This meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Week after week she provided us with challenging prompts. Computer issues led her to bow out for a while and I took over. When Delores' absence looked like being more permanent I begged and cajoled for other volunteers to share providing the prompts, and Words for Wednesday became a movable feast. Delores discontinued her blog for a while, but she has returned, and we are grateful..
Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore... We can use some or all of the prompts. I have
Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
This month the prompts I will be providing the prompts here. The prompts will be here next month too, but will be provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton. Her prompts will include photographs taken by her friend Bill.
As always, I am hunting for more people to challenge us. Delores has volunteered, and I have an extra month of prompts from Margaret et al, but would like more. If you are able to play please let me know in the comments (including which month would suit you best).
This week's prompts are:
- Apple
- Balcony
- Catastrophe
- Deep
- Evil
And/or
- Fly
- Ghastly
- Heart
- Illuminate
- Jest
Have fun.
Happy Writing, gang.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: Thank you.
DeleteInteresting prompt as always. I'll be back if I can figure anything out...meanwhile, have a fun Wednesday! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst thoughts :)
DeleteAn apple a day keeps trouble away?
It’s one of those things most people say
I don’t think I can quite agree -
can bring on an evil catastrophe
if said apple comes with a screen and keys
that shatter when dropped from a balcony
and a plastic smell wafts on the breeze-
if said apple isn’t the shape of a fruit.
It’s deep this disease that’s taken root
on the mud patch of humanity.
Nilanjana Bose: I really like this. It really is a disease, and that plastic smell has infiltrated our lives.
DeleteThat's a great take on the words! :)
DeleteNilanjana Bose, that's very clever, and a good reason to never use an Apple on the balcony.
DeleteThank you. I do avoid all gizmos outdoors, even on the balcony.
DeleteTerrible luck with the second set! :)
This ghastly rhyme is not going to fly -
it is not in jest, I have no heart to try -
no, I don’t mean ingest, separate
those syllables! So difficult to illuminate
the exact meanings, I’ve now spent
a sleepless night, and half the morning bent
double trying to get the words to levitate
but they just refused flat and straight,
just lay back, the lazy couch potatoes!
and murmured, ‘not now, we’ll see how it goes
later, much later, and you could do with some sleep
yourself, try and nap, flying can always keep,
it’s more important to get some rest
before we figure out in jest and ingest
and vastly more important than ghastly -
that’s not a flying type by the way, and lastly
don’t tie yourself up in knots, we’d advise
you to relax, most of your rhymes don’t rise
to the occasion anyways, let it go
we’ll figure this out next year, or tomorrow.’
And so I’m back here without a thing to say -
my words are wayward! Have a good day.
Nilanjana Bose: You couldn't get these to fly? You certainly fooled me. And words are often wayward. It is part of their charm.
DeleteThese were both great. I've got to say I have problems getting my words to levitate too:)
DeleteWow. Terrific job, Nilanjana Bose!
DeleteA nice selection....I shall apply myself.
ReplyDeleteonly slightly confused: I look forward to seeing where your application takes you - and us.
DeleteMe too.
DeleteShe came home to a catastrophe and could only imagine who could have been so evil to throw her deep dish apple pie from the balcony.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: Smiles. Perhaps it was a dieter - or she wasn't as good a cook as she believed. No pie dish, no more pies...
DeleteIt was that witch from next door! She was jealous because she can't make good pastry, let alone a yummy apple pie!! :)
DeleteA ghastly catastrophe indeed and a shocking waste of pie.
DeleteDeep in the forest, the evil witch suffered a catastrophe when she fell from the balcony while picking an apple.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: She obviously should have got the princess to pick it for her.
DeleteThat'll teach her!!
Deleteshe might have done better to go downstairs and climb the tree instead.
DeleteAn apple fell from a balcony somewhere.
ReplyDeleteNo big catastrophe.
But when I found a worm deep inside,
I knew it came from some sort of evil.
Martin Kloess: A worm in an apple is never as bad as half a worm. Now that is evil...
Delete'Tis true what EC says, Martin...beware of a half worm! lol
Deletethis is why I slice my apples before eating them.
DeleteRequires serious investigation. Did the balcony belong to Newton?
Delete
ReplyDeleteI look at the glossy fashion magazines and shudder. Ghastly, simply ghastly. Surely these creations aren't meant to be worn. An expensive jest? I am not a deep thinker but deep in my heart I know these magazines illuminate just what the creators, their photographers and the advertisers think of women.
Fashion designers are evil. No ifs, no buts. Definitely no butts. And while we are on the topic, no balconies either. Would it be a catastrophe to design something for a woman who wasn't a size zero sylph? Clothing for someone who weighs more than a fly and eats more than an apple a week?
Sadly it seems it is.
So true, EC...so true! Imaginative use of the words...well done. :)
DeleteI'm never quite sure what some of those designers are on when I see the parades of their latest "creations"...but I'm never like that woman at the next table in "When Harry Met Sally"....I never ask can I have some of what she/he's having?!! :)
Very clever EC and so true. I'd like to see clothes designed for women who are size 10 short, but size 14-16 around. and I don't mean just with short legs. Some of us are short all over: a shorter length between shoulder and breast, shorter between breast and waist, again shorter from waist to crotch. Designers never seem to realise the diversity in women. They think anyone over size 12 wears a tent dress.
DeleteNeatly nailed!
DeleteHA! Definitely no buts or butts. (No tummies, either.) Super job, Sue.
DeleteFun Wednesday is here again!!
ReplyDelete"Maggie rushed out onto the BALCONY. Her HEART pounded uncontrollably in her chest. Holding onto the railing with such force her knuckles had turned white. If she could FLY she would leap off and fly away as far as she could go.
Hardly able to breath, it felt as if a huge APPLE had lodged DEEP in her throat.
Stepping back inside Maggie switched on the lights in order to ILLUMINATE the GHASTLY mess before her.
It had happened again.
This time she knew it hadn’t been done in JEST. It was not the act of some mischievous teenagers.
EVIL forces had taken up residence in her home. If she stayed a bigger CATASTROPHE would occur.
Wasting no time, she grabbed a few of her belongings before she fled out the door without a backward glance."
Lee: I love it - and would like to know more. I suspect the evil will follow her, and running away is NOT the answer.
DeleteI love this too and wonder if the evil isn't Maggie herself, an alternate personality. She'll soon find out when/if the same happens in her new home.
DeleteAn apple a day keeps the doctor away? What a crock that saying is, particularly if the damn doctor lives in the apartment next door. I had to cut out my Saturday morning coffee on the balcony because every weekend morning he would come out on his balcony wearing a nothing but a terry cloth robe and cheesy grin sticking his arm across our shared railing while waiting for me to fetch him some. Instead of thanks I got another grin and a quick wink as he sauntered back into his apartment to take care of whoever the flavor of the month inside was.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how many times my black heart would conjure evil thoughts of him flipping over the railing as I handed him his coffee and falling, a hot mug of joe trailing him. I mean, it would not exactly be a catastrophe, after all. we only live on the second floor and there is a lovely garden right below us to cushion the fall. However a healthy dose of humility could be just what the doctor needed,
But before I get too deep sharing my wicked thoughts, let me illuminate what truly irritates me most. It's bad enough that he is a really cute and basically nice guy, but just once instead of being the proverbial fly on the balcony hearing all and seeing some, I might like to be the one asked to come for "dinner", instead of the coffee fetcher on the balcony in the pal zone.
Anne in the kitchen: My evil mind would put some laxatives in his cup of coffee. And he is obviously selfish - no cup for her indoors? I think you are better off without him - cute or not.
DeleteHahahahaha! I hope you get that invitation soon, Anne - if only for the sake of the good doctor! Well done! :)
DeleteI suspect I'd be telling him to get his own coffee, since I'm no waitress.
DeleteTo be honest if I actually had this experience I would probably look at him with my resting bitch face and ask in a deadpan voice "Does this look like the face of the hired help?"
Delete24 comments! It isn't even noon here and you already have 24 comments!
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting selection of words, I haven't heard ghastly in quite a while. I'll see what I can do with them.
River: I look forward to seeing what you do with them.
DeleteGood luck everyone
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you.
DeleteI jest about that ghastly fly but when I think of it it will make my heart flutter and might illuminate my day.
ReplyDeleteWeird! But I had a go :)
Margaret-whiteangel: You did indeed have a go, and now I am wondering whether any day that a ghastly fly illuminates is one I want to think about. You have got my mind racing - thank you.
DeleteApples are my favourite fruits
ReplyDeleteGosia k: A good apple is a thing of joy and beauty, but I also love mangoes, the stone fruits and berries...
DeleteHi EC - my quick think:
ReplyDeleteShe leant over the balcony looking into the deep, evil chasm below – her half-eaten apple in hand, she hadn’t seen the worm, then worms – what did they mean … the worms were coming out of the woodwork … catastrophe as she catapulted forward … was life meant to end like this …
That's not the way I want to go! Don't dwell too much on this or visualise the horror! ? Cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Not the way any of us want to go. A skilled and spooky use of the words today - thank you.
DeleteThe evil of wearing braces is that I can't bite into an apple. Quite a catastrophe really. On the other hand I'm starting to smile and wear lipstick more. Today's is Deep Rust. Trouble is my top teeth haven't moved back as much as the bottom so look like a balcony.
ReplyDeleteAnna of the Mutton Style and Years: An apple or lipstick? Not an easy decision. I suspect my greedy self would go for the apple. Glad that you can smile again though.
DeleteThis is the first time I’ve come across Words for Wednesday, but it certainly sounds interesting. I feel a bit shy about joining in but I’ve had fun reading the other comments.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Fisher: Please, dont be shy. The more the merrier. And yes, reading the comments is a lot of fun.
DeleteShe never realized that by throwing a simple apple off the balcony could create such a catastrophe. If she had known how deep and evil the act was, she would have recycled. :)
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: Yup. Recycling is good. Love your take this week.
DeleteI can supply the words for the month of August.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Thank you. Slowly and steadily the list is growing.
DeleteMy story is scheduled for Friday.
DeleteRiver: I am looking forward to reading it, and hope that the prompts allowed you to continue the current story.
DeleteHere is mine:
ReplyDeletehttp://jannghi.blogspot.com/2017/05/words-for-wednesday.html
Jamie Ghione: I have been, I have seen, I have applauded. (I feel sorry for the bird though).
DeleteJust saw Jamie's. Fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a colorful one, EC:)
Sandra Cox: Jamie's was indeed fun. A busy day ahead here (I will be going out shortly), but hopefully blessed with colour.
DeleteApple
ReplyDeleteBalcony
Catastrophe
Deep
Evil
A good choice to get the brain cells working.
I may just have a try later!!!
Need a few more cups of tea to get the cells working, well that's my excuse!
Lovely to read all the comments, and stories, above.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: I do hope you can join us. And I have been loving the stories and the comments too.
DeleteGood morning! I will be back to use these words, but I'm headed to work soon. Hopefully I will be able to control myself (these words hit home with our current administration) and the deeply evil catastrophe flying throughout our government in such ghastly order I jest you not. There got that out, now I'll bring later a balcony of apples and hearts and smiles!
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: Deeply evil (and frightening) indeed. Looking forward to your balcony of apples and smiles.
DeleteI saw her lean out from the balcony of the castle tower to pick an apple just barely out of reach. The pending catastrophe was more than I could bear to watch. If there was a deep moat I would merely have to jump in and pull her out to be hailed as some kind of hero. Alas, that wasn’t the case. Either some evil bastard had filled the moat or there was never one to begin with. I saw her lean a little farther and yelled to make her back up as I ran toward her likely landing zone. I watched her tumble from the window and had there been two or three more of us…
ReplyDeleteJono: Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. A messy end. Though moats often had critters which would have munched her (and her rescuers).
DeleteThe FLYs HEART ILLUMINATED the sky like a GHASTLY beacon as it cackled in JEST. - You have to admit this makes no sense but its hilarious even if i say so myself.
ReplyDeleteSpacer Guy: I can just see the trailer for this movie...
DeleteApple
ReplyDeleteBalcony
Catastrophe
Deep
Evil
As Newton came out onto the balcony the catastrophe was about to unfold. The apple fell right on to his head, causing a deep wound that needed stitches. "Evil product of nature" he muttered pondering over the trajectory of the fruit.
Greetings from London.
A Cuban in London: The poor apple gets way too much bad press. Love your take on the prompt.
DeleteI enjoyed reading all the comments and their takes on the apple tree on the balcony! Fun!
ReplyDeleteNas: It is a wonderful meme. I am so grateful to Delores.
Deletestanding in my balcony i was staring at the moon holding apple in my hand ,i forgot i had one though.
ReplyDeletesuddenly an owl with shiny big eyes flew out of the moon and sat on the fence of balcony near me .
His eyes were burning with evil message of catastrophe .
But my smile pushed the fear away arouse by his move.
baili: I am so glad you joined us. Loved your very different take. Mind you, I love owls, and don't see them as evil.
DeleteI am glad that she is back !
ReplyDeletebaili: We all are.
DeleteHI Sue I know I have not been writing recently but I will make a bigger effort when Sue and me words appear. I am sorry these days I do not have the same time to comment on all your posts due to recent events but I appreaciae you posts and your comments on mine.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: Thank you. Sometimes life gets in the way.
DeleteOkay, these words are interesting. I'll give 'em a shot:
ReplyDeleteNo evil lurked deep in the heart of the boy, and he never intended to cause a catastrophe or to harm anyone when he sat on his grandmother's balcony eating an apple one evening, but when two incorrigible bullies from his school approached, he saw it as an opportunity to illuminate the error of their ways. Crouched out of sight, in the most ghastly voice he could summon, he let fly with a bone-chilling warning: "This is the Lord!" he roared. "Bullies are a scourge upon my earth, and I shall smite them until their brains explode!" Then, giggling, the boy tossed his apple core over the balcony and struck one of the bullies on the head. The bullies yelped in terror and took off in the darkness with their hands clasped atop their heads. They ran into the street... right in the path of a truck. Thus ended their bullying, and thus ended the bullies. Obviously, they weren't very bright.
Susan: Love it, and am very glad to have inspired you to play. If only all bullies careers were so short-lived...
DeleteSusan I love this. Bullies getting what they deserve, or in this case more than they deserve. I hope the truck driver wasn't too traumatised.
DeleteDamn! I should have read this before I just posted.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: Good luck with your event.
DeleteHere is my post using the second set. Thank you. It does make the writing more interesting. Gives it life I think.
ReplyDeletehttp://muttonyearsstyleandi.blogspot.com/2017/05/conference-smart-packing.html
Anna of the Mutton Style and Years: Thank you for joining us. Loved your seamless use of the prompts.
Delete