Sallie
Columnist
"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome It."
Posts: 504
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Post by Sallie on Jun 26, 2012 19:28:57 GMT -6
I heard a crash downstairs. I ran down the stairs. Great! One of the kids broke something and I would be responsible. When would mom get home?
I paused at the bottom of the steps. There was a broken cup on the floor. I was about to ask what happened when I saw a strange shadow moving on the wall.
"Who's there?" I called.
A man stepped into view, holding my little sister. My heart froze. Who was he?
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Post by Catherine on Jun 26, 2012 19:36:15 GMT -6
You pick up your pencil and notebook before heading out to your special tree. It was here that everything changed, changed for the better. The air is cool and crisp as you walk through the field. He's waiting there for you. But this time he's under the tree instead of in it. Your mind flashes back to the time y'all first met.
you were just relaxing under the tree with your notebook, pen, and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was in your favorite mug, the one with the little roses all over it. You had picked it up to take a sip when the handle broke off. The mug was old, and probably cracked. Hot chocolate went all over your clothes, notebook, jacket, everything. Then a shadow appeared over you. You felt scared, until the shadowy figure jumped down from the tree. It was a boy, about your age. He took off his jacket and held it out to you. You didn't know where he came from, who he was, or anything. But his simple act of kindness took your heart.
Reality comes back. He's standing there, holding out his hand. Turns out this was his special tree as well. Then he kneels on the ground and asks you a question.
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Post by Catherine on Jul 4, 2012 7:10:17 GMT -6
Next exercise; A battlefield. Write a paragraph or two depicting a scene on a battlefield. Any POV and tense. Be descriptive, bring us into the battle, what do you see? what kind of smells are there? is the atmosphere heavy? etc.
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Sallie
Columnist
"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome It."
Posts: 504
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Post by Sallie on Jul 4, 2012 12:39:27 GMT -6
I sighed and wiped the sweat from my brow. I longed for a rest, but the battle was still raging around me. Already so many innocent lives had been claimed by the ghastly war, and just as many struck down in spirit. How many more would have to suffer?
I stood in the field of battle, weapons in hand. The sun was blazing and hot, I could smell the sweat of the warriors around me. My opponents hurried past, their heads bent, their minds focused on their end. I was losing my battle. People were dying. I couldn't hear their screams, but I felt their anguish. I felt defeated. But no; I couldn't give up. The war wasn't over. It wouldn't be over until the enemy was cast down. I couldn't do it alone, but I could help.
I looked over at my fellow soldiers. They also stood sweating in the sun, their weapons in hand. I was determined to keep fighting. I raised my weapon, and, dropping to my knees, proclaimed my battle cry: "For Life!" The rest of my soldiers also dropped to their knees on the hot cement, their weapons held high. This was one battle we would win.
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Post by Catherine on Jul 4, 2012 20:22:02 GMT -6
Sallie, that is amazing! The first thing that popped into my mind was that the people are praying outside an abortion clinic, fighting the battle for life! Outstanding, I could easily picture myself there with them.
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Post by Catherine on Jul 13, 2012 10:51:11 GMT -6
Next exercise! Lets see...write a passage that could make someone cry or laugh
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Post by Anna on Jul 15, 2012 5:32:22 GMT -6
I held her hand. She was struggling; I could see her chest heaving, but it was a weak heaving. She was failing fast. She held onto my fingers in a frail grasp. I looked into her eyes. I tried to speak; but words were meaningless. "It's going to be all right," I faltered. "No, it's not," she whispered. She blinked the last tears of her life away, and I wept.
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Post by Catherine on Aug 19, 2012 21:16:58 GMT -6
I can't believe i forgot about this thread.. oops. Anyway, here's an exercise in plotting! Give a list of events building up to a marriage proposal. Sounds easy right? Here's the twist, you have to include these 5 things/places: A bridge, a clown, a broken foot, coffee, and Garfield. and....GO!
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Post by Felicity Michaela Flourish on Aug 20, 2012 6:16:05 GMT -6
(I've never done this...lemme try.)
It had been a long day with just the two of them, but Greg still didn't find the right time to ask. They had gone to the circus, and he was about to ask when a clown had come close to them, but he checked in the wrong pocket and the box wasn't there. Then he had wanted to do it when they took a walk and crossed a pretty bridge covered in vines. But his courage failed him. Here they were, finally at a coffee shop. A man next to them was reading Garfield cartoons to his little son and that's when Greg decided it was the perfect time. This was Emma's favorite place. She loved the smell of coffee and whipped cream. It was cozy. Greg reached into his pocket, making sure it was the right one this time, and pulled out the pearl colored box. He fumbled with it a bit, casting nervous glances at Emma. She was sipping her coffee slowly while reading a fashion magazine. Greg popped it open at last but as he was trying to get down on one knee, he knocked his coffee cup over and it shattered on the floor. Emma looked up, "Let me help you." she quickly got up and Greg stuffed the box back into his pocket. "You're acting strange today..." Emma mused. "You feeling alright?" Emma called the waitress who picked up the mess. Emma took Greg's hand and led him outside. They rested under a large tree. The sun was setting. "What's wrong?" She asked, concerned. Greg couldn't get out any words. Then Emma did the unexpected. The sun had sunk behind the hills, so that the tree lit up with beautiful colors as it was Christmastime. It was a town tradidition to light up that particular tree. She popped out a box from her purse, held it out and asked, "Will you marry me?" Greg was speechless. "A-aren't the boys supposed to do it?" "I waited four years and today and you never asked, so I had to do it myself." she laughed. Greg pulled out his own little box, revealing the diamond ring, "I will if you marry me." Emma cried tears of joy, "OH YES!!" Then Emma did a little happy dance, but this time, instead of watching, Greg did it with her.
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Post by Catherine on Aug 20, 2012 7:03:29 GMT -6
Awww, that was so sweet! Great job, Felicity!!
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Post by Felicity Michaela Flourish on Aug 20, 2012 16:40:50 GMT -6
Hehe, thank you!!i liked writing it...short stories are the only time I can talk about two people...and poems
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Sallie
Columnist
"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome It."
Posts: 504
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Post by Sallie on Aug 20, 2012 18:32:32 GMT -6
I sped up as I drove over the last few yards of the bridge. As I did I could hear the coffee sloshing in my Garfield thermos. Lucy had given it me for as a joke, since she knew how much I hated comics. I had used it anyone; it had come from her. Anything that reminded me of her was immediately something nice. Unless of course it was something she didn't like, like clowns. She had always been scared of them. I smiled as I turned down another busy street. I was almost there now. I could almost feel the little box in my pocket getting heavier.
Soon I pulled into the parking lot and got out of my car. Just as I did a motorcycle came screeching out of nowhere and rammed into the side of my parked car. My open door slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. My foot was bent under me in a weird position, and it felt like it was broken. Lots of people were crowding around, but I managed to crawl through them without anyone noticing me. I got painfully to my feet, and started limping towards the restaurant. Nothing would stop me! I limped through the door and over to the table. Lucy gasped when she saw me limping, but I just smiled, pulled out the little box, and got down on my knee before her...
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Post by Catherine on Aug 20, 2012 20:44:56 GMT -6
Sallie, that's so sweet!!! I love it!
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Post by Catherine on Sept 22, 2012 8:56:10 GMT -6
Sometimes you find yourself using the same word over and over. Maybe it's smile, maybe it's joy, maybe it's table, so here's a little exercise in using synonyms. I'm going to give a little paragraph and I want you to re-write it, using different words for the words I put in bold.
The dark sky loomed threateningly overhead. Today was the day that everything would change. Kaitlyn, a fifteen year old girl, would find her destiny and have to make a choice that would affect her life for eternity. You see, Kaitlyn is the lost heir of Atlantia. A magical land where the sea meets the sun.
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Post by beckie on Sept 22, 2012 9:27:12 GMT -6
Okay a question: You want us to take that paragraph and then just rewrite the words that are in bold?
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