Just Write

Welcome Back, Old Friend

2009-09-30T13:44:00.005-04:00

It has been brought to my attention that it has been over a year since I've posted a writing challenge.... Hmm. What is my excuse? Well, I can think of at least a couple, but the most important one is lack of response : ( You guys got too busy!

So, knowing that after a year the audience may have changed slightly (for example, we have some new readers and writers!), I have decided to try again. Here's what I won't do: go back over all the old posts and make sure I haven't used an idea before. We'll probably use them again, and that's fine. They were fun. In fact, maybe I WILL go back over them, for ideas : )

I am particularly eager to give a writing outlet to our little ones, and a place where they can interact since they are too young for Facebook! However, this forum is open to all, whether you are 6 or 60, home schooled, in college, a mom, a dad, a toddler, a drop-out. Or other. Now you have to fit ONE of those categories, so you are welcome here. [You don't have to be old enough to write. You can dictate.] I suppose it goes without saying that all entries MUST be, in my opinion, in good taste. If they're not, I'll delete them. Sorry. You get to be the Boss of your own blog.

In the past, I have loved the mix of ages and perspectives. Please feel free to share this site with others. The subjects / assignments will generally be updated weekly, or approximately so. So here's our re-launch!

To welcome back our old friend October, we will have
TWO poetry assignments. The first will be today; the
second will be next Wednesday. Today's must follow
these rules:

1. It must be a tribute to October (or anything October brings),
a thankful hymn for it, or a verse describing it.

2. It can rhyme -- or not.

3. It must mention or refer to a color (such as red, or blushing...
it doesn't have to be the name of a crayon).

4. Funny, serious, sad, whatever.

5. It can mention October (or not).

6. It can be anywhere from 2 to 8 lines.

7. You can write as many poems as you want.
(Make each a separate entry --you make an entry by commenting).

Okay, ready? Go!

Your Calendar Just Got Full

2008-09-15T12:03:00.007-04:00

Yep, election time is approaching fast.
So in order to REALLY get to know the candidates, let's say you are given the opportunity to visit on

Monday with Obama

Tuesday with McCain

Wednesday with Biden

Thursday with Palin

Friday with Ron Paul

and do the following things to find out who they really are:

1. Play any table game / board game, or outdoor sport (your choice) with each candidate. Which game, and why?

2. Take him or her out to any restaurant you choose, for small talk. Which one, and why?

3. Ask the candidate one hypothetical question, such as "If you were in office and...."

4. Ask the candidate the following question: "What is your favorite....? "

5. Ask one completely random question, your choice.

6. Take the candidate to a national landmark, where you can take it in together, and where you can have a picture made with the candidate. Which landmark?

7. And just for fun, What would you wear??

It will be simpler if you answer each question the same for each candidate/ day of the week. You can wash your outfit each night : )
But if you want to tailor each day differently, feel free.

Noah Buncha Good Names?

2008-09-06T21:19:00.006-04:00

As you've probably noticed (if you've been around this blog for a while), there is a good bit of variety to the challenges I post. This is, of course, intentional. A few of you love a good writing challenge, even if it means devoting 5 or 10 minutes (or even more) to it. Others see the serious assignment as just that -- an assignment, thanks but no thanks.

So I try to strike a balance. Some more -- shall we say -- strenuous exercises, for those of you who came over for a good stretch.... and some quick and painless toe-touches for the rest of you.

Today, once again, you get off easy. You won't even have to break a sweat.

Today's focus is not so much on your organizational ability, your lovely framing of ideas or events, or your ability to rhyme or even to remember. Today you get to show (yourself) that you can succinctly sum up (or name) a mental image. Or ten.

Sound daunting? Nah.

Here it is:

Pretend for a moment you are Noah (this can be a first century Noah, or a present day Noah). Or Mrs. Noah. But here is your task:
To keep the animals straight (and to pass a lot of ark time), you've decided to name some of the animals. Thinking of them as pets make this job a little less arduous, especially around Day 39 of closed doors.

So, what (pet) names would you give the following list of critters? (Each couple needs 2 names, like Fred & Ethel.)

1. Mr. & Mrs. Alligator
2. Mr. & Mrs. Flamingo
3. Mr. & Mrs. Boa
4. Mr. & Mrs. Sloth
5. Mr. & Mrs. Rabbit
6. Mr. & Mrs. _________
7. Mr. & Mrs. _________
8. Mr. & Mrs. _________
9. Mr. & Mrs._________
10. Mr. & Mrs. _________

You may pick and choose any 5 of the ten couples listed, filling in your own animals or using mine.

Now aren't you glad you stopped by ?
: ) I am.

Keepsakes

2008-08-18T22:43:00.009-04:00

Easy time.

Complete the following sentence:

If I could somehow set in stone three memories from the past year, so that I could always remember them vividly, those memories would be:
1.
2.
3.

There you go. We're all ears : )

"One small step for man...."

2008-08-07T00:18:00.003-04:00

Okay, the new list has been released, and your name is on it! You get to be on the next space shuttle flight!
Of course, the media is camped out in your yard to get the big interview, and here are some of their questions:

1. What are you most looking forward to about the trip?

2. What part makes you nervous?

3. You're leaving in a month, and you'll be gone for 3 weeks. Anything you'll miss at home?

4. If you get to broadcast one sentence to earth from space, what can you imagine yourself saying?

5. Do you envision any difficulties readjusting to being back home?

Well? What do you say?

You Really Otter Join Us

2008-07-27T18:28:00.006-04:00

Well, since all of two people remember being seven, a little memory work appears to be in order (although the same can be said for me, since my once-weekly postings have been so random lately).
That's okay, we'll do something different. Don't want to tax those over-worked memory banks for too long!

(But thanks to both of you, and if someone else suddenly remembers being 7, feel free to post on that last entry.)

How about some new poetry? (Wait, come back. You can do this.)

You might remember last year's haikus. Well, let's try cinquains this time.
Easy cheesy. Like this.

Five line poem.
Line 1: a one-word title, a noun that tells what the poem is about
Line 2: two adjectives describing the title
Line 3: three -ing action verbs
Line 4: a related phrase
Line 5: a synonym for the title
(Description from http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=43)

My attempt:

Otters
Playful, babyish
Flipping, darting, gliding
Not a worry in the world
Seapuppies

For your topic, you might choose animals, a certain friend, your favorite shirt. You name it.
Hope you'll share with us.. and feel free to write more than one.
(And by the way, if you are a home schooler and you make serious efforts on any of this site's challenges, you might ask your Mom to let you count it as part of your week's English. It's worth a shot : )

Sweet Seven

2008-07-08T00:51:00.006-04:00

Good grief, what's it been, 6 weeks?

I'm so sorry....we had a wonderful wedding, and I guess I just took time off! But I have a new challenge for you. Something, uh, autobiographical.

I've let it pass, but "today" was 7/7. A pretty cool date, and it is past midnight as I prepare to go to bed. I've been thinking about the number 7, specifically the AGE 7. Our little 7-year-old has had a totally unpredictable year, with LOTS of challenges. It will always be some kind of reference point in her life. But through God's compassion and protection, she is marching through a turbulent year and doing great!

So I began to wonder: Since 7 may be one of the earliest ages many of us remember clearly, can you share a memory of the year you were 7? (If not, you can try years 6 or 8.)

Is there some special day or event that stands out above what may now be a colorful blur in your mind? If so, please share it with us. It doesn't have to be exciting, only something that managed to be a memory.

And just to make it more fun, can you write your account in exactly 7 sentences? (Unless you are not much past 7 now; then I'll be happy with 7 words : )

Oh, and thanks for painting such a terrific picture, Mr. Rockwell : )

If Only...

2008-05-22T22:40:00.005-04:00

Now that was fun! Thanks, everyone who participated! You can still go back and add to the last post if you want.

Okay, something new. Time for an opinion poll, of sorts.
Before I give you the one question, I need to make sure you are in the right frame of mind to answer it.

If you are a student, great.
If you aren't a student, have you ever been one? Well, recall the happy-go-lucky (yeah, right) days of school. Put yourself once again in the schoolroom (or home schoolroom), long enough to answer the question (as you might have back then).
If you're reading this and you've never been a student: Hmm. How'd you manage that?

Here is the question:
If I ran the school, we'd completely do away with this subject: ___________________.
And here's why: __________________________. *

Rules :
1. It's okay to pick the same subject someone else chose. And your answer can be serious, fun, or just wishful thinking. But don't forget the "why?"

*2. And hey, let's add a twist: Whatever letter your subject starts with, you must also have a word in your reason that starts with the same letter. Here is an example:

I think I'd eliminate recess. Why? It takes too much time from our real goal of getting educated. (Sorry, I was trying to pick something no one else would. Don't believe the example for a second : )

Okay, you're on! Just be sure to raise your hand first : )

Happy Lists

2008-05-15T09:26:00.005-04:00

C'mon, I know Mary isn't the only songwriter out there! But thanks, Mary.... I loved it!

Let's see, how about this week.... let's do something easy.

Take the letters of your name (first, middle, last -- you decide) and make a list of some things you like. Each entry can be one word or as many words as you want. You can list foods, activities, any combination of things (or ideas, or people) that grab your fancy or make you smile.

Shouldn't take you long, and since it's easy, maybe I'll be able to tell if we still have an audience. Besides Mary, that is : )

Here is a quick example:

BLOGMARM
B - Babies, and particularly little grandbaby David, who ALWAYS makes us smile.
L - Leisure time to just enjoy home, hearth and loved ones.
O- Open books: Bible, hymnals, fresh blank notebooks.
G- Good friends.
M- My hard-working husband.
A- All my precious family.
R- Roses, and all perky, colorful flowers.
M- Most of the items pictured above (especially the chocolate ones).

Wait! I need more letters.....(and by the way, it's completely okay to use something someone else mentioned. I don't have a monopoly on chocolate. Or babies : )

Tune Time

2008-05-07T22:08:00.006-04:00

Thanks for all your wise nuggets of truth and fun!

And to not leave that last entry dangling, how about

...might just be too bashful to bubble?

(If that makes no sense to you, please see the last post and the creative responses it evoked.)

Okay, didn't really mean to leave that last post up for two weeks, but I got busy! On to new horizons....

Here is a fun job for you for this week:

1. Think of a family member (if that doesn't work, think of a friend).

2. Think of something they DO that drives you slightly nuts (don't get too personal.... we don't want to embarrass anyone).

3. Write a song (a verse or two will do) of, um, appreciation : )

Here's an example:

Tim, Tim
Ring, Ring,
I call you and I call you on your cell...
It's true
That you
Are busy but I call to no avail.

Tim, Tim
Ring, Ring,
You used to see I'd called and call me back...
But now
Somehow
You're successfully impossible to track!

Okay, your turn.

Any Ben Franklins Out There?

2008-04-25T16:57:00.014-04:00

Now that was a fun story!

Thanks to ALL who participated! It was really fun to hear from people who live a distance from our North Carolina, uh, Just Write Office : ) A special thanks to the Bowes Family on the West Coast, who helped keep the last hours of the story hopping! Maybe we'll do it again in 6 months instead of waiting another year....

If you haven't yet read our story (and don't want to wait for the movie), check out the previous post and all the illustrious comments!

I don't want to leave you without a new writing challenge, so here's something you can be chewing on for the next week:

Try your hand at rewriting a well-known expression of wisdom, updating it for today or for your life. Please be very careful to be original and NOT to just use a redone expression you've heard before.

As we often do, we're adding a twist. I will give you the beginning of your saying. The first person who wants to try completing it should

a. Click on "Pencil Scratches"
b. Post the rest of the saying (your way). Start with "...."
c. Add a new "first half" for the next person to complete.
d. (Be careful to use a new "first half" and not one someone else has used.)
e. If these instructions are confusing, look at the "starter" below, then check the first few responses. We've done a few to get everyone started.

Here is the first starter : A bird in the hand.....

Your mind is probably chock-full of wise sayings, but just in case you
need help coming up with a starter, we found a great site with
lots of truisms. They're not all well-known, but you can browse and find that
perfect expression you were trying to remember, or one you'd forgotten about.
(The site includes BIble verses, but please don't rearrange any of those!)
Go to the site, type in a key word or click on a starting letter at the bottom of the page.
http://www.wiseoldsayings.com/wosdirectory.htm

Looking forward to your profound, renovated expressions!

Just - uh - Scouting Out Some Good Writers : )

2008-04-10T10:26:00.003-04:00

Okay, I give up. It's getting harder and harder to get words out of you people! Where did you all go?

So, desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Last year, early in the life of this blog, we all collaborated on a continuous story. Folks around here have been asking for another one.

If you helped out with that story, you might remember that we ended up extending our deadline by four days, and by the time it was over we had 75 entries and a pretty crazy-fun story!

We did have some rules, and I think they worked out well, so I am going to use the same ones again. Here they are, with new dates:

1. I get to start it.

2. Try to keep it unified. Let's keep characters to a few, and events well coordinated (in other words, try to keep the story following some logical sequence). Having said that, you can still surprise us, it can take twists and turns, and it can definitely be funny!

3. Unique handicap: (This is a rule.) You can only add one sentence at a time (but you can add a short exclamation such as Oh! along with your sentence), and your sentence must start with the letter the last person's sentence ended with.

4. You can post as many times as you want, but you cannot post just after your last addition. You have to let there be 2 sentences in between each of your turns.

5. I guess it needs an end, so we'll set this deadline to end the story: Thursday, April 24th. If you really, really want to have the final word, you may have to stay up late, because on the 25th the party's over.

(Hope you read these carefully, because if you don't follow the rules, I have to (oh no!) DELETE your comment. Sorry....)

And by the way, if you want to go back and read our masterpiece from last year, go to the April 19, 2007, post, titled Hope You Don't Mind, Snoopy) .. or click here.

Ready for your opening sentence? (Do I hear a drum roll?)

Once again, we will borrow our opening line (loosely) from one of the masters:

When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem broke his arm.

All Together Now: A Rainbow?

2008-03-20T15:41:00.006-04:00

Not a very politically ambitious lot, are you? Looks like Catherine is elected, or at least she wins the Just Write Nomination! Congratulations! If any of you still want to try your hand at a speech, go back to that post and go for it.

For this assignment, get out your trusty box of Crayolas (at least mentally). I'd love to see you give us a word picture.

Here is your assignment: Complete this sentence, and if you wish, make it into a paragraph:

The ___________est thing I know is _________________.

In the first blank, you must insert a COLOR. In the second blank, insert whatever it takes to complete the thought.

It can be any number of words, sentences or paragraphs, but draw us a word picture. Be creative, be vivid, make us see it. I'd give an example, but I don't want to steal your color. However, you may certainly use a color someone else has used, and you may put as many responses as you like.

I'm looking forward to reading your brilliant observations.... wait, I need to go get my sunglasses first.

Just a Little Invitation ... To A Pretty Big House

2008-03-13T13:24:00.009-04:00

Well, I guess it had to happen.
Someone has complained.
Too cutesy, these last few challenges.
That's what he said (he knows who he is : )
in defense of his lack of participation.

So this one won't be, uh, cutesy.
No babies, no puppies.
Sigh.

So, let's say you are running for President (yep, back to the election).

Just this time, let's say they are letting the age requirement (or maybe born in the U.S.A. requirement) slide. Also the near-requirement of being rich enough to buy support. So you are running.

Let's hear your first speech.
If elected, I will do all I can to.....

Complete that thought, with 5 to 10 resolutions of your own.
It can be serious-as-a-heart-attack, tongue-in-cheek, utterly ridiculous, or a combination. You may list your commitments and stop, or you may compose a speech that would make the history books as proud as they are of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

You might choose to address real, major national issues -- or more fun ones that affect regular people in their daily lives.

And you don't have to think about it forever, unless you are really going for the work of art. Just put something down. Don't even give writer's block a chance!

Okay, why should we vote for you?

It's A Baby's Life

2008-03-06T13:28:00.012-05:00

Thanks to all the pets who visited us and gave us the low-down on their owners! C'mon, people, can you give your furry (or feathered) friends a break ? : )

I felt a little like I was discriminating on that challenge - against the petless. So I figure, everyone knows (or has known) a baby!

Tell us this. What appears to you to be the BEST thing about being a baby? Or if you could change places with one for just part of a day, what part would it be? How does a little one seem to have it made in the shade?

Waiting to hear.....

And hey, if you've never tried your hand at one of our challenges - or if it's been a while - we'd love to have you start this week! Just click on "Pencil Scratches, " then click on "Name / URL" and put your name in the name box. (You can leave the URL box blank if you want.) Or else you can select anonymous if that seems easier, and just type your name in the same box as your comment. There's a big box for you to put your comment in, then click on publish (or preview first if you want).

Oh, and thanks to Anne Geddes for the baby picture. I'm afraid I didn't ask her permission, but I at least want to give her credit.

Payback Time (OR Pet Peeves, Part 2)

2008-02-28T15:35:00.006-05:00

Well, my mom sounded like maybe she'd respond to the Pet Peeve challenge, but I haven't heard yet, so I guess I'll just keep checking it as we move on. I wonder what pet she was going to come up with? The only animals I remember at their place in recent years are squirrels and birds in the yard.... But they've probably got some peeves to share about them!

Thanks for all the great responses... most real, one imaginary. You all did a great job!

Let's see how you do at this.... Pretend for a moment that you ARE your pet. And that the assignment has just been reversed. Pick a pet (it can be the one you wrote about but doesn't absolutely have to be) and tell what about your owner (this would be YOU, of course, or a member of the owning family) -- you (the pet) find very annoying. What do you wish they'd do, or not do , or consider, to make your life easier? What are your, uh, Human Peeves?

If you don't have a pet, you can always use your imaginary one again. (This assignment will require some imagination anyway!) Or you can reach into the past and give voice to a former pet.

Your response might look something like this:
I am Stormie, a poodle, and I belong to Dee Dee and her family. I just wish they'd let me sleep on the bed. Everyone else around here gets to!

Okay, pets ..... it's your turn. Tell your masters what to write ......

PET Peeves, Real and Imagined

2008-02-21T00:25:00.005-05:00

Okay, we'll switch gears a little. All those of you who have been ducking your heads under water until the poetry is over, you can come up now!

But before you read this week's challenge, can you please do us a favor? if you will look around the upper right corner of the page, you will see a place where you can let us know what kind of writing challenges you kind of prefer. Can you go vote on that and then come back? Blogmarm, and the young Blogglings who help her out, will wait right here.

Now that you've given us your vote (or at least tried to.... if cyberspace or your computer doesn't want to cooperate with you for some reason, you are excused), .....

I'd like to hear about your pet peeves.

Wait, it isn't that easy. Your PET peeves. In other words, what does your dog do that drives you NUTS? How does your goldfish act that makes no sense at all? Be sure you tell us your pet's name, what kind of animal, and what the baffling habit is.

Oh, and don't worry if you have no pets. Or if your pet is perfect and simply never peeves you. You're not off the hook. (Thought you were, huh?)
You get to tell us about an imaginary pet. It might be your pet - oh, I don't know - walrus. Picture the big fella, name him, and decide what strange or irritating behavior you might have to contend with, if he were really yours. Consider it a very-mini-novel for us to read.

And if you just feel like picking an imaginary pet instead of your own trusty-true Fido (maybe you don't want to publicly embarrass him : ), that's okay, too. Hopefully we'll be able to tell the difference between the non-fiction reports and the works of literary art. (So if you go fictional, you might as well make your pet far-fetched, to help us out!)

Okay, peeves, anyone?

Garden Musings, in February

2008-02-14T00:17:00.005-05:00

It can be .....

a declaration of love or some other feeling or state of mind...

a marriage proposal...

a math or logic problem...

an observation...

a poem or song, or neither...

something that rhymes, or doesn't....

a question or riddle...

long or short....

profound wisdom....

sheer fun....

But it HAS to contain 4, 8, 12, 16 (multiples of 4) lines....

It HAS to be original (except where it obviously isn't, if that makes any sense)...,

and It HAS to start with these two words:

"Roses are...."

Have fun.

Oh, and Happy Heart Day.

Super What?

2008-02-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, thanks to both of the history buffs.... : ) In case that rather academic assignment scared anyone off, here's another easy one. Answer some of these questions:

1. Did you watch the Super Bowl?

2. If so, with whom?

2b. If so, did your team win?

3. If not, what did you do instead? (You can also tell who you did that with, if you want.) Easy enough to get you to write? (And in case you are even LESS into football than I am, the Super Bowl was Sunday afternoon, the 3rd of February : )

Eleven Score and Twelve Years Ago, Our Forefathers.....

2008-01-28T13:26:00.000-05:00

Okay, a challenge for the history buffs (well, that leaves me out).

It's getting close to election time (in case you hadn't noticed), and you can't really get through a day without hearing about it. Maybe you have already chosen your perfect candidate (or your he-or-she-will-be-better-than-the-other-choices candidate). Or maybe not. So here is your chance to make your choice easier.

If you could bring back one great leader or thinker (political or otherwise) from the past to run for President (or maybe it's someone present-day who just isn't running), who would it be? Don't feel like you have to dissect or research it to death. I am completely happy with your gut feeling or quick thought on this. And you really don't have to be a history expert at all. Who? And, if you want to add why, go right ahead.

As always, this challenge is open to kids, parents, grandparents and anyone else who wants to join in!

Live and Learn

2008-01-18T12:45:00.000-05:00

(Thanks for the poem, Catherine : )

Okay, here's an easier one, guys.

Rack your brains (just a little, you don't have to write any poetry today) and tell us about a purchase you made that you'd love to go back and undo. In other words, WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU BUY IT???

I could probably tell you about at least one per week, but if you can, take one from the past year. Or if you need to, you can use any year at all. Just tell us about it..... It can be a car, a pair of boots, or maybe a candy bar. You name it.

And if you want, you can tell us what you'd do with that money if you - sigh - had it back.

Rhyme Time

2008-01-08T12:11:00.001-05:00

I love the cartoon characters! I have a plan for another challenge later on. But for now..... It's poetry time again.

This time, I want you to come up with a few lines of poetry with an AABB rhyme scheme. This means that every pair of lines rhyme. The twist is that the first letters will spell either your subject or something connected to your poem. I'll compose a couple of quick examples (remember I am not spending much time on these and don't expect you to either : )

Fins fanning with grace and poise
In a wet world that has no noise.
Swimming your way, and going where?
Happy in your tank, with scarcely a care.

Happily sipping from my cup
Only till my drink's used up.
The smooth concoction slips right down
Canceling many a worry and frown.
O happy remedy for winter's chill
Comforting cold bones with a toasty thrill!
Outside I can dream of the warmth that I'll find
As I take off my mittens and leave winter behind!

You can do this! Have fun!

As Easy as Pooh, Part 2

2007-12-29T10:51:00.000-05:00

Your friend is back!

He (she) , your friend -- the cartoon character, fictional literary figure or nursery rhyme star -- has come back over to show you all the rest of his presents, the stuff he got after he left your place. Now he needs your help with something. It's almost New Year's Day. Can you help your friend to come up with a fitting new year's resolution? It's okay if you didn't post on the first one, or if you want to pick a new friend....

On Christmas Day, In the Morning....

2007-12-25T01:20:00.001-05:00

Just a short question about your Christmas morning.

What time did you get up?

I am guessing the answer will be more than one or two words (for example, getting up & staying up are two different things.... or maybe someone wouldn't let you GET up, but you were wide awake....)
So we'd love to hear your response! And then, go on back and enjoy your family.
May your Chistmas Day be blessed by the One whose birth we celebrate, and may He be honored in all we do today.

As Easy as Pooh

2007-12-19T01:26:00.001-05:00

Hey, I loved your responses to that one! And such a successful challenge is pretty hard to follow, but I'll try.

Okay, step one: Think of a cartoon character, fictional literary figure, or nursery rhyme star. Tell us your choice (you might want to read ahead before you choose) .

Step two: The character you've chosen has just called you, and he/she is going to spend Christmas Day at your house! Planning for the day, and desiring to make him / her feel completely at home, you want to come up with :

a) Something yummy (entree, dessert, etc. ) your friend would love to sit at your table and share,
OR
b) A fitting gift,
OR
c) A great game to play while he /she is there.

Think hard.... I can't wait to hear your great ideas!

Your Match

2007-12-10T15:07:00.000-05:00

A snowman.
A toothbrush.
An exercise bike.
A goldfish.
A calculator.
A combination lock.
A dictionary.
A volleyball.
An orchard.
A piano.
Monkeybars.
A zipper.
Bagpipes.
A CD.
Fingernail clippers.
A picture frame.
A beluga whale.
A toaster.

Okay, ready? Here is your challenge. Pick 2 of the above. You may not pick the same pair someone else has picked, but you may choose one that's been chosen, just not the same combination.

Now, tell us what you have chosen, and then list 5-10 things that those two things have in common. If you are feeling particularly clever, you may also list one or two (or more!) important differences.

Okay, got your thinking cap on?
Go!

Fa La La La La La La La La

2007-11-29T23:13:00.000-05:00

Ha Ha, that must have not been a great idea.... I started a couple of times myself and didn't manage to get it done!
Ready for another challenge? (Bet you thought I'd retired from this job, huh?)

Well, the season is upon us.... or the interim between seasons, maybe, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A good time for your opinion. Which holiday do you like best? And why?

Is it Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Easter? Or maybe there is another you prefer. We'd love to hear.

And let's see, we need a twist. Well, if I've counted correctly, today there are 26 days until Christmas, so how about making your answer 26 words? Yep. Exactly. Have fun!

Once Upon a Time....

2007-10-16T15:35:00.000-04:00

....when I was very young, I loved to listen as my mother read to me from a big red book of fairy tales, which was Number One in a ten-volume encyclopedia-type set called Collier something (if I remember it right). Eventually I learned to read the books myself, and Red Number One became the most worn volume. I can still remember the old-fashioned, whimsical illustrations in The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. What was it about threes?

Here's your mission (should you decide to accept it) :

Come up with a new fairy tale (nope, it doesn't have to have fairies or magic in it), titling it something like The Three _______ or The Adventures of the Three ___________.
Your "three" can be animals, but they don't have to be.

Wait, wait.... let me get my jammies and my teddy bear....
Okay, now I'm ready to listen.

What's Cookin' At Your Place?

2007-10-07T23:54:00.000-04:00

"Happy Home Recipe"
Mary H. Knopinski

4 c. Love
6 c. Understanding
2 c. Loyalty
5 T. Hope
3 c. Forgiveness
2 T. Tenderness
1 c. Friendship
4 c. Faith
6 c. Kindness
1/2 c. Laughter

Mix Love and Loyalty thoroughly with Faith. Blend in Tenderness, Kindness, and Understanding. Add remaining ingredients and sprinkle generously with Laughter. Bake in sunshine and serve daily.

Okay, I (briefly) searched the internet and found the above "recipe." You've seen them, plaques or needlepoint samplers on the walls of homes, or maybe on throw pillows, with "recipes" for happy homes, happy kitchens, etc. And the ones I've seen really make pretty good sense.

So it's your turn. Please compose your own. It might be a recipe for friendship, a recipe for a boring day, a recipe for a healthy family, a recipe for a good book, a recipe for grandparents (or grandchildren), a recipe for a great pet (no, we're not cooking the pet!), a recipe for getting older (or staying younger), a recipe for success, a recipe for failure, a recipe for misery, a recipe for a great marriage, a recipe for a perfect afternoon, a recipe for -- oh, why not? -- mudpies.

Or a recipe for something else entirely.

Use your imagination..... what "recipe(s)" can you share? And no - in case you find the example somewhat, uh, mushy for your taste - yours doesn't have to be. It can be sweet; it can be tongue-in-cheek; it can be witty. Make yourself at home.

(By the way - in case you were wondering - the man in the picture is Roland Mesnier, who was born in France and grew up to be the White House Executive Pastry Chef for 25 years, before retiring in 2004. The things you take for granted! I didn't even know the job existed.....)

More or Less

2007-10-01T14:13:00.000-04:00

I love to read all that you write! I wish I could really give the trip away....... Okay, another challenge. I hope you'll be brave and take this on. I want every challenge I give out to be fun for you, and if you make an honest effort to contribute, that's it.... you get an A. (Yep, you can tell your mom that; ask her to count it somehow :)

Today, I want you to write a short comparison / contrast piece. Think about 2 pets, 2 uncles, 2 trees in your yard, 2 books you've read, 2 ways you've schooled, 2 outfits, 2 books you've read, 2 of ANYTHING. But choose your topic, and as with any writing task, you've done the hardest part. Next, think about ways those 2 _________s are alike, and how they are different. And tell us. Use 5 - 10 sentences. Don't stress over it, just give it a try and see what happens. Waiting to read!

Tickets to Dreamland

2007-09-22T16:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, there's this IMAGINARY (sorry) mini-essay contest.

Rules are: In ten sentences or less, you are to tell the three places in the WORLD you'd love to visit - and WHY - or WHAT you'd love to do or see there . . . . and if you win, VOILA! -- "they" will hand you the airplane tickets (for yourself and ten or twenty others that you'd like to bring).

You'll get to stay at each location for a week, and "they" will also provide travel money to cover meals, lodging and souvenirs! So, what would you say in your (hopefully winning) short essay?

(If I find out who "they" are, I'll let you know!)

Sweet Dreams. . .

Summer and Winter, and Springtime and Harvest...

2007-09-11T19:22:00.000-04:00

Today as I stood in the yard, with my back to a rather rare and rambunctious wind, I found myself bewildered. Were the clouds trying to rain? If so, I never saw a drop. Was it just time to usher in the fall? (The leaves were definitely getting busy ....) I'd forgotten there was a hurricane - Gabrielle, I believe - coming in somewhere.

But the thoughts of fall and its impending arrival have made me think. And now I want to make you think.

Tell us: What is your favorite season? And why? And just for fun, use exactly twenty-eight words.

Waiting to hear!

Making Every Dollar (I Mean Word) Count

2007-09-03T00:15:00.000-04:00

I remember teachers in school who were big on expensive words.

They'd say things like, "Why use a ten cent word, when you can use a five dollar word? " Meaning, make it visual, make your writing come to life, liven it up!

For example, which of these sentences is more fun?

(a) They danced all night.

OR

(b) The lively young couple, lost in the thrill of newfound love, frolicked and bounded all over the busy, dusty barn floor until the sun peeped through the little rough-cut windows, when they collapsed in laughter on the perimeter of golden hay.

(Silly, I know. I don't spend much time on these, but you get the idea.)

So.... ready? I will give you one measly boring sentence (like "a" above), and you turn it into a "b." You can go many directions with this, so I am only giving out one "a" and hoping to receive a a lot of "b's" for it. You are only limited by your imagination (and your very good taste).

(a) The bird went away.

Okay, "b's," anyone?

On The Wild Slide

2007-08-26T21:49:00.000-04:00

Guess what? We had a really fun day at Emerald Pointe yesterday.

Let's suppose you've just gotten a letter from the powers-that-be at Emerald Pointe Wet & Wild, and they (having heard about your great imagination and intelligence) have requested that you design and develop a new ride, slide or attraction for their already cool water park. They need for you to put your idea into words and mail it back to them right away. (You also might wish to draw a sketch or two, for your personal files, to help you visualize your new masterpiece.)

So tell us, what will we all be lining up for next year??

Inspired to Admire

2007-08-14T23:13:00.000-04:00

Okay, you can put your cute pets away..... that was fun!

New assignment: Write about someone you admire. Tell us who, and why.

RULES : (Please read carefully!)

1. It cannot be your mom or dad. Hopefully you do admire them, but maybe you can do that one privately sometime and give it to your parent(s) if you wish. Or save it and write a book about them when you're grown (if you ever have the time to spare :)

2. It can be anyone else, present day, past, someone you know, someone you wish you knew, someone real (not fictional).

3. It can be as many sentences as you want, but it must be 31 words. Nope, not "at least 31." Or "no more than 31." THIRTY- ONE. Exactly. ( Why 31? Because challenges are fun!)

4. If you can't narrow it down to one person, you can do as many entries as you want. 31 words. Each. Go for it!

Tour of the New Zoo

2007-08-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

Okay, let's do something fun for the younger set. Your assignment today (old or young) is to make up an animal. Maybe he or she would be your perfect pet - or your perfect game to hunt! Whichever, describe it to us. Would it be a reptile, a fish, or a new class of animal altogether? Fur or scales? Color? Spots? SIZE? or size?

What kind of sound would it make, or how many teeth would it have?
How many legs, wings or trunks? What would it eat? Would it be cuddly, or ferocious? (And if you had one for a pet, what would you name it? What games would you play with it?) Would it make a helpful contribution to the world, or to your life?

You don't have to answer all these questions; just help us get to know your fictional creature.

It's Rhymin' Time Again...

2007-07-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

Poets?? POETS !!
Where'd you go?
It's time for another poem...

Please use these guidelines as you fashion your lovely verse:

2 stanzas, 4 lines each. That means 8 lines.
Rhyme scheme:
A
B
A
B

C
D
C
D

Which only means that, in each part, the first & third line rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme.
And write it about someone. It can be about the Lord, or it can be about your mom or your
brother or, okay, a pet.
It can be mushy-sweet, tearfully sad, or burst-out-laughing-funny. Or it can be cute. You decide. You can give it a title. Or not. You can make it like a letter to someone, or a
description of someone.
Just make it yours. Okay, wow me!

Help Me Write a Rainbow

2007-07-22T18:23:00.000-04:00

I love to read the things you write!

Okay, let's try something new. This will take some courage, so if you are a shy writer, YOU CAN DO THIS.
I want you to brush off your palette of great words, and paint me a word picture - of a color.
But don't say the color. At least don't say its common name. Just make us see that color, and just maybe you can give us a hint or two, to make that color come to mind.

For example, I'll draw you a picture of a less basic color, just so you know what I mean:

Stranded on the desert island, they found an old, still-corked bottle of vintage which had washed up just after them. It was wrapped in Victorian Christmas ribbons, which they ripped off, pouring out its contents to write an impassioned SOS in the white sand.

Okay, that wasn't a work of art, and it isn't too chock-full of examples, but what color did it make you think of? There were two or three pictures I tried to draw of the color (you'll think of more with primary colors), and one play on words. You can use other words for your color, instead of its well-known name. Just try not to be too obvious. Make us work a little, or at least make yourself work to paint us a picture.

Before you begin, see who can guess my color. Then we'll guess each other's colors (if that works..... we'll see : )

Hint: there may be more than one name for this color, but only one is the answer and fits the two examples and the play on words.

So try it! Guess mine, and then try your hand at painting with words.

From A to Z,.... From Z to A ,.....Original's the Only Way : )

2007-07-14T22:57:00.000-04:00

Those of you who know what a typewriter is probably remember typing, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." I knew that it was a sentence using all letters of the alphabet, but I just learned that it is a pangram, which is: a phrase using all the letters of the alphabet.

So, got any more? Can you write a pangram? I'd prefer that you make it a complete sentence, but just make sure it is a pangram, and that you make it up. (Don't just go searching for them on the computer. We want ORIGINAL here.)

Have fun.
(And the uniforms were pretty cute. Maybe we should plan a fashion show and model them.)

Plaid Pleated Skirts?

2007-07-07T00:17:00.000-04:00

Thanks, everyone (whose name is Catherine :)
Good job!
Okay, guys, it's like pulling teeth with some of you! Well, maybe this week's assignment will be more your .....ah .... style.
Which is exactly the week's topic. Style.
Imagine, if you will, that you pick up your newspaper tomorrow morning and see the following news article:

NEW LAW FOR HOME SCHOOLS

A new law has been passed that all home schoolers must now wear uniforms.
Each home school may have its own attire (or even one for each day of the week, or
seasonal uniforms). The uniforms may be chosen or designed by anyone who attends
the school or teaches there.

Well? Consider yourself chosen. What'll it be for your school? (And if you've already graduated, what would you have chosen when you were still home schooling ?) What uniform(s) would you choose or design for your beloved school?

Seize the Day

2007-06-29T18:11:00.000-04:00

Okay, great job, everyone! Time to move on and think a little bigger.

For this week's assignment, think hard and remember the halls of your high school. What's that you say? You're home schooled?? You're (take your pick) not in high school, already finished with high school, a home school mom, or ..... the halls of your home school are covered with hand prints? Great, just the audience I thought I was addressing.

So, think of that dear school; try hard to remember it. Close your eyes if you need to (or open them and look around if you are still there!).....and this week, try your hand at writing an alma mater for your beloved school.

Alma mater ..... that would be very loosely translated : school song. (The phrase can also refer to your beloved school.) If several of you share the same school, you have several options. You can put your heads together to come up with a good song, you can each write a verse, or you can each write a song. You can put it to music if you like, although you'll have to figure out a way to share the tune with us. You can still write it if you've already graduated (or, uh, flunked out). If by chance you want to write one for a non-home school you've attended (college or any other school), even if they already have one, you can make up one of your own. If you've already written one for your school, we'd love to hear it! Or maybe you want to save that for a time when you can spend more time to make it perfect. No problem, just come up with a fun one for now.

Your song can be serious or silly, but make it something that shows the special-ness of your school. It can be long or short. This is not meant to be an act of worship for your school, but it is a kind of tribute, through which you can bring tears to the eyes of the singer.... or make them giggle as they remember. Whatever. It's your song.

(By the way, any home school teachers reading this post, you don't have to go back through the halls of time and write about the school you went to - unless you want to. You can work on one - alone or with help - for the place where you teach, or have taught. And if everyone in your family prefers to work alone, it's perfectly all right if we end up with 5 alma maters for the Podunk Home Academy of Flexible Learning. Or whatever your school is called.)

As an example, I researched alma maters & found a web site where some people were discussing writing them.
Here's a clip -- and someone called Southport Jim's brief and rather cute attempt. Please excuse his use of the "s" word below ; it's pretty much a no-no at our house : )

Conrats!! :D My high school had a terribly stupid alma mater . . .
High school Alma Maters are SUPPOSED to be terribly stupid...it's an incentive to graduate and go off to college so you never have to hear it again!
Worked pretty well for me...

"All hail to thee our high school,
Our hats are off to thee,
Forever you will find us,
Deedle de de deedle dee!"
Go BULLDAWGS! ;-)
(http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-38304.html)

If you want, you can also research some real ones to get a feel for them. But remember to make it yours. Make it something that brings your school -- or the people who attend/teach/ live there -- to mind.

Happy singing..... I'd better go find my Kleen-ex box.

Write Right, All RIght?

2007-06-18T18:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the beautiful psalms you posted. I was very blessed.

Okay, time for something easy. Time to try your hand at making a sentence that uses a word (or something that sounds like the word) in more than one way. A little like our recent puns, but not exactly. Personally, I get very confused by the whole homophone / homonym thing, but you can use words that are spelled the same - or not. They just have to sound alike. You can post as many times as you want, and seek to be original or interesting. You can write a sentence, a poem, a song if you like. Use two or more words that sound the same. You might even have 3 pairs of words in your sentence.

But think along these lines:
I blew that silly balloon until my face was blue!
OR
How I long for the long days of summer.

Now, surprise us with how original you can be!

My Heart is Overflowing with a Good Theme.....

2007-06-09T21:12:00.001-04:00

When you look at the top of this page, do you see a verse? It should say:

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. - Psalm 45 : 1

So this week, let's do that. I would love to see you write a psalm. No, it won't be Scripture. Scripture is God's Word, alive and sacred. But, do you think you could write a psalm from your own perspective?

If you don't know where to begin, you might choose a specific chapter (or part of a chapter) from Psalms, and use its structure to write your own "psalm." You might want to reflect its excitement, reassurance or faith, with utmost reverence, but from a slightly new environment.

For example, just as David used the analogy of a shepherd caring for his sheep, you might express how God cares for you sort of like you care for your _______. Tell about praising Him with musical instruments you know, or how he protects you from different enemies than the Old Testament Psalmist faced. You decide. If you elect to use a particular Psalm as a model, please let us know which Psalm (or verses) you are using, so that we can read it and see what inspired you.

Our entries will be "psalms," or songs of praise, colored a bit by our culture, but we'll never presume that they are Scripture themselves!

So, hoping the assignment is clear, I look forward to your "composition concerning the King." May He be honored in all we do.

Curds, Anyone?

2007-06-02T11:16:00.000-04:00

New category: I had thought about asking you to rewrite or add to some nursery rhyme for your new challenge, but I've decided that is too broad. Instead, I'm providing the rhyme.
Remember this one?

Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider
That sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Well, here is your chance to be the next Mother Goose (or Father Gander)! You may rewrite the above verse in any way you want. You may change her name, the name of whatever in the world she's sitting on, her visitor, you name it. Or you may use the poem just as it is an add a second verse to follow it up. So pull up a tuffet, scratch your head, and jot something down! You don't need an example this time. Maybe I'll add one in later....

Proceed With Caution

2007-05-25T13:23:00.000-04:00

I always feel torn as I give out a new assignment... because I've enjoyed the last one so much. And please remember that it is okay to keep adding to all the ones we've done so far (except the continuous story; sorry, it's over) !

So here is your new challenge. Think back on your driving history (or your history as a passenger, cyclist or pedestrian). Can you come up with a new traffic sign(or 5 or 6)? Maybe you've had a mishap that just the right sign might have prevented, or maybe you just think the world needs a few new signs. Have fun, and if you are really sure about your suggestion, maybe you need to let the North Carolina DMV people know (but be careful which person you approach; many of them don't seem to have a sense of humor......)

Example: Watch Out for Falling Acorns

Time To Type!

2007-05-18T10:43:00.000-04:00

Ready for something new? The limericks were great! Y'all keep impressing me with your literary skill. (Although it did not escape my attention that a few people sat that one out. And I know where you are!) Okay, here's a pop quiz for you. Well, just a one-question quiz. How many of you know what alliteration is? Time's up! If your answer was something like this, give yourself a 100%: Alliteration is a literary device where the author repeats the same beginning letter or beginning sound to add interest or emphasis to a work. (Well, that's my definition, and it's probably not how an English teacher would define it, but I think it's accurate. Let me know if it's not!)

So here is your new assignment (Please read the rules carefully) : You are to create such a work (it can be 1 - 5 sentences). It can be a statement, an observation, a story, a poem, or a song, whatever! But use alliteration. And guess what? Not just any alliteration. You must use the beginning letter(or sound) of your first name (or whatever name you go by) as your repeated sound. Now if your name is, say, Brenda, you might choose to use "b" or you might choose to use "br." It's up to you.

So here's a quick example:

Daphne delighted in dancing with David daily, but she dreaded the day that Dave dipped her too deeply and dropped her to her death.

If you really have fun with this, you might want to do another with your same letter, or with the beginning of your middle or last name. But do the name you are known by first.

I'm ready to read!

Calling All Poets

2007-05-08T08:56:00.000-04:00

Great job! Okay, groaning time is over (I loved it). Ready for a new challenge? I am.

How are you at writing limericks?

Just remember, a limerick is a poem (often humorous) where lines 1, 2 & 5 rhyme with each other; and then lines 3 & 4, which are shorter, rhyme with each other. So the rhyme scheme is:

I've written one below, to show you how easy it is (Mine is not great art, but, hey, yours doesn't have to be either! : )

There was once a young green iguana

Who sneaked into his master's large sauna

When his owner - quite steamed -

Nearly sat on him, he screamed:
"GET OUT!"... but the lizard just didn't wanna.

Start your engines........... and we're off !

Time to Groan

2007-05-01T12:04:00.000-04:00

Wow, I'm tired, and you guys did most of the work! Thanks so much for joining in. We had a lot of fun with the story adventure.

Ready for something new? Well, how is your punnybone? This may be a little harder for the younger set, but you can always enlist help ( try JT, he's a natural at this....).

As you may know, a pun is a play on words, something that is funny (or not) because a word can be used in different ways. This week, you are to come up with a sentence that contains a fun pun, and where the rest of the sentence works with the pun. You might think of one right off the bat, or you might just try to think of a word that has more than one meaning and build a sentence around it. Words with lots of syllables (like in #4, below) sometimes work great! Or you can define a word in a "punny" way. And, as before, you can put as many as you want. You don't even have to wait on 2 people this time.

Here are some examples I came up with, to get you started (you might have to think about them before they will make sense):

1. Permanent wave: What Miss America's hand was cramped into, after the parade.

2. "I know there was a truckload of hay in that barn yesterday!" Farmer Joe said loftily.

3. "But, Doctor, I have no idea how I managed to swallow the peach seeds," she wailed pitifully.

4. "But Dad! Lassie's gotten into the canteloupes again!" hollered Farmer Joe's boy, Hick, in a melancholy voice.

(By the way, the lovely pastry above is a ......pi. Think twice before you enlist Ben's help with Christmas dinner. :)

Your turn.........

Hope You Don't Mind, Snoopy

2007-04-19T21:07:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: THE DEADLINE FOR OUR STORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY, APRIL 30TH. NEW CHALLENGE WILL START ON TUESDAY.

It's time!
Time for another challenge. Thanks so much for all your entries on the last post. It was such fun to read your reflections!

Okay, it had to happen. A continuous story.
But to keep it lively and to keep it from launching into oblivious silliness, I am setting up a few rules. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.

1. I get to start it.

2. Try to keep it unified. Let's keep characters to a few, and events well coordinated (in other words, try to keep the story following some logical sequence). Having said that, you can still surprise us, it can take twists and turns, and it can definitely be funny!

3. Unique handicap: (This is a rule.) You can only add one sentence at a time (but you can add a short exclamation such as Oh! along with your sentence), and your sentence must start with the letter the last person's sentence ended with.

4. You can post as many times as you want, but you cannot post just after your last addition. You have to let there be 2 sentences in between each of your turns.

5. I guess it needs an end, so we'll set this deadline to end the story: Thursday, the 26th. If you really, really want to have the final word, you may have to stay up late, because on the 27th the party's over.

So I am taking a deep breath and trying to trust you guys on this!
For the story's original sentence, something not at all original. I am borrowing from Snoopy (or whoever Charles Schultz borrowed from):

It was a dark and stormy night.

Okay, your turn.

Since No One Chose Japan......

2007-04-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

Okay, easy's up. Now you get to move on to the bigger stuff.
Easter is just past, and spring has sort of sprung (don't worry, it''ll be back), so let's mark the moment. How are you at ..... haikus??
In case your memory needs refreshing, here's some information I found in trying to nail down an official definition:
....."a seventeen syllable Japanese Poem three lines long with the form of five syllables in the first and third line and seven syllables in the [second]"...."they often attempt to capture a mood or a feeling"...
Okay, just in case you need an example, I'll give you one, on a possibly remote topic so I don't steal your best idea:

Worms

Squirming in gardens,
Swimming in scummy puddles...
Glad I'm a late bird.

So, what'll it be, Spring, Easter, or something else close to your heart (or your funnybone) ?
Can't wait to read what you'll come up with!

Geography, Anyone?

2007-04-05T21:17:00.000-04:00

Blog marm returns. Good trip, good to be home.
Ready for a new challenge? Hope so!

Okay, your new assignment is inspired by my recent journey. Pick a state, country or any location you have been to (or okay, want to go to.....) and make an acrostic (or would it be called an acronym? Let me know : ) ......about the trip (or the imagined trip) ! Here is mine. Bet yours will be better. You can do more than one.

GEORGIA : Gliding Easily Over Roads.... Gas Is Astronomical !!

Have fun!

Your First Challenge

2007-03-27T23:24:00.000-04:00

Here it is - your first challenge. A very easy one, so I don't scare you off. Let's all work together on this. (You can enter more than one response, but be sure to sign at least your first name or to somehow identify yourself. I'm assuming you have a parent's okay to do this anyway, so if you have a concern about giving your name, ask your mom or dad.)

Enter the longest word you can think of, in which the letters are in alphabetical order. No fair just combing through the dictionary.... you have to think. If you already have a word in mind, you can check for spelling. Everyone enter something; it doesn't have to be the longest one entered so far.... write one down even if it isn't as long as the last guy's. If you are only 6, feel free to write something like "at." (And because this is a multi-age, multi-level forum, if an assignment, including this one, is too hard for you to understand or to complete on your own, it's fine to enlist some help.) But let's see how many words we end up with, and what the longest word is......

Welcome to Just Write !

2007-03-27T22:48:00.000-04:00

Of course, you're thinking. Just what I need, another blog to check on. It's not like I don't have enough distractions.....

Well, take heart. You are welcome to drop in and out as you please. But here's what I (The Blog Marm) hope will happen: You'll enjoy stopping in occasionally for a light-hearted challenge.

Yep, challenge.

Each week you'll be given a new writing mini-adventure. You'll be asked to write a small composition, poem or maybe just one or two words, as assigned. Don't groan, it'll be fun. Just click on comments, and instead of commenting, post your work. Each challenge will be something that you can do without taking much time, without sweating or suffering, and without fear of being graded. I hope that you will simply enjoy the fun of writing something in response to each challenge. Just please be sure to identify yourself on your entry. You might need to do that in the body of the "comment" so we know who you are.

Some questions that might be on your mind:
How old do I have to be? Not an issue. Go for it.

Did my mom put you up to this? Nope, not unless your last name is Rauscher.

So check in and see what you get to write this week. (Bonus: You get to read what everyone else writes, too!)