Ligo Haibun Challenge ~ For all writers!

September 13, 2013September 13, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 24 Comments

The Challenge:

Fall (Autumn) is a busy time of the year for many, along with changing seasons, it is also the return of school in many countries. Each day that passes finds us presented with a potentially wide range of emotions for us to handle – the ‘ups and downs’ that may beset us.

With this in mind, the hosts (Nightlake, Ye Pirate and myself) of the Ligo Haibun Challenge have selected the following two words for you to explore and think on while writing your haibun this week, chose either one:

“paradise” or “apathy”

Enjoy your creativity this week!

I have chosen Paradise. Yesterday I wrote a serious story about Paradise as it relates to love. Today I write a whimsical haibun on the same subject!

My offering:

Paradise

Falling in love. This, the exact expression describing those sky rocketing emotions first felt when finding love with another.

The sensation like falling, in a way. Akin to leaping out of an airplane, free falling before the parachute opens, knowing not what the next moment might bring, loving the adrenaline rush racing through your body.

I’ve fallen in love. And it is paradise. Or the best feeling I can come up with when thinking of paradise. It would be nice however if there were a parachute. Just like jumping out of an airplane, there is gravity to contend with and it does pull one down. Sometimes pulling one right out of paradise into hell.

paradise exists

but only for a time

no parachute

Thank you. Now it’s your turn.

Write a haibun this Week. The Ligo Haibun Challenge is open to all writers, you are encouraged to enter.

To read about the Haibun style of writing and the rules to this challenge, click here. This is a weekly challenge so be sure to enter before the closing date and time. Click on the link collection to view time remaining, add your link and to access and read other entries for this week.

There were several writers who didn’t have an opportunity to submit their entries for recent challenges, They are listed below!

#Ligo Haibun – Inspired by Persia | Sarah Ann Hall

#Ligo Haibun – My Pet Penguins – hmv (Heath Martin Vogel),

#Ligo Haibun – Quote from Romi – horty ( Maria H. Rexach-Rivera, MD aka Dr. Rex)

Have an excellent rest of your day and weekend ahead! Thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

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

Ligo Haibun Challenge – A Quote by any other name or actress …

August 15, 2013August 18, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

Welcome to this weeks Ligo Haibun Challenge. Please consider entering if you – love writing, want to improve your writing skills and enjoy a challenge!

The Haibun is composed of two parts: written prose and haiku:

Write one or more paragraphs (a few hundred words or less) of an inspired thought or idea from one of the “prompt quotes” (below).

Insert one or more short “free verse” poetry (haiku) at the close of your prose or between the paragraphs. (see sample of a haiku below). The haiku represents a summation or an additional expression (so to speak) related to the written portion of your haibun.

SAMPLE HAIKU:

haibun of being

my template of expression

essence of haiku

This week chose one of the follow two quotes as your prompt:

“A kiss is a lovely trick by nature to stop speech when words become” superfluous.” – Ingrid Bergman

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe

Write and publish your haibun on your blog site, then click on the link box below (and follow the simple directions) to enter. For more details and information click on the heading HAIBUN CHALLENGE at the top of this page! To view a few haibun samples click here Ligo Haibun Challenges

Be sure and stop by and visit the two other hosts of the Ligo Haibun Challenge : Nightlake and Ye Pirate!

Congratulations to all who entered last week! You written words are well fashioned works of haibun artistry! Good luck to all who enter the competition this week. Monthly honorable mentions will be given so … keep writing, I’m loving it!

~ Penny

Ligo Haibun Challenge – A Call to All Writers!

August 10, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 16 Comments

Hello, welcome to the weekly Ligo Haibun Challenge. This week there are two intriguing photo prompts, from which to choose.

The first from Ye Pirate and the second from David Thoughts From The Outdoors, Thank you both!

Your writing challenge (should you wish to accept it) is to write a few paragraphs, as you view the photo prompt you have chosen, from a thought, idea or feeling the photograph evoked.

Once you determine the direction the photo is prompting your thoughts – go with the flow! Write!

At the end of your prose (written words – a few hundred or so) add a short free verse poem. haiku style! (see sample of a haiku below) a summation (so to speak) of your written words.

Sample haiku:

a thing of beauty

expression of being

soul of my haibun

Publish your haibun on your blog site and then click on the link box below (and follow the simple directions) to be entered. For more details and information click on the heading HAIBUN CHALLENGE at the top of this page!

And be sure and check out the two other co-hosts of the Ligo Haibun: Nightlake and Managua!

Good Luck,

~ 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