WEEKLY CHALLENGE of May 8 - 17: "GARDENS"
This week's writing prompt is GARDENS - those fertile grounds of symbolism and mayhem that I kick around every spring. Last time I wrote about GARDENS, I crafted a succinct little bit of prose that kicked some white hyacinths - those symbols of true and u...WEEKLY CHALLENGE of May 1 - 7: "Somebody who deserves your wrath"
You are cordially invited to write 100 words about someone who deserves a good ducking in the town pond... or worse. The confessional that is Miniature Literature is open for business from May 1 to about the 7th on this topic. Write under "comments" or in...APRIL 23 - 30 WEEKLY CHALLENGE: "Write something that shows a struggle, inner or whatever, with a difficult person."
Sorry to be so negative. I'm not a misanthrope. I rubbed shoulders with a misanthrope, and I came away from the experience thinking, "I never want to be that." But a cynic - now, there's something! The definition fits and no one suffers for it. Misanthro...WEEKLY CHALLENGE, APRIL 8-14: STUPIDITY or BLEAKNESS
I've been going back and forth between writing bleak things and stupid things. Usually the stupid things win, but it's by default. Please write a tiny story (or poem, since it's officially NaPoWriMo) of 100-200 words and post it, dag nabbit. Make your ow...Foolish April Challenge: ANTHROPOMORPHISATION
Puppyhead Puppyhead lost a foot and a half of gut and the rainbow is shimmering too close for comfort. ‘No comfort, just darkness,’ he says, eyes low and suffering. Even I can’t compare with that. I tell him when he pulls through, good boy, we’ll both hav...Foolish weekly challenge April 1 - 7
It's time to ANTHROPOMORPHISE. Write 100-300 words and give some inanimate object a little love. Alternatively, draw or paint or otherwise illustrate the prompt or be a smashing counterpoint. Small is beautiful.March 17 Challenge: WHALE WATCHING (LAGERS)
The last whale rolled over, sand clinging to its body. Its sighing quieted. “There. Done.” You were never the sort to see profundity in life or death. “It’s still breathing,” I replied. “It’s gone.” I knew better than to argue about the last breath of the...MARCH 17 CHALLENGE: Happy St. Patrick's Day, if that's your thing.
Personally, I prefer Rabbie Burns Day, but I did drag out a copy of Finnegans Wake, then make up a bottle of homemade Irish with some Chivas Regal, chocolate and cream. I went a little heavy on the whisky for this and am babbling like Anna Livia Plurabell...SOUVENIRS (challenge of Feb. 22-28)
I let Valentine's Day slip. I'm not really a believer in true lurve. I'm happier to skip the illusion of it, forgoing obsession and bad poetry and never being enough. To those who've had their hearts singed, I say "Next time don't put so much, well, hear...WEEKLY CHALLENGE, February 4-11, 2017
I dreamed about Thomas, the most inventive German artist I know. He'd just invented a new IKEA product: a combination of a metal bundle buggy and unwashed cafeteria trays. "This is great for clutter," he said. "You can store babies in it." He called his i...HAPPY NEW YEAR CHALLENGE
Resolution: This year I will stop - - - - - and start - - - - -ing every single day, until I reach my goal of - - - - - -. Miniature Literature members, you are cordially invited to write 100-200 words or draw a 3"x3" or so illustration representing yo...WEEKLY CHALLENGE # 11 (week of December 20 - 27, 2016): FEAR
At the end of November, Puppyhead had major surgery that lost him a foot and a half of intestines. He did not complain. He did not lose his life, though he almost did, and because of that, I nearly lost my faculties. Instead, I am weak with relief and g...CHALLENGE # 10: TI NA NO WRI MO!
It's time for tiny Na No Wri Mo - a miniature novel of 500 words written in one month or less. Genre is up to you, writers and artists. If you want to make a tiny graphic novel? That's great - 3 x 3" or smaller. Your friend and confidante Leptis Magna is...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #9: "ENDING OR TRANSCENDING"
I admit I was thinking about Leonard Cohen's album, 'You Want It Darker' when I came up with this week's prompt. I doubt it'll be his swan song, but he intends it to be. With this in mind, please write or draw an ultrashort piece on an ENDING, or on TRANS...TRESPASSING (Weekly challenge #8)
I creep noiselessly into his den to avenge the final sin, the dealbreaker. It’s not what you think. King of Sleaze, he may be. Man-slut of the highest order. But he went too far when he cautioned her, this latest, on her discretion: When we meet, we must...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #8: TRESPASSING
I am a good woman who has learned to be bad. That means that I must know how far I can push things without being accused of unseemly behaviour. (I am sensitive.) The last act of TRESPASSING I committed - committed is such a crime-laden word - was part of...APPETITE - weekly challenge #7
“You’ll be sad when it’s gone,” said Lila. “It will be a relief,” I replied. “You enjoyed the passion you knew?” Lila winced. “It was torment.” We sit in the Distillery, dipping coconut clusters into coffee and melted chocolate. It is heavenly. When mone...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #7: APPETITE
This week's prompt is a day late. Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving, which is quieter and earlier than its U.S. counterpart. I don't think Canadian Thanksgiving requires the same measure of appetite, either. There's no need for stamina. There's no need...Burning Schoolhouse (WEEKLY CHALLENGE #6: FIREWORKS)
The crazy things we say when we’re in love! I babbled about fireworks. Sparklers. The burning schoolhouse. “Burning schoolhouse?” Joe asked. “Printed like red brick. Light the chimney and it bursts into flames.” “C’mere burning schoolhouse,” said Joe,...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #6: FIREWORKS
Recently I rode through south Pennsylvania, where roadside fireworks shacks dot the I-83. I guess I had expected donut shops to outnumber fireworks outlets as they do in Ontario. Yet another example of cultural divide. Anyway, this week's prompt is FIREWO...My Neighbour Nancy (WEEKLY CHALLENGE #5 - WHAT HAPPENED AT 4 A.M.)
Why would someone do this? Nancy touches their sheared-off necks, flinches. They won’t grow back. Sorry. I tell Nancy I have a picture of the cruelest man ever, his arm slung around my sunflowers. How could they have believed in him? They were lured in ...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #5: "SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT 4 A.M."
It is the time of night that is still and blue, and few are awake to witness it, whatever it is. Please write 100-200 words about SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT 4 A.M. It can be confessional if you like, or a flight of fancy. If you would like to post a ti...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #4 - JEALOUSY AND PYROTECHNICS WITH WILLIE NELSON
Women think they can make men jealous. I’ve never met a jealous man. I think I've got a taste for destruction. “That’s power,” said Willie. “The knowledge that you’re the one deciding what’s going to blow up and when.” “I got the notion of destruction af...WEEKLY CHALLENGE #4: JEALOUSY or ENVY
I've always been hazy on the difference between JEALOUSY and ENVY, believing JEALOUSY to be the pettier of emotions, while ENVY has a sinister, covetous nature - big-time bad. I expect that for some, it's the opposite. I was born without the jealous gene...



