Writing Challenge #3
The next submission to this creative writing challenge is from Sara at A Sharing Connection.
Sara is no stranger to writing challenges as she issues one to her readers every Monday with her Story Photo series. One of my favourites was this one entitled, Chair Photos.
In this post, she asked her readers to choose one of the photographs and write an imaginary conversation between the two chairs pictured. The comments that followed were creative and humorous. I love how we writers enjoy a good writing challenge.
Sara shares her experience with this creative challenge and these nine words: Fly, Magnitude, Timothy, Typography, Death, Closet, Swell, Rena, Jerome:
“The picture came first. I have wanted to use this picture, but had not found a way, until now.
As I started the writing process, I struggled with the rules and the words, mainly because I wasn’t confident I would find a creative way to use the words together. In addition, my frustration was also due to trying to write a poem, instead of a story. This didn’t work for me.
After many tries and lots of deletions, I put the whole idea aside and did other things. Late in the afternoon, I went back to it. I looked at the picture and then at the words. To be honest, it was the word “closet” that got the ball rolling.”
I love to think of animals in “human” ways. I thought a bird coming “out of the closet” might be fun. This led to me to consider a reality show, like Gene Simmons and the Osbourne’s only featuring birds. After reaching this decision, the rest was easy.
Whatever happens with this, I can say it was an excellent exercise that challenged me. I also was pleased that I didn’t give up. But, most of all, I loved that I had a lot of fun writing this and creating the picture.
A New Reality Show Coming to a Tree Near You
Meet the finch family — Ma, Pa and their fledglings, Rena and Jerome. Rena’s the baby and rebellious. She’s wants to hop, not fly. Ma Finch constantly tells her, “Girl, you’ll be the death of me.” Will she?
Jerome has his own secrets. Pa plans for him to study bird typography, letters made using bird feet. However, he doesn’t know the magnitude of Jerome’s secret. Uh-Oh!
Jerome, you see, has come “out of the closet” with his friend, Timothy, a Cardinal. They’re planning to be singers in the indie band, The Swell Season. Tune in soon for more…
p.s. The Swell Season is actually a band
* * * * * * * *
Thanks, Sara. I love your playful approach to this challenge and how committed you were to the writing process. You’ve got a great ability to trust your own process and to give yourself space to invite the creativity to find you. I believe you have a lot of respect for your muse. I wonder what the title track will be for The Swell Season’s first album? :-)
* * * * * * * *
Before the deadline of August 15th, nine submissions were received, three of which have now been posted with today’s being the third.
The first was Allison from Mariko
The second was Rebecca from WritingBec’s Blog
Over the next two weeks contributions from the following bloggers will be posted every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday:
Eliza from Silver and Grace
Hilary from Positive Letters
Julie from JBulie’s Blog
Raul from Alien Ghost
Linda from Roses to Rainbows
Joy from Unfolding Your Path to Joy
patricia
Hilary
Tony Single
Linda
Barbara Swafford
Deb Dorchak
Chris Edgar
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Haha! You know Davina, I landed on this page and said, “that looks like a Sara photo”, and lo and behold, she’s the creative talent you’re showcasing today.
Sara,
What a fun short story. Singers in a band, you say? Oh what beautiful music they’ll make. :)
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Turn Your Blog Into A Book =-.
Hi Davina, I must have missed this challenge somewhere along the way, what a shame! Looking forward to reading the other entries. I’m kind of caught up in another challenge during August, the ’100 blog post comments challenge’ (we are all trying to get 100 unique comments on a specified blog post during the month – I’m at 97 so not far to go for me), but my task, being one of the organisers, is to record who, of the 101 challengers, has commented where so we make sure everyone completes the challenge properly!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
.-= Mandy Allen´s last blog ..How do you relax =-.
Oh Sara,
So playful and fun..I *love* it…I love your photo, I love the essence you capture..I love it all..thank you!
Davina..
How delightful to experience your readers creativity; so different in style, so talented..absolutely wonderful! Thank you…
Sara, I love the picture, and you created an adorable story to go with it. They will make beautiful music together.
Davina, thank you for the opportunity to share our stories with your readers.
Davina — Thanks for this opportunity. You’ll have to make these writing challenges a regular feature. I had a lot of fun doing this and I got to use this picture:~)
@ Barbara — I am so pleased that you tell it was one of my pictures! Then again, I do take a lot of pictures of BIRDS. Let’s hope Jerome and Timothy make good music so that the Swell Season will keep them on:~)
@ Mandy — I’ll come by and visit to add to your numbers. Hopefully Davina will continue these writing challenges and you can participate. Davina’s very clever at giving us great writing challenges!
@ Joy — Thank you for your nice comments. I like challenges, like this one, because they can be so much fun. It’s also nice to be the one that gets to answer the challenge!
@ Linda — Thank you for your comment about this picture and story. You need to come back to Davina’s site for her next challenge because you are a wonderful story teller and I think you’d have a great time. Okay, Davina, I’m not letting you off the hook:~)
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Story Photo- Building Castles =-.
This was fun! Looking forward to reading the rest of them.
I hope you keep these challenges up into the fall when I’ll actually have time to take you up on one or two. I can barely keep up with my blog these days!
.-= XUP´s last blog ..Charity =-.
Brilliant! :D
Y’know, the bit I loved most and clapped my hands at was “bird typography”! Letters made with bird feet… now that’s creative! I wonder what they do for a full stop? :P
Barbara,
LOL, yep… Sara is IT today :)
Mandy,
Wow, that sounds like quite a challenge. Can you share a link here to that post? I’d love to check it out.
Joy,
You’re welcome :-) I’ve enjoyed receiving the entries and getting them ready to publish for everyone. Feel like I’ve been entrusted with their pride and joy; like a Godmother or something. It’s encouraging and inspiring to see people step up to a challenge so willingly and eagerly.
Linda,
You’re welcome. Can’t wait to share yours :-)
Sara.
Hello there missy! :-) You’re such a good hostess. I’d love to develop some more exercises to share. I think this builds muscles and it’s helpful to do it and share it with a group. It just seems to be more motivating.
Vered,
I think you’ll enjoy what’s lined up over the next two weeks.
XUP,
I’ll keep that in mind. Gee, I wonder what could be up with your blog ;-) You have a GREAT blog, BTW. Your posts certainly invite good conversation. I don’t know how you manage to come up with so many engaging topics. You’ve got a knack. And your writing is spectacular. I’d love to see a 100-word challenge from you.
Tony,
You always make me laugh :-D I can imagine what those birds would do for a full stop… but it wouldn’t involve feet, lol.
Hi Davina,
Sara’s story and picture are lots of fun, very creative and original, I love them!
It is interesting how differnt aproaches are coming out from this challenge, can’t wait to see what’s next :)
Raul
.-= Alien Ghost´s last blog ..Master of Your Own Universe =-.
Wow the picture is just the best! and it created quite an inspiring story….I am watching two blue jays wait their turn in the blueberry bushes while a robin family are feeding 3 babies on the ground…sometime the jays are not so patient – last year they were fighting to the death…
Sara the story was just fun, fun…thank you Can’t wait to hear the music of the band !
And more to come…what a great idea Davina and what fun to look forward to….post away!
Thank you
Yes, the Swell Season does sound quite indie-rockish — I can imagine their cardigan- and horn-rimmed-glasses-clad singer right now. Oh, I guess they’re supposed to be birds. Well, I’m sure there are exotic pet store places in LA where such garb is available.
Raul,
I agree; very creative and original. Yes, reading about each writer’s process is just as interesting as reading their finished piece.
Patricia,
It’s cute isn’t it? Jerome looks like a wise old soul.
Chris,
I think Timothy, the cardinal should be given position of lead singer :)
Hi Sara and Davina .. I love what you did with the words and attached the names to that wonderful picture .. it is interesting that if we let the concept mull and we’re not frankly too worried about the outcome .. the storyline comes .. and we have a wonderfully creative little piece.
I wonder what the Swell Band think?!
Perhaps we should let the big times roll more often? Have happy days – and I too look forward to reading the others … brilliant thought Davina .. for a fun post ..
Have great weekends .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Under Sea Sussex – Tompot Blenny- Piddock- Devonshire Cup Corals and Jewel Anemones =-.
Hilary,
That is true; when we don’t hold too tight to the outcome we can let the story find us. It’s a challenge sometimes to let go of that. I think that’s a big part of writer’s block.
Sara is always so much fun and so creative!! And she always weaves her love of nature into her writing. And a nice life lesson for love and acceptance in her submission!
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..10 Great Mysteries of The Universe- 3 =-.
Jannie,
I enjoy Sara’s stories for that specific reason — how she weaves nature into them and brings innate objects to life.
Sara,
I love your photo. What a fun story.
I always appreciate a story when Mother Nature is involved.
My last comment on Davina’s last post, about how I don’t write is wrong.
I just remembered I have written a 92 word short story on Davina’s blog.
“Mother Nature Waits For No one”
Sara loves to play with photography. You should check out her blog; she shares some gorgeous photography there.
These were your 92 words:
“I went outside to look at the moon. What a great picture this will be with the halo. Yes, I will read my camera manual and figure out how to do a long shutter speed. Dug out the tripod to make this picture perfect. Set up tripod and mounted camera and went upstairs and turned on camera to find out the batteries were dead. Replace the batteries and went outside to no moon. It just set behind the mountains. SHIT!!!! Perfection is not what it is all cracked up to be.”
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