‘Should we invite Bob?’ ‘You mean Slinky?’ ‘Why do you call him that?’ ‘Just a nickname. You know, like that toy.’ ‘Oh, that springy thing that uses #momentum to go places.’ ‘Right.’ ‘Why does Bob remind you of a slinky?’ ‘Cuz when I push him down the stairs it makes me smile.’ #vss365

We all search for a sign that we are making progress and that we are building to something perhaps better than now. With gratitude, I’m feeling it this week as your host. The #vss365 #prompt for July 18, 2026 is #momentum.

‘What’s that awful noise?’ ‘My neighbor. Mowing his lawn.’ ‘Sounds like a jet fighting a #headwind.’ ‘Might be we drank too much last night.’ ‘That explains this massive hangover. My head hurts so much. Think we should move?’ ‘Nah. He can mow around us.’ #vss365

Okay! We are fully under way now! It’s so great to be sharing this ride with you all. The roads aren’t only crowded, there are many other challenges that we’ll face and undoubtedly, overcome together. The #vss365 #prompt for July 17, 2026 is #headwind.

‘I’m going on a barging holiday. Wanna come with me?’ ‘I’ve heard those are a lot of fun. Sit on the deck while sipping wine. When does the boat #depart?’ ‘Oh, I’m not going on a boat. I’m just gonna walk around the canal and push people in!’ #vss365

Are you ready for a bike ride? I’m looking forward to sharing a collection of cycling inspired prompts which mirror the experience of one ride. Take the prompts where you’d like! I can’t wait! Let’s go! The #vss365 prompt for July 16, 2026 is #depart

‘I can help you #conquer any bad habit. What seems to be the problem?’ ‘I steal things inappropriately.’ ‘I see. Can you tell me about the last time?’ ‘I was at my friend’s house & I went into the kitchen. I saw the utensils on the counter and, well, it was a whisk I was willing to take.’ #vss365

Day 15 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. At the closing poetry reading, he pours out his love to her in verse. She cries. They kiss. She says yes. From fear to trust, summer love has become their endless summer, proving that love conquers all. The #vss365 #prompt for July 15, 2026 is #conquer.

‘Hey, Doc, sorry to disturb your break, but we got a #patient in the waiting room with an unusual problem.’ ‘What seems to be the issue?’ ‘He claims to be invisible.’ ‘Hmmm. That’s unusual, for sure.’ ‘What should I tell him?’ ‘Tell him we can’t see him right now.’ #vss365

Day 14 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. She’s figured out her ending, but he mysteriously disappeared! Then the gift of a wildflower with a note: “Meet me tomorrow.” She can’t wait another minute, but she knows for this, she must be patient. The #vss365 #prompt for July 14, 2026 is #patient.

Hey, #vss365 fam! As the sun sets on my hosting tenure, our next amazing host will be Andy, @andyperrincycling.bsky.social who will usher in the next chapter of our exciting #vss365 summer adventure. My last day as host will be 7/15. Please follow Andy if you haven’t already! Love you all! ❤️

‘I need you to show #unabashed support for the team.’ ‘Whhyyyy? They’re awful. I doubt they’ll have a winning record this year. Sitting through these games is painful torture. I’d rather be getting a root canal without anesthesia.’ ‘Well, they’re only 9 - and besides, she’s your daughter!’ #vss365

Day 13 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. With the retreat deadline at hand, neither can think of an ending to their final draft! Even more, to declare their need for one another, they must be completely unabashed. Can they do both? The #vss365 #prompt for July 13. 2026 is #unabashed.

‘We have a strange relationship.’ ‘Why? What would you call it?’ ‘I’d say it’s plutonic.’ ‘You mean platonic? Just friends?’ ‘No, plutonic. I mean I’m drawn to you by some kind of #magnetism most likely caused by radioactive plutonium that causes me to die a bit when I’m near you.’ #vss365

Day 12 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. They didn’t come on this retreat to fall in love, but here they are. Is there a future together? At least, they know for now, in the presence of the other, there is magnetism they cannot deny. The #vss365 #prompt for July 12, 2026 is #magnetism.

‘I don’t understand. Why do you have a beef with your mother?’ ‘Last week, I went to visit her, and she said the key to finding happiness in life is learning to #embrace your failures.’ ‘That doesn’t sound so bad.’ ‘Then she gave me a big hug.’ #vss365

Day 11 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. In each other’s arms, they are home. But they realize if they truly want to keep each other, they must embrace their imperfections, face their fear, and take a risk on love. But can they? The #vss365 #prompt for July 11, 2026 is #embrace.

‘I think our marriage is going stale.’ ‘Why would you say that? Hey, grab those pretzels while you’re up.’ ‘You’re more interested in what game is on than me.’ ‘Not true.’ ‘Have you seen our neighbor? He brings his wife a #rose daily. Why don’t you do that?’ ‘Because I hardly know her.’ #vss365

Day 10 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Realizing the retreat is nothing without each other, one of them offers the other a rose, and a sweet note. Love has returned, but how can they keep the beauty of it and avoid the thorns? The #vss365 #prompt for July 10, 2026 is #rose.

‘Why go to the beach at night?’ ‘We can #frolic in the waves. Lean back on our blanket and stare at the vast sky without a bunch of people around.’ ‘Ya know, I’m kinda into astronomy.’ ‘Really? I didn’t know that. Do you know how stars die?’ ‘Duh. Usually it’s an overdose.’ #vss365

Day 9 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Drifting! Assigned new critique partners, our lovely couple spends less time together. Invited to recreate and frolic with others at the retreat, they cannot stop thinking about each other. The #vss365 #prompt for July 9, 2026 is #frolic.

‘Ya know, son, it wouldn’t hurt to drop your #defiance attitude. We might actually get along.’ ‘Ugh. Hard pass.’ ‘Come on, can’t you just try? Tell me something that happened at school today.’ ‘We had a test.’ ‘That’s good start. This isn’t so hard, right? What was it on?’ ‘Paper.’ #vss365

Day 8 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Something happens to trigger doubt. It’s just a summer thing, they think. Their desire for self-protection tells them this love may not be worth the risk. In their hearts, there is defiance. The #vss365 #prompt for July 8, 2026 is #defiance.

‘Here’s a question for you. Your answer will be #revealing for the way your brain works.’ ‘Ok. Ready.’ ‘What gets covered in dirt, but always stays clean?’ ‘Hmmm. Let’s see. Oh, I know! A body in a coffin!’ ‘Soap. Normal people say soap.’ ‘What do you expect from a thriller writer?’ #vss365

Day 7 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. First kiss! 💋 Feeling more secure in each other’s presence, their hearts become more revealing. By the light of a campfire, they share secrets of their past and find deep intimacy. The #vss365 #prompt for July 7, 2026 is #revealing.

‘We’re at the point in our relationship where we should share more personal experiences. Move beyond the trivial.’ ‘You mean like the time I #tenderly talked to my grandpa right before he croaked?’ ‘Oh, that must have been awful. What did he say?’ ‘Wanna hear my frog impression?’ #vss365

Day 6 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Summer could last forever, as the light in their eyes can testify. Even critiquing each other’s drafts has become a joy. Beginning to fall in love, our couple treats each other sweetly and tenderly. The #vss365 #prompt for July 6, 2026 is #tenderly.

‘OMG, you’re obsessed!’ ‘I know. I’ve followed him on all his socials. And I even drove by his house to be sure he was home when he posted about chillin’.’ ‘I’ve never seen you #swoon over a guy like this.’ ‘Oh, that’s a good word. It sounds so much better than stalker.’ #vss365

Day 5 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Apology accepted! At an evening party, our lovely couple exercises forgiveness, and in showing their beautiful positive sides, with a little dancing, they cause each other to swoon. The #vss365 #prompt for July 5, 2026 is #swoon.

‘You may be grieving, but I gotta say, I’m not gonna miss your husband much.’ ‘Why?’ ‘He always had that #supercilious attitude, like we were all inferior.’ ‘I know what you mean. You know what the hardest thing about my husband’s death was?’ ‘What?’ ‘Making it look like an accident.’ #vss365

Day 4 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Paired as critique partners, our couple has inadvertently rubbed each other the wrong way. Their sensitivity has caused one or both of them to be accused of acting superciliously. The #vss365 #prompt for July 4, 2026 is #supercilious.

#vss365 She's working a new medium, molding shapes both sensual and mysterious. The intricacies of form are difficult to unravel, evoking a #stunning rhapsody of untapped emotions. I am fascinated. The dark lines in the clay betray the disquiet within. An augury of unending pain?

‘Did you know there are almost 5 million Sicilian people living on an Island just off the coast of Italy?’ ‘Wow! That’s #stunning.’ ‘I heard it’s a great place to visit.’ ‘Sounds pretty crowded to me, I mean, think of all those bodies. 5 million Sicilian is a big number.’ #vss365

Day 3 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Writers at the retreat swim in the mountain lake! By day or by moonlight - you decide! The attraction is palpable. In laughter and play, our couple finds each other stunning! The #vss365 #prompt for July 3, 2026 is #stunning.

‘I’m going to sell my candy cane collection.’ ‘Really? You’ve been collecting them for years.’ ‘Sadly, I need the money.’ ‘What does something like that go for?’ ‘I’m not sure. I called someone to do an #appraisal. Should be pretty high - they’re in mint condition.’ #vss365

Day 2 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. The meet-cute! Our darling couple has met at the writers retreat! Eye contact sparks something beautiful. There is the initial appraisal of each other. And it is oh so good. ❤️ The #vss365 #prompt for July 2, 2026 is #appraisal.

‘What’s this?’ ‘Isn’t it what you asked for, boss?’ ‘I think your #apprehension of my directive may not be in line with my expectations. Or, perhaps, my instruction weren’t clear. What did you think I asked for?’ ‘You said you needed it ASAP.’ ‘And this is?’ ‘Aperol Spritz and Pasta.’ #vss365

Welcome to Day 1 of Summer Love, a romance in 15 days. Before our couple meets, they are frightened of getting hurt. Past wounds have created apprehension to love. Maybe going away on a writers retreat will be just the cure. The #vss365 #prompt for July 1 2026 is #apprehension.

CURRENT PROMPT HOST The #vss365 host for July 1-15 is: @DaveAGardener.bsky.social Prompts will drop at 05:00 GMT (UTC) Follow Dave, if you haven’t already!

‘How’s the house hunting going?’ ‘Ok. Not great. There’s not a lot on the market right now, so it’s slim pickings.’ ‘Anything unusual?’ ‘One had this hideous #florid wallpaper.’ ‘Yuck’ ‘Another had mirrored walls everywhere.’ ‘Interesting.’ ‘Yeah, but I could see myself living there.’ #vss365

Good morning on this, the last day of June and my final one as your #vss365 host. Tomorrow, Dave Gardener, (@daveagardener.bsky.social), takes the helm. I pulled some real boners during my tenure, the kind that left my face red: #florid, even. My last #prompt is #florid. It's been a hoot!

‘We’ll need to drive these rehabilitated turkey vultures to their new location at the wildlife refuge center.’ ‘That’s a 7-hour drive. They’re in a cage. Can’t we transport them by plane?’ ‘No. If we go by plane, we’re only allowed one #carrion.’ #vss365

Good Monday morning this June 29! My time as your #vss365 host draws to a close on July 1 when we celebrate the sweepingly romantic Dave Gardener, (@daveagardener.bsky.social) as your new #host. For my penultimate #prompt; it's that delicious staple of buzzards, blowflies and vultures - #carrion!

‘You’re a superhero?’ ‘Yep. I’m Aluminum Man.’ ‘I love your shiny silver getup. Are you like Iron Man, who works to #disgruntle the bad guys?’ ‘Well, sorta. I just kinda foil plans.’ #vss365

Good morning! Today is Sunday, June 28, and my time as your #vss365 host grows short - but that doesn't #disgruntle me. I happen to be one of the most gruntled fellows you'd ever meet! BTW, the #vss365 #prompt for today is #disgruntle.

‘You’re reading the bible?’ ‘There’s some interesting stories in here. So this guy, Lot, was told to take his wife and flee out of the city and never look back. But his wife looked back & was turned into a pillar of salt.’ ‘What happened to the #flea?’ #vss365

Good morning! Your #vss365 host completely overslept this Saturday morning, June 27. Sorry about that! Today's #prompt is something small and almost insignificant, that is, of course unless it's biting you. #Flea.

‘What’s with the cape?’ ‘I’ve decided to become a math #villain.’ ‘What’s in your hands?’ ‘My torture tools. I have a protractor, ruler, calculator, & geometry compass.’ ‘Those are evil things for sure.’ ‘Totally devastating. They’re weapons of math instruction. #vss365

Good morning, gang. Today is Friday, June 26, (thank God!) Today, I choose evil. Bad guy, low-life, creep; they're so mundane! Today's #vss365 #prompt is #villain.

‘You’re in big trouble now.’ ‘Me? It’s more like your fault. You told me to go with the #grain.’ ‘Why can’t you be nice?’ ‘I was nice. I said it was the most spectacular mustache I’d ever seen.’ ‘Yeah, well she didn’t take it as a compliment.’ #vss365