This week: The Good Old Summertime Edited by: Legerdemain  
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The Good Old Summertime
What did you do in summer as a child? I remember endless bike rides, swimming in Lake Michigan, camping, fishing and sometimes just sitting in the shade trying to stay cool. I drank from the hose, never wore shoes let alone a helmet when I rode my bike and got my fair share of scrapes and bruises.
I also remember playing softball, wiffle ball, kickball and chasing fireflies in the fading sunlight, just before the streetlights came on and I had to be home. And I HAD to be home, we had a streetlamp right by our yard, so there was NO excuse for lateness.
The simple adventures of a child are some great memories, and can be an excellent foundation for your younger characters, or flashbacks of older ones. Where your bravery was rewarded by the admiration of your cohorts. Never mind that your mother would have had a heart attack had she known what you were up to. Of course, I remember sometimes my mother was the instigator of many water balloon fights and summer pranks.
Disagreements were argued out and forgotten, there was no social media, no texting, no videos, you just called a friend from the wall phone at home or went to their house to ask them to play. If they didn't want to come out, there were no hard feelings, you just went on to the next friend's house. Or you went out in the street and kicked a tin can around until someone came out to play. There was always some kind of game to play or make up. Sometimes it took longer to sort out the rules and where the bases were, than to play the game. In all, childhood memories can be simple and wonderful...and sometimes very adventurous.
Be adventurous, and Write On!
This month's question: What are some of your fondest childhood memories?
Did you use them in your writing?
Answer below  Editors love feedback! 
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September Site Contest
Write a short story that prominently features elements of the genre prompt.
Stop in during birthday week and see what's going on!
Excerpt: Over the course of a few months sharing coffee breaks, Monica and Brady bonded in their shared misery working for the owner of Big Diamonds International. Long hours, low pay, and crappy benefits.
Excerpt: I turned to behold a young woman, blonde, statuesque and wearing a tight, form-fitting suit that seemed out of place in those bare, concrete surroundings. Her eyes flickered left and right as she spoke, as though she expected to be attacked at any moment.
Flash fiction is fun to read and a challenge to write. It must contain all the elements of a larger work of fiction, but in a much shorter space.
Excerpt: I remembered taking a walk outside the campground one peaceful night. A gentle breeze enhanced the warm night air, as my fiance and I walked along the path, hand in hand, between the trees surrounding us.
| |  | The Last Act (ASR)
A brief action brought on by supernatural act may have alternate affects.
#2269136 by brom21  |
Excerpt: “Soon we will see the Fairy folk,” said Herold with his short, blond hair ruffling in a light wind.
In September 2025, in honor of Writing.Com's 25th anniversary, there will be a special award bonus award of 2,500 gps for people who check in 25 times (on 25 different days)! This is in addition to the exclusive merit badge super achievers earn for checking in 21 times.
Excerpt: A click and a whirr and Ismail froze his son. It didn’t matter that Samir was asleep, one arm curled around his soft gorilla. It didn’t matter that the boy squirmed, scratched his nose and nuzzled into his pillows. It didn’t matter that he had to leave tomorrow. Ismail smiled, put the camera down and tiptoed to his side, crouching to kiss his forehead.
Excerpt: Ribald laughter broke the clang and clatter of dishes hitting oak as the serving staff hustled to satisfy every need of every guest. For the first time in over twenty years, Sedyr played host to the High Games - contests of skill, strength, and intelligence commemorating the fabled competition between the Children of the Allfather, Frey and Freya. Queen Alyra surveyed the room, her mercurial gaze touching each person in the banquet hall. She was nervous. Not only because it had been so long since her kingdom had the honor of hosting the games, but also because it would be her daughter’s first time competing in the adult group. And she would be competing against the seven-time Champion of the High Games, Prince Talesyn of Aedyr.
Excerpt: There was a dead body on the train. He didn't know who put it there, but that didn't matter. Dead bodies meant trouble, and he couldn't afford trouble right now.
Excerpt: Throughout history skirmishes and wars have occurred between neighbors. Sometimes it's been justified, other times it's been over trivial things. An inferior infraction recently erupted into a battle between the Blue and Gray. Although living in the same land, neighbor turned on neighbor over something as petty as peanuts.
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This month's question: What are some of your fondest childhood memories?
Did you use them in your writing?
Answer below Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Action/Adventure Newsletter (July 30, 2025)" question: What's your dodgeball story?
TheBusmanPoet  : Wary, scary and hairy.
Bilal Latif : "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball".
SgtRikVald  : avoiding all the idiot drivers on the highways and byways
🌖 HuntersMoon  : Vaguely... but I'm sure I buried the memory for a reason. 
Hades : I was the kid who watched way too many Power Rangers episodes. If I couldn't dodge the ball, I'd punch it away. It always was an out but at least I felt cool doing it.
Arnak : Watched it in a movie theatre.
Dawn Embers  : I remember playing but no details. Hmmmm…
Fivesixer  : Hades - IMO if you punch the ball and it hits someone else on the other team, you should be in and that person should be out.
Mousethyme : I couldn't hit the side of a barn, but when someone tried to hit me I was good at catching it and getting the thrower out.
Tannus : If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball! One of the best lines ever!
Nuts ☮  : I'm good at dodging Dodgeball. I'm called the Double Dodger.
Bob : Fifth grade PE. The prettiest girl in class had gotten pierced ears and emerald ear studs. She took one in the head and tore her earlobe. It was bloody.
A free range horned milk cow kept getting in Dad's garden. Dad was working on an old car and had a pipe wrench in his hand. The cow came up, he tossed the wrench and caught one horn perfectly. Momentum twisted the horn off close by the cow's head. After that his neighbor had a one horned milk cow.
Thanks to everyone for your replies! L~ |
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Action/Adventure: August 27, 2025 Issue [#13315]
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