Perhaps we'll get back to a regular monthly flow; but we just might stay free-spirited (read: erratic). At any rate, look at the picture, write a 500-word (or less) story to go therewith, and post it by January 15.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
December Challenge
As the Code of Pirates is just a guide, so's the calendar around here. This here December Challenge, being issued mid-month (and a holiday-laden month at that), is hereby issued without the usual end-of-the-month deadline.
Perhaps we'll get back to a regular monthly flow; but we just might stay free-spirited (read: erratic). At any rate, look at the picture, write a 500-word (or less) story to go therewith, and post it by January 15.
Perhaps we'll get back to a regular monthly flow; but we just might stay free-spirited (read: erratic). At any rate, look at the picture, write a 500-word (or less) story to go therewith, and post it by January 15.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
November Speed Stories
This month's challenge was speedy since we didn't post the link until the month was half done. However, we got some great stories out of the deal:
Kay, new to this game, was the first one in. Well done and thanks for joining! A great story, and she only used half her words.
Dr. Err's entry is evocative and full of mischief. Worth the read, and certainly worth more words.
Mojo has a tale to tell that needs telling, even if he is over the limit.
Dave to You has a tale of intriguing mystery.
Tiff spins a ravenous tale.
And last so far, db grin has a far-sighted story.
Go! Read! Comment! Get out your writer's hat for December's challenge!
Kay, new to this game, was the first one in. Well done and thanks for joining! A great story, and she only used half her words.
Dr. Err's entry is evocative and full of mischief. Worth the read, and certainly worth more words.
Mojo has a tale to tell that needs telling, even if he is over the limit.
Dave to You has a tale of intriguing mystery.
Tiff spins a ravenous tale.
And last so far, db grin has a far-sighted story.
Go! Read! Comment! Get out your writer's hat for December's challenge!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
November Speed Challenge
The month is more than half done, and we have a new prompt to prime your creative juice pump. Deadline is 11/30, plenty of time. Especially since you have a whole day to do nothing but digest turkey.
Write a story to go with this photo, graciously provided by Lance McVay, Farker and gentleman. He takes some awesome photos, go see here.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
October Round up
Guess little old ladies don't generate enough creative juices to get the MASSES flowing with wordly goodness, but some folks braved the prompt and came through with some entertaining stuff. Thanks to all who wrote their stories!
In no particular order, they are as follows:
Dave To You, who wrote up TWO stories, for which we are doubly grateful and thankful and whatnotful. Well done sir!
Mojo is feeling the love.
Dr. Err goes undercover with her buds.
Tiff was careful to follow the rules.
As always, you're invited to go, read, comment, and enjoy. Then consider doing the Speed challenge for November, won't you?
In no particular order, they are as follows:
Dave To You, who wrote up TWO stories, for which we are doubly grateful and thankful and whatnotful. Well done sir!
Mojo is feeling the love.
Dr. Err goes undercover with her buds.
Tiff was careful to follow the rules.
As always, you're invited to go, read, comment, and enjoy. Then consider doing the Speed challenge for November, won't you?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
September Round up, and a new prompt
Well now - there's some interesting reading afoot as a result of the September challenge. Thanks to all who participated. If you haven't had a chance to read each contributor's offering, take some time to do so and to comment thereupon. Remember, part of the remit of the Wordsmiths is to offer opinion, so if there's something that jangles your nerves or strokes heavenly chords of enjoyment in your well-being, then tell the author!
Let's get to the round-up then, shall we?
Mojo - gets the prize for coming in 'pre-first'
Smarmoofus - coming in second, with a little night music.
Farrago rocks the bronze with a half twisting gainer.
Dave to You started a blog JUST to write his story. That? Is awesome.
Dr. Err chimes in at precisely the right time.
Cravey's on target.
Don cheated (but I'm including his story here anyhow in case someone wants to help him get to a 500-word max) in a story of idle youth.
The Only Daughter serves up hot buttered wry.
Tiff picks last place this month.
Well done, people, and thanks.
=================================
This month's picture prompt is courtesy of Deb Richardson, a Kentucky blogger, artist, book lover, and taker-of-this-picture:
What's it telling you? Tell us by 31 October in 500 words or less, won't you?.
Let's get to the round-up then, shall we?
Mojo - gets the prize for coming in 'pre-first'
Smarmoofus - coming in second, with a little night music.
Farrago rocks the bronze with a half twisting gainer.
Dave to You started a blog JUST to write his story. That? Is awesome.
Dr. Err chimes in at precisely the right time.
Cravey's on target.
Don cheated (but I'm including his story here anyhow in case someone wants to help him get to a 500-word max) in a story of idle youth.
The Only Daughter serves up hot buttered wry.
Tiff picks last place this month.
Well done, people, and thanks.
=================================
This month's picture prompt is courtesy of Deb Richardson, a Kentucky blogger, artist, book lover, and taker-of-this-picture:
What's it telling you? Tell us by 31 October in 500 words or less, won't you?.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
What do make of it?
Mojo posted this picture in response to a prompt, and it seems to need a story.
Maybe many stories. Perhaps your story.
If you'd like to write but don't know the rules, they are as follows:
Happy writing!
Maybe many stories. Perhaps your story.
If you'd like to write but don't know the rules, they are as follows:
- Write a story of 500 words or fewer
- Post it on your blog/site/page
- Post a comment here with a link to your story
Happy writing!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
It's the will of the people...
Hello friends/neighbors/strangers/freaks!
It's been a touch nuts around these parts, and so the April Wordsmiths leaked through the sieve of available time into the drain of life. A sad thing, really. My apologies for not getting out the round-up in any decent kind of time.
But we are here to remedy the chronologic leakage with a May challenge so mind-boggling that it's bound to stop time for just a moment. This picture challenge is a result of a vote by the readers of NAY, if you can believe it, and even though there was a very happy alligator and a really cute baby chick picture as possible choices, THIS is what the people chose.
You know what to do - 500 words of story by the end of the month, post it on your blog, and leave a link in the comments that you wrote. It is my solemn promise to you that I WILL post the story round up in decent-er time, this time.
It's been a touch nuts around these parts, and so the April Wordsmiths leaked through the sieve of available time into the drain of life. A sad thing, really. My apologies for not getting out the round-up in any decent kind of time.
But we are here to remedy the chronologic leakage with a May challenge so mind-boggling that it's bound to stop time for just a moment. This picture challenge is a result of a vote by the readers of NAY, if you can believe it, and even though there was a very happy alligator and a really cute baby chick picture as possible choices, THIS is what the people chose.
You know what to do - 500 words of story by the end of the month, post it on your blog, and leave a link in the comments that you wrote. It is my solemn promise to you that I WILL post the story round up in decent-er time, this time.
Friday, May 9, 2008
The March Round Up - at last
Gosh folks - where has the time gone? This is a seriously late roundup of the wordsmiths stories for March, which were prompted by this picture:
To Adail, this picture spoke words bittersweet
To Bobo, the picture spoke words opportunistic
To Deborah, the picture spoke words of childhood abandoned
To DB Grin, the picture spoke words of revenge
To Tiff, the picture spoke words of a new life, both in rough draft and edited form.
So many different views of the same thing - once again, an amazement to this writer. Thanks to all for contributing.
To Adail, this picture spoke words bittersweet
To Bobo, the picture spoke words opportunistic
To Deborah, the picture spoke words of childhood abandoned
To DB Grin, the picture spoke words of revenge
To Tiff, the picture spoke words of a new life, both in rough draft and edited form.
So many different views of the same thing - once again, an amazement to this writer. Thanks to all for contributing.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Round 'em up, Sulu!
So, anybody out there looking for links to last months' stories?
Well, here you are, served up fresh and hot from the grill of creativity. (The metaphors, they flow from my fingers with the ease of a lemming slipping over a cliff at horde time.)
Ron was unbelievably quick on the draw (pen? keyboard?) with a tale of sublime familial interaction.
Kenju almost got a story going...and we're still waiting for the rest of it.
Bobo got right to the heart of things while burning some appliances.
DB Grin introduced what may be the newest action hero to the world.
And Tiff mixed "reverence and horror" (thanks to Bobo for that phrase) in her 500 words.
==========================
Next up?
This:
No rules this time either. Write what you like, and tell us that you did. For remember the Irish proverb: "He who comes with a story to you brings two away from you" which sounds positively lovely, doesn't it?
Well, here you are, served up fresh and hot from the grill of creativity. (The metaphors, they flow from my fingers with the ease of a lemming slipping over a cliff at horde time.)
Ron was unbelievably quick on the draw (pen? keyboard?) with a tale of sublime familial interaction.
Kenju almost got a story going...and we're still waiting for the rest of it.
Bobo got right to the heart of things while burning some appliances.
DB Grin introduced what may be the newest action hero to the world.
And Tiff mixed "reverence and horror" (thanks to Bobo for that phrase) in her 500 words.
==========================
Next up?
This:
No rules this time either. Write what you like, and tell us that you did. For remember the Irish proverb: "He who comes with a story to you brings two away from you" which sounds positively lovely, doesn't it?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
February, ah!
First, the results of the January Wordsmiths, as follows:
Bobo's all wet, or at least some folks in his story were.
Ron took the plunge and wrote.
Tiff had conflict avoidance issues.
Kingfisher did not.
No Celery Please broke the mould and wrote an ode.
Lots of fun reads, for sure. Our thanks to all who wrote, as always, the variety of takes on the subject matter was fascinating!
----------------------------------------------
Now to this month's picture challenge. You know what to do. Just have it done by the end of the month, and tell us that you did.
Bobo's all wet, or at least some folks in his story were.
Ron took the plunge and wrote.
Tiff had conflict avoidance issues.
Kingfisher did not.
No Celery Please broke the mould and wrote an ode.
Lots of fun reads, for sure. Our thanks to all who wrote, as always, the variety of takes on the subject matter was fascinating!
----------------------------------------------
Now to this month's picture challenge. You know what to do. Just have it done by the end of the month, and tell us that you did.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Forward Retreat
Yes, Wordsmiths took an unticipated hiatus. It seems your hosts, and others, were of the opinion that December was so full of other responsibilities little energy was left for this here a-writin' stuff thet takes a-thinkin'.
Before we get started, drop by Tiff's place and congratulate her on the Powerful Writing award she won. Well deserved, methinks.
After the before we get started, we are soliciting ideas for this site in 2008. What could be done differently? What could be improved? What works and what doesn't? Please feel free to give your input in the comments.
At the prestart after the after before start, think upon the Año Nuevo. It is a good time to look forward and reflect on the past, while we try to put our jumbled lives back to normal after the holidays.
Now start. Use the picture below and write a story. You know the drill: 500 words or less, blah,blah, blah. Submissions are due by a link in the comments by January 31.
Oh, and Happy New Year to you all!
Before we get started, drop by Tiff's place and congratulate her on the Powerful Writing award she won. Well deserved, methinks.
After the before we get started, we are soliciting ideas for this site in 2008. What could be done differently? What could be improved? What works and what doesn't? Please feel free to give your input in the comments.
At the prestart after the after before start, think upon the Año Nuevo. It is a good time to look forward and reflect on the past, while we try to put our jumbled lives back to normal after the holidays.
Now start. Use the picture below and write a story. You know the drill: 500 words or less, blah,blah, blah. Submissions are due by a link in the comments by January 31.
Oh, and Happy New Year to you all!
Forward Retreat - Mark Tansey, 1986
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