Wordsmiths Unlimited

washing ashore again

2009-04-17T20:05:00.005-04:00

Did it occur to anyone but me that maybe time just goes by too quickly these days? Like, it was just April Fool's Day, with plenty of time to do this round up (or perhaps write a story) and now it's the middle of the month-ish and....

Nothing's changed here. ;)

Better late than never, is the mantra du casa, and so here are March's stories, in no particular order, and with lil' ol' links to the stories that you should go read and comment on:

Connie has a tale with a crack-the-whip feel

Dave rings in with two, the first a letter from home, the second a love story of sorts.

Buzzardbilly, a new addition to our group (Hi, BB!) brings us a slice of death on the bayou.

Pioden deftly shades relationships on a background of fantasy.

Tiff throws one in the ring (late) with a seemingly simple conversation.

And The Only Daughter finishes out this round of stories with one woman's take on a beautiful morning.

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Might I say that it is spectacular that there is not one story similar to another, despite the seeming 'normalcy' of the prompt picture? This is indeed a happy thing, and should be honored at each author's site with your thoughts and comments.

Thanks to all who wrote. It's amazing what your brains can do.

Now, here's a little carrot for a-dangling - the first person to send in a picture for next month's prompt will have that picture WIN! Ready, set.....

Water over the dam, long time a'coming. March!

2009-03-18T18:29:00.005-04:00

A month gone and gone some more. Days slip by in lengthening light, and so diversions such as writing slide with a rabbit-soft 'thump' under Conscious's couch.

Or something. Time has passed. Once again, we are unfamiliar with a schedule. And so it goes.

Make of this what you will, friends. I hope the approach of Spring brings forth from your able minds the story of this particular bit of your lifetime. If not, then limericks are always fun.

Copyright © 2008 by Gordon L Wolford

February Challenge

2009-02-09T21:19:00.000-05:00

What's a week amongst friends?

In this case it's about 9 days.

Here's your new prompt, and this time ~~don't forget the gravy~~ follow the damn rules!

As the inimititibamle Chuck Jones said, the comedy and creativity that you find in Roadrunner cartoons comes largely from the disciplines - or constraints - that are put upon them. For example, the setting is only in the American Southwest, and Roadrunner can only run on a road (or at least, a surface with a center line painted on).

Of course, there's no prize or penalty here, but the point is to grow as a writer by challenging yourself. There's really only one rule here. Be your own word count police.*

Go! Create! Comment profusely!

*Tiff has threatened to edit stories that exceed the limit. You may not like it.

Speed Challenge Stories

2009-02-01T17:07:00.000-05:00

Well, that was fun! From the short duration to the apparently daunting picture, we got a pile of stories for you to buzz about.

Connie was first in with her story of turnabout.

Tiff spins an otherworldly tale.

Dave to You weaves a thread of discovery.

Ron was the last one before the deadline, with a gripping saga.

Pioden is brand new to the Wordsmiths with a story of challenge.

db grin is typically tardy in his telling of tall tales.

Now folks, the point of this little endeavour is to exercise your writing skills, practice some discipline, and learn from each other. Comment generously, whether your wrote this month or not - share what worked for you and offer constructive insights!

A new prompt will be up this week.

TOLE you it was going to be speedy

2009-01-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

Here's the challenge:

5 days from today, post a 500-or-less word story to go with this picture.

Go!

December Wrap-Up

2009-01-17T21:12:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since the last post here, but it was time enough for 8 stories from the Wordsmiths.

In order of their arrival, here they be for your reading pleasure:

Dave has two diverse stories, found at December 11 & 12 (he doesn't have his permalinks turned on; maybe he should try better pick-up lines).

Kay has a story which is Part 2 of her November entry.

Dr. Err writes another chapter in the life of Noah and his poor, uptight friend.

db grin tells of beginnings.

Connie is a new joiner, also with two stories - one of home improvement, and one of home terror.

And finally, Tiff is in with her mysterious tale of mystery.

The next challenge will be published VERY shortly, as it's time to get back on a regular schedule. If you'd like a button for your site, say so in the comments. Meanwhile, go read and comment on these 'ere stories!

December Challenge

2008-12-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

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.

November Speed Stories

2008-12-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

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!

November Speed Challenge

2008-11-16T21:41:00.000-05:00

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.

October Round up

2008-11-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

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?

September Round up, and a new prompt

2008-10-02T07:18:00.000-04:00

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.

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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?.

What do make of it?

2008-09-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

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:

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

At the end of the month all the links will be posted here. Readers, writers, and visitors are encouraged to visit the stories before then, of course. Commenting and constructive criticism are part of the game, so if you write, please visit the other authors' pages and let them know what you think of their efforts. Heck, even if you DON'T write, go read and comment. Writers just LOVE to know what you think of them.

Happy writing!

It's the will of the people...

2008-05-10T11:59:00.000-04:00

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.

The March Round Up - at last

2008-05-09T12:27:00.000-04:00

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.

Round 'em up, Sulu!

2008-03-10T11:09:00.000-04:00

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.

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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?

February, ah!

2008-02-12T07:35:00.000-05:00

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!

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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.

Forward Retreat

2008-01-06T22:15:00.000-05:00

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!

Forward Retreat - Mark Tansey, 1986

Surreal Speeches

2007-12-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

I think Tiff picked November's picture for its amibiguity. You people did not disappoint. Check out this genus of different species. A special welcome to two new contributors!

From Bobo - The Fix is energized.
From Farrago - Roar is saddened.
From Kingfisher - Listen Close is confused.
From No Celery Please - Without a Prayer is enlightened.
From The Only Daughter - Is It What It Is is unexpected.
From Rennratt - Done is tired.
From Tiff - What You Long For is disturbed.

Well done, and thank you. Tiff and I are throwing some ideas around for a workshop of sorts. Stay tuned for that, and the December challenge coming soon.

Look deeply, Look long

2007-11-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

And tell us a story.

About this.

Post your tale before the end of November, please, and come back here to the comments to tell us you did.

Kingfisher is a nag

2007-11-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

Rightly so - it was my turn to publish the stories from last month, and I totally dropped the ball. I bobbled the pass. I committed an error. I whiffed at a fat pitch.

And so on.

Therefore, without further ado, I present the roundup of stories from last month's challenge, and invite all who come here to click on each one, go read, and comment profusely. You'll be missing out on some fun spook stories if you don't. Plus which, I've asked "The Hand" to come visit you in the middle of the night if we see you've been here and you don't go comment.....

Mwuahahahaa!

Middle Girl cooks up a heapin' helpin' of the creeps

No Celery Please gets Handsy

Tiff wanders in the dark

Kingfisher pulls a switcheroo

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New challenge comes next week. Anybody want to suggest something?

Give Us The Creeps

2007-10-17T18:13:00.000-04:00

Last year we received some great entries for our scary October challenge.

It's time to do it again.

Go spooky and shivery with the picture below.

Submissions are due by a link in the comments section by Spooktober 31.

BOO!

Stories From The Shack

2007-10-05T16:46:00.000-04:00

We have six entries this month, which means Tiff owes me a case of beer.

From Bobo: Arboretum
From Joe: Intimidation
From Kingfisher: The Weave of Esteem
From The Only Daughter: Top of the World
From Tiff: September Morn
From The Unknown Bear: Stars of Fear, Skies of Hope

Go. Read. Critique.

Our 2nd Annual Creepy October Challenge will be up next week. Keep a look out behind you!

Forget what you know

2007-09-12T21:19:00.001-04:00

It's just a place, really. Who cares what MIGHT have happened there?

Tell us about it.

Ready, go.

The August Deliveries

2007-09-01T11:45:00.001-04:00

Our milk wagon inspiration has delivered several new stories to the door of the Wordsmiths.

Bobo's got a quart of desperation on his hands.

The Unknown Bear serves up a gallon of quiet resignation.

Joe has a pound of history lesson on offer.

Bobo, unable to stop himself, hands over a pint of pity.

Tiff is selling a ramekin of anger.

No Celery Please rounds out the stock with a carton of sisterly affection.

Help youselves to what's on the table, then pull up a chair and share in the refreshment by visiting the authors and commenting on their efforts.

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The September picture goes up on the 10th. Sharpen those pencils, folks, and get ready to write.

Bucking Against Those Better Than Myself

2007-08-24T19:33:00.000-04:00

I would like to respond to Joe's "Narrative Ethic," both parts I and II, as referenced by my respected colleague Tiff in the last post.

70% of it is sound advice. Neophytes should adhere to it and learn.

10% of it is nothing more than a caution.

10% of it is a purist's viewpoint of classical storytelling, which continually evolves. Valid points all, but I doubt Aristotle would enjoy Bradbury.

5% pisses off every capable writer who ever put pen to paper.

5% is his opinion that plot is overrated.

This last 5% is my sticking point. Plot is THE thing upon which everything else is attached. Without plot, theme has no meaning, characters wallow in centrism, and the author's vision has no voice. Plot may be secondary to a thousand other expressions, but it is the device used to display conflict, or the lack of it.

CHARACTER drives us to read further; PLOT allows character to hang his wardrobe on a peg. Otherwise, it is poetry. Poetry is laudible and the penultimate expression of human thought, but it is not storytelling. Poetry is rare and precious because so few of us can do it justice. Plot is necesssary for the fictional narrative voice.

Who am I to dispute Aristotle? Nobody but another in a long line of thinkers who acknowldege his greatness, but also question it.

Joe is right. And wrong. I have a feeling he would agree with me. Like I have said before, learn your ABC's before you break the rules. However, I get the feeling Joe and Aristotle don't believe in breaking those rules. I believe in breaking rules, as long as you have learned how to abide by those rules in the first place. Otherwise my argument is for naught.

Acknowledge the wisdom of others and the passion of your own art. Then question both.

Quick link

2007-08-23T11:15:00.000-04:00

Might help y'all think about your stories. I know it's jump-starting my capacity for clear(er) writing:

Aristotle's Narrative Ethic and why you really SHOULD care.

Thanks Joe!

The Milk Wagons of August

2007-08-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

Whenever I'm stumped for ideas, my wife and I play a game. She has ten minutes to come up with a topic, and I have 48 hours to write a short story about it. It's fun for both of us, and it really helps with creativity and writers block.

This month, I was stumped for a picture for the August Wordsmiths challenge, so I asked my wife for a story idea. Without hesitation she said "a milk wagon." How she pulled that one out of the air, I don't know.

A Google image search for "milk wagon" turned up this gem. There's enough story fodder in there for a hundred tales. Have at it folks.

Stories are due by August 31 as a link posted in the comments section.

July: Weather is Hot but Imagination is Hotter

2007-08-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Wholly Carp!

This month's response is exactly the reason we started this in the first place. What a crop of stories! Applaud yourselves, then use those hands to visit your fellow Wordsmiths and effuse over their bravery and magnificence, then tell 'em what they did wrong. For my part, I use my hands to shake yours and clap your shoulders.

In Untitled (shame on you!), Biff isn't in his right, or left, mind.

In The Array, Bobo cannot make head nor tail of it.

In Charlie, The King remembers and wishes.

In Score Bored, Kingfisher searches for the culprit.

In The Message, No Celery gets it, but isn't telling.

In Contradictions, Shari is going to make a fortune.

In Hours Devours, Skully goes all confusing creepy.

In Playing God, Tiff tries to fix a game of croquet.

In Shutting Down, Ursus sees a love story from the inside.

In the words of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon: "Thank you! Come again!"

One More Day!

2007-07-30T10:18:00.000-04:00

The story post will be up on Wednesday. Y'all have one more day (Ed. note: well, OK, slightly more than a day, truth be known. More like a day and a half, but with editing and revisions you'd better go ahead and get started now because that stuff eats time like a ravenous plecostamus eats algae) to get those stories written.

If you HAVE written, feel free to use the code below in your blog sidebar as proof of your participation. We thank you so very much for your interest and for sharing your insight and talent.

What do you make of THIS? The July Challenge

2007-07-14T09:22:00.000-04:00

Ah summer, time for picnics and parties, the beach and cool beverages, lazy hazy crazy days.

Crazy indeed. It must have been the heat that called the Wordsmiths to choose this pictures as the inspiration for July's writing prompt.

What does it tell you? What story does it want YOU to tell? If you listen very carefully, you might hear it begin its tale.....

(click to pop open LARGE version)

The June Challenge Results

2007-07-01T15:13:00.000-04:00

Ah, a little summer time reading, straight from the minds of the Wordsmiths.

Go, read, comment, and enjoy.

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Kingfisher takes us on a journey through generations

Tiff envisions a different kind of beach scene, then channels the reptilian mind

JC goes to the extreme

No Celery Please serves up something NOT celery, but still crunchy.

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Thanks for some great stories, everyone.

Next month - something to REALLY sink your teeth into!

Clear All Moorings!

2007-06-09T16:20:00.000-04:00

Welcome one and all to the reincarnation of Wordsmiths Unlimited! Your hosts were not happy with the proto-WSU for many reasons. We missed it, and hope you did, too.

If you haven't yet, review the simple rules under "Need Help?"in the sidebar. Then set sail with us on our first adventure aboard the WSU II.

We're keeping it easy on our first voyage out. Think of a story using the picture below. Make it the focus, the theme, a character, a metaphor, whatever you like. Then write your story. That's all.

Submissions are due by June 30. Thanks for joining us!

WELCOME

2007-05-26T12:25:00.000-04:00

Greetings! Welcome to the new and improved Wordsmiths Unlimited: a writer's workshop, roundtable, and place to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your creativity.

Wordsmiths was started many moons ago by Tiff and Kingfisher, two amateur writers with notions of grandeur and a desire to improve in their craft. KF has retired his moderator hat, so db grin has jumped in to continue the duties. We invite you to join us in a monthly writing exercise that has just a few rules:

1) All entries must be 500 words or less. NO KIDDING!

2) Spelling and punctuation are important, except where rule departures are used for effect.

3) Entries must be submitted by the deadline given. You may submit your piece by providing a link in the comments section of the monthly challenge.

4) You should be willing to read the other entries and comment in a constructive fashion, pointing out high and low points of the piece in workshop fashion. Feedback from other writers is half the point of Wordsmiths Unlimited, and as a participating writer you're expected to critique the other submitted works.

There. Enough rules to count on one hand, with a digit left for dialing or picking.

We will link all submissions in a monthly results post on this blog for easy browsing. One click will take you off to the submitter's blog, so there will be opportunities to discover new blogs and new people. There is no prize or penalty for your submission; this is a forum for fun creative exercise.

As a submitter, you retain full copyright.

It's our hope that Wordsmiths Unlimited will spur imagination, hone skills, facilitate improvement, and create community. Come write with us!