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Wordless Wednesday
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Thanks From the Green Planet
Just a brief ‘Thank You’ to the couple of bloggers who wrote stories in response to the green planet challenge. I enjoyed reading them, and I had fun writing mine. Anyone out there who’s still thinking and working on one, feel free to post the link to it on the original post any time you write it — even if it’s in the next century.
I say that because I got to thinking tonight about what happens to blog posts after decades — especially if the original author is gone from this planet. Since WordPress does not delete our blogs unless there is some infringement of rules, how long will the words on these pages continue to connect with people out there? I suppose many of them will continue for as long as time itself lasts. Very interesting. And very thought-provoking when it comes to being aware of our responsibility concerning the things we post.
Well, happy blogging!
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100 Word Challenge for Grown-ups – Week 89 — ‘Identity’
Julia’s 100-word story challenge this week is a beautiful picture from Marianne Whooley at Maris World. My story is below the picture.
IDENTITY
Sandy and Mandy were identical twins: blond, green-eyed beauties with a smattering of freckles and charming dispositions. Mom dressed them in identical outfits, bought them identical backpacks, and pulled their hair into identical pony tails.
She bragged to everyone about how “exactly alike” they were and insisted they do identical chores and play identical games at the same time. She sent them to Gramma’s farm together every year.
And every year, pony tails riding at exactly the same height, matching green eyes gazing into the peaceful pond, they stood on the old bridge and dreamed – utterly separate, sublimely independent dreams.
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Come on: you can write a 100-word story too. Join us by visiting Julia’s site and getting all the information about how to take part.
http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week89/
WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
I was looking through my high school yearbook, and when I saw this photo, I was instantly reminded of the theme for this week’s WordPress photo challenge: Pattern.
- Herrin Township High School Marching Band
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/weekly-photo-challenge-pattern/
Super Sweet Blogger Award — With No Rules
One of my very first — and best — blogging friends — Gerry Ainger, from “Restawyle” and “Writing Hell” — has awarded me the “Super Sweet Blogger Award.” Now, Gerry and I have an understanding concerning awards. We both agree that awards to bloggers should honor them and not put them in a place of having to obey a long list of rules in order to receive the award. If a blogger is being honored, they have already done the work required to receive that honor. I have written an entire blog post concerning this problem with blog awards, which will explain my reasoning more fully. https://sandraconner.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/lets-talk-about-blog-awards/
Since I know that Gerry agrees fully, I feel free to accept this award and pass it on as I see fit — which means NO RULES. So, all of you dear bloggers listed in my 2 recent posts of ‘favorite’ bloggers (see links below) please be advised that you are recipients of this “Super Sweet Blogger Award” along with me. I do mean that sincerely. If I did not consider you worthy of such an award, I would not have specified that you are one of my favorite blogs. I also absolve you of any responsibilities for carrying out rules in order to receive. You have already EARNED the award, so your work is done. Feel free to come over here and copy the award logo and then post it onto your site if you choose to receive the award. (Many of you have it already.) Then pass it on to anyone you feel is deserving — without following any particular regulations.
My thanks to Gerry, whose nominations are always sincere and sincerely appreciated.
Links to the posts listing some of my favorite blogs:
https://sandraconner.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-more-to-come/
https://sandraconner.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/more-of-my-favorite-things/
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Experimental Challenge 5/7/13 — ‘What If …?’
Well, even though I posted the “green planet” writing challenge on here Tuesday, I did not have a story of my own to go with the picture yet. I was still thinking. Two other bloggers have jumped in with great contributions, though, and we are on our way. I finally dragged an idea out of my imagination this morning, so here’s my offering (along with a copy of the picture):
WHAT IF …?
“What’s the latest report?” Oneida asked Tron.
“The planet Verdure is still in a state of internal combustion,” he replied, his face pinched. He looked at the camera relay screen. “Watching that planet disintegrate right before my eyes and knowing I can’t stop it is tearing my guts out.”
“How long do we have?”
“I’ll know more when Beryl and Oma return. They’re out measuring the light levels in the power garden.”
“That red gas is our main enemy?”
“Yes, as our energy pods absorb it, the light energy that holds this planet together is drained off.”
He panned the camera across the power garden of mushroom-shaped growths from which the planet drew all of its life. “See, how many of the healthy purple pods have absorbed the gas until they have turned red and shrunk to half their original size?”
He panned to the pod where Beryl and Oma were still at work. Oneida spoke. “Look, Oma’s starting to descend. Maybe they’ll be back with their report soon.”
“Yes, but I’m not sure I want to hear it. Sometimes, I think we should turn off all the surveillance equipment so we can’t see it all happening one step at a time. Perhaps we should all just gather in the communal hall and do our best to comfort each other until it comes.”
“Until the end comes, do you mean?”
“Of course! What else?”
She looked at him gravely. “I’ve been thinking ….”
“Yes …?”
“Well … I’ve been wondering … Did we just happen?” Tron looked at her quizzically. “I mean … well … I find it hard to believe this whole planet of Mushroom just happened – and that all of us who live here were non-existent one second and then – bang – here we were!” She looked at him hopefully.
“I don’t think I’m following you. What does it have to do with Verdure’s decomposition and destruction of everything within its electro-magnetic sphere?”
“Don’t you see? If we didn’t just … happen … then someone or something more intelligent, more creative, more powerful than ourselves had to have created us. And if that someone cared enough to make us, then wouldn’t it – or he – care enough to save us?”
Tron’s eyes grew large. Oneida could see that it was a concept he’d never imagined. But now … with no other possible avenue of hope … perhaps even he thought it was worth considering.
She continued. “I guess I’m wondering if we were to look back in all the records of Mushroom – especially the copies of those old black books the leaders buried underground last century ….”
“You mean you think there might be answers to our origins in those books? But the leaders insisted that they were lies and made it illegal for any citizen of Mushroom to read them.”
“But what if we could find out … and find a way to connect with our … creator —”
“That’s impossible!”
“Is it? Our survival is impossible as we are now. But, just think, Tron … what if ….”
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Experimental Writing Challenge
Okay, I just can’t resist this. I love writing challenges, even though I don’t get to keep up with all of them. A couple weeks ago, I began thinking about one particular piece of graphic art done by a friend that should spark several good ideas for stories. But, of course, no one else is going to use that photo for a challenge, so I decided I might as well do it myself.
Now, many of my blogging friends are involved in so many of these kinds of activities, they may not have time to add another — and that’s okay. Believe me, I do understand. However, for any of you out there who are looking for one more little adventure in the world of cyberspace writing, I’m going to offer this challenge.
For this time around, I’m suggesting you post your story on your own blog and then come to my comments section and post the link to it — with any other comments you want to make. If this should develop into something regular with a lot of people taking part, and it starts to get too crowded, I’ll FORCE myself to get more sophisticated and sign up for the “inlinkz” system or something similar. But for now, if you want to share your story, just post the link in the ‘Comments’ section below the challenge post.
Now for rules: Uhhggg!
Only two rules:
1. Write a story inspired by the picture — 100-500 words in length.
2. I host a “G” rated blog, so please be sure your story is clean and wholesome enough to be read by any audience — in other words — Rated G.
And if it should transpire that no one is eager to take up this challenge, there’s no harm done. I’m just feeling a little whimsical this evening, and this is the result. Come to think of it, that’s the way I felt when I posted the “Thursday’s Windows” challenge originally — and look where that led! If we do have a good turnout of stories, perhaps I’ll post a new challenge each month, but I’ll wait and see how this one goes.
Now for the picture: Some of you will recognize this work from a previous post on this site. It is by Terry Valley, a professional photographer and graphic artist friend in the U. S. It clearly lends itself to a science fiction theme, but please don’t feel constrained to stick with that. I don’t doubt that many will be inspired to go a different route all together.
Of course, I guess this means I’ll have to write a story inspired by the picture as well. Hmmm. I don’t have any ideas yet, but I’ll work on it, and when I get one, I’ll post my link on here as well.
No time limit. If you’re inclined to take part, take your time and have fun.
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Friday Fictioneers – 5/3/13 – ‘Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder’
I changed computer systems not long ago, and I realized recently that my system counts ellipses marks and quotation marks as words, so now I have to count my words by hand. Good thing we have a low limit. (Anybody else out there old enough to remember the old days of journalism when every five letters or spaces counted as a word? And there were no typewriters with built-in “word count.” A writer’s life was hard back then.) This week, though, I’ve evidently used only 97, so if any of the rest of you need three more, feel free to take them with my blessing.
This week’s prompt comes from a photo by Kent Bonham. All of the stories I’ve read so far find great beauty and genius in this structure. But I have to be true to myself and write what the building calls forth from me.
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
“Okay, you can open your eyes ….
“Well … what do you think?”
“What do you mean, what do I think?”
“My surprise!”
“This … this … MONSTROSITY!!??”
“It’s a famous landmark!”
“You mean you invested ALL our money in THIS?
“It will make a grand hotel; you’ll see.”
“No … I won’t see! I’m going home!”
“But … I thought you knew …”
“Knew? …
His heartbeat doubled; sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled between his shoulder blades.
“Well ….” He licked his lips to relieve his mouth that felt like cotton. “Well … of course … I had … to … sell —”
He stopped talking and ran.
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Join in the fun at this link:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/3-may-2013/
Eggcellent Communication
Blogging is an “eggcellent” way to make so many wonderful new friends from all over the world! I’m glad I’m in this cyberspace family!
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Wordless Wednesday
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HAPPY ‘MAY DAY,’ EVERYONE!
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Friday Fictioneers – 4/30/13 — ‘Entrusted’
Time for Friday Fictioneers again, and this week’s prompt comes from a photo by Claire Fuller. My story is below the picture. When I do a word count, my computer counts my ellipses marks as words, but the actual word count is exactly 100. I’m going with that.
ENTRUSTED
“Oh, Donovan! Am I dreaming?”
“No, they are very real.” He caressed book after book, counting each stack again.
“How … ?”
“Right before his arrest, Father called me to his library. His face awash with tears, he told me the new government police were confiscating and burning every book they could find. He begged me to help him bury his 1000 books.
“We worked all night, and when they came, they found all the shelves bare. He wouldn’t tell them where … so they executed him.”
“But you — ”
“I couldn’t betray his trust …. ”
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To join the fun, visit here: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
NaPoWriMo – 2013 – Day 30 — ‘Adieu, Dear April’
For the final day of the National Poetry Writing Month challenge, I have departed from my pattern. Every other day that I wrote, I have followed the prompt faithfully. But today — especially since Maureen has made it clear that the prompts are merely optional suggestions — I have decided to ignore the prompt and write what I feel. It seems a fitting close to this challenging and inspiring week.
More than 2000 poets from around the world have taken part in this adventure, and I thank Maureen Thorson for working so hard and so faithfully to provide us this opportunity. I look forward eagerly to April of 2014.
ADIEU, DEAR APRIL
Dear April, I bid you adieu.
It has been great fun.
To play so with meter and rhyme,
Though no prize I’ve won.
Still, you’re the most challenging month;
You’ve stirred up my muse.
And most of the poems I’ve composed
I can put to use.
I’ve gone to great lengths to match prompts,
Called up gifts by command;
Stretched self to plumb depths still unreached
To create on demand.
So, April and NaPoWriMo,
I appreciate you.
And fondly, till next poets’ month,
I bid you adieu!
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NaPoWriMo – 2013 – Day 29 – ‘To Love’
A poem using at least five foreign words: That was the prompt for day 29 of the National Poetry Writing challenge. (I’m running a day behind again, and will have to do day 30 today as well, since May is staring us in the face.)
Now, since the first foreign language I actually studied was Latin, I felt it was only right to start with that. Then in my college years, I switched to French, so I felt obligated to throw in a little of that as well. And … since I am an English teacher, it seemed quite appropriate that I use a verb conjugation as my format. Hope it gives you a smile today:
TO LOVE
Amo: I love;
Amas: You love;
Amat: He loves;
And love, it makes the world go round, n’ecst-ce pas?
Amamus: We love;
Amatis: You love;
Amant: They love;
Mai oui, there’s love enough to bless us all!
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There’s still time to join the fun for the last day of April: http://www.napowrimo.net/
