February 2, 2017 0 comments

Prompt: 033. great literature

.patreon.com/HarperKingsley.
.paypal.me/HarperKingsley.
$5 for access to digital copy of “365 Prompts”

Prompt: 033. great literature

1. The book was all well and good, but she wouldn’t call it great literature. More like toilet paper wrapped in a glossy cover.

A. The book was all well and good, but she wouldn’t call it great literature. More like toilet paper wrapped in a glossy cover. She snorted to herself, covering her mouth with the side of her hand.

Along with the rest of the students, Sadie sat with her back straight, her shoulders back, and her face attentively turned forward. To all appearances, she was a diligent student; when really she spent her time making snarky mental comments or daydreaming.

2. It was when she couldn’t answer 80% of the test questions that she began reading as many of the so-called great literature books as she could.

A. It was when she couldn’t answer 80% of the test questions that she began reading as many of the so-called great literature books as she could. They weren’t exactly to her taste, but she spent the time thinking on the reading and taking the practice quizzes. And it all paid off.

She walked into the retest with determination in her stride, and she crushed it. Which allowed her entrance into Professor Holloway’s course.

3. Walking through the door he was forced to join in a discussion about what constituted great literature.

A. Walking through the door he was forced to join in a discussion about what constituted great literature. It was embarrassing to admit that the closest thing he’d ever read to a classic was Stephen King’s Cujo, so he didn’t.

He sat quietly in his chair and absorbed the discussion happening around him. He took notes, planning to make his own study guide. They were a found of information he wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else.

February 1, 2017 0 comments

Social Media Shitstorm

I saw this on Cracked =>http://www.cracked.com/blog/how-to-lose-your-entire-career-in-two-minutes-twitter/<= and it gave me a “Well, of course” moment.

Of course you police your language on the Internet, especially if you’re using your fucking WORK profile.

Or if you’re the public FACE of your company. — You don’t want the face of your company to be spouting out hateful things on the Internet. That’s bad for business.

Especially when your activities online have the real-world consequences of a social media shitstorm.

That whole “Free Speech” thing only really applies when you keep your speech in your own social sphere.

The shit you say at home, should be your own business.

But when you go online and make a dick of yourself on someone else’s timeline…

Dude, you’re like “Hey, look at me!” And guess what, they fucking looked at you!

Social shaming is a natural part of a smoothly flowing society.

When you broadcast your rage!shit to the ENTIRE world – don’t be surprised that people can see it, and that they might have an opinion.

Most especially when your rage!shit involves you mouthing off about a celebrity’s deceased love one. Directly to the celebrity!

That’s a very low place to go. And if that person has a lot of followers, you’re going to get a lot of blowback.

The current political situation has had a very polarizing effect on the public. People are heated.

It’s better to be diplomatic, and if you’ve got something controversial to say – wait an appropriate amount of time, reread what you wrote, and make sure you’re not about to say something unforgivable.

Though honestly, if you fuck up online and it’s not super bad, you can just say “Whoa. That was too far. I’m taking that one back. I’m sorry.”

Because sometimes, all people want to hear is an honest apology.

A simple acknowledgment that you’ve done something wrong and you’re not going to make the same mistake in the future.

February 1, 2017 0 comments

Prompt: 032. jewel heist

.patreon.com/HarperKingsley.
.paypal.me/HarperKingsley.
$5 for access to digital copy of “365 Prompts”

Prompt: 032. jewel heist

1. Considering he’d barely been released from prison, joining in on a jewel heist had to be the most idiotic thing he’d ever let his cousin talk him into doing.

A. Considering he’d barely been released from prison, joining in on a jewel heist had to be the most idiotic thing he’d ever let his cousin talk him into doing.

To be honest, he’d wanted to say No and stay home. But it was the thought of home that had him agreeing to go along with Brandon’s idiotic plan. Because his family was always hungry, always smelly, always desperate, always poor.

He’d been tired of being poor before he’d been Sent Up. And coming back to that same life didn’t make it any better, especially when he saw his nephew’s hungry face.

2. He hadn’t planned on being part of a jewel heist, but he hadn’t been given a choice. They had his family.

A.He hadn’t planned on being part of a jewel heist, but he hadn’t been given a choice. They had his family. So he did as he was told, and along with the other parents robbed the jewel depository.

They made a fast getaway in the van they’d been given and eluded police. They exchanged the van for a four-door car and drove to the rendezvous point where they were supposed to exchange the jewels for their children.

3. The surveillance video was like watching a heist movie. The jewel thieves were professionals. It was going to be hard catching them.

A. The surveillance video was like watching a heist movie. The jewel thieves were professionals. It was going to be hard catching them.

Jackie stood off to one side as the museum was taken over by police and federal agents. She’d never been in a situation like this before, and she was trying to see everything that she could.

January 31, 2017 0 comments

Prompt: 031. dinosaurs

.patreon.com/HarperKingsley.
.paypal.me/HarperKingsley.
$5 for access to digital copy of “365 Prompts”

Prompt: 031. dinosaurs

1. Scientists clone extinct animals, including dinosaurs.

A. The designer pet industry began with the cloning of beloved animals that had died, then eventually spread to people custom ordering animals that had never existed before or that had gone extinct. Which resulted in the development and spread of mini-dinosaurs with the brains and loyalty of dogs.

One minute nature was respected and normal, and the next there were people walking their Doberman-sized raptors on leashes or letting their miniature saber-tooth tigers sleep on their front porches. Every day new pets were appearing on the market and the demand continued to climb with the price.

2. It was insulting to be called a technological dinosaur by someone young enough to be his grandchild.

A. It was insulting to be called a technological dinosaur by someone young enough to be his grandchild. That it was somewhat true only made the situation worse in his mind.

For the first time, he felt old. And he didn’t like it.

The thought festered in the back of his mind for days, eventually culminating in him experiencing his first midlife crisis.

3. Working in a factory that made plastic dinosaur toys had never been a life plan.

A. Working in a factory that made plastic dinosaur toys had never been a life plan. It was a life derailment. It was the result of too many things happening too close together for the budget to keep up. It was a desperation job.

Yet ten years later, it was the same dull factory walls and the same job day in and day out. It was a soul leaching experience that paid enough money to cover the bills, but not enough to plan for anything better.

Right-click + Save Link As: 031 – dinosaurs