Tonnye Fletcher
  • WELCOME
  • About
  • PBJamz
  • Snippets: Bits of Life blog
  • The WordSmithery
  • Tonnye Speaks
  • Tonnye Writes
  • Tonnye Reads
  • Contact
  • Events
  • WELCOME
  • About
  • PBJamz
  • Snippets: Bits of Life blog
  • The WordSmithery
  • Tonnye Speaks
  • Tonnye Writes
  • Tonnye Reads
  • Contact
  • Events

"Snippet" -- a small piece or brief extract

Fall Frenzy. . . and Fall Writing Frenzy

10/2/2021

9 Comments

 

Fall Frenzy . . . 

When I tell you that Fall has been a frenzy this year, believe me.  Summer was wonderful -- still FULL, but full of summer school and writing and travel and relaxation and leadership conference for NCRA, and more travel and friends and family and. . . . . Then August came -- and the frenzy began.  We were traveling to GA to spend time with family on the heels of making a decision to open our new family venture -- Serendipity: Vintage, Gifts, and Antiques. Currently, we just have a little 6x8 booth in an antique mall an hour away.  Between starting from scratch with that, (You can read my earlier blog post for more details on that here: ​https://www.tonnyefletcher.com/snippets-bits-of-life-blog/our-serendipity-story ) starting a brand new school year (still in the middle of a pandemic), starting up year 6 (I think) of CCNCRA, our local NCRA council (of which I'm serving as president this year), home improvements and family /house responsibilities, my writing time has SUFFERED!  Bigtime!  My nice organized writing life with its schedules and goals went flying out the window at jet speed!  It has taken me a while to get things back going, and it's still not where I want it, but I was able to attend SCBWI-Carolinas' conference, and I had a couple of writing pieces accepted by them for inclusion in a little anthology they are putting together. I've managed a few drafts and critiques and revisions during this time, but it has not been at my normal productivity. In fact, I didn't manage a single blog post in September!  But, it's okay.  Life happens.  And you have to live it.  And that, brings me to Fall WRITING Frenzy!
Picture

​Fall Writing Frenzy

I love Twitter writing contests!  You can read more about my history with them in several blog posts, including this one: https://www.tonnyefletcher.com/snippets-bits-of-life-blog/what-i-gain-from-losing
It is time once again for Fall Writing Frenzy!  I love visual prompts, so this is one of my favorites.  The organizers give us about 15 photos of the season to choose from and our task is to write a story or poem related to one of the images in less than 200 words. You can read all the entries and find out more at Lydia's blog here: ​https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/fallwritingfrenzy-2021-rules/

Normally, I like to write about several of the photos and then choose my favorite with the help of some of my critique partners.  However, since Fall was a frenzy with some writing thrown in ;-), I only had time to write one story this year.  This photo spoke to me.  It was beautiful and eery -- the perfect mix of dark and light.  It led me to a story very unlike MOST of my stories -- since this one is more dark than light, and for an older audience of kidlit than I usually write. This one is young adult (YA), and checks in at 156 words. I hope you like it -- or at least find it interesting.

Picture

Scythe

Scythe hung ominously, severing clouds to allow vision.  It was important to see tonight, but his light was waning. 

Harvest season -- he surveyed the town.  Who would he harvest to restore his light rather than fade into utter darkness?

His sharp eyes zoomed in, illuminating the young homeless man: both he and the whiskey bottle half empty, Scythe snorted. Liver wasted, brain fried.  He’s not worth harvesting. No spark, no light.

His dark light sought another:  A  teenager, licking her wounds from the boyfriend.  He had ditched her for someone else. She had considered taking her own life.  Nah. Her glow has already faded.

Scouring the outskirts, a young woman caught his eye.  As she walked, her bright scarf created a ribbon of color in the night, and she hummed a cheery tune.  Light. FULL. OF. LIGHT.  She can restore the light.

Scythe slid behind the clouds as his evil blade struck and, temporarily,  darkness swallowed light.


9 Comments
Molly Ippolito
10/2/2021 05:08:30 pm

WOW! I love this piece! What fun to experiment outside of your go-to writing style. I think you nailed it with this one! Good luck!

Reply
Ann Lynn link
10/2/2021 06:18:31 pm

Well written Tonnye! Now I want to know more, and usually I don't like stories like this, I'm too much of a wuss, lol. I like the description of Scythe (great name choice) severing the clouds so he could see. I WAS going to go outside and check out the stars (meteor showers starting tonight), but if I see the moon, I will think of your story and have my flashlight IN my hand. trembling, but excited for your writing experiment. Good luck! Peace, Annie

Reply
Armineh Manookian
10/2/2021 06:43:00 pm

LOVE the language here, Tonnye-"severing clouds" & "both he and the whiskey bottle half empty" are some of my favorites. Nice work!

Reply
Kari Gonzalez
10/2/2021 08:15:07 pm

Tonnye, what an awesome story! Love the name Scythe! Unique POV, excellent visuals and such a clever closing line. Wishing you the very best of luck!

Reply
Melisa Wrex
10/3/2021 06:49:43 am

Well, normally I like the moon, but right now, not so much. I DO find this piece interesting, Tonnye, if a bit creepy and I know that was your intention. He's certainly not very nice. Good job at unsettling me. --Melisa Wrex @mowrex (Twitter)

Reply
Sarah Meade
10/3/2021 11:00:18 am

Wow! This is so creepy and haunting. Great job, Tonnye!

Reply
Katie link
10/3/2021 02:01:52 pm

That is spine-tingly creepy, and such vivid descriptions. Wow.

Reply
Lola A.
10/4/2021 06:48:30 am

oooh!!! Nice and creepy! Love the imagery!

Reply
Bonnie Kelso link
10/25/2021 09:25:07 am

Nice job, Tonnye. You do dark well. And I mean that in the most positive way. Congrats!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    I've been a teacher of K-3 students for over 20 years; I'm also a writer of poems, short stories, devotionals and picture books.  I'm wife to an amazing husband and mom to Sparkles, Mocha, and Rusty -- our feline fur babies .  I love reading, writing, singing and listening to music.  I enjoy nature, Bible study and spending time with friends and family!

    Subscribe

    * indicates required

    Sign up above for a periodic newsletter (monthly or less) and updates to Snippets and PBJamz.

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020

    Categories

    All
    Trusting God

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from Eckart Schaper