Fifties by the Fire — a fifty-word, prompt-based writing exercise. Feel free to share your response below, or read and comment to join the fun.
Prompt: Write a fifty-word story (fiction, CNF, or poetry) about a dream, or dreaming.
Here are the other guidelines:
Make sure your piece is exactly fifty words. Feel free to use Word Counter or the word processor you use.
Write a title with the genre in the first line. (Example: Missed the Boat, Fiction)
The title does not factor into the word count.
Good luck and have fun. Happy writing!
Special thanks to John Lightle for providing “Asleep and Forgetting” for our writing prompt.
John Lightle is a Texas writer, poet, and photographer who spends many hours sitting on his woodpile contemplating. When away from his frame shop, he schleps his artwork among area art shows. The job takes him across the countryside, occasionally overseas, photographing the quiet resolve found within the golden hours.
Mid-sleep, he tiptoed between worlds, careful to cushion his footsteps in the land of dreams. He didn’t want any Nightmares—hideous things— following him back to the waking world, or his sleeping family.
One morning, Walker woke. Nightmares smiled down at him.
Cleverly done, Justin. I wasn’t going to write any ‘shorts’ this month as I have resurrected my long manuscript. But I gave in last night so I’ll post mine below.
Thank you Stephen. I tried to write something horrific but the rhymes kept popping up and it turned into Dr. Seuss! Reminds me of a children's rhyme... almost.
The Lamborghini caught up to the car ahead that had the pretty woman and the coveted flash drive. His glock deflated the back tyre. An elbow strike followed by a flying tackle did the trick.The woman kissed her savior passionately. He woke up to find his dachshund smothering him!
He was fighting to breathe, every sense on high alert. Who his attacker was wasn't evident. He fought as if his life depended on it, struggling to get this weight off his face. He woke to his partner trying to stop his loud snoring with a feather pillow.
Right! My husband claims I tried to smother him with a pillow. Actually, I was attempting to push him into his side by pushing him with the pillow. This was the basis for my story.
The dream is of a scrumptious medium rare steak hot off the grill, sautéed mushrooms still bubbling, and a loaded baked potato drenched in butter. Of course, seasoned green beans would be necessary to make a balanced meal. Unfortunately, the reality is a plain peanut butter sandwich on white bread.
“5-2-6 horsepower from the V8 Voodoo, nought to sixty in four seconds.” Now he cannot deny I know the mighty Mustang. “Six speed, man, stiffened chassis”, I added, “How much for cash?”
“Keep dreaming, son, even your Dad’s pocket money won’t stretch to this beauty.”
Delightful! Great last line! My boy had a '64 - we loved that old thing. Everyone has a story about a Mustang, right? I love it. Here is a 50-word on a '63 Ranchero just for you, Barrie.
My dream, if I had unlimited resources, would be to become a philanthropist. It would bring me joy to anonymously help to end world hunger. But do I need unlimited resources to help my neighbors next door? To donate my time to the food bank? My dream is within reach.
Nightmare, fiction
Walker Reed learned a secret of the universe.
Mid-sleep, he tiptoed between worlds, careful to cushion his footsteps in the land of dreams. He didn’t want any Nightmares—hideous things— following him back to the waking world, or his sleeping family.
One morning, Walker woke. Nightmares smiled down at him.
Cleverly done, Justin. I wasn’t going to write any ‘shorts’ this month as I have resurrected my long manuscript. But I gave in last night so I’ll post mine below.
Thank you very much, Barrie! That’s kind of you to say. Sometimes they’re difficult to resist, right?! About to check yours out…stay tuned! 😄
Deliciously creepy.
Yes, I know, I've been absent. But what a gift to return to. Nightmare making!
Thank you so much, Stephen! Autumn is in the air (well, tomorrow, technically), and the spooky stories are emerging…I’m here for it! 👻
Hope all is well!
Such a fabulous first line. And "tiptoed between worlds" is perfect. You are a master of the genre, Justin, no doubt about it.
Thank you so much, my friend. I had that line “tiptoed between worlds” written in my notebook for a while, so I’m happy I was able to finally use it!
Excellent as always. Thanks for running this super fun roundup
Thanks, Scott! Right back at you. What a wonderful mix of stories and poems all around!
Love this, Justin!
( A variation on the theme of a longer piece I posted earlier this week )
NIGHT TERRORS, poem
She feels her way through a darkling cave
and wades through slimy grimy bog
and icky sticky spider webs
the hurrying scurrying fangs and claws
the foulish howl of rabid beasts!
A bony finger reaches out.
She screeches out and swiftly turns.
Then she strikes and bites,
and … finally …. wakes.
Ooh! This is spooky! Love it, Sharron! 👻
Creepy cool
It seems we have been having the same dreams! "Icky sticky". I like.
Thank you Stephen. I tried to write something horrific but the rhymes kept popping up and it turned into Dr. Seuss! Reminds me of a children's rhyme... almost.
Yikes, Sharron! This gives me the heebie-jeebies! Good job!!
Heebie-jeebies! Is that anything like “the willies”? The whim-whams? The screaming-meemies? Then my job is done…ha ha ha
It’s a cumulative attack of all of these things, Sharron! Lol
Love!
I can't decide which one I like more, the original or the poem. Both are wonderfully creepy.
Here’s one I amended that I wrote last year.
A Witchy Brew (a haiku chain), poem
Cauldrons bubble fierce
Chanting echoes in the night
Spells cast in shadows
Crackles pierce the dark
Venomous potions brewing
Diabolical
Ghosts goblins and ghouls
Witches brew poison for all
Dark alliance forms
Necromantic spells
Witches’ potions intertwine
Raising the undead
Moonlit midnight dance
Undead rise witches converge
A dark union
Oooo. I like it. All the senses are engaged. You and I are getting an early start on Hallowe'en...
Haiku is a wonderful format. Isn't it great how five syllables can be spread over four words or packed into one magnificent package? DIABOLICAL!
*Cackles* pierce the dark
Also, in keeping with the theme, I’d like to retitle it Halloween Dreams. 😊
Oh man, I am loving these dark and diabolical stories/poems! Excellent, Caro!
Spooky
"Necromantic spells"....Love it!! Very spooky!!
The Secret Agent
The Lamborghini caught up to the car ahead that had the pretty woman and the coveted flash drive. His glock deflated the back tyre. An elbow strike followed by a flying tackle did the trick.The woman kissed her savior passionately. He woke up to find his dachshund smothering him!
What a great surprise ending, Sunil. Wasn’t expecting the dachshund there! Loved it! 🐶
I do hope he hadn't shot the dog in his sleep!
Lol!!
Yes! Nothing like those passionate puppies!! lol
Those doggies will do that. Love it!
Wow! An entire novel in 50 words.
A Real Snore, Fiction
“You really get your story ideas in dreams? That’s cheating.”
“It’s still me after all.”
“Maybe you should change your byline to acknowledge your subconscious as the real author? How can you really write while slumbering?”
Che had heard enough. “Being put to sleep never seemed to bother your readers.”
Haha! What a great line. 😆
Ha! That last line!
Thx😎
Ooo. Snark! I like it, Scott.
Thx! Writers sniping, whoever heard of such a thing lol
Catty. Brilliant!
Thx!
Oooo! Ouch!!
Thx
Thx😎
Smothered
He was fighting to breathe, every sense on high alert. Who his attacker was wasn't evident. He fought as if his life depended on it, struggling to get this weight off his face. He woke to his partner trying to stop his loud snoring with a feather pillow.
“Sorry honey.”
Haha! Too funny, Kim.
My wife never says 'sorry', she just hits me and goes 'stop snoring'.
I'd love the gentle approach of a pillow and a 'sorry'.
But I'm going to remember your idea as an excuse for next time, "but honey, I was under attack!"
Right! My husband claims I tried to smother him with a pillow. Actually, I was attempting to push him into his side by pushing him with the pillow. This was the basis for my story.
LOL!!
Ha ha ha!
TRAVELER - Fiction ...a snippet of a dream I had in 1997 that has always stayed with me. There's more...
"Come back to us." Words on a piece of ancient onion-skin parchment.
Nobody Shirl shaking me awake, demanding we leave immediately as she is waiting for me.
"She?"
"Come, she is not a patient woman." In my confusion and shock, I followed; my world transforming into another, dark and beguiling...
Ooh, really liked this one, Deborah!
Thank you so much!
How much more?
So much more, pages and pages
Dream VS Reality (Fiction)
The dream is of a scrumptious medium rare steak hot off the grill, sautéed mushrooms still bubbling, and a loaded baked potato drenched in butter. Of course, seasoned green beans would be necessary to make a balanced meal. Unfortunately, the reality is a plain peanut butter sandwich on white bread.
You just made me hungry, and I’m not happy about it. 😉 Great story, Zoe!
Around here, that's a "fend-for-yourself night" in my kitchen! Sounds good to me!
Now I'm hungry!
Yeah. Make that Wonder Bread, and I am in, Zoe.
I eat many more peanut butter sandwiches than I do steaks, but when I sat down at the keyboard, I guess I was hungry. LOL
Dreamer (fiction)
I caught the salesman’s eye.
“5-2-6 horsepower from the V8 Voodoo, nought to sixty in four seconds.” Now he cannot deny I know the mighty Mustang. “Six speed, man, stiffened chassis”, I added, “How much for cash?”
“Keep dreaming, son, even your Dad’s pocket money won’t stretch to this beauty.”
We all can dream, right?! Excellent work, Barrie!
Ah, you’re very kind. I’m a bit out of practice, Justin.
I don’t think so at all! Hope you have a wonderful weekend across the pond. 😄
Post-cycle cheeseboard. Life is good.
Happy weekend, my friend.
Delightful! Great last line! My boy had a '64 - we loved that old thing. Everyone has a story about a Mustang, right? I love it. Here is a 50-word on a '63 Ranchero just for you, Barrie.
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/1963-ford-ranchero/comments
Thank you!
TAP OUT (fiction)
Gasping awake to echoless darkness.
Confusion.
Breathe deeply.
I recall whispers, 'When I hear tapping, I'll let you out'.
Constriction.
I began tapping.
Shave and a haircut.
Sensory under-load.
Train-track.
Oblivion.
Morse code.
Panic.
Vigorously thumping now.
Heartbeat.
Bloodied knuckles.
Hyperventilation.
"Let me out ... "
Dismay.
I'm trapped in my dream.
To call this unsettling is an understatement. Spooky stuff, Stephen! I really enjoyed it!
My Dream, CNF
My dream, if I had unlimited resources, would be to become a philanthropist. It would bring me joy to anonymously help to end world hunger. But do I need unlimited resources to help my neighbors next door? To donate my time to the food bank? My dream is within reach.
Beautiful! And so well said, Sharon.
Lovely sentiment. Couldn't agree more.
Thank you for this loving reminder, Sharon. Every can of soup, every carrot, every loaf of bread helps someone.
CNF, My Reoccurring Childhood Dream
“The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.” – Jeremiah 23:28
I look through the iron gate watching a cloud descend. Jesus stands and bodies rise to meet him in air. I wake, confused—left behind?
Beautiful!
What a beautiful vision, GeorgeAnn.
Thanks, I had the dream in different versions several times. I may write a post about it sometime cause there’s more to the story.
Dream Fragment, poem
Between waking and sleep,
words liquefy, thoughts untether.
Red balloon drifts past melting clocks.
Synapses spark, painting minds with staccato light.
We grasp at wisps in this liminal space,
chasing almost-memories, fleeting meaning.
Dawn scatters fragments,
leaving only whispers
of what might have been.
This is brilliant, Gloria—so many strong visuals and lines! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you.
Hmmm. Sounds like one of my anxiety dreams. 😏 Love the creepy vibe, Sharron!