The November 28, 2019, Carrot Ranch Prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about winners. Who are they, what’s the mood, and what did they win? Express emotion or subdue it. Go where the prompt leads!
Tina balled up the award notice and threw it on the floor. She stomped out of the room.
A chorus of voices questioned, “Miss Henshaw, didn’t she win?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Remember, this challenge wasn’t about winning. It was about determination and whether you gave up or kept trying.”
“Yet, she still won,” whispered Mary.
“Ah, but you gave up, Mary,” Miss Henshaw quipped. “Look outside.”
A crowd gathered at the window. Outside, Tina attempted to mount her broom. Her magic fizzled, and she landed face first in the mud. Yet she kept trying. At long last, she flew.
Colleen M. Chesebro is a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of syllabic poetry. A published author, Colleen is also an editor of “Word Weaving, a Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse, also found on wordcraftpoetry.com. Colleen’s mission is to bring the craft of writing syllabic poetry to anyone who thinks they can’t be a poet.
Recently, she created the Double Ennead, a 99-syllable poetry form for the Carrot Ranch literary community at carrotranch.com. Colleen’s poetry has appeared in various anthologies and journals including “Hedgerow-a journal of small poems,” and “Poetry Treasures1 & 2” a collection of poetry from the poet/author guests of Robbie Cheadle on the “Treasuring Poetry” blog series on “Writing to be Read."
Colleen published “Word Craft: Prose & Poetry, The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry,” which illustrates how to write various syllabic poetry forms used in her Tanka Tuesday challenges; and a collection of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories called, “Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration,” dedicated to the Summer Solstice. She contributed a short story called “The Changeling,” in the “Ghostly Rites Anthology 2020,” published by Plaisted Publishing House.
Find Colleen at Word Craft: Prose & Poetry at wordcraftpoetry.com.
Thank you for following my blog. Even there is nothing interesting. I am keeping it for searching interesting pages like yours. I am not so huge fan of FB, actually I haven’t been there for long time. I would love to gather info and interesting pages out of FB.
I had a lovely Thanksgiving and I’m still stuffed. Ha ha. Now starts the frenetic holiday season! Then the peaceful writing time of January. I can’t wait!
Hello Colleen, I am sorry but I had to unsubscribe from you. I do not handle these pages so well, and after every time someone comments your post I get a notification. Could you please advise me how to be subscribed to you, and not get notification of every comment you have? I had almost 100 e-mails today. Almost all notifications of people, who commented to you 🙂
Hello Colleen, I had to unsubscribe from your pages 🙁 I get notifications every time someone comments your posts. I would like the articles (blogs) you write, but not all the comments. How am I supposed to follow you, without having every notifications of someone commenting your post? Sorry, I am still learning to use these pages.
I’m not sure, Anaelle. You should follow me from the Reader or my email. If you follow the post you will get the comments too. The subscription is a widget on the right hand side of my blog. <3
Aww, what a cute story! Reminds me a bit of this TV cartoon I liked called “Little Witch Academia,” wherein a young witch is terrible at magic but won’t give up because it’s her dream.
Great lesson in determination, Colleen. I also like how well you build up the tension in the classroom. It opens the scene to be imagined and realistic. Well done!
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Colleen M. Chesebro—Prose Metrist
Crafting Syllabic Poetry is my Ikigari 💜
One day, I stumbled across the Japanese word Ikigari. After some research, I discovered iki means life. In Japanese, Gai means worth or value. When these words combine, they form the definition of ikigari, which is life’s worth. It’s often translated or interpreted as a reason for getting up in the morning. So, yes, writing syllabic poetry is my ikigari.
I also believe writing syllabic poetry strengthens our writing skills. When we create poetry, we gain command of language; cultivate a healthy vocabulary, master literary devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, and allegory. We learn to work in imagery. We connect with our ikigari.
When I’m not writing poetry or crafting short stories, you’ll find me digging in my garden, or playing with my two unicorn cats, Chloe & Sophie. I live in East Lansing, Michigan with my husband—my soul mate. Most days you can find me writing poetry on wordcraftpoetry.com. 💜
New Book Promotion for Marjorie Mallon - The Hedge Witch and the Musical Poet - Poems and Flash Fiction https://dgkayewriter.com/2022/08/19/new-book-promotion-for-marjorie-mallon-the-hedge-witch-and-the-musical-poet-poems-and-flash-fiction/ via @pokercubster
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Love this! You are continuing your winning ways! Congrats on the Rodeo win. I am so happy for you. I always knew you were awesome.
Awww, Sis. That is so sweet of you to say. I’m getting my mojo back. Lots of books to write this year. Thanks for your support. <3
Congratulations on the Rodeo win Colleen and this is lovely too..hugsx♥
Such fun! I love flash fiction. It’s abbreviated like our syllabic poetry. Little stories with big punches. ❤️
I agree Colleen.. focuses the mind… congratulations again..hugsx♥
Thanks, Sally ❤️
Thank you for following my blog. Even there is nothing interesting. I am keeping it for searching interesting pages like yours. I am not so huge fan of FB, actually I haven’t been there for long time. I would love to gather info and interesting pages out of FB.
Thank you.
A lovely piece, Colleen.
LOL! Thanks, Robbie. I’m loving this fantasy stuff. ❤️
Brilliant a well deserved win Colleen 💜💜💜
Aww, thanks, Sis. ♥️
A pleasure Sis 💜💜💜
Ah, the growth mindset, the perseverance necessary for all accomplishment- including flying about on a broom.
LOL! All skills take practice, D. 😂🧹🍁
Some of you broom riders make it look so easy though.
LOL! It’s because they drive a stick! Sorry, lost my head! I’ve missed you! 😆
Loved the determination and the ‘at first if you don’t succeed initiative. And huge congrats Sis again on placing in the Rodeo contest! <3 xx
Thanks so much. It was tough this year!
For many! 🙂 xx
The imagery is masterful!
Thank you! What a compliment! Thanks, Sis! ❤️
Lovely story, Colleen. Even witches have to stick with it and practice. 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Happy December!
Thanks, Diana! We did. How about your holiday? I can’t believe it’s December! Where did the time go? 😂🧹❤️
I had a lovely Thanksgiving and I’m still stuffed. Ha ha. Now starts the frenetic holiday season! Then the peaceful writing time of January. I can’t wait!
Don’t you know it? We stay relatively quiet so I get a ton of writing done. Pace yourself. <3
Hello Colleen, I am sorry but I had to unsubscribe from you. I do not handle these pages so well, and after every time someone comments your post I get a notification. Could you please advise me how to be subscribed to you, and not get notification of every comment you have? I had almost 100 e-mails today. Almost all notifications of people, who commented to you 🙂
I replied to you, Anaelle. <3
Hello Colleen, I had to unsubscribe from your pages 🙁 I get notifications every time someone comments your posts. I would like the articles (blogs) you write, but not all the comments. How am I supposed to follow you, without having every notifications of someone commenting your post? Sorry, I am still learning to use these pages.
I’m not sure, Anaelle. You should follow me from the Reader or my email. If you follow the post you will get the comments too. The subscription is a widget on the right hand side of my blog. <3
The other thing you can do is subscribe to my weekly newsletter which is a recap of all of my posts. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/duAVjH <3
Aww, what a cute story! Reminds me a bit of this TV cartoon I liked called “Little Witch Academia,” wherein a young witch is terrible at magic but won’t give up because it’s her dream.
I have so much fun with witch lit. You can be dramatic or sweet with the storytelling. It’s great fun.
Great lesson in determination, Colleen. I also like how well you build up the tension in the classroom. It opens the scene to be imagined and realistic. Well done!
Thanks, Chari! This challenge inspires me! ❤️