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High Country Writer’s Challenge

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Changers: A Family Novel

I belong to the High Country Writer’s Association and one of the things I have fun with is our monthly writing challenge. The hardest part, and it has caused me lots of grief, is the essay must not exceed 150 words. I have replaced a lot of “ands” with “;” and taken other liberties with the English language to try to squeeze my words together. I’m fairly good at disciplining others; disciplining myself is a whole ‘nother story! In my first piece I counted the title in my word count of 147, but after that one I only counted the body, giving me 5-15 more words to work with! Each word has to be chosen carefully and the work has to be edited, reedited and edited again. A very good exercise. All of these have been published in the HCW Journal.

Challenges...

High Country Writer’s Challenge: “What is a hero?” Edited excerpt from my novel Forever Autumn
March’s Challenge; “I am not a FORMAL Poet because of the twin Jewish boys at dinner.”
February’s Challenge; “If I were Blind, I’d See My Love This Way…”
December’s Challenge; “One of my best works in 2005, a memoir of a HS lover; an excerpt…”
“In November, My Creativity Is…Living!”

“What is a hero?” Edited excerpt from my novel Forever Autumn….

This challenge was hard at first. We did it while at a meeting, everyone seriously moving pen on paper. I came up with a blank. It was only later I realized I had already written about a hero. Two characters in this novel, Clay Turin and Lars McCloud are based on my father, Al Thurston, more of a hero than any I’ve read about in any book or newspaper. So I took a scene, edited it down to the required 150 words, and submitted it. Here it is.

“We’ve only got minutes to get out.” Clay said, “V. Go look that way.” When Nils moved to follow her, Clay stopped him, “I’m going to make a diversion.” He lifted his ragged shirt, revealing extensive wounds. “Angelica did some probing around when she stabbed me, cut up my stomach and intestines, more damage I can’t identify. I’ve been bleeding internally and can’t stop it. Go with V.” Nils understood. He was dieing—right here in this hallway in front of him. And he was asking Nils to leave him here, take V and make sure she would make it; entrusting him with what was most precious to him; his daughter. “Clay--” Nils looked at him helplessly. Clay nodded, gesturing after V. “Tell her there are worse things than dieing well. Go, son. Go now.” He’d never called him son before. Nils turned and caught up with V.

High Country Writer’s Challenge

“What is a hero?” Edited excerpt from my novel Forever Autumn….

“I am not a FORMAL Poet because of the twin Jewish boys at dinner.”

“If I were Blind, I’d See My Love This Way…”

“One of my best works in 2005, a memoir of a lover; an excerpt…”

"In November, My Creativity Is…Living!”