Writing Exercise: 50-Word Prompts 2024 – Erin Penn's Second Base

Days are getting longer, finally, not that we are past the 21st. The deep winter celebrations have appeased the deities once again. Now to celebrate the birth of a child and the end of a calendar year. As I have done in years pass, we are working on two 50-word prompts: one text prompt from a single word and one visual prompt.

Have fun. Remember this is to be a quick flash or scene. See if you can tell a full story, but it isn’t required. Aim for only 50 words, give or take five extra (or fewer). Don’t read my attempts until after you do your own. Write them directly into the comment section to focus on the one-and-done aspect of flashes, just typing things out.

TEXT PROMPT: Angle

VISUAL PROMPT:

Image from Unsplash: Peter Bryan

My Attempts

Text Prompt: Angle

Kenton hesitated. Checking the laser guideline, remeasuring the angle, doublechecking the saw’s user guide for compatibility with wood fibers. He had never seen wood outside of pictures. Hauled over 100,000 AUs, this piece of wood was irreplaceable but needed shaping to repair something equally irreplaceable. He breathed deeply and pushed the button. (words 52; first published 12/30/2025)

Visual Prompt

“Everything in place?” At Robert’s nod, Desma dropped her breasts onto the clockwork half-corset support. Together they stuffed, tucked, and plumped the display within the linen overfabric and buckled straps before spraying gold glitter across her dark cleavage.

“I love you for this,” he said, meaning a dozen different things, his eyes sparkling. (words 53; first published 12/30/2025)

Series: 50-word Prompts