While visiting Bernita's Blog yesterday I learned about a writing prompt contest over at Jason Evans' The Clarity of Night blog. I popped over for a look and the prompt was a motorcycle picture, which always reminds me of my own biking days. (I still miss my bike.) And the prizes were quite nice.
It was only 250 words and I thought, why not? I sat down at the laptop, typed the line, "No Moon," and was suddenly off and running on an idea that just unfolded in my head. My first draft was about 375 words but I found it easier than I thought to cut it down.
Off the story went to Jason, and it turns out it was actually the first entry. Since I found out this morning that Jason has already posted the first two entries, I think I'll consider the story as my primary blog post for today. If you're interested in taking part in the contest, the Jason link in paragraph one is the place to go. If you want to see the entries so far try here. And if you're interested in reading my story you can find it here.
Hope you enjoy.
44 comments:
I've been to Jason's site before, but never entered. I just might enter this time, but I don't have the command of motorcycle knowledge you have with your prose. Enjoyed your entry. Good luck :)
Read your entry. Excellent. I'm a big mush when it comes to dogs so it hit home for me.
Funny how a few words can start an idea off. That's how I find I start most things. Starting for me, unlike some folks, is easy. It's the finishing that's difficult!
I miss my motorcycle days, too. I live in the perfect biking country--for the five months a year you can ride, anyhow!
L. A. Mitchell, You should try it. I'd like to win some of those Amazon gift certificates. glad you liked the entry.
J. L, Krueger, Thanks. I'm a big dog fan myself. I actually found 4kittens abandoned on a road side once, but I was in a car and not a bike.
Writtenwyrd, I used to ride pretty much 12 months a year here.
good stuff, charles
read all five so far...
i have to let the idea steep for a while, but i hope something perks to the surface before wednesday :O
I liked your story, Charles. I still have my 1973 Honda 750 stored at the shop. I'm saving it for my wife and I to go out like the brothers at the end of 'Second Hand Lions'. :)
Worried about your transition from the gal to the puppies, but what a crackerjack of a story!
Warms the old cockles.
I'll check that out alter when I have more time.
That's a great contest, and your story was terrific!!!!
Sam
See man. Told ya you're prolific !
I'll hafta go read this mutha.
Nice job, Charles.
Lovely, entry, Charles.
Made me cry.
I love your story, hon.
When you miss your bike(s,) just have a look at your left knee or your right bicept, remember your splints & braces & scraped & broken bits. That should restore perspective.
BANG! Don't you wish every day was that easy?
Good story Charles. You got me with that one.
Going to read....motorcycles would not be my forte either but I'm sure this is an excellent entry!
Very nice entry, Charles. Touching at the end.
Laughingwolf, well you have some time to think. I originally thought it was yesterday for the deadline, which is one of the reasons I sent mine so quick.
Bernardl, thanks. I'll be around to reading the other entries late this evening most likely. I thought about the bike, going out that way myself.
Ivan, I think it needs another 30 words to be really clear, but the limit was 250 and I cut out some material that might have helped.
Travis Erwin, I know it'll be later before I get to read most of the entries.
Calderwood Sam, thanks. Glad you liked it.
Heff, thanks. A little more sweet than what I usually right.
Bernita, thank you very much.
Lana, oh, I'm just remembering, not truly "Wanting."
Steve Malley, well, I don't know, I wouldn't want to get to feeling that this writing thing was easy.
Jack, thanks, I'm glad the twist worked out.
Mimi, there's not much biker lingo in it except for V-twin.
Barbara Martin, thanks for reading it.
I LOVED your entry!
Isn't it funny how just a few words can set you off. With me, it usually happens in a bath where suddenly things jump into my mind and off I go.
Ps, I had a read and you sure must be THE winner.
Hmmmmmm maybe I will go heads up on this one Charles. I will read yours after mine is complete.
Read it -- loved it.
initially i thought so, too... then reread the rules :)
Barrie, thank you.
Monique, for me it's often a snippet that sounds like a title.
And thanks for the confidence.
Mark, do it. Some great prizes there.
Mary Witzl, thanks much.
Laughingwolf, yeah, me to.
Charles, great story! enjoyed it from start to finish. it's a perfect short story.
Or, than what you usually "write". LMAO !! We're some erroring mo-fo's ! The older I get, the more I screw up with my text !
Greg, thanks. Much appreciated.
Heff, "writin's" for high falutin folk. I just right, rite, riwt.
Yours really is my favorite of the bunch so far. Such a surprisingly poignant story, Charles. Not easy to make a reader misty-eyed in 250 words.
Loved it!
Well done.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm drooling over those gift certificates. Now I need to read the competitors' entries. See what I'm up against.
Sara Hina, thank you very much. I really appreciate that.
Travis, thankee my friend.
JR, that piece you have on your blog today is almost a flash fiction but I guess it wouldn't fit this prompt.
Hmmm...I'll have to take a gander at this'un.
Hey Charles...how be it??
Hey Lucas, haven't see you around in a while. I hope you're well. I'm doing all right.
I have never seen this before and I'm going to try and get something in. Never mind the prizes - the wealth of experience and readership able to give feedback in a "safe" environment because someone is actually monitoring it all is just a gift! What a guy for organising all this. Loads to learn.
Loved your story btw. Have not read any others because I don't want to get too influenced by others. But I had to look at yours.... ;0)
And I just read LAna's comment - and your reply.
Awwwww! Memories are good. Injuries are not. :0/ (I know from my bro's experiences... but he will always love the bike.)
begin the 'witch' tonite :)
A little off subject, but the mail delivered my Flashing Swords Special editon Summer 2008 today.
I'm drooling already just flipping through looking. Nice illustration accompanying your story.
Womething tells me that an Amazon gift certificate is heading your way. Leave it to you to put an innovative twist on an otherwise familiar story.
Great story, Charles! And congrats on the royalties. You're the hardest working man in the blog/writing world! And what you say about the way writing adds up is true. It's just hard to stay the course. But you are a good example for people like me.
Crazycath, yes, Jason has apparently run this contest several times although this is the first time I've entered. Looking forward to your entry.
Laughingwolf, I'm writing the fourth as fast as I can but probably won't beat you through the third. LOL.
Randy Johnson, I got mine a couple of days ago but haven't had a chance to do more than glance at it yet. Looks like some good stuff there though. They've got a pretty good stable of artists.
X-dell, I've always been a fan of twist stories, but I've not always been able to right 'em. I thought this one came out decent. Thanks for the kind words.
Michelle, thanks. Glad you liked it. I talk a better show than I write sometimes when it comes to discipline.
Well Charles,
I just submitted my entry to the "Running Wind" Contest @ the Clarity of Night Blog. Thanks for the heads up. My chances are slim since I didn't yank at the readers' old heartstrings.
JR, good luck. Heartstrings are made for tugging ain't they? Why else would they be strings hanging out there? ;)
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