Monday, October 26, 2009

Strung Well

In this envelope I hold the results to the String a Story Together Contest. (Ripping envelope open, watching little bits of paper flutter to the floor)

And…

It’s a Tie!

Bina’s prose was selected for its cohesiveness.
It's funny when I see her now. I know she is all grown up and that she is moving on to start her life, but when I look into her eyes all I can see is who she used to be. I can still see her sweet face, knotted up in fear and frustration when she was "lost" at the zoo. It was only 15 minutes but to her fragile four year old mind, it was an eternity that began when she followed the "bootiful pea-tock" off into the corner of the petting area. She was so little, so frail and so much in need of me to be the one who made the world ok again. So as I see her now, atop a magnificent beast and in complete control, I wonder where the time has gone and just when it was that my baby became a woman.

Christina’s prose was selected for its overall striking imagery and strong message.
The little girl in blue was blue. She'd been told she was the prettiest of all but then she spied the peacock. His blue was brighter and his lacey tail swirled as he walked. She stood and spun yet couldn't get her own dress to dance as beautifully as the peacock's plumes.The lady watched from a distance and knew instinctively what the little girl was feeling. There will always be someone or something prettier, she thought to herself.

So now what?

A tiebreaker, of course. And I need your help voting.

Bina and Christina, you will have until Tuesday PM to construct four more sentences or less in an additional paragraph, incorporating this fourth picture into your creative stories.



Once the new tiebreaking paragraphs are written, I’ll need your help to vote on the winning prose. Voting ends Thursday PM. Please provide a reason for why you voted for Bina or Christina’s paragraph.

Well strung, ladies. Thanks for all who entered this contest. I look forward to reading as the stories go on and I await the votes.
*photos by flickr

24 comments:

  1. So far, so good. Both stories are moving ... a tough tie-breaker coming up, for sure!

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  2. Both are excellent! I don't know if I could pick one over the other.

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  3. I love them both Wendy! This is going to be tough.

    Great job Ladies.

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  4. Oh, I'll mention...the voting will actually be for how Bina and Christina incorporate that FOURTH picture into their already written pieces.

    Just a note...in case I didn't make that clear.
    ~ Wendy

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  5. Wow, they're both awesome! And what angels for putting their writing out there like this!

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  6. Oh, looks like I missed a fun and creative contest. It just amazes me how people can put together small passages like that and really create a whole new world.

    Have a great day!

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  7. Both are so clever. I can't wait to see what that tie breaker will do for us.

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  8. Oooh, what a great idea for a tough choice. Both authors are very talented.

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  9. What fun! I'm up for the tie-breaker even though that 4th picture is challenging. Hummm, I'm thinking.

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  10. ...could we have picked a more challenging picture??? ha ha! Ok, ok. My mind it going...I will be back.

    Thanks for this tho, Miss Wendy...it is much fun :)

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  11. They were both great! I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with. :-)

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  12. How fun! I loved reading them and look forward to seeing who wins!

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  13. Wow, they were both wonderful! I'm so impressed.

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  14. Congratulations to both ladies! Their paragraphs are lovely. :D Can't wait to see the new ones. :)

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  15. Both are good. I will be waiting for the next installment to make the vote. Good contest Wendy! :o)

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  16. Brilliant! How are you going to decide even with the new paragraphs? It's going to be tough! Cool contest.

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  17. Well done, ladies! Bravo!

    I'm looking forward to more.

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  18. I'm glad you all are enjoying the contest premise, as it goes on...

    Can't wait to see what Bina and Christina come up with. I'm also looking forward to seeing how you all vote. They'll have their new paragraphs written up by Tues. PM.

    It's been a loaded day. My friend got me entirely pumped up about a project to help out the homeless, so I spent a good chunk of my day working on that.

    I'm still learning, my mind, Spirit and whole self...in motion. Moving. And this, this is good.

    Just finished Water for Elephants. Talk about well done! A fantastically original read. Page turner.

    Sleep.
    Sleep well.
    String stories together in your dreams and write them. If not tomorrow, write them someday.
    ~ Wendy

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  19. Those were awesome, and I just ADORE that you picked a British red phone booth for the 4th pic!!! Looking forward to reading what they come up with.

    A new project??? Wendy Miller! You are a busy woman already - although, I can't chastise you too much since it's helping the homeless, a noble cause indeed :) Goodnight, friend.

    P.S. My verification word was "power". Awesome.

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  20. Cool, Wendy. You create such fun here...

    And Bina and Christina? Well done, ladies.

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  21. I am always impressed when people can write off the cuff like that...

    job well done, ladies :)

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  22. Ok, I've thought and re-thought it and I can't think it no more. Here is my addition:

    But at the thought of "my baby", my heart recognizes the trespass I have made, both in my mind and in my presence here today. She had asked me to meet her at the corner of 5th and Main and I knew it was because she felt that my coming to this crowded event would make it seem as though I actually still existed in her life. I know she saw me just now as she turned so regally towards the risers, making me think that she could sense my heartbeat here among this sea of talkative strangers. I know that there will be a price to be paid for my dismissal of her wishes today but when I saw where she wanted to meet, I couldn't help but think that my place as her mother deserves more respect than an almost random meeting at a soggy phonebooth downtown.

    Ya, the phonebooth pic....niiiiiice one, Miss Wendy :)

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  23. My original paragraph plus the new one. Nice work Bina! This has been fun. Thanks Wendy for making me think outside of the booth, er box.

    The little girl in blue was blue. She'd been told she was the prettiest of all but then she spied the peacock. His blue was brighter and his lacey tail swirled as he walked. She stood and spun yet couldn't get her own dress to dance as beautifully as the peacock's plumes. The lady watched from a distance and knew instinctively what the little girl was feeling. There will always be someone or something prettier, she thought to herself.

    But beauty is not always what it seems. Like a shiny, red phone booth without a phone, a finely feathered bird that has lost its song or a grandiose cathedral where no one roams, beauty without soul is useless.

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  24. Very nice, Christina... Amazing what you can do with a picture of a phone booth, eh?? I like it! :)

    Thanks again Wendy...like C said...it has been fun trying to think outside the booth. hee hee

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