A thousand thieves may /
rip the jonquils from the ground /
but they can’t steal Spring.
Photo and Haiku: “Thieves”
A thousand thieves may /
rip the jonquils from the ground /
but they can’t steal Spring.
Filed under 2018, photo by David E. Booker, poetry by author, Uncategorized
Photo finish Friday (and haiku): “Waffle”
Whipped cream mountain kiss, /
Berries touching a waffle, /
Subtly love comes.
Haiku to you Thursday (and photo): “Muses”
Toast to the muses /
High and low, who grace the Earth /
With bread, wine, and song.
Monday morning writing joke: “Motives”
WHAT CAUSES ARTHRITIS?
A drunken Irishman sat down in a subway next to a priest. The man’s tie was stained, his face was red and plastered with red lipstick, a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.
After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, “Say Father, what causes arthritis?”
The priest replies, “My Son, it’s caused by loose living, too much drink, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and loose women, scruffy dressing and lack of a bath.”
The drunk muttered, “Well, I’ll be damned.” Then returned to his paper.
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?”
The drunk answered, “I don’t have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does.”
Writing Remember: your characters will often have hidden motives for the things they ask or do. Bring those motives into conflict, for serious or humorous results.
Filed under 2018, Monday morning writing joke
Photo finish Friday and haiku: “Tennessee”
The sign almost glowed,/
the word and the memories /
welded moments.
Haiku to you Thursday and photo: “Sign or Portent?”
“End Road Work,” sign says. /
Declaration or demand? /
Hanging to stir doubt?
Monday morning writing joke: “Bones of a story”
An old Doberman starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he’s lost.
Wandering about, he notices a lion heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.
The old Doberman thinks, “Oh, oh! I’m in deep shit now!”
Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.
Just as the lion is about to leap, the old Doberman exclaims, “Boy, that was one delicious lion! I wonder, if there are any more around here?”
Hearing this, the young lion halts his attack in mid-stride, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.
“Whew,” says the lion, “that was close! That old Doberman nearly had me.”
Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the lion. So, off he goes.
The squirrel soon catches up with the lion, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the lion.
The young lion is furious at being made a fool of and says, “Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that conniving canine!”
Now, the old Doberman sees the lion coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks, “What am I going to do now?” Instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn’t seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old Doberman says…
“Where’s that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another lion.”
And there you have the bones of a story.
Filed under 2018, Monday morning writing joke
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
https://winningwriters.submittable.com/submit/49862/tom-howard-john-h-reid-fiction-essay-contest
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Ends on April 30, 2018
Submit stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. The winning story and essay will each receive $2,000. Ten Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each. The top 12 entries will be published online. Judge: Dennis Norris II, assisted by Lauren Singer.
For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. You may submit published or unpublished work. This contest accepts multiple entries (submit them one at a time). Please omit your name from your entries. We prefer 12-point type or larger. Please avoid fancy, hard-to-read fonts. Double-spacing is recommended.
Filed under 2018, writing contest, writing tip
Photo finish Friday: “Early arrivals”
“If only are early and unexpected guests were as pleasant as our early and unexpected jonquils,” he said to his wife when they finally had a moment alone.
Filed under 2018, photo by David E. Booker, Photo Finish Friday
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