Dollar Challenge - Invention Edition (May/June)

Here's the challenge I set for May:

If you're familiar with these little prompts from me, they are quotes that inspired or stuck with me in some way. The prize is piddling; what I'm really hoping for is to offer inspiration. A gentle kick up the bottom, if you like, for you to write something.

I'm a child of the nineties, and I love movies, so this one was probably long overdue:

Life finds a way.

Ian Malcom (played by Jeff Goldblum) in Jurassic Park

This time, there were eleven entries, and two of them made Top Story. Last time I think almost half made TS, but this is very respectable all the same, especially as we still aren't even sure what machinations add up to a TS anyway. In any case, well done to Mikeydred and John Cox - both excellent submissions!

The Responses

Without further ado, then, here are the entries:

Found by Kendall Defoe

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Loophole by Marilyn Glover

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Even at the End by Kelli Sheckler-Amsden

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This is the Way by Mike Singleton - Top Story🏆

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The Whisper Between Joy and Sadness by Diane Foster:

I think you'll agree the art is stunning for this one! The line I lingered on:

Life finds a way

even in the withered cracks of longing

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Life Found a Way by His Majesty Paul Stewart:

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Flowering Eyes: Petals of Paradise by Dalma Ubitz:

The line I lingered on:

The lagoon I longed to drown in

Is the oasis of your promise

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Miss Cox's Garden by John Cox - Top Story 🏆

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Keeping It Interesting by Shaun Walters:

The line I lingered on:

All of them! This might be my favourite entry in a long time. Please do give it a look if you haven't already!

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And It All Falls Down by Matthew Fromm

Another banger! Loved it!

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The Garden That Grew by Carolina Borges

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As usual, a shiny silver dollar is winging its way to my favourites!

June Challenge

L.C. Schäfer's One Dollar Challenge - Quote Me Baby (Invention Edition)

The Prompt

I loved her to the point of invention

- Sarah Ruhl, The Clean House

I stumbled across this quote online recently, and it resonated and reverberated something wicked.

Mission: Slightly Inconvenient

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Write me a piece inspired by the quote.

Anything is fine! You can interpret the quote any which way you like. It can be a micro, a drabble, longer fiction, a poem... Go to town! Amaze me! I'm not promising to read anything over ten minutes, though. I will even read a romance, if that's where you go with it.

I will be honest, if no one comes up with a steampunk love story, I am going to be miffed.

Them's the rules

Word count: Like I say, under ten minutes if you don't mind. Not sure what that is in word count!

Prize: Same as usual, I'll tip my favourites a dollar each.

Winners: Again, same as always! If there's only a few entries, I'll just pick one or two people. If more than 10 people enter, I'll pick 3. More than 20, I'll pick 5.

Content: You can include the quote, in which case it should feel like it belongs. Or your story can be inspired by it, in which case the link should be clear. If you do an author's note, I always read those!

Limits: You can submit as many as you like, but I'm only promising to read the first two from each person.

Closing date: 11:59PM GMT, Monday 30th June 2025

Really important: Please do link your story below! I'd be gutted to miss anyone.

If you aren't a Vocal+ member: You can still enter and leave your link in the comments on Facebook, or DM it to me. I will leave a link to this challenge in the following Facebook groups:

Vocal Social Society

Great Incantations: A Group Dedicated to Writing Challenges

Post it in one of the nine berjillion Vocal Facebook groups and tag me so I don't miss it! Send it to me on Facebook Messenger! Use smoke signals! Nail a hard copy to a pigeon.

Here's my Facebook profile (you are more than welcome to befriend me): L.C. Schäfer

Before you go...

If you can think of a quote from a song, book, or film that you think would make a good prompt, please let me know! Talk to me in the comments. I am open to suggestions, and will tip you if I use yours.

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Thank you for reading!

If you took part in the Life Finds a Way challenge, THANK YOU!

If you give this one a bash, THANK YOU!!