Ligo Haibun Challenge ~ Illusion or Ecstasy!

August 23, 2013August 23, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 45 Comments

Welcome to this week’s Ligo Haibun Challenge for writers!

Two excellent word prompts to choose from.

Illusion

Ecstasy

My offering entry this week!

Ecstasy

I inhale, ecstasy. I exhale, ecstasy. Sensual sweetness of such piercing intensity, I am without expression or thought. Waves consume me. Beyond passion, a place of no name. Beyond sensual fulfillment, an existence of being. Beyond one’s ability to think. A heartbeat of infinity. Sounds without meaning, the aftermath of undiluted potency of pleasure. Whispered words form through parted lips.

I inhale and breathe – you. I exhale and am breathless for want of you. My body desires you. Your taste delicious, your touch I crave. Beyond desire exists rapture of ecstasy, I await your pleasure. Please take me there … now!

I await you

release me I crave

ecstasy’s rapture

Each of the word prompts are compelling and provocative. Let’s see how creative you can be with your written haibun this week. For more information click here! Join this wonderful group of writers from around the word! We welcome you! Don’t forget a couple of things to shoot for: honorable mentions at the end of each month and being included in the first published Ligo Haibun Anthology, later this year!

Once again, outstanding writing this past week, I have read your entries, but with a few connectivity problems with the router for my laptop, I’ve have been offline more than online (in the last few weeks). I look forward to visiting you soon to comment on each of your written works!

Also for those of you who follow Nightlake (one of the judges), she is current busy with a few offline projects and should be returning to host soon. She continues to read your work and be involved as a judge! Check out the other host (Ye Pirate) here!

Okay, everyone your turn, let’s see your written words. Come on you know you want to give this one a try!

~ Penny

For All Writers Out There …Rethink the haibun and haiku!

July 20, 2013July 22, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 46 Comments

A writer’s gift – yours!

Chances are if you are a blogger, you express yourself very well. Your hands have the gift of being able to put thoughts and expressions, ideas and vision into written words (and photographs and illustrations, art, videos, music, etc) But most all of you can write!

For all you non haibun writers, I believe that perhaps if it were worded differently you might be interested in giving it a try! So I’d like you to consider writing a short piece with only the following thoughts in your mind.

Your writing style: Write the way you normally write, especially if you write in a journal. If you don’t write in a journal. Then write the thoughts you’re thinking of in the moment. What comes to mind. You’ll find your words may flow (like thoughts) just write. Worry about editing afterwards. As your words flow you’ll see they have a rhythm (not rhyming like a poem, more open like free verse), they may even be terse and to the point. Have your written piece be just a few paragraphs or so.

Let it be a thought, an experience, or a feeling that comes to mind after you view a “prompt”. It can be a fictional story, or not, just as long as it is the “telling” or presenting of a thing! (much like in many schools “when growing up” you’d share in front of the class something you did for the summer kind of “telling”!)

After you’ve written your piece. Read it out loud to yourself.

And then go back and tighten it up. See if there are any words you can change or remove to make it more focused, specific and full of the flavor of you (that which you want to convey, express). Take just a little time here for this.

When you finish your written piece; add a short 3-line, ‘free verse’ poem, total about 14 to seventeen syllables. Have the middle line slightly longer than the others.

SAMPLE OF POEM (haiku) STYLE:

rich in expression

the haibun of our thoughts

words, a writer’s food

~

Your poem should contain your feelings on the subject you’ve just written about. Perhaps a summation or a realization (the essence of understanding, the point).

Got it? Here are your prompts! Pick one of the following two photographs.

Exploratorium Museum, photo by Penny L Howe, 2013

Now, WRITE! then I’d like you to publish your written piece on your blog and enter the piece you’ve just written, in the blue box below, follow the instructions (easy ones). I look forward to reading your words!

I think you might just surprise yourself how well you will do. Most importantly have fun.

Honourable Mentions for last week’s Ligo Haibun Challenge will be posted soon! Once again there were many excellent entries! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us and others this past week!

~ Penny

Friday Fictioneer’s – Some things never change!

May 22, 2013May 22, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 34 Comments

Friday Fictioneer’s time. Yes, that time again when a very fun and talented group of people gather (once a week) to take part in a writing challenge using a photo as a prompt. Lots of interactions and comments can follow!

Brought to you each week by the charming Rochelle, the challenge is to write a Flash Fiction (short-short story) in 100 words or less (approximately). This weeks photo prompt below, along with my offering. If you want to try your hand at this (it is fun) just click on the link above for more instructions on how to enter. Good writing to you and here’s my offering for the week: