Photo (Inspiration) Challenge
Entries must be
presented in the form of an excerpt from a story. This can be from a current work in progress or one you have not yet created. Who knows, this picture and this writing challenge may be the stepping stone you needed for your future novel!
Imagine, the photo above is representing a moment, frozen in time, from the life of your characters. Ask yourself: What might my characters dialogue sound like, if I were to reach in the middle of my story, and pull it out? What intriguing excerpt would draw the reader in and cause them to read more?
Rules:
Imagine, the photo above is representing a moment, frozen in time, from the life of your characters. Ask yourself: What might my characters dialogue sound like, if I were to reach in the middle of my story, and pull it out? What intriguing excerpt would draw the reader in and cause them to read more?
*Remember: This is different than a blurb, which we did in the last writing challenge. This is not something you would find on the back of a book, but rather, within the first couple pages, providing a teaser for the reader of what's to come.
Rules:
- Think! Any entries/comments deemed inappropriate by the author of this blog will be deleted. Please use common sense and courtesy for other readers before posting.
- Remember! Grammar, spelling and punctuation count.
- Suggestion: Ask a friend to edit your entry before submitting it as your final entry.
- Winners! The top two winners will be announced the day after the contest ends. This will be part of a special blog post, in which their winning entry will be highlighted.
- Surprise! There will be a panel of judges (consisting of published authors), evaluating and deciding upon the top two winning entries. The judges will also be preparing a surprise gift for those in the top two & sharing words of advice during the special blog post.
- Share! Feel free to share a link to your blog, especially if you have expanded the "blurb" into a full story.
- Deadline!! ALL ENTRIES must be submitted in the comment area OR by "linking up" at the bottom of this post by Friday, August 2, 2013 ~ MIDNIGHT ~ EST in order to be considered by the judges.
- *You're
more than welcome to share an entry you come up with at a later time in
the comment area, but any posted after the deadline will not be
considered as a part of this contest.
Make sure to share this writing opportunity with all your writing friends!
Now, let's have some fun!
I bent down to Robbie’s level and stared into his startlingly blue eyes as I brushed his bangs back into place. We never could have guess how beautiful he was when we first saw him all covered with mud, snuggled next to the dead body of a mother wolf. “Everything will be okay now, Robbie.”
ReplyDeleteHe stared blankly at me, and I wondered once again if he had ever known a human language, or if he’d always lived with the wolves. But none of that mattered any more. He now had a home me at the Missionary League. Certainly every other woman in the compound would mother him as well, but it would be the two of us in our own cabin, the orphan and the widow.
Great entry, Suzanne! I definitely want to read more! Thanks for participating!
DeleteOkay, I'm hooked!
DeleteMillie pushed past the clump of sawgrass and caught up with her energetic youngest child.
ReplyDelete"Mummy, what are they doing?"
"Hmpf." Millie quickly grabbed the boy's shoulders and turned him around. "Come Samuel, let's take the other path."
"But, Mummy! Why? It's so much longer. I'm hungry."
A swat to the rear silenced Samuel and got him moving. "Never you mind," she said. "You just mind me."
As he trotted off, Millie looked back and scowled. "Hmpf."
'Discraceful. In broad daylight! I would never kiss my Arthur anywhere but behind our closed bedroom door. With the lights off. And I would never kiss him like that. And if he ever kissed me like that, why, land's sake, I'd… I'd… Oh! Well…'
A flush rose from Millie's neck to her cheeks, and she swiveled on her sturdy heels. 'Never mind. Where's that boy got off to now?'
"Samuel!"
Great entry! I want to know who she saw! :-)
DeleteSarah & the Mountain Homestead
ReplyDeleteBy Maree Long ©
Frozen trying desperately not to look frightened, pensively Sarah pulls her young Davy close to her side. “Davy, stand still and be my brave little man” Sarah said to her son in low deep tones.
Sarah and Davy were on their own now and faced the black savages square on. Sarah had to think quick as they had travelled far from the homestead in the forest on the trail they had walked many a time before.
Intriguing entry. Definitely one you can expand upon into a very interesting story.
Deletethank you for the encouragement Rhonda as Yvonne Blake says you wonder about the character and lives of those in old photographs
Delete"Don't Worry now Miss Charlotte, I will take care of everything" he was tender and confident that his connections in England would free Charlotte from the false marriage and incurred debts.
ReplyDelete"Thank you, Mr Esmond, I don't know what else to say" Charlotte said as she brought her hands to her face to cover her tears.
"Well for starters, Miss Charlotte you could call me Jack and if you would permit me to call you Charlotte, I will see you upon my return in six months time".
Charlotte with her young charge clinging to her side and her heart pounding as she realised that 6 months waiting for her Mr Jack Esmond to return, might be harder to bear than the mess her father and brother had embroiled her in. Charlotte and young Henry waved goodbye to the tall ship from atop the cliff.
Charlotte in that moment began to understand that in the two years of looking after young Henry for Mr Esmond she had fallen in love. She daren’t let herself before now think of it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOld photos fascinate me. I wonder about the people. I imagine their stories. I realize that they are somebody's wife or mother.
ReplyDeleteI've linked to my blog.
Thanks for inviting us to play along
As I turned down the lane, all my weariness melted away. Like a spring lamb I bounded up the hill, the tattered soles of my shoes slapping against the hard packed dirt. At the top of the rise, I slid to a stop and gazed over the cabin and outbuildings. Even at this distance I could tell that things had fallen into disrepair in my absence. Still I smiled at the beautiful sight. I was home. After two years of war, I was finally home.
ReplyDeleteA group of daisies caught my attention and I knelt and picked the flowers. Clumping them into a messy bundle my smile widened. Lizzie would like these. I straightened and continued down the slope toward the cabin. All the way I studied the yard, but there was no one in sight.
Old Roscoe announced my approach before I made it to the dooryard, his bark echoing off the barn. The old dog rushed up to me, his tail wagging as he pressed his head under my hand. I rubbed his ears and then straightened.
I knew she was there before I saw her. As I turned, my heart hammered in my chest. I nearly forgot to breathe as I laid eyes on her. My Lizzie as beautiful as ever. She wore a blue dress with her honey hair swept up in the style I loved so well. Beside her a boy pressed himself into her skirts. It couldn’t be my Jimmy. He was just toddling when I’d left.
Lizzie stood frozen, staring at me as if I was an apparition. “James?” Her words were barely audible.
I nodded my head. I knew I was grinning like a fool, but I couldn’t help myself as I thrust the flowers out toward her. She took one step toward me before the boy pulled on her skirt.
“Who is it Mommy?”
She placed a hand on his shoulder, but never took her gaze from my face. “It’s your Daddy, Jimmy. He’s come home at last.” He stared at me with wide blue eyes, Lizzie’s eyes.
Great job, everyone!! Stay tuned for the next photo challenge!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBetter later than never, right? Here is what came to mind when I saw this photo . . . (I ask the judges to not include mine in the judging anyway) :-)
ReplyDelete“What do you mean by saying you’re going to take this child? Don’t think you can intimidate me, Jessie O’Reilly! I put you in your place when we were children and I’m not afraid to do it again!”
Jessie placed a firm hand on the bridge of his cowboy hat. He had never met a woman as aggravating as Miss Julianne Spencer, or as beautiful. He had only allowed her to think she had “put him in his place” when they were children because he had a crush on her as large as the moon itself, and she had proven just as hard to lasso. And, after unexpectedly running into her today, he quickly realized that time and distance hadn’t changed that deep-rooted desire, unwanted or not.
Now, if only he could figure out how to solve the current dilemma they found themselves in. “I’m not sure why you think you need to protect this child from his own uncle, Julianne . . . but whether you like it or not, I’m taking him home with me!”
“Over my dead body, Mr. O’Reilly!” Grabbing a hold of the hand of the little boy she had practically raised, Julianne abruptly turned and began walking back to the orphanage.
“This isn’t over!” Jessie cried over the noise of the overly congested town. “I will be back. You can bet on that!”
I like your orphanage idea. So, how does Jessie solve his problem?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christina. And, you ask a great question . . . I'm still developing this story. I have several ideas for the "how" part of your question. :-)
DeleteLove the tension you've created with this scene, Rhonda. Great job!
ReplyDelete