Tonnye Fletcher
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"Snippet" -- a small piece or brief extract

Fall Writing Frenzy

10/1/2022

13 Comments

 
Twitter has connections to all sorts of writing contests -- each with their own little twist. Fall Writing Frenzy is one of my favorites.  There's something about this spooky time of year that entices me into the young adult space within the kidlit kingdom. Usually, I write sweet, educational, and sometimes funny picture books, but each Fall, I feel compelled to write something a bit. . . darker.  I also love that this particular contest uses images to inspire us.  Visual prompts are some of my favorites.    When you see this beautiful wooded path in the Fall, what do you imagine?

Well, here's what I imagined:
Picture


Scarlett and the Flute

The path through the woods 
stretched before her, 
littered with leaf confetti 
in a thousand shades of autumn. 
Biscuits and apple butter
Hid under the red gingham cloth
Covering the basket.
 
Scarlett skipped, then slowed. 
She craned her head to hear . . .
a flute? 

A shadow danced ahead. 
Then, disappeared. 
What was that? 

Music again.  
Chilling, haunting music.
It was calling her.
Stay on the path.
Grandmother’s House is not much further.


The flute beckoned.
She turned.
Grandmother is waiting.

She stepped off the path, 
Unable to resist
The flute.

Compelling, drawing . . .
Eerie trills beckoning . . . .
Soon, she was in the thick of the woods,
With only the flute to guide her.
Her name floated on the breeze
With the melody.
She followed the music,
Step.
By.
Step. . .
Note.
By.
Note. . .



I must follow.
No. . . .Grandmother . . 


The flute. . . 

A clearing.

A wolf, playing. . .

A flute.

She dropped the basket.

Goodbye, Scarlett

​
13 Comments
Lindsey Hobson link
10/2/2022 05:27:16 am

Wow, Tonnye! Great job building tension. I loved it!

Reply
Judith Zeilenga
10/2/2022 05:46:50 am

This is amazing, Tonnye! 🙌

Reply
Ellen Slanczka
10/2/2022 05:50:29 am

Nailed it!

Reply
Ann Harrell link
10/2/2022 06:23:22 am

Captivating! Really held my attention as the tension built.
PS great to meet you “in person” at the conference!

Reply
Lauri Meyers link
10/2/2022 10:14:44 am

No!! Scarlet! Stay on the path! Your lovely word choices dance through the woods.

Reply
Jill Purtee link
10/2/2022 11:01:01 am

Love this description: littered with leaf confetti.

Reply
Becky Walker link
10/2/2022 11:12:05 am

Fantastic job- the imagery, the tension, the ending…I loved it!

Reply
Sarah Meade link
10/2/2022 11:17:02 am

Tonnye, I love it! So much tension, amazing pacing, deliciously creepy, and such a cryptic ending. Nicely done!

Reply
Maryna Doughty
10/2/2022 02:17:44 pm

Woo! Tonnye, that was so good! Gave me chills! I loved this line in the beginning "littered with leaf confetti." And I love this version of Little Red Riding Hood. Great job!

Reply
Darla Christie
10/2/2022 06:57:43 pm

Love this, Tonnye! It’s haunting and surprising, just like the melody of the flute.

Reply
Susan Elizabeth Schipper link
10/2/2022 07:25:12 pm

Loved the way tension builds! Great job, Tonnye! :)

Reply
Melisa Wrex
10/6/2022 05:12:18 am

Mmmm...biscuits and apple butter! That's probably what the wolf was after. In this version if he's a musician, why can't he also be vegetarian? Good work, Tonnye!

@mowrex (Twitter)

Reply
Christina Shawn link
11/2/2022 01:39:45 pm

oooh! eerie and creepy. love it.

Reply



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    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!

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