Today I am taking part in Jenny Matlock's new writing meme, the Saturday Centus, where she gives a prompt and you sort of wrap a hundred of your own words around it to make a story. Kind of a fun challenge, so I decided to play along.
This is the prompt: "The small Cessna 172 picked up speed as it roared down the runway, Sara at the controls, the flight instructor beside her,"
Here goes...
Slipping the Bonds
Some things just weren't meant to be. Sara had known that forever, but knowing in your head and believing in your heart were two different things. She'd always been one of those little girls whose flights of fancy included fairies, talking bluebirds and dragonflies with colorful, shape-shifting wings; but it wasn’t until now, this never-more-adult moment, that she fully understood the extent to which all things were possible. A ray of sunlight glinted off the window, its brightness a revelation. Earth could not hold her. The small Cessna 172 picked up speed as it roared down the runway, Sara at the controls, the flight instructor beside her, and every dream a little girl ever had taking wing.
This was really great. I love all the descriptive words. This is exactly what I would like to learn to do. Wonderful centus.
ReplyDeleteGood job. A+.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! See, that's why you are the writer and we are your readers!
ReplyDeleteAh, I loved the line "Earth could not hold her." So much is such a small amount of time.
ReplyDeleteSue- you truly are an amazing wordsmith! I love the waiting for your blog to load, the expectation of what's next is always surpassed
ReplyDeletePretty darned good, if you ask me. I don't think I could do that. Of course you have been known to write poetry on demand without inspiration, but writing a story with just an opening set up is quite a different situation. It seems that you can do both, and very well, I might add.
ReplyDeleteme likey!
ReplyDeleteOh my!! That was beautiful--and very inspiring. It makes me want to read more of your writing!! (And I am kind of feeling bad for all those other participants. :-)
ReplyDeleteSue,
ReplyDeleteSara's little-girl flights of fancy had not included roaring down a runway in a Cessna 172. It was not merely a dream come true. It was rather the realization of "every dream a little girl ever had" -- the experience that transcends one's youthful imaginings, in a moment "never-more-adult" that can come only to those who have opened their hearts to the possibility of anything. Are you any good or what? Three cheers!
smiles,
rb
Sue
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to your comments and the kind words you leave for me. Like little Christmas presents. Thanks for visiting my blog and of course, you are a fabulous writer.
Vals
Great job! Fun- I am going to do this with my classes.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe I'll take a line out of something famous and have the students write an opener and then compare it with the original. Thanks for a fun idea. :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Nik! I'm all about supporting education (and educators) (and little sisters).
ReplyDelete;)
PS. I like your idea of using a famous line, having them write around it, and then comparing to the original. That will be a lot more meaningful to them than just reading it straight-up. And THAT'S why you're the department chair. (Well, one of the reasons, anyway...)
Wow, you go super-writer!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the look of your blog.
Thanks for the kind words you said to my post at Segullah.
"Earth could not hold her" - my favorite line!
ReplyDeleteSimply precious. I think is in my top 3 of favs (if we were picking favs of course) I am truly envious of all of you who worked the piece into the middle or the end...I need to stretch more next weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteLove her attitude! And your writing (o:
ReplyDeleteGreat, the way you incorporated the prompt into the end of the story. Very clever and thought provoking. You make Sara almost a fairy queen, a grown up version of the little girl she once was.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
This is light-hearted, powerful, and whimsical all in one. Fantastic job, I really really loved reading this. :)
ReplyDeleteSue, you took a bunch of vowels and consonants, a twisted them in the forge of your imaginations fire...and with great purpose and intent tapped them into place...
ReplyDelete...and you gave us this wonderful, wonderful link!
Incredible.
You really did rock it! When I grow up, I want to write like you. Really, now I want to finish that story.
ReplyDelete