The Milk & Honey June Horror Challenge & Prompt #2
Week Two | Prompt #2
Welcome back to Milk & Honey’s June Horror Writing Challenge—
Last week’s prompt really emphasized that not every word is written. We can write from the same prompt, write the same storyline, or tell the same tale but no one has written it from our perspective. A huge shoutout to everyone who has participated and submitted something for me to read. I thoroughly have enjoyed each submission and it has made me even more excited for this week and the rest of the challenge.
Our voice is unique. Your voice is unique, so share it!
Some reminders for this week’s prompt:
Any category of creative writing (story or poem) Under 3000 words— This keeps things manageable for me to be able to read everyone’s post.
Tag me! Tagging me is he easiest way for me to be able to see it and helps me keep things organized so I am not searching through DM’s or comments, however, I totally understand if you submit it in the way that’s easiest for you. As long as I can find it, it’s submitted but if I don’t restack it, it means I did not see it so bring it to my attention. (Saturdays 11:59PM is the deadline for each week)
Follow the prompt— I am choosing winners based on the ability to follow the prompt & the strength of writing. Winners will be featured at the end of the month in their own post and be recommended on Milk & Honey’s recommendations page.
Any questions? Use the chat! I would appreciate it if you could be subscribed to enter (free or paid) as it helps support my newsletter so that I could continue to do these.
Why Join?
This challenge is meant to build community, spark creativity, and help us all become stronger, more intentional writers. It’s also a way for me to stay aligned with my core purpose on Substack— to grow as a writer.
If horror is your genre, or even just your curiosity, this is your space. There will also be a potential to have a spotlight in my newsletter at the end of the month.
Without further ado…
Week Two: Gothic Horror
Think of settings that emphasize darkness & decay, supernatural elements such as vampires, demons, or ghosts, themes of death, family secrets, while intertwining romantic elements such as a forbidden love or tragedy. I chose this genre because I struggle with the use of romance in my writing, its a genre that I am sort of scared to write about. I try to keep these prompts vague enough for you to be as creative as possible. Feel free to take liberties and have fun with it!
Prompt #2: The mirror that hung in the east wing carried this family’s secrets for generations…
Reminder: Any style of writing is fair game up to 3000 words, stick with the prompt/theme, and tag me so I can find it.
Les vies d’Emilie
The mirror that hung in the east wing
carried this family’s secrets for generations.
Not proudly like a banner into battle,
Or worn and weary like the old man, bent
Beneath the load of firewood handpicked from the forest.
No, it carried the secrets, like a letter in a pocket
Of the spy on his way home from France,
With the note from the Cardinal to the King.
Or like the confessions that weigh down the priest,
As he pours another drink, sips, swallows, throws down
As much spirits as he can.
The mirror had seen the horror,
The love that was the curse, and
Sadly the curse that was loved.
For long enough, one becomes the other,
They twin and twine and dance about each other,
Snake eating snake
Never knowing the beginning or able to hope
For an end.
The Son of the Manor,
For there ever was only one. (And never a daughter.)
Doomed to fall in love.
To a child bride from the town below.
Who would become engorged with life on that first
Time, the red sheets hung forth upon the window sill.
And nine moons on,
In that room, in the east wing,
Where that mirror hung,
The son was born and again the mother perished,
Not in screams, but in a quiet silence.
And in the yard,
Fenced with knee high wrought iron,
The grave is dug,
In line with the others,
With the same stone, carved with different dates,
Here Lies Emilie de la Ville.
Here is my submission