Dollar Challenge - Life Finds a Way (November/May edition)

First of all... I should probably apologise for dropping the ball on this one.

Whoops.

Anywho, that's as much of an apology as you're going to get. Moving on!

Secondly, here's the challenge I set for November:

The prompt, as usual, was a quote that inspired or stuck with me in some way. Here it is:

She was like a shot of espresso

-Andrew Garfield

There were fourteen entries to this challenge, and FOUR of them earned Top Story. What the shitting hell, you lot were on fire!

The Responses

🏆 Mariann Caroll was the first one in on this one! THANK YOU Mariann. It's an excellent one to start us off. This character sounds a little bit like me after some whiskey. DON'T DO IT Karen!

Come to Foggy Mug and enjoy this fun tale from Michelle Liew:

🏆 Alexander McEvoy's is well worth a look:

🏆 Sam Harty gives us ANOTHER banger:

🏆 Dana Crandell brought us this gem, and it will break your heart:

Mikeydred:

River and Celia in Underland:

Henrik Hageland:

Laura Pruett:

JBaz:

Paul Stewart (this one is adorable!)

WOA nailed the brief! Bags of coffee imagery throughout:

Kelli Sheckler-Amsden:

Cant believe I forgot this one - mine:

A shiny silver dollar is winging its way to my favourites!

May Challenge

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

The Prompt

Life finds a way.

Ian Malcom (played by Jeff Goldblum) in Jurassic Park

If you are unfamiliar with it, go and pop some corn and watch it, it's iconic. If you don't have time for the full thing (don't even talk to me, seriously) then here is The Bit:

With Spring well under way, and Life blooming all around us, this felt like a fitting quote to inspire us all. I am also a sucker for a bit of nineties nostalgia, because why not?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it

Write me a piece inspired by the quote.

That's it. Microfiction, longer fiction, poetry, non-fiction... you do you boo, and I'll read it, too.

Them's the rules

Word count: Whatever you fudging well like.

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.

Limits: Stick your head out of the window. Look up. You see that great bloody thing up there? That's it.

You can submit as many as you like, but if there are loads of submissions (I'm not anticipating there will be) then I'm only promising to read the first two from each person.

Closing date: 11:59PM GMT, Saturday 31st May 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 Dead Inside But Caffeinated challenge, THANK YOU!

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