February 20, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about what it means to be a literary artist. You can use your experience to re-imagine the idea or embody something else in a character. Be playful, go deep, and let your story flow. Go where the prompt leads! Click here for details.
Future Words – by Hugh W. Roberts
By the time 2042 arrived, literary artists were rare.
They were the only ones with the power to write compelling stories that could alter reality.
The government had strict regulations on using this power, but there were always those who sought to abuse it.
I was one such person who discovered a way to use obsolete blogging skills to control the minds of others.
A team of elite agents was dispatched to stop me.
It was a battle of words and wills, but the power of creativity prevailed. I was captured and sentenced, and the world was safe again.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
Click here to view last week’s entries.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’
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Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Kindle – £0.99
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Hugh's Views & News 
Clevered written, Hugh. I also appreciated the “captured and sentenced” play on words.
I’m glad you also picked up on my play with words, Nicole. Thank you.
The irony of words and the battle to put them onto virtual paper is not lost on me, Hugh. I hope the current powers don’t end me in frustration 😉
With ChatGPT and AI on the horizon, I worry about how many of the words of the future come from the human mind rather than the robot’s Terri.
Kind of like the spam robocalls we get, right, Hugh? Beep beep boop boop.
Yes, those are what I refer to as the evil ones, Terri.
“captured and sentenced” – perfection!
Thank you. I’m glad you picked up on that, given this piece of flash is about words.
You’re most welcome, Hugh.
Captured and sentenced… perfect
Thank you.
Sounds like the scenario is not out of the range of possibilities Hugh! You might have a longer story out of this.
One day, this piece of sci-fi could come true, but hopefully, I’ll be on my next journey by then.
Oh! Shucks that’s such a shame!
I hope not. The narrator in this piece of flash is the bad guy. I’m pleased they got him and saved the world.
Well I read that all wrong Hugh 🤔💜💜🙂
There seems lot of contradictions in the end. If you were captured, its a bad outcome
The narrator is the bad guy in this one, Brenda.
I must be really tired Hugh. Sorry you had to point that out to me
No worries, Brenda. It’s always great to hear different perspectives on what I write.
Are you near the quake I read about this morning in Wales?
Never felt a thing, Brenda. I was fast asleep when it happened. However, I had a few glasses of red wine yesterday evening, so I slept well.
Just saw the headlines this morning
Yes, I heard about it but didn’t feel anything. We had one a few years ago which I did feel, but it was around lunchtime that it happened. The one last night was just before midnight.
Yes, keep that skill up! Cool how you reversed the ChatGPT discussion.
Yes, we humans need to turn the tables sometimes, Erika.
I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad – well done.
Thanks, Dan. Always be happy.
Good advice.
I think there was a movie that had a similar theme.
Was there? I don’t recall one. But if you give me the movie’s name, I may recall it.
I looked it up, it’s an old movie from 2008, Inkheart.
I’ve heard of it but never seen it. I had to look it up and see it’s about a father and daughter who can bring characters from stories to life. My flash is more about writers being able to alter people’s lives with what they write rather than bringing characters to life. But I see the connection you have made.
Yes, you had a different take. I unfortunately didn’t see it all, just half an hour or so. Now I’m looking for it as the story was quite interesting.