If you have a post you want to nominate, please leave a link in the comments below.
The deadline for nominations is Friday October 5th.
If you’d like to take part in the judging panel for Post of the Week - either for one week only, or as a permanent member - please click here.
Learning to sleep with the light off - The morning of her making
She dresses in silence. Carefully slipping each moisturised leg into a thick black stocking, she pulls the neatly arranged navy dress over her head. The hair dryer buzzes and blows her brown hair and she is briefly thankful for the noise to muffle the internal dialogue. One, two, three strokes and she puts the brush down. 5:15
This post was nominated by Kate.
Our judges said:
“Left me wanting to know what happened next…”
“At first I thought she was leaving and this is what I liked about the post; half way through, it turned it around. The anticipation, the doubt, the excitement is vivid and I love the way it all melts away at the end. Really heartfelt. What happens next? I love posts that make me want to know that. ”
“I thought this was a little too self-consciously literary in parts (and occasionally the tense is confused), but in general I was drawn into the protagonist’s thoughts and found myself wondering about her broadercircumstances. A potentially mundane early-morning taxi journey to the airport becomes a compelling and almost epic story.”
“Hope it all worked out for her.”
“beautiful writing”
Your shortlister this week was Timbo, and the gathering of judges were Lyle, Peter, MisssyM, yours truly (Sarah), and last week’s winner, Hydragenic.
Thanks to everyone for taking part and congratulations to the winner.
Your nominations for #38 please…
The next Post Of The Week will be announced on Sunday evening.
Please note that nominations for next week cannot be accepted until then.
1. An Unreliable Witness: Mr November
(nominated by Cheerful One)
Does he want to make amends before he dies? Does he want to wipe his slate clean? Does he want to leave a clear conscience? Does he want us to have fond memories and tearful recollections? Cruelly, I hope he does. Cruelly, I hope his wishes are never granted.
2. Annie Rhiannon: Karma biting me in my lazy arse
(nominated by Angelalala)
I’d never seen Dublin pre-9am before, and the 46b was jam-packed with people on their way to work. But I just stuck my beer-belly out and rubbed my lower back, until an old lady wobbled up and offered me her seat.
3. Crystal Jigsaw: Look out for me
(nominated by Kate)
It has been hard for her since she ‘lost’ my dad, as are her words. She listens to me when I talk to her about his spirit but she doesn’t always understand, which is her choice. She has accepted that life goes on. It has to for our own sanity.
4. Learning to Sleep with the Light Off: The morning of her making
(nominated by Kate)
She dresses in silence. Carefully slipping each moisturised leg into a thick black stocking, she pulls the neatly arranged navy dress over her head. The hair dryer buzzes and blows her brown hair and she is briefly thankful for the noise to muffle the internal dialogue. One, two, three strokes and she puts the brush down. 5:15
5. Mommy Has A Headache: There must be fifty ways to kill your mother
(nominated by MisssyM)
Later that day, my mother forced me to dig my garden for four hours and plant bulbs. In my defence, Your Honor, I did not know that leaning on the rotten tree in the garden would tip it over, accidentally killing my mother in one fell swoop.
6. Not Just Hiding: Fighting the good fight
(nominated by Kate)
Maybe I don’t need to earn all that money to live, to be content. Maybe all I need to do is the bare minimum in order to get by.
7. Ouch!: Jesus, jokes and being afraid
(nominated by Miss Vertigo)
A few days ago one of my home care assistants became convinced I was going to die in the near future. She turned to me with concern on her face, “The most important thing now,” she said leaning in and putting her hand on my shoulder, “is to let Jesus into your heart.”
8. Stuff What I Have Written: Every man has his Everest
(nominated by James)
Rick’s like a balding, tiny ginger ninja. If you manage some tricksy maneouvre Rick shouts up ‘Ahhhh Ninja!’ He grew on me by the end of the day. We headed out of Bristol, finally stopping in a leafy car park just out of town. We wondered whether it was a Bristol Dogging hotspot.
If you have a post you want to nominate, please leave a link in the comments below.
The deadline for nominations is Friday September 28th.
If you’d like to help out with the judging for Post of the Week, please go here and get in touch.
Hydragenic - Layers, Cells, Constellations.
“‘Naah, it’s alright. I don’t worry much about the future.’
Good. When I was your age, I think, I worried all the time. We were all going to die. We had endless discussions about it at school. Our drama teacher acted out the ferocity of a nuclear blast by sitting us under a big pile of tables and chairs and pushing the whole lot over. Farcical, but the bruises it left were more than physical.”
Our judges said:
“Great observational writing: “Good. When I was your age, I think, I worried all the time. We were all going to die. We had endless discussions about it at school” reminds me SO much of the time when my 3rd year primary teacher sat us all down to ‘Discuss The Falklands
Conflict’ and twenty-five nine year olds quaked with fear.”
Your shortlister this week was Patita.
Your estimable judges for the week were Stray, Dandelion, Bob, and last week’s winner, Miss Vertigo.
Congratulations to the winner. Now let’s get back in the pool and start nominating again.
Cheers.
