September Themes

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace - Name of Piece")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

The Writer's Terrace and The Poet's Corner

The story takes place five years into the future. During the story, there is a sudden windfall of money and a character becomes antisocial at some point.

Back to School!

Summer has drawn to a close in the northern hemisphere and many are preparing to go back to school. For some this involves elementary through to college. For others - the whole concept is just a memory.

Write a story or poem about SCHOOL MEMORIES - past or present.

Below are two Alan Ayers paintings. Write a poem or story inspired by either of them, or both!

The Literary Lounge

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "Love is..."

The Phrase Phase

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

The Phrase Phase

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ~Edwin Way Teale

The Phrase Phase

"To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid"

The Phrase Phase

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance. - Yoko Ono

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "It seemed like a good idea last night, but in the light of day...."

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Fall

Literally Lyrical

How did we get so mean?
How do we just move on?
How do you feel in the morning when it comes
And everythings undone?
Is it 'cause we wanna be free?
Well that's not me.
Normally I'm so strong
I just can't wake up on the floor
Like a thousand times before
knowing that forever wont be

("Mean" by Pink)

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

View #1

What things in life sustain you emotionally?

View #2

Do you feel you’re too old to pursue your dreams?

The Word Alcove

skulk \SKUHLK\, intransitive verb:
1. To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lurk.
2. To move about in a stealthy way.
3. To avoid responsibilities and duties.
4. One who skulks.
5. A group of foxes.

bestow \bih-STOH\, transitive verb:
1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer.
2. To apply; use.

gauche \GOHSH\, adjective:
Lacking social polish; tactless; awkward; clumsy.

ineffable \in-EF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Incapable of being expressed in words; unspeakable; unutterable; indescribable.
2. Not to be uttered; taboo.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

Twilight by Stina

Twilight

by Stephanie Meyer

ISBN-10: 0316015849

Twilight - the year's most recent craze that started a phenomenon sweeping the world over finally caught up with me a couple of months ago. While I'm not normally into fantasy, I am always a sucker for romance. Still, they generally lose me when things start morphing into the other side of reality and I move onto the more juicy realism of James Patterson or Kathy Reichs. But there is something about the Twilight saga that just draws you in...and it is so easy to be swept away and to lose yourself in the fantasy, the romance and the sheer magic that makes this book, and those that follow, unputdownable.

The story begins with Bella, from whose perspective the tale is written, moving to the small town of Forks in Washington State - where it is perpetually cold and rainy almost year round - to live with her father who is the local Police Chief. As a teenager she enrols in the local Forks High School where she instantly attracts male attention, most of which she's oblivious to much of the time. Forming friendships on her first day helps her to ease into the comfortable familiarity in which she loses herself.

Then she meets Edward Cullen. Something about him draws her to him and despite their first encounter in Biology class, she finds she cannot keep away from him. His indifference and rudeness does nothing to deter her, in fact she seeks him out with the intention of giving him a piece of her mind, and yet each day at every opportunity she finds herself searching the crowds for his face with the hope she'll see him once again. When she does the first thing she notices is his eyes - they are no longer the deep black they were that first day, but a pure liquid gold. So beautiful she finds herself melting in them almost losing her resolve to confront him. But then she discovers his eyes aren't the only thing different about him. When she takes her seat beside him in Biology he smiles and her heart flutters, then she almost faints when he speaks to her - when on their first encounter he almost growled at her.

She'd seen the Cullens at lunch on her first day and had noticed their exquisite beauty then, but wondered why they always sat at the far end of the cafeteria, their meals always untouched. Asking her friends about them they sniffed "Oh that's the Cullens. They don't talk to anyone". But Bella found them captivating, particularly Edward. Maybe that was why she was so taken aback by his rudeness that first day and then his turnaround a week later when he finally returned to school. She had never seen anyone so beautiful and within those first few moments of laying eyes on him she was completely captivated. Even though she thought him rude and distasteful that first day, she found she couldn't stop thinking about him. He even haunted her dreams...and continued to do so despite his hot and cold attitude toward her.

Edward was never far away - whether it be in dreams or reality. Bella is notorious for her clumsiness and aversion to trouble. So when one her classmates hits black ice in the school's parking lot and comes barrelling toward her, she doesn't have time to see her life flash before her - Edward, who had been on the other side of the lot beside his car, suddenly was at her side and the truck stops in its tracks just inches from her. Speechless she can only look at him before being carted off to hospital for a check-up. It was then she knew that Edward was different, though in what way she didn't know. She just knew there was something about him...and she was determined to find out. All Edward would tell her was that their being friends was not a good idea, which she found utterly confusing. One minute he said they couldn't be friends and the next he couldn't keep away from her. And his eyes always had that deep searching look as if he were trying to peer into her soul and tell her something that words could not convey. And despite the confusion she felt whenever she was around him, she also found him captivating as well as confusing - and even when he wasn't there he dominated her thoughts and she found she couldn't stop thinking about him.

There were other boys in Bella's life, most of whom vied for her attention and/or affections. A day at the beach brought Jacob to her and they became best friends. It was this visit with Jacob that brought up legends and myths which began to piece together for her the puzzle that was Edward. Upon returning home, she googled what Jacob had told her for further information, puzzling over what she discovered. It wasn't until she found herself in a potentially dangerous situation one night, when Edward appeared out of nowhere in his high-speed Volvo to come to her rescue, that the pieces suddenly fell into place. She wasn't afraid, though he didn't understand why because he thought himself extremely dangerous company for her to keep. Yet if he was so dangerous why is it he was always there? Because he found he couldn't keep away from her, he told her. And because of her perpetual clumsiness she always needed rescuing from whatever situation she found herself in - something which he joked was becoming a full-time occupation for him.

It was this encounter that was the turning point in their relationship. Bella gained a new understanding of the boy who captivated her every waking moment and haunted her every dream, and Edward gave into emotion to "break all the rules". He no longer cared because he could not live without Bella nor she without him.

Edward brought her into his world and she found herself learning about each of the Cullens and what brought them here - and how. Alice and Esme welcomed her with open arms as did Carlisle and Emmett. Jasper, though a little hesitant, followed suit. Only Rosalie sniffed and refused to accept her, claiming "she" was a danger to them now being privy to their secret. But this did not deter Edward nor Bella. Nothing could keep them apart for they were two halves of the same soul. In Edward Bella found herself, and in Bella Edward finally found his reason for being.

But their relationship is not welcomed by all with Jacob's father continually frowned on their "fraternisation", his words conveying veiled warnings whenever they spoke. He even dupes Jacob into paying Bella a visit at her Prom with a final warning, which isn't delivered with the fervour in which it is meant, and Jake laughs it off. They share a dance together before Edward cuts back in and they lose themselves together in each other's arms once again. Edward dazzles Bella in every way that she dreams about being with him forever. He says "I will stay with you - isn't that enough?" She says "I love you more than anything else in the world combined - isn't that enough?" to which he responds, "Yes it is enough - enough for forever."

However Edward blames himself when Bella is inadvertently placed in danger when three Nomads cross their paths one night. One of them takes in her scent and sets his sights on her and Edward immediately reads the danger and breaks up the gathering. A plan is set in motion to move Bella out of harm's way, with Jasper and Alice accompanying her to safety while Edward seeks out the danger in the hope he will stop it. But their plans are thwarted and Bella is lured into danger, where she faces death and the realisation she may never see Edward again. Can Edward save her in time?

© Christina aka Stina

28th August, 2009

Deadly Caution in the Rain by Lindamay

Deadly Caution in the Rain

The rain poured down from all around

Like the sky had been split in two,

He'd said "be careful" and "do not stop"

My dad was wise, I always knew.

My teeneage years were here with me

I was smart and I was half grown up,

I'd listen then be on my way

My friends would laugh and say 'whas up.'

Tonight my mother had worried so

She didn't want me to go and play,

But buddies were waiting down on the field

This rain would not get in our way.

I drove with caution when I was all alone

My friends would have chidded me so,

But I had precious years ahead of me

And driving like this they'd never know.

The car lights came up fast and bright

I swerved to avoid a wreck,

I braced myself for the screeching halt

There was no time to protect my neck.

I remember the sound when he hit my car

Like transformers changing shapes again,

The crash, the clatter, the crumpled sounds

But mostly I remember just hearing the rain.

He stumbled over and looked in on me

There was something that was in my way,

I remember his eyes and his smelly breath

I did not move when he drove away.

I'd driven with caution as my dad had asked

I'd done all that I should have done,

But in the end, just as it usually is

The drunk who drove is the one who won.

Linda May Spivey~Bjorklund

17 August 2009

The Joy Luck Club by Debra

The Joy Luck Club

Amy Tan

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 21, 2006)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0143038095

I fell in love with The Joy Luck Club on the very first page; it resonated with me on many levels. For one, it cried out deep truths that touched my woman's soul.

In The Joy Luck Club four mothers and daughters are profiled. Each mother’s life story is told, as a lesson, in reference to her daughter’s current life.

"Yesterday my daughter said to me, ‘My marriage is falling apart.’

“And now all she can do is watch it falling. She lies down on a psychiatrist couch, squeezing tears out about this shame. And, I think, she will lie there until there is nothing more to fall, nothing left to cry about, everything dry.

“She cried, ‘No Choice! No Choice!’ She doesn't know. If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can lose her chance forever.

“I know this, because I was raised the Chinese way: I was taught to desire nothing, to swallow other people's misery, to eat my own bitterness."

How true for women, and sometimes men, everywhere. But especially women who are taught, "The woman is the soul of the home. She is the creator of harmony," and "Apply your lip liner so that the ends of your mouth appear to go up and you are always wearing a smile." Translation, "Remember to desire nothing, to take responsibility for other's troubles, to never voice your own disappointments."

But then, she teaches us her lesson: she teaches us that we do not have to desire nothing, to swallow other people's misery, to eat our own bitterness, in this passage from the day her mother died:

"And on that day, I showed Second Wife the fake pearl necklace she had given me and crushed it under my foot.

“And on that day, Second Wife's hair began to turn white.

“And on that day, I learned to shout."

This passage moved me profoundly in a way few books have. "I learned to Shout!"

Each of the mother's in this novel teach their daughters truths to live by. "Do not undervalue your love and assume that it is less worthy than another's," "Trust in yourself and your worth," "Demand that you be treated with respect" and "Do not crush your own desires, do not take responsibility for others misery, do not eat your own bitterness. Speak up - shout if you must!"

Not only did this novel reach me on the level of profound truth and soul-enriching lessons, but the sheer poetry of the writing was a delight to my inner ear. So much so that I found myself reading passages out loud:

"A psychiatrist does not want you to wake up. He tells you to dream some more, to find the pond and pour more tears into it. And really, he is just another bird drinking from your misery."

It actually scans:

A psychiatrist does not want

You to wake up.

He tells you to dream some more,

To find the pond and pour

More tears into it.

And really, he

Is just another bird,

Drinking from

Your misery.

And another:

"I will gather together my past and look. I will see a thing that has already happened. The pain that cut my spirit loose. I will hold that pain in my hand until it becomes hard and shiny, more clear. And then my fierceness can come back, my golden side, my black side. I will use this sharp pain to penetrate my daughter's tough skin and cut her tiger spirit loose. She will fight me, because that is the nature of two tigers. But I will win and give her my spirit, because that is the way a mother loves her Daughter.

"I hear my daughter speaking to her husband downstairs. They say words that mean nothing. They sit in a room with no life in it.

"I know a thing before it happens. She will hear the vase and table crashing to the floor. She will come up the stairs and into my room. Her eyes will see nothing in the darkness, where I am waiting between the trees.”

How incredibly beautiful the last passage is - my favorite in the book. The imagery, the magic of the words, the poetry. This passage is literally saturated with a mother's love for her daughter to a point where it is almost unbearable to read! As translated in the movie The Joy Luck Club, "I am waiting like a tiger in the trees, ready to leap out and cut my daughter's spirit loose."

The Joy Luck Club is a mandatory read for any woman. I've now read it six times, and will do so again.

© Debra Shiveley Welch

Gone in the Night by Selena

Gone In The Night

It was a cold dark rainy night, I knew better than to get into my car and drive in such weather but I did. I never saw him coming. He was just standing there in the middle of the road. I did not know that I had hit him until I felt the thud. That is when I got up and used my cell phone to call 911. Suddenly he got up and opened the door, he was mad not the angry type of mad the possessed type of mad. I never got to tell the dispatcher what had happened, I was saying “I am sorry but I did not see you in this rain, but then again you should have not been standing there in the middle of the road.”

The dispatcher said “Ma’am are you alright what type of help do you need?”

Suddenly there was a zapping sound then everything went black. I awaken but I am not in a familiar place. I am tied up and gagged, bruised, and battered. My eyes are swollen almost shut; I hurt everywhere so much so I can’t even move. The gag is removed and the guy says “now if you will not scream like the way you did after you hit me with your car, you will be able to breathe a lot better.”

I do nothing but obey; I do not want to get him angry again. I say “where am I why am I here” I hear nothing but I do see the tazer that I was zapped with before everything went black. The man says “Why did you hit me with your car?” I said “you were just standing there in the middle of the road I did not see you I am not at fault you were by just standing there” So you think it was my fault and not yours you were driving you stupid bitch.

Well you are not going to get away with this you pervert I left prints all over my car. Awe that is just it my lady, only your prints will be able to be lifted I was wearing gloves and plus the rain washed away anything that I may have left.

Oh yeah the last person who called me a pervert ended up strung upside down tied by her ankles. Held by a chain a heavy chain she was found nude just like you are. All I could do was swallow back the tears of fear that I had.

What he was describing was just like the newspaper article I read about this killer who hated women for some reason.

I most certainly did not want to become this man’s next victim.. You see my lady this is how I took those other girls. It was a dark rainy night just like it is now. They will be looking for me my cell phone has a trace on it and, that was all I got out. Suddenly I was tazed again and again so much so that I lost control of my bladder and wet the bed sheets I was covered with. That must have aroused this man next thing I know I am being raped by this man. All I could see is that this man was completely shaved. When I mean shaved I mean so that he will never leave any type of DNA evidence. None what so ever this man was smart very smart.

I try everything possible to remain alive. Wherever we are I can hear a TV in the background. He is watching the news and is keeping track of his crimes.

Staying one step ahead of the police that are tracking him down. What this man doesn’t know is that he is torturing the chief of police and the second chief in command is my very own husband. He knows that his wife is missing I can hear that on the TV my husband is careful not to say that who the chief of police is he is protecting my name sake. I am sitting there thinking to myself that if this man gets word of who he is holding captive. I will most certainly become his 24 victim. This man is sadistic very sadistic.

With each of his kills he carves the roman numeral into each of his victims.

There is a 16 year break between the crimes but now I know that this is the same killer. He must have been hiding in the shadows, like I said he was always one step ahead of the police that were trying to catch this killer.

He suddenly comes into the room and says the police will never find us.. I am way too smart than to leave trails that will lead back to me. I am thinking this guy is a freak and needs to be locked up for his crimes. If I do get out of this alive my testimony will prove that he is competent to stand trial and cannot take the insanity defense. This man does know right from wrong, I should know I have been keeping track of this man’s behavior.

I start putting two and two together, this man is completely shaved. He knows right from wrong, stays one step ahead of the police. He leaves no evidence

Dammit this man is a fricken cop himself he took the oath to protect and to serve. I’m still trying to figure out who the hell this man is. All of a sudden it goes quiet he must be gone.

I try to sense my surroundings listening to each and everything I can. I hear no traffic but I do hear water and a lot of it. I must be near a river with cabins around it. I can smell smoke someone must be staying near here the smoke I smell is from a barbecue it smells good. The swelling is going down I can see things but they are still blurry. I try calling help me I need help I am being held here against my will. Help ME that must have done it I hear a voice a familiar voice. I yell out help me I hear Chief is that you?

I yell out Dante is that you help me I hear a scuffle at the front door. Then a gun shot. Dante says Have Mercy what the hell happened to you? I have been watching the news Shit Chief I had no idea it was you but I did recognize that car of yours at the crime scene. I am calling for help right now good thing I was vacationing here or else you might have been victim 24 with the roman numerals carved into you. What happened to my captor? He is hit but alive I have him handcuffed. Handcuffed dammit Dante, you are on vacation. Chief I never let my guard down on the clock or off the clock. Next thing I know is I see my husband my loving husband Dante SR. Yes, the man who rescued me was my rookie son Dante for whom I named after my loving husband.

I am being loaded into the ambulance and I hear my captor “You Amish Bitch! You Would Have Been My 24^th Amish Victim”.

Yes I am Amish however we are the kind who never forgive. And for this you will pay and pay dearly. We are not the traditional Amish but yes we are Amish. Bet you did not know that you would be beaten by an Amish person did you? Your little secret will now be exposed to the world including the traditional Amish world. You see my sadistic young man your other victims family might have over looked you as you were an English cop. Now that you have been beaten by a reformed Amish who work closely with the English and their ways of punishment.

You will never be forgiven for what you have done to the traditional and the reformed Amish.

© Selena

August 2009

August Challenge Themes

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace - Name of Piece")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

The Writer's Terrace and The Poet's Corner

Fan-fiction

This is a popular form of writing where you take an already existing story and characters and write your own story using those characters and even introducing new ones into your own story.

It's SummerTime!

It's summer in the northern hemisphere and many are enjoying summer vacations, days at the beach and the glorious summer sunshine.

Write a story or poem about SUNSHINE

A Picture Tellss a Thousand Words

Below are two Alan Ayers paintings. Write a poem or story inspired by either of them, or both!

The Literary Lounge

Imagination Prompt

Write about the association of fragrance and memory

The Phrase Phase

"To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid"

"Recipe" Challenge

Write a poem in the form of a recipe by gathering the ingredients and then the "baking" method

Imagination/Number Challenge

Write using the number TWO in whatever way inspires you

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "I feel depressed because..."

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "It seemed like a good idea last night, but in the light of day...."

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Age

Literally Lyrical

How did we get so mean?

How do we just move on?

How do you feel in the morning when it comes

And everythings undone?

Is it 'cause we wanna be free?

Well that's not me.

Normally I'm so strong

I just can't wake up on the floor

Like a thousand times before

knowing that forever wont be

("Mean" by Pink)

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

View #1

Will there ever be world peace? Explain.

View #2

Do you feel you’re too old to pursue your dreams?

The Word Alcove

skulk \SKUHLK\, intransitive verb:

1. To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lurk.

2. To move about in a stealthy way.

3. To avoid responsibilities and duties.

4. One who skulks.

5. A group of foxes.

bestow \bih-STOH\, transitive verb:

1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer.

2. To apply; use.

gauche \GOHSH\, adjective:
Lacking social polish; tactless; awkward; clumsy.

ineffable \in-EF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Incapable of being expressed in words; unspeakable; unutterable; indescribable.
2. Not to be uttered; taboo.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

Twilight Zone of Life by Marianne

Twilight Zone of Life

In the twilight zone of life

Where light always seems far away

I've been now far too many times

And this time it seemed I would stay

Then the New Moon sent its beams

A message that couldn't be ignored

You'll see a moon eclipse for a while

But then light will come for sure

And just when darkness thought it had won

And the sky was as black as could be

I saw the beginning of the breaking dawn

Rays of light starting to shine on me

No more will the twilight zone of life

Be allowed to keep me there

I've been there far too many times

But now I know there's always light somewhere

© Marianne Milde 2009