Category Archives: Challenges and Writing Prompts

March 14, 2017

Twittering Tales #21 – 14 March 2017

By Kat Myrman

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If you accept the challenge, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. Have Fun!

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Twittering Tales #20 – The Round Up

You all wrote some fantastic tales for last week’s photo prompt. Here’s the line up! This week we had break ups and break downs, alien invasions, loss, desperation, intrigue, mystery, art…oh the drama! Thanks everyone for having such a good time with this one. Hope to see you next week! 🙂

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Gayl at Gayl Wright-Words, Photos and Art wrote:

Trust Betrayed
Tired of his shallow, twisted excuses, she became angry.
Hurling the goblet to the floor she screamed,
“Go! I never want to see you again!”
(139 characters)

Broken but Determined
Like this broken glass
A marriage had been shattered
He chose another

Not to be kept down
She worked hard for their children
Filling in the gaps
(139 characters)

Michael at Morpethroad wrote:

I carried it around the world, through every customs place imaginable, and as fate would have it, I dropped it out of the box at home. Ugh!
(139 Characters)

Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger wrote:

She held her wrist inches above the glass. “God, please someone help me!” she pleaded. The door opened slowly, as tears streamed down. “Mom?”
(141 Characters)

Lorraine at 25 Words, More or Less wrote:

She is like a broken wine glass; the stem remains, but her mind, the bowl, is gone.
(84 characters)

Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes wrote:

The reception committee paused, champagne untasted, as the aliens munched through their coupes before starting on the silver cake stands.
(137 Characters)

Di at Pensitivity101 wrote:

‘Darling, you know I can’t attend these dos without a glass in my hand!’
‘Does it have to be full? Hang on, I have the perfect solution.’
(136 characters)

Francine at Woman Walking Max wrote:

Romantic dinner, I’m the only one for you? Liar. Your turn to hurt now. Cheers
(79 Characters)

Sudha at SriSudhaK wrote:

Wow geeta! You sketched it with perfection. I must say,”Amazing 3d art dear..!” And here goes my caption “A bit of optimism -Last hope”
(135 Characters)

Reena at ReInventuions wrote:

Jim was the container to hold her joy in life. He disappeared. The base was intact. She just had to drill a hole, for happiness to re-enter.
(140 Characters)

Irena at Books and Hot Tea wrote:

“It’s done. You broke it,” she wept. 

The tone of her voice hit him like a punch. It sounded like she wasn’t talking about the glass anymore.
(140 characters)

Peter at Peter’s Ponderings wrote:

The magic flute was no more.
It had refilled itself with champagne for the last time.
Paula had savoured, slurped, then sloshed.
Both smashed!
(140 characters)

Kirst at Kirst Writes wrote:

You’re late. Again.
I’m here now. Happy anniversary.
She could smell cheap perfume. As he leaned towards her, she hurled the champagne flute.
(139 characters)

John at Broadsides wrote:

There are no fingerprints. It is washed. There are slivers still in the flesh of his throat, He cannot, they cannot, say who struck the blow.
(141 Characters)

and I started everyone off with this…

“I will never forgive you!” she cried. “It was my grandma’s.”
“I’m so sorry,” he lamented. He knew she wasn’t crying about a broken glass.
(138 Characters)

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Twittering Tales #21 – 14 March 2016

First off, WHAT IS THIS? Haha! Just kidding. I love antiques. But I must admit, I remember plunking on a modern version of one of these. And then I remember getting really excited when they became electrified. Of course many were over the moon over word processing machines…not quite a computer…where you typed on a keyboard and the words showed on a tiny screen instead of paper. No more carbon paper to make copies or chalky correction tape, no more messy typewriter ribbons. It was fabulous. My, my how far we have come. Anyhow, I like this photo because there is a bit of text on the paper in the typewriter. Your challenge…if you like…write a tale that continues the line typed on the paper. Or just let yourself go like I did and write what first pops into your head. Words, words, words swirling around in our heads…whatever shall we do with them! Have Fun! 🙂

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Photo from Pixabay.com

The former owner of the old house was a writer. Ten years after his death he finished his novel. The author’s name? Ghostwriter, of course!

~kat
(139 Characters)

 

 

93 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Flash Fiction, Random Thoughts and Musings, Twitter Tales

March 10, 2017

Stravage – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

By Kat Myrman

stravage

Happy Friday. Today’s Dictionary.com Word of the Day is Stravage.

Originally entering the English language in the late 18th century this Scottish/Irish word is derived from an aphetic contraction, which means that it is a word formed by combining two words as well as by aphesis (the loss of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word (e.g., of a from around to form round ).

From Medieval Latin we have ‘extravigari’ which means to wander out of bounds, digress or ramble. ‘Vagare’ is an Italian intransitive verb that means: to wander around, roam around, to roam. I particularly like this Italian phrase: “vagare con la fantasia” which means to give free rein to one’s imagination, let one’s imagination run away with one.

And to round out the etymology of this most interesting word, the Italian verb ‘vagare’ or ‘vargari’ is derived from the adjective ‘vagus’ which means strolling or unsettled and is thought to be a precursor of the English word ‘vagrant’. Back to our word, stravage. To get to its current form, the “ex” from the original Latin ‘extravigari’ was dropped by the Scots who converted the word to ‘stravaig’. It was later embraced by the English, dropping the ‘i’and adding an ‘e’.

I was able to find a delightful, award-winning Glasgow restaurant called Stravaigin in my stravaging across the internet. True to its name, their website’s “About” page links us back to this 18th century word: “‘Stravaig’ meaning ‘to wander’ encompasses our ‘Think Global, Eat Local’ ethos perfectly. So wander off the beaten path into either the street level cafe bar or the downstairs restaurant where you’ll find menus showcasing Scottish produce that isn’t tethered to its roots. Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2012.” Stravaigin is quite modern however, offering local fare with an exotic flare. Click on the link of their name above to check them out. If ever you’re in Glasgow…;)

The Scots, I have learned, are very proud of their native language and heritage. There is an entire website devoted to all thing Scots…but I suppose I am digressing…or stravaging you might say. Since I am descended from Scottish ancestors, this will be on my to-do list for future study. 🙂

I am quite fond of stravaging. I admit that I do it often! Those who know me are able to recognize my stravaging ways immediately. I am told my eyes glaze over and I may start humming a tune to myself, which drives people batty. But in my mind, I am having a jolly good time taking it all in. The scenery that is. I am not so worried about the destinations in life that I do not pay good mind to the journey. The journey after all is where it’s at. (whatever “it” may be) I have a tin plaque in my room that says, “I never worry when I get lost, I just change where I want to go.” A friend got it for me. Stravage is a good word of the day for me. Fits me to a “t”. Have a great Friday!

to those who stravage
some may think you’re a lost fool
 but you are seeking 

to be an artist
it helps to be an odd bird
with stravaging wit

delicate ivy
stravages up walls, clinging
destruction’s embrace

~kat – 10 March 2017

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Essays, Haiku, Random Thoughts and Musings, Word of the Day Haiku

March 8, 2017

Aak Attack

By Kat Myrman
No automatic alt text available.

PHOTO PROMPT © Shaktiki Sharma

“Tell me what happened,” said the detective.

“Well, she came in…sat at the bar. This guy, he’s a regular, took a shining to her, but he’d had a few and I guess he got carried away. He grabbed her, you know, where he shouldn’t of. She told him to stop. When he didn’t she sprayed this awful smelling stuff on him. He dropped dead, on the spot.”

When Scientists at the Etymology Experimental Lab across town heard the story they celebrated.The suspect was likely the person who had stolen a vial of “Aak Attack”, an anti-rapist agent. It worked!

~kat – 8 March 2017
(100 Words)

For Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Story Challenge.

A bit of background on the grasshopper you see above from Wikipedia:

Poekilocerus pictus is a large brightly colored grasshopper from India. Nymphs of the species are notorious for squirting a jet of liquid up to several inches away when grasped. It is also known as Aak grasshopper or locally in few tribal areas called titighodo

Adult Form

The half-grown immature form is greenish-yellow with fine black markings and small crimson spots. The mature grasshopper has canary yellow and turquoise stripes on its body, green tegmina with yellow spots, and pale red hind wings.

The grasshopper feeds on the poisonous plant Calotropis gigantea (Giant Milkweed).

Upon slight pinching of the head or abdomen, the half-grown immature form ejects liquid in a sharp and sudden jet, with a range of two inches or more, from a dorsal opening between the first and second abdominal segments. The discharge is directed towards the pinched area and may be repeated several times. The liquid is pale and milky, slightly viscous and bad-tasting, containing cardiac glycosides* that the insect obtains from the plant it feeds upon. In the adult, the discharge occurs under the tegmina and collects as viscous bubbly heap along the sides of the body.

*From ancient times, humans have used cardiac-glycoside-containing plants and their crude extracts as arrow coatings, homicidal or suicidal aids, rat poisons, heart tonics, diuretics and emetics. Today these steroids are processed to treat heart conditions.

29 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in 100 and Under, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction

March 7, 2017

Cold – A Haiku 

By Kat Myrman

nipping vernal blooms
bellowing bursts of cold breath
winter’s bitter blitz

-kat – 7 March 2017
For Haiku Horizon’s Challenge, prompt word, “Cold”.

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Digital Art & Photos, Haiku

March 7, 2017

Twittering Tales #20 – 6 March 2017

By Kat Myrman

About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a prompt photo. Your mission is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less.

If you accept the challenge, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. Have Fun!

Here is our round up for this week’s prompt. I love everyone’s take. So many topics! Romance, Mystery, Heartache, Anger, Drama, Life and Death and the meaning of it all! Thanks so much to everyone who gave it a try this week. Here’s the prompt pic again, followed by your fabulous tales! If I missed your take, please be sure to let me know so I can add it to the round up.

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Twittering Tale #19 – 28 March 2017

Michael at Morpethroad:
The burning flame ignites passions.
She reaches out
He takes her hand
Steadies her lighting the candle
Illuminating the essence of their love.
(138 Characters)

Sri Sudha K at Naa Prapancham, My World

She could no longer bear the pain of separation; so,she set herself on fire to join his beloved soul..Her husband who died fighting cancer..
(140 Characters)
&
His smoking habit killed her-she was bitten by lung cancer; Her only fault was loving him the way he was. But,he realised her love only after he lost her.
(154 Characters)

Reena at Reinventions

Tabloids screamed of the star’s affair, upsetting his wife. The editor’s wife, a divorce lawyer told her, “There is no smoke without fire.”
(139 Characters)

Di at Pensitivity101

A flash, so bright,
Penetrates the night,
The smell of smoke
Lingers to choke
That final sigh,
And then we die.
(105 characters)

Sangbad at Thoughts of Words

He saw a shadow in the light of his last match. It was not of his. As light dim he heard another strike of match or was it the “clap”.
(134 Characters)

Lorraine at in 25 words more or less

smoke vapour curls round flower flame. flash point. sliver of a moment. cosmic spark. quicken. embrace. to be born is to die.
(126 Characters)

Jane from Jane Dougherty Writes

Orangehead hung onto the post with his failing strength but the earthwinds, too strong for his wispy frame, dispersed his atoms like mist.
(138 Characters)

Willow at Willowdot21

A moment in time. Smoke wisps grey, flame as yellow as the forgotten sun As the red tip expired with the heat she died her life done
(140 Characters )

Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger

“After the tunnel collapsed upon them, Jim found a lone match in his pants to strike. Can they find an escape route before it burns out?”
(137 Characters)

Francine at Woman Walking Max

Gondolier: Carnival is over Colombine. Your lover Harlequin lies in the crypt. Be brave, follow this light.
(107 Characters)

Kirst at KirstWrites

Light a candle. That’s all you can do. Focus on the flame. Maybe the smoke will carry our hopes to some god or kindly fairy up there.
(133 characters)

Leara at Leara Writes and Takes Pics

A word lit the flame. Hooded figures chanted. The fire grew, and smoke billowed. This world, a failed experiment, would burn to start anew.
(139 Characters)

Irena at Books and Hot Tea

Matches burn slowly, as smoke dances around. She burned up quickly, in the outburst of once tamed anger. Her smoke swallowed all it touched.
(140 characters)

Peter at Peter’s Pondering

Sulphur and brine
a view that is mine
our food just isn’t the same
we haven’t a hope
til we see how we cope
with preservatives put to the flame
(140 characters)

and my little tale to start the things off:

The bitter-sweet fusion of sulfur and gasoline seared her nostrils. She flung the match into the darkened room; the past best left to ashes.
(140 Characters)

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Twittering Tale #20 – 7 March 2017

I like what everyone did with last week’s abstract image. You all are so creative! Here’s another odd photo for you to simmer on. What is the story behind this photo? Mmmmm. I do hope you’ll give it a go. Have fun! My tale is below.

Photo from Pixabay.com

“I will never forgive you!” she cried. “It was my grandma’s.”

“I’m so sorry,” he lamented. He knew she wasn’t crying about a broken glass.

~kat
(138 Characters)

31 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction, Twitter Tales, Uncategorized