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Blog Tips, Blog Traffic, Fiction, Flash-Fiction, Micro Fiction, Poems, Poetry, Thoughts, Word Count 33, Writing
Instead of a prompt word, I thought we’ll do something different this week. As bloggers, many of us are writers – so, theme for this week is about “writing“. As you probably guess, this opens wide possibilities.
Quite often I come across blog posts lamenting the dreaded “writer’s block”
When writing fiction, it is crucial to develop characters. One has to give them a backstory, add depth and scope and generally build them into three-dimensional people.
Having published two novels and working on several more now – excluding the Mechanic Leigh and Fallen Grace series – I notice how characters take on a life of their own.
Many years ago, my kid sister accidentally stepped into a gutter. I thought she recovered the situation very admirably. She casually put her other foot into the gutter – it was deep but dry – stepped out and continued on her way, as if it was the most natural thing to do. When she related that episode, the family had a good chuckle – we still do.
That incident lent impetus to this next piece.
When I started writing about three years ago, in the first two years, I attended every single seminar and talk on “writing” that fitted my schedule. These literary luminaries, both local and foreign imports, sprouted impressive credentials and almost all lettered in creative writing, English Language, literature etc. ad nausea. Some charged an arm and a leg for their lectures. One guy from Adelaide even took my money and absconded – but that is another story.
Interestingly, not one had a bestseller to their name. The bestselling authors were all “non-literary” types.
Hope you liked at least one of the above.
Now, your turn 🙂 Would you like to contribute your flash fictions – love to receive them.
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Some guidelines:
1. Your contributions can be prose or verse but must draw from the theme “writing”.
2. Please do not go below 30 words or exceed 33 words.
3. Deadline for submissions 10 days from today.
If you could post your contributions in the Comments below, I shall collate and publish them in a Gallery on 14 May.
If you are new here, please take a look at the Previous Galleries:
(a) WOLF
(b) PORTRAIT
(c) BEDPOST
(d) GUTTER
If you wish to know what this is all about, please check out BLOG TIPS
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Tomorrow
A short POEM
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Useful piece…beautifully written. Thanks for sharing with us! 🙂
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Thank you and you’re very welcome. All good wishes, Eric 🙂
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Hi Eric, glad to hop in for my first contribution– a tanka and a haiku poetry.
1) Writer at word play
Listening for overtone
Of each tumbling word
Choosing, discarding, shaping
Voila! A well-written work!
2) Aim for a good write
Penning well the sacred truth
In soul, form, and mind!
Cynthia
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Hello Cynthia,
Thank you for these contributions – a total of 3 haiku and one tanka.
Unfortunately, after reconsidering I can’t use them for the “Literary Slips Gallery”. The pieces must be one complete verse or prose – cobbling together a couple to make the word count, well, sorry but does not meet the intent. I’ll be happy to include these in a Random Gallery that is due in a couple of weeks or so – if you agree.
I could have spelled out all the minute details in the ‘guidelines’ and end up with a 3-page ‘rule book’ true – but obviously, this is not the way to go.
Thank you for your understanding and thank you again for your efforts,
Eric
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Hi Eric, this is my first contribution–a 30-word haiku. Glad to hop in!
1) Be prudent and write
Choose words that heal the needy
And light up the soul.
2) Take good words and write
Like the first rays of sunlight
Bathing earth in light!
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Hello there – happy to have you on board but you show up as “Anonymous” – how do I assign credit and link back to your site?
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Cynthia at songsofseasons.wordpress.com
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Cynthia
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Oh course we know who the writer of Singapore is; and I’m glad that the “boss” has good sense – please give her my regards and a “thank you”. Incidentally, my “boss” agrees with her! Cheerio, Jane
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Well, if the bosses agree 🙂
Contrary to popular belief, a true alpha does not ride rough shod – or, it would not remain alpha for long.
All good wishes for the weekend, Eric
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The Limerick is a great medium for a quick ditty. Here is one for you.
:
There was a writer of Singapore
Whose blogging filled readers with awe.
They said, “We find much love and caring
Please maintain your sharing and sharing.”
So he blogged onwards for evermore.
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I’m on-line now and saw your comment/contribution come through, Jane.
If I think you are refering to the person whom I think it is – you’ve put him in a little spot. His face is truly flushed red as he – for all his vaunted public persona – is actually quite a shy person and shuns the limelight. Those who know him, know this of him. How do you reconcile an alpha male who would fight tooth and nail – with this little confession – beats him!
The contribution meets all the criteria – but the content – please let me sleep on this before deciding whether to include in the Gallery – if all else fails, ask the alpha female – my wife 🙂
Big hugz dear,
Eric
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The “boss” has spoken – she says that since I accept criticism with grace, I should stop whinning and accept compliments with even more grace.
Thank you my dear and if I caused any ‘flap’ with my earlier comment – it was unintended. I’m of course, assuming that we both refer to the same “writer of Singapore” 🙂
Peace and blessings,
Eric
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I liked all, twice I had to go to dictionary, so I’m learning new words also. All contributions are very nice.
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Thank you, Indira – your visit and comment is appreciated. This encourages all the contributors and I thank you again, on their behalf 🙂
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Reading your blog, I will never believe if you said that you have a writer’s block. You have more to say than the blog has space to contain and never a boring topic. I meant this as a compliment. The four postings above with its brief intro already portray multiple POV. Enjoyed them all, no favorites, each different and a great read.
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Well, Jasey, you’ve been gone for sometime and looks like you’ve returned and well settled. Always love to receive your comments.
Luv and hugz, Eric 🙂
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Thank you Paul I’m glad you liked it.
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Hi Eric
I just found your site. Here is my contribution …
Relentless rain resounds on shuttered winter windows as a misty, mysterious half-light falls upon the writer’s desk. Fragmented, half-formed conversations drift with shifting wind outside; transcription and manifestation to literary form elusive today.
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Like the swirl of light through fleeting clouds, ‘its true that our writer’s mind can feel the same. Very provocative words there, Helena. Very true, indeed! Paul
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Hello Helena,
After Paul commented, I must have overlooked this. Sorry 😦
Thank you for your contribution and look out tomorrow for the ‘gallery’
All good wishes,
Eric
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Thanks to you for the inspiration and incentive to step out of my usual writing comfort zone. This will also double as my NaPoWriMo poem for today.
Pure Thing
appropriation of ones own thoughts
relishing creation
i want to
touch down on the solitude
of pen to page
drunk on the delicate
string of words
fragile
turn of phrase
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Hello Tammy – first comment here, I reckon. Welcome aboard 🙂
This is a lovely contribution and thank you for joining in.
All good wishes,
Eric
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Beautiful words, Tammy, very good visuals! I look forward to more of your postings.
Nice job! Paul
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Pingback: Do you like flash fiction? | elizabethfrattaroli
Thank you so very much for reblogging, Elizabeth.
All good wishes,
Eric
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OK Eric — I’ll play! I see you already have many wonderful contributions. Here’s mine. Alia
Writing
Standing in the thought stream
Sitting in the word pile
Bombarded from everywhere
By syllables and letters.
Ideas begin to percolate,
Images to circulate,
Reaching for my pen
I birth magic onto paper.
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Beautiful contribution – and anyone reading your blog posts will learn that your words are weighty.
Peace, Eric
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This is my first time here! Here is my shot at this 33 word duder. This is highly inspired by my research paper that is due soon:
Incandescent blue light
literally rubbing my pupils
whilst I tap, tap with fingers
cold. I see the words come,
come alive as I gulp
this mead more and more.
Deadlines are a bitch.
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Gracious of you to introduce yourself – this is appreciated and your contribution welcomed.
“33 word duder” – now, that’s a piece 🙂
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I can’t believe one took your money and ran – what a fraud! I’ve always wondered about the literary speakers – if they know so much how come they are talking about writing a winning novel and not doing it themselves?
I’ve not done one of these, but I think I can come up with 30 to 33 words. Here’s my try:
My words
overflow the banks
of my mind’s
river.
I have more words
than time.
My ideas dammed
(damned)
by priorities;
other roles I need to be.
But I still have the dream.
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Yup, he sure did. After my incident, which I publicised here, no one in Singapore will touch him with a 10-ft pole but going by his website, he is still taking people for a ride, I reckon.
As for the literary speakers, well, you know what they say – those who can’t – teach!
Lovely contribution and came in spot on at 33 words 🙂
Thank you Janna for supporting. Have a great weekend ahead,
Eric
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Writer’s Block
A wall of black, oozy, Missouri River mud looms in front of me,
Sticky, impossible to even walk through.
When I push, it gives only a little.
Then it creeps into my nostrils, suffocating.
I back off, walk this way and that way, trying to find an entrance.
None!
I push again, the mud engulfs.
So I back off, play it safe, read a book, play the piano,
go boutique shopping, sing, hike, brush the horses.
I walk back; the mud wall looms still.
I write up to the mud wall.
It starts to ooze onto the paper, into my brain.
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Thank you Juliana, for this lovely piece.
It does not meet the 33-word limit, so I assume you are sharing it with all the readers here. Do you plan to post this on your blog – it would be a pull, I reckon.
All good wishes, Eric
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Thank you for this idea. Here is my effort:
I sit to write. Ideas come so easily, they flow like water. Quickly they grow into a forest but then, as always, I am lost amongst the trees. The water has frozen itself.
Thanks again.
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Hello Ben – first time here, I see. Welcome aboard 🙂
Thank you for this contribution – you’re ON!
Cheers, Eric
P/s I like what I read and ticked to follow your blog.
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I found reading your blog very informative and helpfull
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Thank you dear – this is so encouraging for me. Cheers, Eric
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Pingback: Eric Alagan’s 33-word Flash Fiction… | Paul Grignon
I visited your blog, read your kind words and am humbled by your generosity. Thank you Paul.
Peace, Eric
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Dear Eric,
You are more than welcome. It is good to see so many others posting their work, as well as fine comments, on your site. When I find a site that is so worthy to promote, a site filled with excellent postings, than of course there is no hesitation in highlighting that site. As always, I look forward to reading your future posts.
Take care,
Paul
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You’re right about the two chapter wall. I have lots of two chapter books. Sometimes I can’t see the forrester for the trees.
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You too? Well, join the club!
Yes, the schools that tutor creative wrtiting are filled with Crawford’s progeny – some of us are victims, perhaps.
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Eric, here is my contribution with the title ‘Writing’
Writing block often occurs
Pictures in my mind echoes continuously
It seems so hard to find the correct words
To convey
My message
My imagination
My buried memory
Nevertheless
The Lord helps me.
Any comments? 🙂
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Good one Yoshiko and thank you for joining 🙂 You are right, nothing happens without the intervention of God.
Peace, Eric
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Welcome and I feel so privileged for your invitation to join 🙂
Thank you, Eric 🙂
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My hands walk
in a dark path
where my heart
is confused to write
which language will run?
my mother language is abstract
my two others
twist my thoughts
and I’m locked up
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Thank you for the contribution 🙂
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Eric, “Literary License” is my favorite, yes a fool for the rhyme. Here is my attempt.
Cluster
Here I sit all a fluster
picturesque words I can not muster
looking around I see your luster
My rhymes seems still just a cluster
If only I could find that one gusher
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Aha! Mitzi,
Nice one – there is something about rhymes, so “sing-songish” as I say.
Thank you very much for your contribution. Appreciate this,
Eric
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Dear Eric,
Great stuff there, all four of them, rather clever! Here’s my particular take on the theme, in at 33 words:
The sheet before us, white, we seek,
A word to write, a phrase, a pause…we think;
A blank canvas greets our mind, quite bleak,
Yet the Muse arises, and provides the ink.
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Dear Paul – welcome back 🙂
Glad that you liked all four.
I love your approach – a white sheet – so daunting, so much potential.
High five, Eric
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I loved all of yours, they were fun and oh so true. I’m not feeling it today though, maybe I’ll come back later if something comes to me. On a side note I missed the prompt word wolf? Dang, that slipped right past me. Grrr, that’s my favorite animal too.
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Happy that you loved all four. That’s great 🙂
The window is open for 10 days – so, if something surfaces – or, join in the next one.
WOLF was one of the very first and had not really picked up steam, so its not surprising that you missed it. You can still publish something in your blog, I reckon.
Have a great day Jessica,
Eric
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Great words, great prompts, Eric.
this is-
blocked brain
write your one hundred
lines
every morning
don’t take your pen
off the page
ink streams
of consciousness
or the same word
over and over
until your brain
is unclogged
and—
block drained
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Hello Troy – welcome back and with a contribution too 🙂
Nice, that play – “blocked brain” and “block drained”.
Have a great day ahead, Eric
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A writer’s block
is such a pain;
expressions of heart,
go down the drain.
We doubt our capability
that loses its mark;
and wonder why the world
suddenly goes into dark.
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Thank you for your comment. All good wishes.
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I love this. As a writer, I always enjoy reading about writing.
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Hello David – yes, I thought this post might resonate with writers. Cheers, Eric
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Pingback: Whispers of Words | Listening for Joy
Many thanks for mentioning this in your blog – good one, Eric
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Your last was my favorite, Eric. Here’s mine:
Whispers of Words
Whispers of words
I hear in my ear and
Write what my Muse
Leads me to. A prayer
Of sorts my writing is
Where my Muse
In my ear speaks
Words of whispers.
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A lovely contribution, Peg – liked especially how you played with the words “whispers of words” and “words of whispers”.
Cheers, Eric
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enjoyed this..
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Thank you and all good wishes, Eric
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Pingback: 33 word Story: Thanking Freud | Bastet and Sekhmet
I like the first and the second ones the most. Pls find below:
His grammar is full of flaws and his language imperfect. Critics pan his sentence structure, but he holds his readers in a web. The web is called ‘plot’, where he excels beyond imagination.
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Hello Padmini,
Thank you for your comment and your contribution – always welcomed 🙂
Cheers, Eric
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Hi Eric, here is my attempt.
The coffee stained manuscript with turned up corners. Round shoulders slump over page; a roof, sheltering characters in their infancy as worlds come to life. Coloured post-its decorate the desk. A writer’s confetti.
Thanks
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Hello Elizabeth,
So very lovely to have you onboard – an investment manager who writes – my kind of author 🙂
Thank you for your contribution.
Cheers, Eric
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Thanks Eric. It’s a great idea and look forward to participating more in the future. Your comments made me smile! 🙂
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Here is my entry:
Writing
“Writing is her passion. To be published is her dream. So many manuscripts mailed to publishing houses with hope pinned to each one. Just as many rejection letters received. Still she writes.”
Thank you as always for the opportunity and challenge to reach inside myself for something more.
Susan
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Well Susan – you’re the first with a contribution and how truly this resonates with all us budding writers.
Thank you for sharing and supporting,
Eric
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A coincidence! I wrote this this morning before seeing your blog…true it has 39 words…(I’l try something later) but in the meantime: http://bastetandsekhmet.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/on-blogging-and-internet-a-happy-poem/
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I just went over and read your fun poem. Thank you for the link. I also enjoyed that little question about Dante 🙂
Looking forward to receiving your contribution Bastet.
All good wishes, Eric
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You are right. If you are exacting on the technical side of writing it takes all the fun out of it. Writing should be spontaneous; a tale bursing out of you to tell.
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I totally agree with you Ian.
Yes, some polishing does help but we’ve seen the classic movie, Finding Forrester – borrowed from that title for my last piece – and how some of these experts are fixated on crossing the tees and dotting the eyes, as it were.
Cheers, Eric
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