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Abstract

I may have challenged her to include my line from last time, “slay late after class” so she gets her bonus +50 points!</p><div id="8fea" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/arcane-academy-gumballs-and-zompires-d5b6ef50e0f3"> <div> <div> <h2>Arcane Academy: Gumballs and Zompires</h2> <div><h3>Pumpkin gumballs make sneaking into the restricted section of the library oh so much sweeter. Too bad the twins hate…</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*ceaY4VxMRDFK6wcMRULdzg.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4224"><a href="undefined">JF Danskin</a> mixed drinking with Christmash, resulting in a vengeful — but well-deserved — 24 points!</p><div id="3b00" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/an-icy-response-007eaf51e61a"> <div> <div> <h2>An Icy Response</h2> <div><h3>A vengeful Christmas story</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*HXuWxWM_aJA7MpiBBBtd-A.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b010"><a href="undefined">Jonathon Sawyer</a> gave a back-alley punch with a non-paywalled story for 24 neatly-wrapped points! He had another one in the works, but Christmash swallowed all his spare time! Maybe next time…?</p><div id="53b9" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-coo-068176b87a35"> <div> <div> <h2>All I Want for Christmas Is Coo</h2> <div><h3>“A Santa is jolly, so he you must be, to deliver his presents this Christmas Eve!”</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*xqxKcoLzUzbyjyBs)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="c791"><a href="undefined">Bradan Writes Stories</a> came steaming in like an out of control locomotive to deliver his heartwarming, steampunk version of Christmas — Coalsmas! You’ll enjoy every minute! 10 cog-studded points!</p><div id="38c7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/the-coals-mas-miracle-1923280fe661"> <div> <div> <h2>The Coals-mas Miracle</h2> <div><h3>“A Christmas Steampunk Tale of Hope and Community”</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*a_IEGr6kVLZ5oc7WjoS0bg.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3fce"><a href="undefined">Camryn Osbourne</a> debuts a fairytale-esque Mash-Up about saving a life and reaping the rewards for a satisfying 24/24 points! I hope you brought tissues!</p><div id="7a0d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/the-gift-of-courage-8fa616798f0b"> <div> <div> <h2>The Gift of Courage</h2> <div><h3>In this cold world covered with frost, she vowed to help others no matter the cost.</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*6uRwtxgtQqPKT6vdqjgvxg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="158c">As always, last week’s Infinite Possibilities image prompts, by <a href="undefined">Sweet Chaos</a>, in case you need some more inspiration!</p><div id="8d04" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/infinite-possibilities-prompts-17bd5e23e209"> <div> <div> <h2>Infinite Possibilities Prompts</h2> <div><h3>In the depths of the cave! — Images to spark your writing imagination.</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore

Options

.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*kLuICiRfE_Le2iqAYb-5Kg.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="44ad">Please take a moment to read and comment on everyone’s stories, and even their other stories, too (since many are not earning!)</p><h2 id="e27a">Main Theme (Worth 2 points, flip a coin or choose one!):</h2><h2 id="a0fe">Prompt #1:</h2><p id="db00" type="7">Something’s happened to the Big Man in Red, and you must become Santa!</p><p id="7cbb">Let’s hope it’s only temporary! Does Santa get <a href="https://youtu.be/IyoCP9tgzwc?si=5z-RdbsS1HfLhf-e">too drunk</a> to drive? How exactly does your protagonist manage to succeed (or worse, fail?)</p><h2 id="f6c1">Prompt #2:</h2><p id="39b9" type="7">Write about a fictional fantasy or sci-fi holiday!</p><p id="1769">Maybe it’s Unification Day for the elf and human nations in a classic fantasy world, or a day of mourning after a zombie plague wipes out 99% of mankind. Maybe both. You choose!</p><h2 id="f6cf">Constraints: Worth 1 point each (Choose 4 or roll 4 6-sided dice):</h2><ul><li>Candy Canes used as weapons</li><li>Brown paper packages tied up with strings</li><li>Eight reindeer (or seven, if you were hungry…)</li><li>Someone starts a fight over giving or receiving a gift</li><li>An open door</li><li>Something comes down the chimney with care</li></ul><h2 id="8b57">Hardcore Constraint: Worth 2 points (Flip a coin or choose one):</h2><ul><li>A “horde” of cats</li><li>A hoarder of cats (-50 points if it’s ME)</li></ul><h2 id="ec1a">Literary Device (Worth 5 points):</h2><ul><li>Give an example of <a href="https://literaryterms.net/apologia/">Apologia</a></li></ul><h2 id="3bdd">Kraken Lore Mega Bonus (Worth a whopping +10 points!)</h2><ul><li>I need a vacation! Set your story in the warmth of the equator (or southern hemisphere)*</li></ul><h2 id="23a9">Rules:</h2><ol><li>Write a story based on one of the main prompts, including as many of the constraints in your story as possible.</li><li>Word limit is between 100–2000 words.</li><li>Use the tag “<a href="https://medium.com/tag/mashups">Mashups</a>” so we can more easily find your story.</li><li>Tag me, <a href="undefined">Jonathon Sawyer</a> because I love a full inbox! I will also highlight your stories in the next Mash-Up!</li><li>Publish wherever you want but consider <a href="https://medium.com/the-kraken-lore">The Kraken Lore</a> because we love fiction!</li><li>Challenge your favorite hero to this Mash-Up or a future one! I invite the sensational and superb <a href="undefined">Sieran Lane</a>, <a href="undefined">Sara Fellers</a>, and <a href="undefined">Jillian Spiridon</a> to drive some fiction home! (See what I did there?!)</li><li>Add a section that tallies up your points (your score/24) at the end of your story. (<i>Worth 1 point</i>)</li></ol><p id="f496" type="7">Get Kraken and see you in 2 weeks!</p><div id="05ce" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/write-for-the-kraken-lore-990d4f424abe"> <div> <div> <h2>Write for The Kraken Lore</h2> <div><h3>Join the crew of the best fantasy and fiction writers!</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*dqpcbfRG-JbA6CpKkc3mEw.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="5f93" class="link-block"> <a href="https://thekrakenlore.com/how-to-write-a-monday-mash-up-response-642c6784624a"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Write a Monday Mash-Up Response (Updated Oct ‘23)</h2> <div><h3>The Kicker and Subtitle are great places to highlight your story details and Mash-up!</h3></div> <div><p>thekrakenlore.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*5v0-zStr4XTfBTUM)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="24f2"><i>*If <b>not</b> set on Earth, at least make it somewhere <a href="https://readmedium.com/furnace-guy-saves-planet-earth-6c589ee6fd12?sk=eadca18b793b8723f5e5109f41aa7e13">warm</a>…</i></p></article></body>

AUTHOR TOOLS |WRITING PROMPTS |MASH-UP

Monday Mash-Up #39

Story writing prompts to spark your creativity

“Ho ho ho — where are the brakes?!” | Image generated by Author via NightCafé

The holiday season is out of control! Lucky for you, the crew of the Kraken Lore know how to drive FICTION — and Bradan Writes Stories knows stick-shift in case we wind up in a jam!

Thanks to all of you, the MMU has flourished into a magical home for fun, impromptu fiction tales! As a thank you, here is the second of my two non-paywalled challenges.

“Ho ho ho-oh my goodness, where are the brakes?!”

TKL, if you weren’t aware, is an all-fiction pub that specializes in fantasy and dystopian — though as long as it’s quality fiction, we’ll take it!

Bradan and I host the Monday Mash-Ups and the amazing Sweet Chaos hosts her Infinite Possibilities image prompts, launching every other Monday (alternating weeks). We hope you’ll join our crew as we sail the Medium seas!

If you’re feeling generous, why not check out our TKL Merch Store, where tentacular trophy items await your plundering hands!

So let’s pull on the reins and slow this startled pack of antlered quadrupeds to a light canter, for we’ve got FICTION to read!

Highlights of Past Contributions:

In this section, we highlight all the submissions we find using the Mashups tag and present them to you, our humble Kraken Crew, to read and support each other.

Michael John Scott stood on the outside of the MMU town limits and tossed in his Molotov cocktail of demons and mayhem for a resounding 8 points! Next time, just knock with those definitely-not-evil door knockers!

Erosia Potter continues her slow, arduous climb up the MMU ladder with the one about the snow dragon for an adorable 8 points! Reach for the top!

Grab some ear plugs because a gang of mermaids are using their Siren’s Song to lull you into their dream world! At least read Claude Davis’ mashup before you fall asleep forever! An eternally youthful 24/24 points!

H.R. Parker continues her fascinating Arcane Academy in her latest MMU. Pumpkin gumballs? No, thank you. Also, I *may* have challenged her to include my line from last time, “slay late after class” so she gets her bonus +50 points!

JF Danskin mixed drinking with Christmash, resulting in a vengeful — but well-deserved — 24 points!

Jonathon Sawyer gave a back-alley punch with a non-paywalled story for 24 neatly-wrapped points! He had another one in the works, but Christmash swallowed all his spare time! Maybe next time…?

Bradan Writes Stories came steaming in like an out of control locomotive to deliver his heartwarming, steampunk version of Christmas — Coalsmas! You’ll enjoy every minute! 10 cog-studded points!

Camryn Osbourne debuts a fairytale-esque Mash-Up about saving a life and reaping the rewards for a satisfying 24/24 points! I hope you brought tissues!

As always, last week’s Infinite Possibilities image prompts, by Sweet Chaos, in case you need some more inspiration!

Please take a moment to read and comment on everyone’s stories, and even their other stories, too (since many are not earning!)

Main Theme (Worth 2 points, flip a coin or choose one!):

Prompt #1:

Something’s happened to the Big Man in Red, and you must become Santa!

Let’s hope it’s only temporary! Does Santa get too drunk to drive? How exactly does your protagonist manage to succeed (or worse, fail?)

Prompt #2:

Write about a fictional fantasy or sci-fi holiday!

Maybe it’s Unification Day for the elf and human nations in a classic fantasy world, or a day of mourning after a zombie plague wipes out 99% of mankind. Maybe both. You choose!

Constraints: Worth 1 point each (Choose 4 or roll 4 6-sided dice):

  • Candy Canes used as weapons
  • Brown paper packages tied up with strings
  • Eight reindeer (or seven, if you were hungry…)
  • Someone starts a fight over giving or receiving a gift
  • An open door
  • Something comes down the chimney with care

Hardcore Constraint: Worth 2 points (Flip a coin or choose one):

  • A “horde” of cats
  • A hoarder of cats (-50 points if it’s ME)

Literary Device (Worth 5 points):

Kraken Lore Mega Bonus (Worth a whopping +10 points!)

  • I need a vacation! Set your story in the warmth of the equator (or southern hemisphere)*

Rules:

  1. Write a story based on one of the main prompts, including as many of the constraints in your story as possible.
  2. Word limit is between 100–2000 words.
  3. Use the tag “Mashups” so we can more easily find your story.
  4. Tag me, Jonathon Sawyer because I love a full inbox! I will also highlight your stories in the next Mash-Up!
  5. Publish wherever you want but consider The Kraken Lore because we love fiction!
  6. Challenge your favorite hero to this Mash-Up or a future one! I invite the sensational and superb Sieran Lane, Sara Fellers, and Jillian Spiridon to drive some fiction home! (See what I did there?!)
  7. Add a section that tallies up your points (your score/24) at the end of your story. (Worth 1 point)

Get Kraken and see you in 2 weeks!

*If not set on Earth, at least make it somewhere warm…

Writing Prompts
Writing Challenge
Christmas
The Kraken Lore
Mashups
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