Coming back from the heat of Florida this week, I noticed a distinctly autumnal feel to the air. So this week’s challenge builds on from one of the challenges I last set you. I challenge you to write a 20-word story, using at least five of the following autumnal words:
- Blustery
- Russet
- Cracking
- Foggy
- Harvest
- Enchanting
- Earthy
- Pumpkin
- Cobweb
- Frost
Thank you to everyone who sent in something for the challenge I set before I went away. I set three as follows:
Challenge one: Write a limerick.
Traditional limericks have five lines, where the first, second and fifth lines rhyme, with seven to ten syllables in each line. The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and these lines have five to seven syllables in each line.
Challenge two: Write a ten-word story using the following words:
- Fuddy-duddy
- Yipee
- Cummerbund
- Oblong
- Fairy
Challenge three: Write a story or poem about autumn.
Here are the results. Well done for those who write somethimng for all three!
Keith Channing was first up with a hugely witty limerick:
When Esther goes to FLA
To a wedding, or so she did say
She left challenges three
But between you and me
When the cat’s away, the mice will play
http://teachezwell.me/ took up the challenge for the first time :-). She firstly wrote something for challenge two:
Yipee! The fuddy-duddy, cummerbund-wearing tooth fairy found an oblong molar.
She then sent in a limerick, which she didn’t think was great. Well, I do 🙂
I’ve never written a rhyme
With exact meter and time.
The syllables get runny,
And aren’t even funny,
But I’ve learned to stop on time.
Keith was then quick to send in his story about Autumn. One of his best, I think:
Steve Walsky sent in a super limerick:
Popcorn at the Beach
Beach popcorn can be such fun
A bucket for the shade or sun
Add some salt and butter
Peanuts to feel nuttier
When the pail is empty, home we run
(Popcorn at the Beach limerick © Steven S. Walsky, August 2015.)
Jane Basil sent one for all three! Well actually, she wrote two limericks:
I’m writing this tuneless song
in an effort to right a wrong
it’s a meaningless rite
I’m too weak to fight
but I’m aimlessly rambling on
This is simply brilliant:
There lives a young lady nearby
with a winkily wonkily eye
her mouth is a flubber
of rubbery dubber
and her hair points up at the sky
Then a funny for challenge two:
Fuddy-duddy cummerbund,
Oblong box.
Fairy!
“Abracadabra”…
…Satin-sheeted bed.
Yipee!
Before sending in a wonderfully descriptive poem for autumn:
Jason Moody sent in a lovely rhyming poem:
Sunbathing is history, the sun’s glare not as strong
And it’s early to bed, for the days aren’t as long
It won’t be long now, our thoughts turn to Yule
But before all that circus, get the kids back to school
Pack away the-shirts, and banish the shades
Remember the warmth? It’s gone, it’s afraid!
The trees lose their leaves, they’ll carpet the floor
They’ll squelch underfoot, and dirty dogs paws
The ocean of green will fade in time
Replaced by an explosion, fiery and sublime
Red and gold the trees are aflame
The cold is coming, things won’t be the same
The third of the seasons, this year is quite old
Cheerio summer, hello Autumn and cold
Mrs Bharul R Chhatbar felt inspired to firstly send a poem about autumn:
AUTUMN OF LIFE
THE STRIKING BREEZE
UNFURLING THE LEAVES SO DRY
THE TWISTY TURNY TREE
LIGHTER, BRIGHTER, DANCING WITH A HIGH.
NOW THE OLD SHALL GO WITH NEW REPLACE.
YEAR BY YEAR, THAT’S NATURE
YEAR WHY? ON THE PAST LAMENT
WHEN BETTER, TOPICAL FUTURE.
HOLDING HANDS,THE WRINKLED FACE
A COUPLE SITTING BENEATH.
“THOU STAY HERE AND I SHALL GO
IN THE AUTUMN INSTEAD!”
Here’s her first go at a limerick, so a huge well done:
Agony of a female foetus
In the pool of warmth growing with threat
Safe inside yet hearing whack
Who am I? The symbol of their love
Then why not rise above?
God, answer this female foetus thwack.
Finally, her ten-word story 🙂
Aspiration
He fancied fairy, but little did he know he was living with one.
***
Esther Chilton 
Hi Esther, Hope you are well, below is my first attempt at the Weekly Writing Challenge. I tried my hardest to keep it to 20 words but its 21… Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your weekly blog and the challenges, I have always wanted to write and after 20 years I am unearthing my short stories and poems and trying to start writing again. Autumn Wonder
Ollie stepped into the blustery, foggy morning. The russet leaves cracking underfoot as enchanting as the delicate frost on a cobweb. Best wishes, Traci Aina
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 21:16:07 +0000 To: traciaina@hotmail.com
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Hi Traci, I’m so pleased you’ve had a go at this – and what a great first entry. It’s beautiful. I’m so pleased you’re writing again 🙂
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I like this. I feel another poem coming on.
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The russet sun hung in the foggy, harvest sky. Enchanting the early risen harvest folk. Autumn was here, at last.
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Thanks for getting this in, Jason. Very good 🙂
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The frost was cracking underfoot. The cobweb shimmered, enchanting me. The foggy curtain hid something my eyes would not believe.
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Very clever! 🙂
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Weird Dimpy who found enchanting to harvest geeky thoughts of foggy air with frost everywhere, feared the wriggling on cobweb.
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Thank you for your story. It’s great 🙂
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I’m doing the Writing 101 course at the moment, so my time is a bit limited, but here are two:
Enchanting foggy days followed the pumpkin harvest. Frost cracking underfoot, blustery wind chilling, I inhaled the earthy scent of freedom.
Frost diamonds sparkle on an enchanting cobweb. The fat spider eyes his prey. A sudden blustery wind sends him cracking
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What vivid imagery. Lovely! Thanks for finding time, Jane. I really appreciate it. I hope you’re the course.
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I’m loving the course! Rebelling as usual. I seem to be about the only one who is writing poetry. These days I think in poetry, so it seems natural.
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