Writing Exercise Wednesday #38

Work has been taking up all my time - ack - need to post an exercise! Quick!
This exercise is a bit different in the outcome for me - but isn't that half the fun?! Enjoy.

Prompt:
Forego, plethora, bird, runner

Result:
     “Actually, you don’t know anything about anything! What’s my favorite color? What’s my favorite flower or bird?” Charlotte shrieked.
     “Um, I would like to forego the bird part of the question. If that’s okay,” Bert said.
     Charlotte turned her face away.
     “But, I believe, ma’am, that you’re favorite color is red and your favorite flower is a red rose. And I’d hanker a guess that the bird you favor is a cardinal.”
     “Oh, Bert!? Charlotte cried. “You know more about me than my own mama.”
     “I know a plethora of things about you, Charlotte, if you’d just give me a chance to share them with you.” Bert shuffled from one foot to the other.
     Charlotte clasped her face and then Bert’s and gave him the loudest smooch on his cheek.
     Bert stumbled off the front porch, missed his step on the truck runner trying to get in, and almost caught his finger shutting his door.
     Charlotte waved her hanky as Bert drove away. “It is the cardinal,” she said with a sigh. “He doesn’t know it yet but we’re getting married next week.”
 

Thursday Result of WEW #20

WEW #20

Prompt: Use words that have multiple meanings – can be a name, place, thing.
I used Paris and Amber – names of people, a place and a thing.  Or words that can be used as a noun and a verb like farm, talk, crash and use it both ways.

Result:

Paris and Amber were walking down the street in, well, Paris, under the amber of the street lights. They were puzzled about what the smell was.

“I smell sew-ah,” Amber said, breathing through her mouth.

“I smell croissants,” Paris said, using her ability to mimic accents. “Je smell croissants.”

“Hey, that’s pretty good.” Amber cracked her gum. “But I still smell sew-ah.”

“Oui, moi too.”  Paris had always dreamed of being in Paris – she thought it was ironic. Or something like that. And now she was here and all she wanted to do was go home ever since Amber started reciting all their favorite pizza joints in Brooklyn. She was pretty sure it didn’t smell like sewer back home.

Thursday Result of WEW #19

WEW #19

Prompt: This exercise is about writing one long sentence – adding to your subject continuously by using “who.”  For example: My friend Mary, who thinks she’s prettier even though she’s not, who flaunts her new clothes in front of me, who does have lovely hair even though I wouldn’t tell her that, who must be first in line no matter what it’s for (even for a shot!)… Hopefully it’s clear what I mean.

Result:

The gospel according to Mathieu – who’s my brother – who thinks he’s the boss of me – who hides behind corners and doorways – who thinks cats and rabbits are stupid and only dogs rule – who can’t manage to eat even one brussels sprout or one broccoli tree when I’ve had to sit at the table until mine are all gone (thank heaven for dogs) – who insists I follow him everywhere as his personal Sherpa – who never knows when to shut up – who painted my room black with a red door when I was at a sleepover – who can’t seem to get more than a C in any subject – thinks that I have to obey him.

And as much as I love my brother – it’s time to rewrite his gospel – according to Mary. That’s ME.

Thursday Result of WEW #18

WEW #18

Prompt: Use what words you want or as many as you want – or you can work on alliteration.  You can add your own words as well or pick another letter and do another group of words.  Anything goes!

laughter, loss, love, loot, lazy, languorous, loopy, light, lemon, lost, lump, lips, Lucifer, languish, large, lackey, lit, lamp, luck, lounge

Result:

Lucky took a wrong turn and went left instead of right. He languished on this unknown street. There was lots of loot in the store windows. There was laughter at the end of the cobblestone street. He lazily walked towards the sound, hands in pockets. He didn’t want to appear lost or loopy.

Lucky rounded the corner and spied a large group of kids, just like him. He lounged against the side of a stone building, waiting for an invitation.

He tied his untied shoe, flipped a penny in his palm and as luck would find Lucky, a small, shy girl approached him, licked her lips and smiled. Her eyes lit up and so did his. Hers was for the penny, his was for the girl.

Thursday Result of WEW #17

I can't believe I did it again - late, late, late!  But better than never. Next week we'll do an exercise with alliteration.

WEW #17

Prompt: fireworks, caterwauling, peace

Result:

“Climb every mountain,” Aunt Pearl started singing.

“For the love and peace of Pete,” Grandma hollered.

I knew what was coming next. I climbed up into the chair with the burgundy blanket. I had my drink and a snack – I was ready for the fireworks to begin.

“Forge every stream,” Aunt Pearl continued.

“If you don’t quiet your caterwauling,” Grandma yelled, “I’ll quit it for ya.”

Grandpa leaned over to me. “Do ya got your earplugs?”

I opened my hand and showed them to him.

“Follow every rainbow…”

“Now!” Grandpa said.

We made it just in time for the last line and the high note.

Grandma scowled. “Pearl, you are gonna be the death of me yet.”

Thursday Result of WEW #16

Result:

WEW #16

Prompt: Photo time – write whatever strikes your fancy – poem, prose, dialogue, description, setting. (See Wed exercise for photos)

The ‘shroom looks like a loom

Fibrous, white strands

Stretched, pulled

Tying the cap and stem

Holding, containing

Moisture and meat

Bulbous as it rocks

Umbrella in its duty

Warding off and keeping in

Light, dark

Unique with its flaws

Perfect in its form

The ‘shroom looks like a loom.

Thursday Result of WEW #15

WEW #15

Prompt: Time for some comedy and fun – let it fly!

vapid, synonym, panhandle, piggyback.

Result:

“Now, Floor-e-da, is known as a pan-handle,” the tour guide said. “Does everybody know what a pan-handle is?”

All the kids groaned.

“Let’s move on to the al-e-ga-tors. Does everyone know what an al-e-ga-tor is?  It is not a croc-odile.”

“This trip is a croc,” Shelby muttered to Mac.

“You’re telling me.”

Shelby rode piggyback on Mac as they followed the class tour.

“Isn’t crocodile a synonym for alligator?” one kid asked, stifling his laugh.

The tour guide stopped and faced the group. “One might think so but there is a large difference. Does anybody know the difference?”

Nobody spoke.

“On our right here is a Water Vapid,” the guide said.

“You mean a Water Viper?” Shelby asked.

“Excuse me. Yes. A vi-por.”

The class cracked up and continued on the tour.

Thursday Result of WEW #14

WEW #14

Prompt: cut-offs, habit, imitate, raisin, writhe, idiocy, toast, cardboard

Result:

Writhing in the moist dirt, the worms ignored the raisin toast Jenny crumbled for them to eat.

“Come on, eat,” she said.  She shook her head and bit her bottom lip.  She kept biting it until it cracked and bled.  Just like her fingernails.

Dressed in cut-offs and t-shirt, Jenny placed her cardboard sign around her neck.  The twine holding it together was frayed and sun bleached.  Her sign said: Idiocy. And on the other side it said: Stop.

Her brother John often imitated Jenny, making faces until she cried.  He was the reason she wore the sign.  Jenny was determined to teach her brother a thing or two about reading and manners.

It was the most difficult job she had and she bore it like a crusade.

         Jenny would put an end to idiocy and she decided to start in her very own house.  Never mind that the worms didn't eat the toast.  She would work on them next.

Thursday Result of WEW #13

This is one of my favorite exercises. But with any of the prompts, you can make it whatever you want whether that's a poem or sentence or paragraph or character study or exploring setting. Make it whatever serves you best.

WEW #13

Prompt: Poem time – in the voice of any object you like. Similar to WEW #4 - metaphor as a thing - only in poetry. 

Result:

I am formally dressed

88 Tuxedoed keys

Ready for a grand finale

Or perhaps an opening song

Harmony plucked and pressed

Jovial, melancholy,

forceful, quiet

I am not fussy

Fingers cracked in warm up

Or cloaked in peanut

butter & jelly

I don’t like sticking together

But I do like being played

Endure a messy beginner

or a practiced pianist

I long to hear the melody

The beautiful sounds made

To capture my imagination

and my heart

Play on.

Thursday Result of WEW #12

WEW #12
Since the other one is late then so is this one! But better late than never - again.

Prompt: Make two long sentences with these nouns: book, chair, hedgehog, skates

Verbs: Eviscerate, complain, polish, sing

Result:

Wart, the smallest hedgehog, went singing past his brothers and sisters (as they stood open-mouthed like eviscerated fish) on his brand new skates that were polished to shine like the sun.

Knocking over a large stack of books, Wart fell over the chair, tumbling high in the air, landing on his bottom complaining, “Ouch, that hurt.”

Next week will be a poetry exercise. Can't let Poetry Month go by without one. Hope to see you then!
Angela

Thursday Result of WEW #11

WEW #11

Prompt: Any minute now…

Result:

Any minute now something will happen. Any minute now. Okay. Come on. Nothing’s happening. My reflection hasn’t changed one bit. I thought when I turned 13 my breasts would appear. Breasts – such a pretty word. The boys in my class say boobs. And repeatedly point out that I don’t have any. They’ll be sorry one day for teasing me – I’ll have breasts and no braces and my face will clear up and I’ll become the butterfly my mom keeps referring to. And I won’t even look at those boys.

But right now – any time now – I’m waiting for something to happen.

Thursday Result of WEW #10

Had a nice day of recouping after being sick most of the night. Hence the very late posting. The comments have been fun - keep them coming!
WEW #10

Prompt: askance, zipper, granddame, picket, hooey

Result:

The granddame of the ball wore her boa, tiara and shawl as if that were the norm. No one dared say otherwise. Even though her tiara sat askance, not a peep was uttered. Until her grandson roared into the room yelling, "hooey, hooey!" He stopped dead in front of his grandmama, his shirt sticking out his zipper as if it were a white flag proposing a truce. 

She gathered him up into her arms and he whispered, "I love you, Grandmama." As she hugged him to her he gave her tiara a poke back into place and they shared a wink.

Thursday Result of WEW #9

WEW #9

Prompt: It all started when…

I wish I could have told you…

Result:

I wish I could have told you about the dog poo on the sidewalk before you stepped in it. But you kept blabbering on and I couldn’t get a word in. So, I’m sorry, but it’s your own fault. Next time – well, there shouldn’t be a next time! But if there is, I’ll be rude and stop you with my bare hands.

I also wished I could have told you that the big pink bow in your hair looked silly. It was too big for your tiny head. And a tiny head is a good thing. So don’t be mad.

And, it didn’t really go with your bright orange dress. But I let that one go.

We’re still best friends, right?

Thursday Result of WEW #8

WEW #8

Prompt: This exercise is a little different.  Think about the house you lived in when you were seven.  What details do you remember: the rooms, memories, smells, etc.  OR think about a house (condo, apt, etc) in your childhood you really liked and try to pick out specific details/memories that make it stand out to you.

Result:

My sister and I stared a room.  We had wood floors with little carpets in front of our beds.  We would lay belly-down on the rugs and slide (swim) under the beds and around the room pretending we were underwater. 

Our basement had the TV in it and I would sit on my dad’s lap and watch The Bugs Bunny Show and The Wonderful World of Disney. 

In the unfinished part of the basement, I drove my pedal-push car around the metal poles with the funny holes in them.  I also drove into many boxes and walls and sisters.  When the basement flooded, I helped bail out the water with my dad.  My bucket was smaller.

In the backyard we had a playhouse and sandbox.  Mud pies were my specialty.  We also had wasps that my sister was allergic to and her eyes would swell up.  There was a swing set too that if you went too high the legs would pull up.  Along the other side of the yard and fence, we had a dog kennel for our Samoyed, Snowball.  When she had puppies I was the only one she’d let in the dog house and be with her and her puppies.

My dad grew rhubarb and made wine and jelly with it until it blew up once.  Mom was so mad.  We used to wash the rhubarb and dip the end in sugar and eat it.  Loved it.  We had beautiful flowers everywhere and when I smell marigolds, I think of that house and time.

We had a garage too that housed Penelope, the beautiful little cream Mercedes.

Our best friends lived across the street.  Before I was in school, I would stay over there during the day and Mrs. Nielson and I would make peanut butter cookies together – my favorite then.  And I would watch Sesame Street.  We all used to play in the street and run around screaming.  We found salamanders, went trick-or-treating, had houses decorated at Christmas (which sometimes felt like a competition – which I think my dad won).  

Thursday Result of WEW #7

To see other writing results, check out the Wednesday prompt.

WEW #7

Prompt: sleepy, wash, space, fry

Result:

“The Space Needle looks mighty high,” Bobby said.

“Nonsense,” his nursemaid scowled. “Now don’t get dirty, I don’t want to wash you again today. Twice is enough.”

“Yes’m. Do I get to ride in the escalator?”

“It’s elevator, not escalator. And only if you behave.”

“Yes’m.”

Bobby eyed the other kids scrambling off the school bus. He wished he could be with them instead of Erma. She did everything for him. When he was sleepy, she’d put him to bed, when he was dirty, she’d hose him down and when he was hungry, she fed him the only thing he would eat, French fries.

“Can I have a fry Nanna?” Bobby asked.

“May I? May I?” Erma corrected.

Erma always had some on hand for a snack. Bobby didn’t care if they were cold. Sometimes she’d try to sneak a carrot or put peanut butter on the fries, but Bobby wouldn’t eat them.

Bobby took the fries and chewed.

“Can I, may I have a…”

Erma handed Bobby a drink. She held the straw for him.

“Thank you.” Bobby’s legs wobbled. He sat in slow motion.

Erma turned his wheelchair around and they headed to the park instead.