Marjie Myers: Writings


"Write for Ten"

These links below are to posts that have been prompted via Donna B McNicol who hosts the Write for Ten website.  The idea is that you read the prompt and then spend ten minutes writing whatever comes to you. I do this by reading the prompt, setting the timer and writing it straight away - no waiting around as I am keen to find out what will be produced and have surprised myself.

  1. Police Station [Setting.]
  2. Deck
  3. Dump
  4. Offence
  5. Raven
  6. Stadium
  7. Tackle
  8. Occupied
  9. Lozenge
  10. In the ambulance [Setting]
  11. Infection [non-fiction]
  12. Casual
  13. On a fishing boat [Setting]
  14. Ceiling Fan
  15. At the breakfast table [Setting]
  16. Airplane restroom [Setting]
  17. Frame

"Five Sentence Fiction"

  1. Composure
  2. Perserverance
  3. Victory
  4. Memories
  5. Awkward
  6. Zombie
  7. Devotion
  8. Birthday Special
  9. Coincidence
  10. Detour
  11. Flawed
  12. Time
  13. Abandoned
  14. Whisper
  15. Paradise
  16. Conquer

Five Sentence Fiction is hosted by Lillie McFerrin here. Here is her description of the challenge:

Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

"55 Word Challenge"

This was a new one for me. You were given a selection of photo prompts and had to write a story in 55 words. There is as judge and if you are lucky (good enough) then you may get an honourable mention or win! Here are the links to my entries;
  1. Week 37
  2. Week 43

"Monday Mixer"

I tried this for the first time on 25th February 2013. It is hosted over on the Latinum Vault. There are a few more rules to this flash fiction challenge which makes it a little trickier. There are three categories, each category has three words and a minimum of one from each (appearing in the story in that order) are required. There are three possible things that are awarded: Winner, Over-achiever (using all 9 words) and Best Use of Prompts.

  1. Playhouse, Manatee & Sanctimonious
I was awarded the BUP for my entry! :) Here is what was said:

Kate for her story Playhouse. Another first-time participant, Kate delivered excellently. The descriptive imagery that Kate employed was perfection, almost leaving me feeling as cold and miserable as her tale's character. Amongst all of that vivid descriptive magic were sprinkled three prompt words that held their spots in the overall product without the least hint of being forced. Extra nods for daring to explore the relationship dynamics of one of Disney's iconic characters.

2. Earnest Ernest 
I have attempted to use all nine prompts and earn the Over-Achiever position.

Kate for her story Earnest Ernest. From experience, I can attest working all nine of my prompt words into 150 words is not an easy task. I sometimes try it myself, just for fun, and this week wasn't any easier than other times I've tried. Kate managed to accomplish this with consummate aplomb. Her tale of an unassuming man and the things he so loves being inexorably swallowed up by progress has a universality understandable by readers anywhere. His angst is genuine and palpable and left me nostalgic for simpler, less-evolved times. Well done!

3. Play it again, Sam
I had hoped to perform a hat trick and finish off my collection and I really delved deep to come up with a worthy contribution. After submitting it realised that I had used a wrong word - enthralled instead of enthralling - but I decided not to resubmit. I guess it just means I need to work harder next week!

4. Metaphorically speaking
This week there was no #MondayMixer and so I put on my own Monday Mixer replacement service. I wrote 200 words and was inspired by Write 4 Ten's prompt word of 'Jiggle'. Isn't it strange what comes to mind?

5. No Regrets
I used all nine prompts and the word visage caused my downfall! I meant mirage but meaning and doing are two different things. I started this tale with 360 words and had to cut it down...a lot and I think some of the atmosphere was lost. It also wasn't a complete story but rather a snapshot. But I managed to get an Honorary Mention which is nice all the same.

Marje Myers for her story No Regrets. This was a wonderfully complex little tale that managed to work all nine prompt words into a single offering. It was an excellent story of fighting the odds to follow a dream and, sadly, paying the price for that dream when you fail. I wanted to rate this story much more highly, but the use of the word "visage" when I suspect what was intended was "vision" threw things off track for me.

2 comments:

  1. These are great ideas to spur on the writer. I look forward to jumping around these spots and checking them out.

    By the Way...I'm stopping by via the A to Z challenge. I've started hopping around early hoping to make some new acquaintances. I look forward to following your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I look forward to reading your blog also, I hope you find something here to entertain you or at the very least make you smile :D

      Welcome!

      Delete

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