Woo-hoo! Last day on the road (until next week :)) AND a Summer Short & Sweet Day!
 |
| Badge created by Loni Edwards |
Did I tell you my GPS’s name is Jill? I’ve taken to calling her Jo-Jilly thanks to my niece 🙂 But let me tell you, after this week? 1500 plus miles later? she and I need a little time apart! She gets extremely snippy whenever I depart from the route to refuel (Susanna runs on Dunkin’ – the coffee, not the donuts… most of the time… :), Princess Blue Kitty runs on anything she can get except BP which I am morally opposed to!) I always promise Jo-Jilly that we’ll get right back on the road, but you know, I don’t think she believes me! It’s this lack of trust I find hard to live with. Lucky I get a break for a few days 🙂
ANYway, are you ready to be Short & Sweet?
Alrighty then.
Pick a letter – any letter! – the first letter of your name, a letter you like the shape of, a letter you like the sound of – any letter!
Got one?
Now, pick a name that starts with that letter. This will be your character.
Now, write us 50 – 100 words (more if you like, but 50 – 100 will do :)) of a story about this character. But here’s the challenge: you have to use as many words as possible that start with the letter you chose! Nouns, verbs, adjectives, people, places, descriptions, actions, and things – see how many words that start with your letter you can work into your story. It does not have to be a complete story (although it can be if you want), just get started and see where it goes. You might be surprised at the directions you go trying to use words that begin with your letter!
Here’s my example, using D (which is for dogs because I miss mine!)
Delilah dreamed of dogs.
Dogs were devoted. Dogs were delightful. In fact, they were downright dynamite!
“Daddy,” Delilah declared, “I’m desperate for a dog. Dalmatian or Dachshund, Doberman or Dingo, anything doggy will do.”
“Darling Delilah,” Daddy said, “how about a donkey or a duck? A dragonfly or a dolphin?”
“Don’t you like dogs, Daddy?”
“Dearest, I do! But I’m dreadfully delicate. Dogs make me sneeze dangerously.”
Delilah despaired.
But dreams don’t die easily.
Delilah was determined.
She developed a dog dander destruction device.
“Now a dog will be no danger, Daddy!”
Daddy drove Delilah downtown.
Delilah named her dog Daisy.
Daisy is devoted. Daisy is delightful. In fact, Daisy is downright dynamite!
Delilah is delirious.
And Daddy dotes on them doubly!
(122 words)
Get the idea? Mine’s a bit pathetic, I know. I’m drained from driving 🙂 But now no one should be afraid to give it a shot 🙂
I hope you’ll find this fun! Perhaps yours or someone else’s will spark a story idea that you can then write normally, without using all the same-letter words. Either way, it’s a good exercise to make you think very carefully about every word you write. I think you’ll be surprised at how much stronger nouns and verbs you’ll think up! And at how your ideas take off in bizarre directions in order to accommodate your letter – I personally would have been unlikely to think up a dog dander destruction device under other circumstances 🙂
Have fun with this! I can’t wait to see what you come up with – y’all amaze me every week!
Happy writing and happy weekend 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Deirdre dropped her doily down the drainpipe.
Darren dove in, down the drain.
His death defying dive drove Deirdre to proclaim, “Darren darling, how delightful.”
Darren declared, “Your doily is drooping now Deirdre. Dang it all.”
“Dear Darren, don't despair.” Deirdre drawled. “The darn doily
doesn't droop too dangerously dear.” (50)
Deeply delightful, Delores!! 🙂 Well done – you made me laugh 🙂 Thanks for joining in so daringly 🙂
Jill was justifiably now just Jo-Jilly. Her joy came from jostling her joyfully jubilant jack of all trades owner all the jagged day long. This jaded the jaunty owner who smelled of jasmine all the day long.
“My joy comes not only from jostling you fair maiden,” said Jo-Jilly. “I don't like the jazz that jangles from the jam thing.”
“Just jiggle and jingle to the sound. It's jim-dandy, Jo-Jilly !”
Jo-Jilly had a plan for that jiggling jitterbug. She would just joust that jaunty owner who smelled of jasmine all the day long. This made the fair maiden joylessly unjubilant.
Jo-Jilly jumped at the juicy chance to jostle the joyfully jubilant jack of all trades owner. (Jo-Jilly only loves Chevron! Anything else is just junk!) (126 words)
I'm loving the Summer Shorts! Thanks!
Here's a shout-out to brothers everywhere who despise each other one minute and play like best friends the next…
Nicholas wanted nothing to do with his nosy little brother.
“Nathan’s a pain in the neck,” he noted in his neatly-lined notebook. “A no-good, nagging, nut-case!”
Nicholas nearly finished his nasty, name-calling note when the niggling nuisance knocked on his bedroom door.
“Can’t you read my ‘NO BROTHERS ALLOWED' notice you numbskull?” Nicholas shouted.
“But I’ve got nineteen nifty, new marbles. Wanna play?” Nathan asked.
Nice! Why not?
Here's mine!
Sam saw seventy silly sailors saddling small sailing ships. Sam said to himself, “I should sign up with those seventy silly sailors saddling seven small sailing sailboats!” So, Sam sped to his sister Sally to ask for some silly sailing suggestions. Sam’s sister Sally said “Sure!” So Sam and Sally sat staring at the sea, scanning the seven sailing ships. The siblings saw a strange scoundrel stealing silver seashells from a souvenir store. Sam suddenly stood-up and sternly shouted “HALT” (seriously). 😉
I hope you like it! 😀
LOVE THIS, SUSANNA! I started mine, but have a deadline to meet, so I can't finish today. This sparked a fun idea that just might turn into a 12×12 ms, or not. Regardless, it will be fun! I'll post it when I can! 🙂
HAH! Darn delightful, indeed!
HA! And did Sam and Sally sell those silver seashells by the seashore after that? 🙂
HA HA! 🙂
Very cute prompt. I love it.
Hank the hamster was a heckling, hassling heathen that hopelessly hounded his huggable housemate, Harvey.
Huggable Harvey had had it and hollered, “Take heed you haywire hairball! You heighten the hair on my huggable hackles. Hence, I will hasten you off in a hatbox with Hector the hedgehog if you hold to this habitude.”
“Holy hamsters! How horrendous!” huffed Hank. “My hair-brained, hounding, heckling hassling will hurtle me headlong into a hatbox with Hector the hedgehog! That would be a harrowing and hurtful hardship.”
Ok…I tried to sign in with my Word Press credentials and it left me blank!!!
Wow, Susanna…you'll see by my entry that I really didn't peek…otherwise I wouldn't have chosen “V”. 🙂
Viscountess Vanessa Versailles, a virginal Venezuelan virtuoso with various veins, vigilantly clutched the valuable Venetian violin in the velvet valise and vaulted over vipers and violent voles, her out-of-gas veneered van parked in the valley behind her. Her view blurred by a veil of venomous vapors, Vanessa valiantly raced onward, vowing to validate her promise to the vacationers who were even now vacating their seats for violinist’s Valentine’s Day performance. Is she racing in vain?
I also can't wait to read the other entries…yours is fantastic, Susanna! And again, this creative writing exercise definitely took me out of my normal picture book comfort zone.
Hi Kim…so perfect…just like real brothers…reminds me of my two sons when they were growing up. 🙂
Oh Erik, I want to find out what happens…will Sam and Sally catch the scoundrel? And will they shanghai him and sign him aboard their ship? 🙂
Oops…that was “varicose veins” not “various veins”…although I guess there were various veins amongst the varicose veins. 🙂
You got me laughing at HALT! That was STUPENDOUS, Erik.
Robyn, I never knew there were so many J words that would work together so seamlessly in a story. Great job!
Vanessa Versailles…love the name! I admire your “vivacious” story!
Hooray Harvey! Way to stand up for yourself 🙂
Spectacular, Erik! You have a superb way with words!
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wayward Wally whale wavered
Winding up in warm waters
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wee Wanda wobbled to the wharf
With her whirl-a-wig a whirling
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wiry Willy waltzed toward the waif
Whittling weird Walnut wood
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
A wicked weasel Willy was
Wielding his Walnut weapon
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wanda winced when Willy wanted
Her whirl-a-wig a whirling
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wattlebird's warbled witty warnings
Wally whale whacked the water
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Whoosh! Whitecaps wiped out Willy
“Waa!” he whined and wailed
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Willy waded waterlogged through weeds
While Wally whale winked at Wanda
West of Wimple Willow Way
One wild and windy Wednesday
Wee Wanda waved and wondered
Would wayward Wally Whale windup
West of Wimple Willow Way?
(180 Words)
Susanna, such fun. My story is long, but I enjoy the mental workout.
Thank you.
love your wink and nod to Susanna's GPS, Robyn. Only Chevron, huh? I think Susanna prefers that over BP. I had fun reading this!
Jexcellent! In case you were wondering, Jo-Jilly's joyfully jubilant jack of all trades owner also enjoys jelly beans and jujubes – just because jujube is fun to say 🙂 Thanks for joining the fun, Robyn! 🙂
So glad! 🙂 Maybe I'll see your entry – full of “R”s perhaps? – later 🙂
Wow! Great one, Kim! Full of ns and a complete story as well! Nice! 🙂
Vivian, you did it again. I wouldn't have been able to do the letter “V”. Way to go!
Splendid! Smashing! Superbly done, Erik! 🙂 Such fun 🙂 Thanks for joining in!
Glad you like it, Randy! Will you try one? 🙂
WOW! What wonderfully wielded words! Word workout indeed 🙂 Thanks for joining in the fun Tracy! Subject: [susannaleonardhillblog] Re: Susanna Leonard Hill: Summer Short And Sweets – Week 4
Rebecca Rose Richtenhaus ran recklessly through the rows of ripe, red strawberries. She traipsed merrily round the fruit-laden brush until she ripped her favorite romping-robe on a rough, ragged rock. Tears of remorse threatened to ruin her regal make-up until she remembered the rheumatoid relic of a wizard who lived in a rickety room next to the forbidden ruins. If anyone could mend the rend surely it would be the roguish Robert “Rabble-Rouser” Romero.
Roused from his morning refreshments he initially refused to repair the rip, reciting the rules of rudeness because of the interruption. Relentlessly, Rebecca rebuffed the reasons for his rejection and offered to remedy the recent ruffle if only he would reverse his previous rail and rally her ravaged garment.
Rapping his resplendent Rowan-wood wand repeatedly against the rift in the fabric his raspy voice recited a spell that raveled the fabric together until it was entirely rebuilt. With radiant rapture she promised a royal reward for his rare generosity.
“Rapidly retreat you horrid ragamuffin,” he raged.
She raced away, reciting a rhyme that radically raised the rapport of the realm’s residents for the rakish recluse.
Rhapsodic, Randy! Well, maybe rhapsodic isn't the best adjective but it was tho only one that leapt to mind that started with R 🙂 Excellent job, and a whole story too! Thanks for joining in 🙂
Truly impressive, Vivian, and a great story too! I can't even think of any good V adjectives to compliment you with! Vociferous? Ooh, how about valiant effort?! Thanks for joining in the fun! 🙂
Poor hounded huggable Harvey! I hope he brings horrible Hank to heel! Well done, Penny! And thanks for joining in! 🙂
Jackie The Jaguar
Jackie the Jaguar wasn’t like other jungle cats. Her friend the jackal liked to jump for joy when a juicy jerboa came out at night. Jackie wasn’t jealous of her jackal pal. All Jackie liked to eat was jellybeans and jawbreakers. Jello and jam sandwiches made Jackie dance a jazzy jig. But soon the junk food slowed Jackie down until she couldn’t jump rope or climb the jungle gym anymore. And how was she ever going to do her juggling act for the school talent show if she couldn’t fit into her jeans? What a jigsaw puzzle to figure out!
Okay I tried.
Patty picked plump pea pods and put them into a pan. Patty popped pea out of their pods and placed them in a pink pot of water. Pleased with her plentiful pile, Patty playfully pranced to the pantry. “Peachy,” she said. “Pea pie for the party.” She patted her palms and placed the pie dough in the pie pan. Patty poured the peas into the pie and popped it into the preheated oven. Patty patiently passed the time playing pinochle with her pet parrot, Peter. The pea bell pinged, and Patty pulled her pea pie out of the potbelly oven. The pea pie was a pealicious.
Not my best but here it is – I chose 'L'
Luigi Lacroix loved eating linguini
He also loved lobster with pepperocini
He longed for lasagna with big legs of lamb
And liverwurst lettuce wraps – leave off the ham.
He ladled legumes onto layers of lentils
He lapped up his lattes – no need for utensils.
Luigi loved lima beans loaded with lime
He even liked liverwurst – most of the time.
Last but not least he drank lemony punch
And that’s what Luigi Lacroix ate for lunch.
Okay, I tried. Patty picked plump pea pods and put them into a pan. Patty popped pea out of their pods and placed them in a pink pot of water. Pleased with her plentiful pile, Patty playfully pranced to the pantry. “Peachy,” she said. “Pea pie for the party.” She patted her palms and placed the pie dough in the pie pan. Patty poured the peas into the pie and popped it into the preheated oven. Patty patiently passed the time playing pinochle with her pet parrot, Peter. The pea bell pinged, and Patty pulled her pea pie out of the potbelly oven. Patty's pie was a pealicious.
Susanna, I gave a shout-out for this fun series on my blog today…
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Here is my lame attempt. Warning! Contains violence…
Baxter, the baby baboon bathed in his bathtub. He boiled when he found a big black bumble bee bouncing on the bubbles.
“Begone!” barked Baxter. He blew the bumble bee away, but it bit Baxter on the butt.
“Bummer,” blurted Baxter.
Later, Baxter bundled in bed. This time he saw a big black beetle under his blanket. Brave Baxter boosted the beetle away, but it wouldn't budge. Baxter was ready for a brawl.
“Beware of the baby baboon!” blabbed Bumble Bee to his buddy, the beetle.
BAM! Too late. Baxter beat him with a book. Bumble bee found beetle beaten and bruised. He begged Baxter not to bludgeon him too.
“Then don't bother a baby baboon,” blasted Baxter, “or you'll both be bug burger for breakfast!”
Wonderful, Tracy!
Poor Jackie! Hopefully she'll jump rope until her jeans fit 🙂 Or maybe some judo 🙂 Thanks for joining in!
Not lame at all! This is great, Romelle! Lots of Bs and a complete story with a message 🙂 Thanks for playing along!
Thanks so much, Donna! I actually saw it and commented on it before I saw this, because I was over at your blog 🙂 I really appreciate it! 🙂
tkd2lady wrote, in response to tkd2lady:
Susanna, I gave a shout-out for this fun series on my blog today…
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Link to comment
IP address: 98.65.209.77
Peachy-keen and perfect, Pat! Love your pleasantly pleasing story and all those Ps!!! 🙂 Thanks for participating 🙂
ooh La La! I am impressed! Not only all the Ls, not only a story, but also in rhyme!!! Habitual rhymer indeed! Well done!
Thanks, Kim…love the vivacious!!!!
Aww shucks. 🙂 Thanks, Tracy…it was fun to expand the brain. 🙂
Here's my 'a' short & sweet:
In the heat of Africa, Annie Aardvark was having an awful day. She couldn’t find any appealing ants. All the ants were hiding away in asphalt, in which Annie couldn’t access. Annie’s belly ached with hunger, and her affinity for ants augmented several degrees! After staring at the ant annoyance, Annie noticed an apple. Annie aimed that apple against the asphalt making applesauce. Awestruck, those ants appeared on the asphalt attacking the applesauce. “Awesome!” said Annie, slurping an apple-ant appetizer.