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This was a fun prompt, partly because I was able to included this story into canon of the world created in my novels and Substack short stories. And, I tapped into the public zeitgeist. Is that cheating? Or just a fun bi-product. Anyway, enjoy! https://vincewetzel.substack.com/p/impostor-syndrome

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I hope this is okay: I did mine without the keywords. Once I knew what I wanted to write, most of them didn’t really go with my story well.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FFn4V27lnjey-NVEbUAeT74mli4rcVp9jjSSj-FEGw8/edit

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A great take on the prompt.

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Yeah, it's hard to fit in that many words. I enjoyed the challenge, though. I like that you move the reader right into the action with scene and dialogue. I also enjoyed the idea of a protection racket at a Hebrew school. I'll think of that the next time I walk though Crown Heights or Williamsburg!

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Anyone order a hard-boiled detective, seasoned with salt, with a side of Lamb LaPoose?

The Case of the Maltese Chihuahua

https://postcardinkblot.substack.com/p/the-case-of-the-maltese-chihuahua

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https://hollyhickman.substack.com/p/the-onyx-gauntlet

I had a lot of fun with this! I'm not sure what everyone else did, but mine ended up in more of a fantasy-type setting, and it feels like the introduction to something I might expand upon in the future. Enjoy The Onyx Gauntlet!

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I also did a version of the same story in Spanish, if anyone likes to read in Spanish and/or knows a Spanish speaker who would prefer to read in that language.

https://laextraneza.substack.com/p/donde-el-cielo-va-pa-morirse

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It was a challenge to fit all the words into this one, but I think I managed. I have no idea where this idea came from. Encyclopedic knowledge of the 1970s TV landscape isn't a useful skill, but I've always been interested. When I lived in Portland I got to be friends with Radames Pera, who is mentioned in this story. He told me about how he and Danny Bonaduce used to roam around LA after movie school let out and look for things to do. They were in a weird situation because they both were making a ton of money they couldn't lay hands on, so they were like any other broke teenagers. The stories were hilarious and usually involved minor crimes, much like my own early teenage years.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jhardycarroll/p/that-70s-show

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This was a fun prompt and I had the basic idea the moment I read it. However, it got challenging to use all the listed words, in a way that made sense and yet drive the story forward.

It is basically a tale cooked up from my roots in India, Bollywood, and the general political and crime landscape. Hopefully, it's readable as it's almost my first draft with minor cosmetics.

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I realise "minor cosmetics" and Bollywood in the same paragraph can be an oxymoron :)

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