Alphabetical Torture (an alphabetical writing exercise from my writer's group - by A)

(***Note: Beginning with the letter H and continuing through the alphabet, my assignment was to start each sentence with the next letter in the alphabet.)

Help me, help me please!

I'm drowning in your lies.

Just please say I'm okay.

Killer bees surround my helpless and limp body.

Lying here, being stung.

Melting away, it's excruciating.

Not what I wanted, that's for sure.

Opposing all lies and mess.

Puss streams and I scream.

Quirkily trying to run, but I've lost depth.

Respiration is weakening.

Stop, bees, stop!

Trying to live, trying to feel something but pain, I still run.

Understand my misery yet?

Vests of black and yellow engulf me.

Wings of translucent clear find me and flap.

Xylophones of color, buzzing, always buzzing right at me.

Yelp after yelp, no one hears me.

Zzub, zzub, they are flying backwards now.

And the reverse button works today.

Because it knows that my life depends on it.

Can't believe how much relief floods my present self!

Dumbfounded and amazed, I smile.

Excited, I yell for joy.

Finally free, finally me again.

Great things come of time machines.

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly (a book review by A)

Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine is a very helpful book. It is one of my favorite books, in fact. Just ask my mother. (I have checked this book out from the library probably at least fifty times.)

This book is full of creative writing exercises, character outlines, advice, dialogue ideas, and it helps one through the steps of publishing and also offers advice for dealing with rejection, if it comes to that.

The book itself is very thought-provoking. Giving its readers the opportunity to really think about what they are writing and having scenarios that keep your brain juices flowing is what makes Writing Magic interesting to me.

It also houses a generous chapter on writer's block, and how to overcome it.

And, keeping the reader entertained, while writing your book? She's got that covered too.

You'll love the humor, wisdom, experience, and honesty that is woven into the book's pages. Ms. Levine is a funny lady, if you ask me.

Well, enjoy the book guys. If you read the book, you can tell me what you think about it in the 'comments' section below.

Fog Has Mystery

Trees hide themselves

In the midst of the fog.

The rain patters.

The Cottonwood trees' leaves glitter.

It is mysterious.

It hides things from view.

Taboo.

I strain my eyes,

And see nothing

but fog.

We drive on.

The mist is cool.

A tragic love song.

The rain fades away.

I smile.

Mist has secrets.

Fog has mystery and enchantment.

Mist subsides,

and we drive away.

The Terrifying Demise of Bonnie (by J)

     Out of  Bonnie's various attempts to out-wit Chevy, this particular attempt made Bonnie shudder for several months. It began when Bonnie thought that she HAD to be stronger than Chevy... but she was wrong. She approached Chevy later that day. With a confident smirk she asked, "Chevy do you like wrestling?" 
"Duh, do I get seeds if I win?" 
"All of the spray-millet," Bonnie replied. 
"Then yes!" Chevy said excitedly. 
"Good." Bonnie had hardly finished saying "good" when Chevy belly-flopped on her! Bonnie squirmed for a few minutes. Soon she had escaped from the deadly grasp of Chevy's belly-button. As soon as she had recovered from those terrifying moments, Chevy released another horrific attack. He sat on Bonnie. Soon rasping breathing noises started coming from underneath Chevy. Shortly afterward a little white flag popped out near Chevy's tail feathers and they lived happily ever after. Well Chevy lived happily ever after. The end.

Gorgeous Day (poetry, by A)

The sea breeze whips through my hair.

I trudge through the sand

In sneakers.

Sand leaks into them.

I venture on.

Wind slapping my face with my own hair.

It stings, for a few seconds,

But I love it.

The air smells like a lake.

I pick up a seashell,

And put it in my pocket.

Sand flutters, as I stuff 

Another rock into my shorts.

I try to run;

But I can't.

I try to yell,

But the wind 

Steals my voice.

I look out to sea.

It ripples toward us.

I look up, and see

A cloud. A smiling cloud.

Literally.  

I ask to have the camera,

And, with one click,

I freeze the time.

It seems like the day

Will never end!

We are merry beach bums.

We lay down, sand covering us.

And rest.

In this gorgeous day.

Dandelions (a haiku, by A)

The yellow flowers

Peek out cheerfully at me.

I smile down at them.

My Mind is a Conference Room

My mind is a conference room.

Exchanging ideas and thoughts.

Pushing slips of paper 

Across a glossy, glass table.

Passing legal pads around the room.

Debating.

Always debating.

It gets argued back and forth, for a while.

Then, finally, my brain decides.

Good choice, brain.

(Poetry by A)