Second Campaigner Challenge

Monday, March 5, 2012

Second Campaigner Challenge (of my Fourth Campaign, February 2012)

I’ve been asked for a more difficult Challenge this time, while at the same time I know many of you would prefer not to be *too* challenged. So I’ve given you a range of different activities you could do below, all based on the same prompts, and it’s up to you whether you do one or some or all of them. I’ve determined the judging criteria in advance too, so it will enable the judge to assess all your entries equally no matter what you decide to do. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Prompt 1:

Two people are sitting together under the remains of a concrete bridge. Their backs are against a rusted bridge support. One person’s leg is cut. The other person has wet hair.

Prompt 2:

(Source)

Prompt 3

(Source)

Prompt 4

(Source)

Prompt 5

(Source)

Second Campaigner Challenge

Do one or more of the following:

1. Write a pitch/logline for a book based on the prompts (less than 100 words)
2. Write a short story/flash fiction piece of less than 200 words based on the prompts
3. Write a poem with a twist using the prompts as inspiration (in less than 200 words)
4. Write a story/poem in five sentences, each sentence based on one of the prompts
5. Write a poem/flash fiction piece (in less than 200 words) about the water pear *without* using the words “pear”, “spoon”, or “droplet”.

For added difficulty/challenge:

• Complete at least three of the above activities and tie them all together with a common theme (feel free to either state the theme in your post or leave us to guess what it might be)
• Write in a genre that is not your own
• Ask Challenge entrants to critique your writing. After the Challenge closes, you may wish to re-post your revised piece(s), and I’ll include a Linky List at the bottom of this post for those wishing more feedback on their revisions (note: revised entries will not be judged, so please label clearly your original post and your revisions. Please do not offer critique unless someone asks for it, as per the usual blogging conventions. If you do ask for critique, make sure you ask for it clearly so people know you want it, and please be prepared to receive feedback that may not be 100% glowing. If you are a critiquer, please be tactful and courteous, and remember to provide positives as well as negatives.)

Boom Boom Boom

Boom, boom, boom!   Incessant sounds of explosions echoed into the night.  The twins had been running for hours to escape the constant barrage of bombs exploding around them.   James and Jenna finally hunkered underneath a partially collapsed bridge, seeking refuge, not knowing the outcome of their family and friends that had been scattered when the bombing began.  Their youngest brother running after a ball in his red coat was their last memory. They both felt like waifs foraging through the debris for anything that would burn.

Jenna leaned against a rusted leg support, her red hair soaked from sweat.  She removed her pullover jacket and used it to towel dry the long ringlets that hung past her shoulders, when she glanced at her brother.

“James, your hurt.”

The bridge shook as another explosion hit too close for comfort.  The deafening sound sent shards of concrete crumbling around them.  Jenna threw her jacket over James’ wound to protect it from the dust that settled.  She lit a fruit shaped wad of paper and used a wooden spoon to shove it under the driftwood they had collected.

“I’m okay,” he stammered.  The pain echoed in his voice. James couldn’t fool her.

She saw with her own eyes how nasty the gash was as the blood soaked his jeans and dripped onto the rocks beneath him.

Jenna stood, pulling James to his feet. “We have to find med…”

A strange light shot into the night sky. What was once their refuge had now become their silent grave.