Monday, March 17, 2014

Monday's Minute Challenge: Writing Prompt Contest for Teens & Up


A quick writing challenge (and contest) to help get your creative juices flowing for the new week.


  1. The entry must be between 150 - 300 words. Otherwise, your entry will not be accepted. (In order to see how many words your entry is, write it in Microsoft Word, or you can copy and paste it here.)
  2. The deadline for the contest will be the following Friday. 
  3. You do not have to be a teen to enter the contest.
  4. The same person cannot win first place two weeks in a row. 
  5. If there is at least 5 entries, the panel of judges will select a 2nd and 1st place. If there is at least 10 entries, the judges will select a 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place. However, if there is under 5 entries, the panel of judges will only select one winner.
  6. If there are at least 10 entries, there will be a few Honorable Recognitions, which are the next highest winners. They will receive a badge, as well as 3 points.
  7. The winners will receive a badge for their blog, as well as extra points (see the point system below).
  8. The winner will be chosen based on the judges's preferences, as well as the following questions: Does this entry capture my attention immediately? Does it make me want to continue reading? Is the writing clear? They will also take into consideration the writer's voice and style--not necessarily technical issues, such as grammar, punctuation, etc. 
  9. If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to place, send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry, which will include tips and suggestions.
  10. This is only for fun and to stretch your writing muscles--not necessarily to be taken too seriously. =)


Prizes:

More prizes to come!
  • 30 points: You will be able to create your own prompt that will be used in Monday's Minute Challenge!
  • 40 points: You will receive a critique based on your current week's entry.
  • 50 points: You will receive a free blog critique and helpful suggestions.
  • 70 points: You will receive an 700 word critique on your novel, short story, article, etc.
  • 80 points: You can help judge one of the contests!
  • 90 points: You will receive a free month of my Write Now Mentoring Program!
  • 100 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. =)
  • 150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad. 
Earning Points:
  • 5 points: If you post a review of Purple Moon on Amazon and/or Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 5 points: If you join the Purple Moon Publicity Group on Facebook. (You will have the chance to participate in monthly giveaways!)
  • 3 points: If you post your entry on your blog, linking back to this post
  • 2 points: If you post a tweet about Monday's Minute Challenge, with hashtag #MondaysMinute (You may tweet more than once in a week, however the points will only count for one tweet.)
  • 2 points: If you follow this blog via Google Friend Connect. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 2 points: If you "like" my Facebook page. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 2 points: If you follow my Twitter account(Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 2 points: Become a "fan" of me on Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 2 points: Follow me on Pinterest. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
  • 2 points: If you respond to another person's entry. (Positive feedback only! You may respond more than once, however the points will only count for one response per week.)
  • 10 points: If you win 1st place in the writing prompt contest.
  • 7 points: If you win 2nd place in the writing prompt contest.
  • 5 points: If you win 3rd place in the writing prompt contest.
  • 3 points: You receive an Honorable Recognition. 
Points Tracker:
  • TW Wright: 48
  • Mary B: 27
  • Elisabeth: 30
  • Funto: 9
  • Benj. Evans: 10
  • S. Brightly: 43
  • Jacqueline: 38
  • Rebekah B: 16
  • Anna: 5
  • His Princess: 31
  • Tara T: 22
  • Evan: 10
  • Rcubed: 9
  • Sarah: 15
  • Jillian: 10
  • Brooke: 5
  • Kaley: 2
  • Karina: 10
*Points are updated every Monday.
*When you request to use your points for a prize, the points you use will be taken away from your total. In other words, when you reach 30 points, you can claim the prize for 30 points--but it will cost you all of your points. Or you can continue to try and earn points so you can claim a bigger prize.

 


Keep in mind that you cannot win first place two weeks in a row.

If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to win, please send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry and offer suggestions.


The judge panel chooses these winners based on a point system (not to be confused with the point system mentioned above!) 

Since there were two entries that had the same amount of points for 3rd place, we have decided that they both deserved to place. 


Just so you know, this week's competition was very tough! We had such a difficult time judging the entries. So congratulations to all of you! =) (Side note: Keep in mind that the judges are not aware of which entry belongs to which participant until after the judging is complete.)

The entries that the judges thought was the most intriguing (based on rule #4) is ... 


Third place winner (#1): 

The scream rang out, piercing the silence and projecting mental echoes that swelled with awful implication.
My breath caught in my throat.
What was happening?
In a flash, my legs managed to untangle themselves from each other and I mechanically worked through the front door, past the recently painted porch that still reeked of primer. Stumbling past my mother's prizewinning flowers—a cacophony of red and white—my heart trilled a staccato when my eyes met the steady headlights of my aunt's dented green car. The wheels were propped above the ground by an uneven object.
Oh, God. No.
“Help!” My aunt Cierra, brushing her artfully dyed hair out of her eyes, was shrieking and heaving as her atrophic muscles—fed with one too many Chicken McNuggets—strained to lift the vehicle off my sister Eloise's chest.
“Get in the driver's seat!” My voice sounded shrill and hard. “Start the ENGINE, Cierra!”
Sobbing furiously, Cierra tripped to the front seat, her fingers shaking so hard she could barely handle the keys.
Come on!
My sister, bulging and red with the inability, to breathe, let out a soft sound that sounded like the laughter of demons.
My muscles, toned from days at the pool, tightened under rickety bumper.
Now or never.
Congratulations, RCubed! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 

Third place winner (#2): 
The noise woke me up right after I’d drifted off to sleep. A car door slam. For a second, a terrifying thought paralyzed me with fear. Oh, no, Lindsay, no. I rushed out of bed to my bedroom window, overlooking the gravel driveway. The wind seemed to pound in my ears as I ran out of my room. Every breath was precious to me because I felt like I was going to run out of them. When I got outside, the bright headlights shined in my face. I waved my hands aimlessly in the air and screamed her name.

My sister got out of the car. Dad’s red jacket was too big for her shoulders. “Go back to bed, Kayla,” she ordered over the roar of the car engine.

“You can’t go,” I protest. I ran to her, ignoring the jagged rocks against my bare feet. “Don’t leave me here."
Her eyes lowered to meet mine. “They like you more than me,” she said. “It’s best that I leave, best for both of us.”

The wet feeling of a tear made me choke down a sob. “I need you here, Lindsay. If you leave, what will happen to me?”

“You can’t rely on me. I can’t be with you forever.” In the light of the headlights, I saw her shoulders moving up and down in a frantic motion.

“Take me with you.” My voice cracked and I tried to hug her. “I don’t want to be without you.”
Her arms stretched around me for a moment before she pushed me away. “I’m sorry. I have to leave, Kayla. If they’re ever mean to you, call the social worker.” Again, I heard the abrupt sound that had woken me. I backed away as she drove down the dirt road.
Congratulations, Sarah! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 


Second place winner: 
The noise woke me up right after I'd drifted off to sleep. I heard the front door creek. I smirked, and she didn’t think I could stay awake this late.
I tiptoed down the halls and counted to fifty before I opened the door and stepped outside into the crisp night air. Should’ve grabbed my quilt. I shrugged off the matter and peered into the darkness.
I saw a figure moving near the woods. “Ha,” was on the tip of my tongue when I felt cold fingers glide across my cheek and over my mouth. It happened all before I could scream. The hand stayed clamped over my mouth as a blind fold slid over my eyes and closed me off. I mumbled, if you could even call it that. I tried to call out to Trinity. My hands. They hadn’t tied them up—yet.
I tried to claw at the hand that was on my mouth. When I couldn’t budge it, my hands tried to loosen the cloth over my eyes.
But I was too late to do that; the hands grabbed mine and jerked them. Tears rose to my eyes. But I wouldn’t let them down.
I wish I could have bit my lip. Then the idea struck me. Biting. Biting. That could do it. I bit the hand that was on my mouth with as much force as possible.
The hand was gone for one instant, and I jumped at the opportunity, jerking my blind fold off. I ran to where I had seen Trinity.
But she was gone. And whoever was trying to get me was quickly closing in on me again. I looked over my shoulder, three guys. I ran into the woods, forgetting to scream—again.
Congratulations, TW! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge and ebook sent to you. =)

First place winner (#1): 
The noise woke me up right after I’d drifted to sleep. A siren? A fire alarm? The obnoxious loud noise entered my bedroom, forcing me to thrust my pillow over my head. I squeezed my eyes shut. This is not happening. I desperately need sleep. But the noise ceaselessly continued to wail.
I wrestled with my bed comforter and jumped out of bed. “Are you kidding me?” I yelled, wrapping my Snuggie tighter around me. Frizzy tendrils of my hair stuck out all over the place, one managing to get tangled in my mouth.
Groaning, I opened my bedroom door. “Mom? Dad? What’s that noise?” I pinched my forearm to make sure I was awake. Yep. The noise was real.
“Alex, hurry!” Mom sprinted down the hallway, her bunny slippers flying off her feet. “We need to get out of here.”
My eyes widened, and a shiver crept down my spine. “Why? What’s going on?”
“They’ve found us. Quick--we need to go.”
Congratulations, Jillian! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)


Honorable Recognitions

These winners will receive a badge, as well as 3 extra points:
  1. His Princess
  2. Mary B
  3. Karina
Congratulations! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!




  • Submit your response in the comments below. 
  • Your response should range between 150 - 300 words. 
  • The deadline for the contest will be this Friday. 
  • Let me know which prompt you have chosen.
  • (Optional) If you submit your response on your blog and link back to this post, I will add your link to the list of participants at the end of this post.
  • If you'd rather not submit your post in the comments, you may email it to me instead.


CATEGORY ONE:

Please note that I have added two new rules this week:

1) Your response should range between 150 - 300 words, otherwise it will not be accepted. (Copy and paste your entry here to count the words, or you could write it on Microsoft Word.)
2) The deadline for the contest is this Friday.

Choose at least one:
  • Write a passage using these objects: book, package, journal
  • Write a passage based on this picture
  • Write a passage using this line of dialogue: "This is not turning out the way I had planned."


CATEGORY TWO:

Pinterest Writing Challenge:

This category will have its own set of winner(s) -- but only if there are at least 3 participants. Keep in mind that you can participate in both categories. (If there are less than 3 participants, then your entry will compete in category one.)
  • Create a new board on Pinterest. Title it: Monday's Minute Challenge.
  • Pin the above Monday's Minute Challenge picture.
  • Then, pin 3 different things: 1) A picture of a setting (beach, mountains, school, etc.), 2) A quote or song lyrics, 3) A photograph of someone (or multiple people). Choose these at complete random.
  • Now, write a passage based on these 3 pictures.
  • When you submit your entry, be sure to give the link of your Pinterest board.
  • Good luck!
Current Judge Panel: 

  • Laura Anderson Kurk: YA Christian fiction author
  • Sarah Holman: Christian fiction author
  • Penny Tritt: Freelance writer 
  • Tessa Emily Hall (me): YA Christian fiction author


*NOTE
Are you hoping to become an author one day, but have no idea where to begin? If so, check out my new Writing Mentoring Program for Beginners! In this program, you will:
  • Receive critiques on your writing
  • Receive lessons especially designed to fit your writing needs
  • Have the opportunity to receive feedback on your current novel
  • Set reasonable goals for your writing
  • Be personally mentored step-by-step through your writing journey, for however long you wish! 
  • And more!
Beginning your writing journey can become a bit overwhelming and confusing. By enrolling in this Writing Mentoring Program for Beginners, I will break down the process for you and mentor you throughout the process.

If you refer a friend to join, you will both receive 20% off! (Tip: Ask one of your friends participating in Monday's Minute Challenge if they would like to pair with you to claim this deal.)

A one-month subscription is only $20!

post signature

63 comments:

  1. I did the picture prompt!

    I stare up in awe at the staircase looming before me. It stretches up from the swamp into the sky, twisting through the clouds until it disappears from sight. Could this be real? Or is it simply a dream? I had heard the legends before, every girl had, but I never dreamed they were true. I put one foot on the bottom step and put a little weight on it. It held. Taking a deep breath I stepped up onto the first step. I let out the breath. It was said that any girl who found the staircase and climbed it, would meet her true love at the top. Taking another step, I smile widely. I had never put much faith in the true love business, going so far as to say I never wanted a husband. Of course, that was equal to blasphemy according to the village girls. But now that I’ve found the staircase, I would be a liar if I said I didn’t want to reach the top. With a giddy laugh, I continue up the stairs, practically skipping. It is much easier than I expected. I always thought there would be obstacles, tests to prove your worth, but such is not the case. Eventually, my excitement wears off and fatigue sets in, but I won’t stop. I can see the top. I will make it. Every few steps I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. When I finally reach the top, I look up and gasp. This is no dream; it is a nightmare.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! That was incredible.

      Delete
    2. Love it! What happens next?

      Delete
    3. Aw thank you guys! Haha Anna I will leave that to your imagination for now. ;) .

      Delete
    4. That's so great, Jacqueline! I'm am totally intrigued! =) Seriously, it's awesome! =)

      Delete
  2. Here is my entry
    http://mary.burroughstribe.com/2014/03/17/mondays-minute-2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yours is great, Mary! I really like it :)
      ...now I just want to know what happens next :D

      Delete
    2. Great story Mary! I like it a lot. :P

      Delete
  3. Here's mine: http://myheartfeltreflections.blogspot.com/2014/03/mmc-31714.html
    It's a little different than my other ones of late. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is my first time participating. I'm doing the Picture Prompt.

    The staircase looked out of a fairy tale, I slowly stepped onto the first step, then more and more, walking up the beautiful staircase as if in a dream. I could just imagine fairies flitting up the stairway, or naiads swimming in the water below. But wasn't there some fairy tale mentioning a staircase? I thought though a zillion common fairy tales, the one I wanted just out of reach.

    No, it wasn't Cinderella, or Snow White. There was a stair case in Sleeping Beauty wasn't there? Hmm no, doesn't seem quite right.

    “Rina!” My older brother called from below, I turned around to go down. Horror coursed though my body as I remembered the tale I'd heard this from. The stairs below the step I stood on were gone. Below me was a drop, as high as a 4 story building. I backed quickly away from the newly formed edge, only for the step I'd been standing on a moment prior to disappear.

    I looked around, but there was no way of escape, My knees wobbled, and I sat down, only to stand back up in horror. What I'd thought were white branches, were actually human bones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How horrifying! I love it!!! :D

      Delete
    2. I love it! I want to read more! :D

      Delete
    3. Anna, yes, I guess I'm feeling morbid today. :)

      Elisabeth, Thank you!

      Delete
    4. WOW. That is really cool, and really freaky! =) Good job! =D

      Delete
    5. Kaira! Why didn't you tell me you were going to do it? You should get Kendra to do it too. :-)
      Trust me guys you don't want to know what happens next. She and her sister didn't write a very nice end for it. :-\

      Delete
    6. Mary, I didn't write an end for this particular story. It was just a "legend" Kendra and I made up years ago. :-)

      Delete
  5. Thanks! Everyone did great!
    In Christ,
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  6. Here's mine! It's 294 words (according to the link posted on here) and is the one involving the book, package, and journal.

    Kassidy said that it all started when the book arrived. She said that it was one of those weird books, with the type of cover that you just stop and stare at for a moment.
    “It arrived as a book itself,” she'd told me, oh, about fifty years ago. “No package, no anything. Just a book.”
    I look at it now, running my smooth teenage fingers over the spine.
    Kass said that she wasn't able to open it. “Nobody was. Just to the front page. But the thing started then. I knew it. I could feel it.”
    I can almost hear the conviction in her words, even though Kass is long gone. She went to Hawaii, because she said that she couldn't stand living in the same house for a hundred years.
    Now, I stare at the book. It's been sitting on our kitchen table for well over a century. I've never opened it, just recalled what Kass told me about it.
    “But March seventeenth,” she'd said to me right before she left for Hawaii, “March seventeenth, Lindyll, is when you open it. Not a moment less, not a moment more. March seventeenth.” I hadn't had a chance to ask her why.
    I stare at The Book's wooden curlicues, rope binding, faded maroon leather.
    Before I know what is happening, my fingers pry it open, and the cover falls back against the table with a light thunk.
    My breath catches in my throat as I read the faded brown ink on the front page, and familiarity—familiarity that I haven't felt in years—hits me.
    The Journal of Christianna Spryling.
    “It's about time.”
    At the voice, I turn.
    I see her immediately, and the same feeling of deja vu overtakes me.
    No. Not again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GOOD JOB, what happens next??

      Delete
    2. Nice! Now I wanted to know more, that is the problem with reading all of you guys entries you always want to know more.

      Delete
  7. AWESOME GUYS! =D
    Here is my entry:
    http://indonesiaaroundme.blogspot.com/2014/03/mmc_18.html
    i did the pix prompt and it was 277 words. =)

    TW
    ravensandwriting.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love it! The only thing I loathe about reading all these amazing entries is that there ARE NO ENDINGS!!! Lol

      Delete
  8. Chosen theme: Write a passage using this line of dialogue: "This is not turning out the way I had planned."

    “This is not turning out the way I had planned,” I miserably admitted to myself, pushing my face head-first into my surprisingly stiff pillow. Hmm, must be stiff as a form of a reminder or nudge of what I’m going through. I squeezed the sides of my pillow to bury my head deeper in a desperate attempt to drown out the world.

    Still feeling uneasily worried and hopeless; I lifted myself up from my arms off my unsupportive bed. I walked toward my bedroom window with my arms crossed close to my beating chest. Thud, thud, thud. Looking out the window; all I could see was blur. My eyes had swelled up, painting my frail cheeks with a stream of stinging tears.

    Unable to see anything inspiring or interesting out my window; I turned away abruptly. I began to sob uncontrollably as I wandered away in my train of thoughts and recollections of all that had recently tickled viciously at my way.

    Listing them unconsciously in my head, I reasoned, but failed to fully understand.

    Mom got rear-ended, losing her job in the process as a result to stable injuries.

    We’d have to move out of our comfortable, “home-sweet-home-like” apartment only to become homeless.

    We’d have to leave all of our most prized belongings behind just to make an easy transition into our little car.

    I’d have to take a break from school for only God knows how long will be…Whoosh!

    A breeze had suddenly swept through me.

    An incredible wave of peace had dived deep into my soul, almost reviving me.

    “How foolish of me!” I giggled.

    I chose to take it as a sign from above that I wasn’t alone, throwing myself on my bed.

    God was truly with me forever and always in each step.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like the last line.:) It's so true, isn't it?

      Delete
    2. Thank you, TW Wright and S. Brightly. :)

      Delete
  9. Hi Tessa, I'm using the picture prompt :P

    I gawked up at the stairs of legend that towered above me, wondering if the legends were true or not. “Alice, where are you?” I heard my childish younger sister Mae call. I instantaneously hid behind the stairs, hoping that she wouldn’t look for me there. “Alice, mother said you have to play with me.” Mae whined looking this way and that, but never thinking to look under the staircase. I closed my eyes and let out a scarcely perceptible sigh of relief. “Aha, playing games are we, Alice? Well, you’ll have to try to hide better than that.” Mae declared with a smirk, beginning to climb the unending staircase. "You really think you could hide from me that easily? I’m ashamed at you. I thought you’d be better than that.” She said sweetly stepping onto the first stair.
    As she walked up the ominous flight of stairs talking to herself about all the awful games she desired me to play with her, I relaxed up against the stairs and slipped through the water around me. “Alice? Is that you?” Mae asked quickly turning around to see what the noise was. “Mae don’t!” I yelled fearfully jumping out of the water. Mae was moving too fast: she hadn’t heard the legend! The platform she was on unexpectedly turned to ice with dish soap all over it. “Mae!!!” I screamed hysterically: she lost her footing! “Alice!!!” she squealed, falling ever downward.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I’m using the picture prompt.


    She quickly looked at the stairs before silently climbing them, when she got about half way up she looked back and saw a huge brown muscular monster quietly following her who when he realized she was looking instantly ran all the way up the stairs quickly she ran after the beast as fast as she could when she caught a look of him again she immediately stopped and just stared at him, before she had time to do anything the monster instantly jumped at her pushing her of the huge staircase when she landed she found out she was not hurt but she would be sore for a couple days when she looked up she saw the huge monster falling after her but she had no were to go quickly she jumped somewhere she was sure the that monster but when she looked out of her hiding spot she saw the monster staring at her then the monster jumped at her falling right on top of her he started growling at her, when she woke up she was shocked must have been that movie last night phew!.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you just love that the whole story is one sentence long? (P.S. I wouldn't say that unless we were pretty close. ;)

      Delete
  11. http://rebekah.burroughstribe.com/2014/03/18/mondays-minute-5/

    The picture links here.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Here's my entry: http://www.foreverchanged13.blogspot.com/2014/03/monday-minute-challenge.html

    Oh, and I don't have a Facebook account, but my mom let me like your page using hers. Does that still count?

    Thanks!
    In Christ,
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  13. "This is not turning out the way I had planned," I shouted to the warrior beside me.
    "M'Lady," he replied, "you must return to the castle. We are losing the fight, and if the Hanion's kill or capture you, the war will surely be lost."

    I knew it was true. My men looked up to me, their 'Woman Leader', they called me. But if I left them, then the defeat would be inevitable. I had to go and lead my guys. My kingdom. My family.
    "No, Jeriah, I must lead them." I smiled kindly, knowing it would be hard for him to let me, a woman, do this.
    He looked at me with horror. As I had expected. Poor Jeriah, my best friend, I had probably given enough heart-attacks to last a lifetime.

    "A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do." I whispered running down the slope to the rest of the warriors.

    Everyone's are great!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GOOD JOB, BROOKE!! I really like it! =D

      Delete
    2. Great job Brooke! This is really good! I love the line "I had probably given him enough heart-attacks to last a lifetime.

      Delete
  14. This is mine on the picture prompt!

    I looked at the clouds coming down from the sky. They seemed as if they were trying to hide something. I stepped out to walk through the swamp and realized I was walking on the water. I was so busy staring down at the water that I didn't even notice the huge staircase being revealed by the clouds. I stepped onto the staircase, then began running, even skipping, up. When I got to the top, a voice said, "This is the hardest part."
    "What?" I said, looking up. There was a man standing at the top in front of me.
    "This is the hardest part," he repeated. "You don't have enough."
    "I don't have enough what?" I asked.
    He smiled and started to laugh. I began falling down the stairs. I started screaming.
    I pulled myself awake, relieved it was just a nightmare. I had no clue what that meant. But seriously, if I didn't stop having weird dreams, I think I might have a heart attack.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm using the prompt "This is not turning out the way I had planned." :DD

    "This is not turning out the way I had planned," David said, looking at Sara's brother. "Thanks, Colton."
    Sara stood there, hoping this wasn't going to end the way it did last time. "David, go home," she pleaded. "We can talk about this later."
    "Talk about what?" snapped Colton.
    "Nothing that would concern un loco poco pollo like you," smirked David.
    Sara froze, her mouth slight open. So this WAS going to end like it did last time.
    Colton's face was redder than a cherry tomato. "Oh, you're not man enough to come at me in English, so you're hiding behind some foreign language?" He turned to Sara, glaring at her. "Have you been giving him Spanish lessons again?"
    "Hey!" David yelled. "It's a free country, she can give Spanish lessons to whoever she wants! Capiche?'
    "So you're so smart, you know French now too?"
    "No, but Google does."

    ReplyDelete
  16. Using the prompt with book, package, journal. 300 words exactly. :)


    The darkness around me was so thick, I could've almost convinced myself it was a dream, if not for the sharp sting of scratches on my arms.
    I shouldn't have come out tonight. It was crazy. But I knew where it was now, and come hell or high water, nothing was going to keep me from coming after it.
    Finding the spot was so easy I almost couldn't believe it was real. I gripped the spade as tightly as my hands would allow, sliding the smooth edges into the damp ground, tossing the dirt to the side until it had accumulated into a small hill. The deeper I dug, the faster my pulse raced.
    But when I felt a thud against solidness, I knew it had all been worth it. Dropping to my knees, I clawed the dirt away as fast as I could. Once it was free, I snatched it out, holding it to me as something too precious to be let go.
    The package was smaller than I'd thought it would be. Heavier. I slowly unwrapped the cloth that bound it, pulled open the mushy cardboard flaps. It was... a book?
    No; a journal. The soft binding had a musty smell. I opened it cautiously, almost expecting something to fly out at me. For something to be hidden this well, it had to be dangerous. I could almost hear Colin's gravelly voice warning me, "Kadie, girl, don't go looking for an answer you don't want to find."
    The sliver of the moon suddenly lit up the page, as if God himself wanted me to read it right then.
    "March 18th, 1986."
    My breath caught. 1986? But that meant-
    I heard the footsteps behind me too late. The thick-gloved hand cut off my air before I could even think of screaming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh, how thrilling! But yours are always so good anyway S. Brightly. :)


      HP

      Delete
    2. Awww, thanks. :) But hey, where's yours this week? You're always so good at writing happy ones. :) I really liked yours from last week.

      Delete
    3. Lol thank you. I have been sick and totally uninspired this week but I still have time so maybe I will manage to pop something out. :)

      HP

      Delete
    4. You should. ;) I wanna read it, whatever it will be!

      Delete
    5. Thank you that's very uplifting and encouraging! :)

      HP

      Delete
  17. I'm using the sentence prompt. :) 215 words.

    "This is not turning out the way I had planned." I looked in dismay at my rather runny cake batter. Maybe it was supposed to look that way, after all it was a recipe I had never made before. My husband peered over my shoulder at the batter. "Doesn't look bad to me." He reached a finger into the bowl and stole some.
    "Don't eat that ,Abel, you'll get worms. Its got raw egg in it you know." I scolded him. He just sat there grinning. I turned back to the matter at hand. Maybe it needed some more flour. I took a measuring cup and scooped some flour up. I started the mixing machine and carefully added a little at a time. I caught a flash of something in the flour as it cascaded to the bowl before my machine clunked and seized.
    "What happened?" Abel asked.
    "I don't know. I saw something in the flour." I took a spoon out of the drawer and dug in the batter until I felt the offending object.Gingerly I pulled it out. Just as I thought, one of my sons match box cars. He was forever playing in my flour bucket.
    "Ezra!" Able and I called in unison. As if my batter didn't have enough problems already.

    HP

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked it! The joys of mixing baking and little children....:)

      Delete
    2. Yes indeed. :) Thank you S. Brightly!


      HP

      Delete
    3. I totally know how that feels! :P

      Delete
  18. Hi Tessa,

    Just stopping by to let you know that I posted a review of Purple Moon on Amazon, followed you on Pinterest, and became a fan of you on Goodreads! :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by my blog!