Writing Challenge #8
Linda, from Roses to Rainbows is our next victim volunteer for this creative writing challenge. I’m already hooked on this one just by looking at the photograph. I expect at any minute, to see a wooden raft float past, carrying Huck Finn. Linda’s version of these nine words seems to be the perfect read for a lazy Sunday morning. What do you think?
This is what Linda says about the challenge:
“This was yet another writing challenge that I couldn’t pass up. I was intrigued by the challenge of taking nine unrelated words and building a story from them. My thought process is simple. I write down key words and phrases and let the story tell itself. I did pretty much the same thing here with these nine words. I wrote each word down and added words to create phrases. It was from these phrases that I found the story. The key phrase was fly fishing.”
* * * * * * * *
As he sat by the river, Timothy tied new lures in anticipation of a weekend of the highest magnitude – fly fishing with his brother Jerome, who’d be driving up tomorrow. Their father, a typography expert, had taught them the art when they were boys, and he would swell with pride each time one of them caught a trout. They continue to share his passion, though it’s bittersweet since his death five years ago. Finished with the lures, Timothy called his dog, Rena, to go inside, and stowed the fishing gear in the closet until tomorrow.
* * * * * * * *
Thank you Linda. This is beautiful and has a real peaceful quality about it. I can appreciate your process of choosing certain words to create phrases and let the story tell itself. It worked very well here. The story flows smoothly and quietly, with no obvious sign that you were guided to use nine specific words.
I find myself remembering long lazy summer afternoons past that were spent sitting by a river just listening to it. There is a metaphor here in the sense that you used the words to hook (or bait — pun intended) the story. I’m curious; do you or have you gone fly fishing?
The Picture
This is the Yadkin River here in NC. There are actually places along the river good for fly fishing.
patricia
Hilary
Tony Single
Linda
Barbara Swafford
Deb Dorchak
Chris Edgar
{ 19 comments }
Davina,
Thank you for that lovely introduction to my story. I am honored to be here this morning. I enjoyed this writing challenge very much, and appreciate the opportunity to have my writing showcased on your site. It has been interesting watching all these different stories unfold, each one as individual as it’s writer.
To answer your question, no, I’ve never been fly fishing, but I do occasionally fish from piers or the shore using a rod and spinning reel.
Hi Davina and Linda .. another completely different story – and as Davina asked .. you took your key phrase as ‘fly fishing’ .. I guess you’ve had some experience? The river certainly doesn’t look that tranquil – but as long as it’s taking its normal course .. it would be lovely to sit by and hear the swish of the trees and the swirl and tumbling of the water as it sweeps past. Being in nature is the best – just relaxed and away from it all ..
I loved your take on the ‘simple’ family scene, that must occur all over the world at different times with different family members .. and the dog or the cat!
Have great Sundays both of you – all the best Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Glyphs- Ps and Qs- Murder =-.
You’re welcome, Linda.
I’m glad that you enjoyed the challenge. It’s been a lot of fun to read about how everyone has approached this. I didn’t anticipate this much response. Your writing voice is gentle and it shows, not only in the piece you wrote but in how you allowed it to come to you. I’ve been fishing once in my entire life, lol. I never went back because I didn’t like putting the worm on the hook. I guess there are other way to fish, but at the time, worms were all we had.
Hilary,
You know, you’re right! That river doesn’t look tranquil. I’ve revisited my perspective… for me personally, I love to wander and explore the great outdoors. I like the idea of an adventure and I suppose that prospect offered by the river was comforting to me in some way. This is interesting. You too, are a nature spirit — “the swish of the trees and the swirl and tumbling of the water as it sweeps past” — music to my ears :-)
Nice one, Linda. You have a gentle quality to your writing that carries me along to that beautifully understated ending. Not everything needs to have a dramatic or overwrought conclusion, something that you’ve so effectively illustrated here. :)
Davina, this has been a great feature so far. I can’t wait to see the rest! :D
Perfect for a Sunday morning I agree…hope it will not offend that I am here at 3pm…!
I loved the solitude and the anticipation of this story, which catches the essence of fishing and maybe fly fishing for me. I heard a very fine counselor once say, if you want to truly know what is on a boy’s mind, take him fishing, be patient and then ask the important question you need answered in a round about way.
This story assisted me in remembering his words…and drew me into a relaxed contemplation. I think this is why I wanted to go fishing in Alaska when I was there – my fantasy about the idea….I am not very good about cleaning fish mind you….and have really never gone fishing for reals…..but I have a great fantasy about it
Thank you both and happy Sunday
Swell is a gorgeous word, you know? So rich. And “swell with pride” is a beautiful sentence.
Hilary, I’m glad you enjoyed this. This was great fun, and it is an honor to be among such fine company. Surprisingly enough, I have no experience with fly fishing. The area of the river in my picture is not wild, but neither is it appropriate for fly fishing, but an area west of us is. You’re right about the peacefulness of hanging out by the river, or a lake or ocean. There is something about the water.
Tony, Thank you for your kind comment. This was rather laid back, wasn’t it?
Patricia- Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it, and that it brought back a nice memory. I do fish sometimes, but for what it’s worth, I just throw them back. I’m not cleaning fish!
Vered- That phrase so perfectly describes the dad’s feelings as his sons catch fish – he knows they cared about and learned what he had to teach. That’s a beautiful thing.
I like the up and down of the bittersweet.
I’m a fan of fly fishing. I grew up on a lake and fly fishing is like an art.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Day 29 – Find Your Arena for Your Best Results =-.
Hi Ladies,
I agree with the other comments how each story is so different.
I was curious to read Linda’s since I had recently read her captivating “Shattered Dreams” post and wondered if she would construct this challenge similarly.
You didn’t Linda. Instead you’ve shown another side of your writing talent. Great job.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Call Me A Hypocrite =-.
J.D. Meier- I am glad you enjoyed it. It seems you had an pleasant, peaceful childhood. The water is soothing, isn’t it?
Barbara- Thanks so much for your kind comment and your interest in my writing. I don’t want to get into a rut where everything I write has the same style or flavor.
I really liked this, Linda and Davina. So much in so few. It was very easy for me to picture Timothy, the river, Rena, and the act of stowing the fishing gear in the closet. The contemplative mood spoke to me.
Thanks for sharing.
.-= Belinda Munoz + The Halfway Point´s last blog ..ALL CLEAR- FeedMedic Alert for thehalfwaypoint =-.
Tony,
I agree. Linda does have a gentle quality about her writing. I’m glad you’re enjoying this, Tony. :)
Patricia,
That’s true; she did capture an essence of solitude. I think that’s what was so appealing that this just happened to be posted on a Sunday. I’ll keep that in mind about what this counselor friend of yours said :) I haven’t done a lot of fishing in my day but it is something I know I’d enjoy. Anything in nature away from a lot of people, where it’s quiet. No fish cleaning though. I’ll cook em but I won’t clean em.
Vered,
Some words stand alone, don’t they? Swell doesn’t need anything else.
Linda,
LOL… I’m not cleaning fish either! :) I might write about cleaning fish, but I won’t clean fish.
JD,
That’s true; there was a bittersweet flavor to this story. I’d never considered fly fishing to be like an art before. I guess if you do it enough times you develop a certain style?
Barbara,
I don’t think I read “Shattered Dreams” I’m going to head over and do so.
Belinda,
The story did tell a lot in few words, didn’t it? I think those stories that connect with the emotions, don’t require as many words. She did a great job at setting the mood. I too, was able to picture the scene.
Davina — thanks for this challenge and sharing the entries:~)
Linda — I loved your story and I found it interesting how you thought through it. What I really liked in this story is that all the words fit so well. If they weren’t bold, I wouldn’t know you had purposely used the nine words…great job of weaving the words into the story:~)
.-= Sara Healy´s last blog ..Story Photo- Next Frame =-.
Davina — This is other “Sara”…evidently “Sara Healy” is now using my name and therefore was supposed to go to the “moderation room.” However, she slipped by and was released with stamp, “Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
I could make her my “alter-ego”:~) The question is should she be a good alter-ego or a bad one?????
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Story Photo- Next Frame =-.
Hi Davina — yes, the words are pretty seamlessly woven in there — but for the bold type, I wouldn’t have been able to tell! I can relate — I love sitting next to rivers and listening to them even in adulthood.
Sara- Thank you for your kind comment. I was happy to share the stage with such fine writers. I’m glad it seemed to flow nicely. I was concerned that it would seem jerky or forced. Glad it didn’t.
Chris- I appreciate your kind words. A river, or any body of water, is something I find peaceful.
Davina- Thanks again for the opportunity to participate. I have received such nice comments and compliments on my writing here. It has been a fun and learning experience.
Hi Sara.
That’s funny how your comment went into moderation. But even funnier; how creatively you handled it! :-) Definitely a good alter-ego.
Chris,
Seamless — totally. There is something about the sound of a river isn’t there? It’s comforting.
Linda,
You’re very welcome :-) Thank YOU for being a part of this. You made this look easy.
A very warm, gentle flow with this storey.
Brings back memories of enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer.
Jim,
I can’t imagine this world without Mother Nature. It definitely wouldn’t feel like a warm and gentle, flowing place as this piece has illustrated so nicely.
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