she made all those years ago surged through her, and laserlike, her eyes focused on the task ahead #5ActFestiveStory
December 12, 2024 at 11:45 PM
Ella gazed into the fire as a log crackled. Two bright sparks stared back at her as the ice tightened its hold, rising, crushing Ella as it spread. The sparks! The memory of the blaze she made all those years ago surged through her, and laserlike, her eyes focused on the task ahead #5ActFestiveStory
Ella pressed the lift button taking them swiftly down to the railway below their home.
‘Met office quickly’, mum said as they boarded the train.
‘Boreas will destroy us unless we name a storm after ...'
But mum paused, because Boreas was heading for them like a force 9 gale #5ActFestiveStory
‘Met office quickly’, mum said as they boarded the train.
‘Boreas will destroy us unless we name a storm after ...'
But mum paused, because Boreas was heading for them like a force 9 gale #5ActFestiveStory
December 11, 2024 at 11:51 PM
Ella pressed the lift button taking them swiftly down to the railway below their home.
‘Met office quickly’, mum said as they boarded the train.
‘Boreas will destroy us unless we name a storm after ...'
But mum paused, because Boreas was heading for them like a force 9 gale #5ActFestiveStory
‘Met office quickly’, mum said as they boarded the train.
‘Boreas will destroy us unless we name a storm after ...'
But mum paused, because Boreas was heading for them like a force 9 gale #5ActFestiveStory
‘Your dad didn’t die. He was glaciated.’
Ella’s jaw dropped as she realised the implications.
Her darling dad was out there, with his sleigh-racing dream, clad in a shimmer of ice. If the ice melted, he’d be gone.
Ella stuffed herself into her wellies and heading out said
“I know how to save him’
Ella’s jaw dropped as she realised the implications.
Her darling dad was out there, with his sleigh-racing dream, clad in a shimmer of ice. If the ice melted, he’d be gone.
Ella stuffed herself into her wellies and heading out said
“I know how to save him’
December 11, 2024 at 9:54 AM
‘Your dad didn’t die. He was glaciated.’
Ella’s jaw dropped as she realised the implications.
Her darling dad was out there, with his sleigh-racing dream, clad in a shimmer of ice. If the ice melted, he’d be gone.
Ella stuffed herself into her wellies and heading out said
“I know how to save him’
Ella’s jaw dropped as she realised the implications.
Her darling dad was out there, with his sleigh-racing dream, clad in a shimmer of ice. If the ice melted, he’d be gone.
Ella stuffed herself into her wellies and heading out said
“I know how to save him’
Reposted by Clare C
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
December 9, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
December 9, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory