Writers! Rev up your aethereal engines of imagination, and use the image above as a prompt to create a microfiction of one hundred words or less!
Anything that fits under the umbrella of speculative fiction — science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction and more — is welcome to be shared as a comment to this post. I will select my favorite very short story from those submitted… and turn your words into a fully polished and credited presentation (in the style of my Aethereal Musings) to be featured on an upcoming Thursday on the blog!
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
If your piece is selected to be featured, you will be in the running to win the 2019 AETHEREAL ENGINEER WRITER SUPPORT PRIZE PACKAGE!
This mysterious box will be packed with all sorts of wonderful goodies catering to your authorly needs, all hand selected by yours truly! At a total estimated value of at least $100, you could brag about receiving one of the highest per-word payouts for any submission, anywhere!
How might you win such a fantabulous treasure?
The featured Thursday posts for Aether Prompt winners (not the initial Wednesday prompts) will receive a score. Each “Like” on a post will grant one point to the author’s score, and each unique WordPress reblog will grant three points. The author of the piece with the most points by December 1st, 2019… WINS!
I reserve the full and unquestioned right to break any ties, disqualify entries if shenanigans are suspected, and declare a winner with absolute and final authority. If you win, I will require your physical address to ship your prize to you (with standard shipping included free of charge).
So what are you waiting for? Write to get your creative engines going today! Write for the glory! Write for a chance to win a fantabulous prize!
But whatever you do, just keep writing. :-)
Take care everyone, I look forward to your creations!
~Jason H. Abbott
Aethereal Engineer 
“Have you ever stepped into a cathedral, Kal?” Apollo asked from orbit, filling Calvin’s mind with a dozen sarcastic comments about the ship a.i.’s archaic frames of reference.
When his eyes adjusted to the horizon, all he got out was: “When did you start with nicknames?”
“It is only natural. You have finally ascended the stairs to heaven’s reaches, Kal, my fellow. You are seeing the last road man and machine can take together. The pane that lights our churches of self.” Apollo paused.
“Then, the last journey is…”
“The gateway to those ‘gods’ who spawned you.”
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Ominous and beautiful. :-)
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Here’s my take on the prompt:
https://thedarknetizen.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/microfiction-view/
Happy reading! :)
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Congratulations, The Dark Netizen, you’re the winner of the March 27th Aether Prompt!
In a word: Mood. I liked how your entry was dripping in it yet still managed one of your trademark twists at the end.
Your winning entry will get a featured post tomorrow on Thursday, April 25th! Wowsers!
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Thanks so much, Jason! :D
I must admit I was in that sort of dark mood when I wrote it!
It’s an honour being featured as the winner! :D :D
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You’re most welcome! It’s a good piece!
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James Bond lowered his binoculars from the blinding light.
His mission had failed.
He was genetically perfect…His purpose as the twenty-third James Bond was to WIN.
But the legacy ended here. If anybody survived the world-ending atomic bomb, he would be known as the weak link in the series of Bonds. James sighed, slumping down onto the ground, wincing as his broken rib protested his movement. He chuckled softly as the hazy yellow light continued to grow, hundreds of feet above the Pacific ocean.
Here it ended.
He pulled out a canteen with a leftover martini.
Shaken…not stirred.
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It’s like, the “Rogue One” of Bond movies. Fortunately, Moneypenny 19 might still be online… ;-)
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Yeah. Just a simple idea I had. I’m not exactly a huge fan of the Bond movies, but I do enjoy the trope of ‘secret agents’ and such.
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