Showing posts with label creative writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creative writing. Show all posts

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

George at ASDA Halloween ‘Spooky Scribes’ Challenge

Helloooooooooooooooooooo!
Hmm.

Do you like Hallowe'en? I must admit, it's not really me. I think it's my age - I used to think of it as spooky, whereas my two just think "sweets!". Hey ho.

Anyway, I shall stop being a miserable so-and-so for a minute. George at Asda invited us to join their Spooky Scribes challenge. The idea is that one of the children writes a very short story about Hallowe'en based on a costume that we've chosen from their Hallowe'en range. Now, writing is something that Monkey needs to work on a bit so I asked him if he was up for it and to my surprise, he was. However it has not been easy but after a few false starts, he's finally come up with something that I can share with you today. As part of this process, I have discovered that a) he thinks he has no imagination (which I find quite sad because he has a good imagination) and b) he writes better on a computer than he does writing it with a pen and paper. In order to finish this off, he did dictate the second half of this story to me but his spelling was noticeably better than when he writes with a pen.

Anyway, here is Monkey's story, which I will call

Hallooooooooooooooooooowe'en birthday


On the day of Halloween, I was extremely happy because I was going trick or treating, but it was also my birthday. I was going to wear my werewolf costume; it has a hairy, itchy chest, sleeves that tickle my elbows and a squished nose. I don’t look very scary with a squished nose.

I am so excited because after trick or treating, I’m going to Grandma’s for a sleepover and she’s got my present. I don’t know what it is, but it had better be good!

I go downstairs and everyone sings Happy Birthday. I open my presents; Lego, cars, and a games console.

The day passes slowly and I have lots of fun. Then it starts raining hard and Mum says I can’t go trick or treating or I’ll catch a cold. I start to cry. “Don’t worry,” Mum says, hugging me. “It’s time to go to Grandma’s.”

Knock, knock, knock on Grandma’s door. “Hello”, says Grandma when she opens it. “Are you here for your sleepover?  I’ve got your present, let’s go inside.”

My present is a bike. I’m so happy, I howl like a werewolf. “Not bad for a werewolf with a squished nose”, says Grandma.

THE END


(He insisted I add the words "THE END" bit to the bottom, in case you didn't know that it had finished!)

There is a competition to win a £50 voucher for the post with most comments but I'm not really bothered about that - I'd like people to leave comments to encourage Monkey, to give him confidence that he CAN write and he does have good ideas. I will read all comments to Monkey (and possibly allow him to reply to them too!).

(Asda sent us a free fancy dress costume along with some facepaints in return for a story being written about their costume. They also asked for a link to the fancy dress Hallowe'en costumes be included in the post. All participants in the challenge will receive a £20 Asda voucher and a commemorative book, but the post with the most comments will receive a £50 voucher.)

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Phone pas

The woman glares at me, like a foul smell has got under her nose, her look of disgust matching my bewilderment. 

I grab the ringing phone. "But I turned it off...." my voice trails away as I realise that I’ve neglected again to switch it off properly.  

“Dammit,” I whisper, embarrassed,  then look up. “Sorry, my mistake.”

Silent, she raises her hand as the light begins to glow red. Her scorn has barely faded, but her voice affects a veneer of friendly approachability as she starts to address her audience.

“Good morning,  and welcome to the show. My guest today…”



See more entries into the 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups over at Julia's Place.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Volte face

“You've changed your tune.” 

“Say what?”

“Last week, you were so positive. You were all over it, planning how we’d get there, what to wear, where to eat, that sort of thing. Now you’re not. What’s up? It’s all arranged.”

"Too much hassle. Having to choose an outfit, getting dolled up but looking a fright, begging someone to have the kids, having to go on public transport. And the cost!”

“I could drive us there and back?”

“And not drink?”

“Hmm, you have a point. So is that then?”

“Yes, go without me.”

“We can’t! It’s your hen night.”


Find more entries for this week's 100WCGU over at Julia's Place. 



Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Redemption?


It wasn’t my fault.

It was nobody’s fault. Put it down to the time of year, the post-Christmas blues kicking in when resolutions fail, realising that there is no New Year, New You and the disappointment in oneself that it creates. The disappointment that turns into self-loathing then into rage and loathing of others, when hearts turn from red to black. How ironic that Valentine’s Day is around the corner.

Oh no, it wasn’t my fault, wasn’t anybody’s fault. That’s how I choose to think of it. I have to.

Because that’s how I can head towards redemption.


This is a post for Week 30 of the 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups. Find more entries at Julia's Place where you will also find the link to the children's challenge, which this week is the same prompt for both. 

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Wednesday

Wednesday. This time, she would go.

She had promised herself many times that this would be THE time. The time she’d break free.

Each time, it hadn’t happened. Mollified by promises to reform, impassioned pleas to stay because he would change. He didn’t. It would happen again. She’d feel terrified and worthless. Lack of self-belief tied her to him like invisible thread. At first, it was beautiful, magical; now, it imprisoned her to a hollow life of desperation and failure.

Not this time. She had to go. She loved him but it was destroying her.

Wednesday. She’d leave then. Definitely.

Maybe.


Please do visit Julia's Place for more entries in this week's challenge, and whilst you're at it, why not visit the children doing similar challenges at 100wc.net

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

A conversation

"You know, you bought her what she needed."

He frowned. "Bought?"

"I meant brought. I always get those wrong."

"Oh. What was it?"

"When Dad died, she was lost. She needed company, someone to care for, someone to boss around..."

"She was good at that!"

A tear sprang from her eye. "She needed someone to share her life and her home. You gave her that."

"Listen, I...." he began.

"Don't," she interrupted. "I'm here to say thanks. Mum died happy. She knew she was loved. Even if we fell out now and then, I'm proud to call you my stepdad."

This is entry in this week's 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups over at Julia's Place
The prompt this week was "... you bought her what.."

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