Little and Laugh
By Geoff Le Pard
My father was a man of many aphorisms, epithets, old saws and clichés. A know-all, really.
But one quote he shared with us that not only stuck but resonated was from an American poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Laugh and the world laughs with you
Weep and you weep alone.
Laughter, in all its forms has taken centre stage in nearly every phase of my life, from irony to farce, pratfalls to priceless, life-enhancing fits of giggles. Whether it was as a defensive mechanism or merely because I enjoyed it, I don’t now remember but I’ve always wanted to make people laugh. Over the years I’ve tailored my delivery, become sensitive to my audience and played everything and anything for a laugh. I’m one of those people who you can always trust with a secret…unless it’s genuinely too funny not to be shared. In so doing I exaggerate, elaborate and elongate – no story can’t be improved with a new punchline, another character or an additional crazy side-tracking. Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good guffaw. I never have.
Writing for laughs, is, we are told, difficult. It requires precision, a well-oiled clockwork making the pieces slip together at just the right pace, in just the right places. That may be true of a novel (buy mine and find out!) but in a flash piece, in a limited word count, a simple phrase or a silly piece of alliteration can do what might take pages to set up in a book.
Don’t fight it; it is one of the most fundamental of human urges, this need to, and to make others, laugh.
Little and Laugh is your chance to raise a grin, trigger a giggle, release a chuckle, generate a guffaw, give life to a groan. Tell us a story – it can be true, it might be a BOTS (based on a true story) or it might be complete fiction – and see if what makes you smile, what releases your funny does that for the judges. After all being funny is no laughing matter.
Submission information
You have 299 words, give or take 9 (ok, that means you’ll still be in the competition if you come in above 289 and below 309) to make us chortle. You need a title and, best of all, the title doesn’t count. Though a title that is similar to ‘This is a story of a Knight Errant and his lonely Pooch, Puddle who undertook a quest to better themselves when the world was young and Nutmeg still known as Crazy Megan…’ is not to be encouraged.
Using the form below, add your name or penname or a recognisable root vegetable and contact details to your story. (Note: These will be removed before judging so judging is blind and the root vegetable will be a small compensation for the blinding of the judges).
Copy and past your stories into the form.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 14.
Contest now closed.
Judging by Barb Taub, Lucy Brazier and Geoff Le Pard.
Judges will rate the stories according to
- Story length (289-309 words)
- Does it make us laugh
- Um, well that’s about it.
- I suppose we should add that Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation and all that goodstuff will be taken into account but, really? Nah, don’t care. Just make us laugh.
I am very much looking forward to your stories. I do hope you join in. Surprise me. Tickle me. Turn me into a gibbering fatsoid of mirth.
Contest #2 Leader: Geoff Le Pard. For a full line-up of contests, see Events. Next up: Septolet in Motion by JulesPaige on Thursday, October 12.
CHALLENGE OPTION: If you don’t feel up to entering a contest, please feel free to respond to this in the comments as a prompt challenge. Weekly Flash Fiction Challenges resume November 2.
About Carrot Ranch
Carrot Ranch is a literary community committed to providing all writers access to literary art regardless of backgrounds, genres, goals and locations. Common ground is found through the writing, reading and discussion of flash fiction. The weekly online flash fiction challenges promote community through process, craft and exploration, and regular participants form a literary group called The Congress of Rough Writers. Their first anthology, Vol. 1 publishes in 2017. Carrot Ranch offers an adult-learning program called Wrangling Words, available to all communities where Rough Writers reside.
Carrot Ranch Literary Community 
Let’s make Geoff Laugh!
LikeLiked by 6 people
[…] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #2 […]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Ritu
LikeLiked by 3 people
CHALLENGE (NOT CONTEST)
308 words
The Sheriff’s New Truck by Charli Mills
Dr. Danni Gordon and Officer Michael Robineaux of Homeland Security approached the north Idaho crime scene. Danni raised an eyebrow as they walked past the Sheriff’s sparkling new F-150. Michael shrugged.
“Doc and her Indian are here.” Deputy Sanders managed to smirk and cast a flirty wink in one awkward facial tic.
Sheriff Alfred Best tucked his thumbs beneath his suspenders and wobbled his great girth over to his Deputy. A smile pained his face as if he’d just let wind in church and blamed it on his elderly mother.
“Howdy-do Dr. Gordon. Might have Mike’s next of kin buried in a sand bank.”
“Michael. Or Officer Robineaux.”
Danni peered across the yellow police tape to a small gathering of trout fisherman. “Don’t make the candy mistake, Sheriff Best. Michael is Ike’s best friend, but call them Mike & Ike, and you’ll get more of a Hot Tamale response.”
The Sheriff’s smile deepened to a grimace Danni was certain babies made pooping their britches. “All-righty, then,” the Sheriff wheezed, “Michael, you might identify your kin. Been dead a while we believe.”
“Sheriff, if indeed the spring floodwaters exposed an indigenous Kootenai grave, it’s unlikely an Ojibwa from Wisconsin would be related.”
Sheriff Best tugged his suspenders forward, straining the elastic. “Don’t matter none. Protocol says I need to call an archeologist and a Native.”
Deputy Sanders nodded vigorously. “Everyone knows we call in Dr. Gordon and her pet Indian comes along.”
“Not worth it, Michael.” Danni stared hard at his profile. She knew he could easily snap the Deputy in two and topple the Sheriff.
“Who found the body?” Michael asked.
“Those fisherman. Found it on the backside of Pete’s goat farm along the creek.”
Danni and Michael broke out laughing.
“What so damned funny?”
Michael said, “That explains why there’s a goat eating your steering wheel, Sheriff.”
LikeLiked by 11 people
Dang, if this is the standard Charli we might need to extend the deadline and use the prize money on oxygen. Soooooo glad this is underway!
LikeLiked by 6 people
Your contest is fun, Geoff, it’s satisfying to ring the bell, so to speak, and make you laugh! It also got me primed for finishing my last revision. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Excellent whatever I can do…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Charli, I’m laughing out loud! And oh what sweet justice for Sheriff Alfred Best…hope that goat ate the whole dang thing. Brilliant 😀
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’m fairly certain, having known a devouring goat or two, that the interior was a goner! 😀 Thanks, Sherri!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep…I think so too! Great stuff Charlie! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Delicious, Charli. From an admiring old goat…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha, ha! I’m not sure goats are discerning! But I’ll take it, thanks, Bill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Henrietta. Hope you’ll join in!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for the share. Come share some laughs with us, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looking forward to reading all the entries!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I hope we’re going to be busy Lucy!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Lucy, thank you for joining Geoff and Barb in judging. I hope we make your sides ache!
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s my pleasure, I assure you!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, good because we extended the deadline to get you more laughs! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #2 […]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Geoff asks we release the beast! Bring on the glee, writers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three days to get funny. …… Now how to infuse the form with laughing gas.
LikeLiked by 6 people
I had that initial thought as I’m committing to each contest, but didn’t think about it. Once you find a funny entry point it rolls! Maybe we all need to share the giggles!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Humour is such an individual thing and something that should just happen. Writing with that intent I found it difficult but we can all do with giggles.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Just be you, or your dogs they’ll inspire you to a silly
LikeLiked by 3 people
Done. Hope you received. I found the form response strange and am not certain that it went.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Irene, I was looking into this and it’s all a bit above my techy-level. Possibly it’s interference between computer security systems. It migt work for you on a different browser. Certainly works to contact Geoff directly, and I’m glad he has it. Let’s laugh it off…! Technology! Laugh or cry.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just don’t cry into the keyboard… Pfizz-pop!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good call! Don’t want tears flooding the keys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) and commented:
Carrot Ranch Contest two is live. We have to get funny for this one.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for sharing the laughs, Irene!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous contest, Geoff. I’ll see how I go with humour. It’s not necessarily my forte, though I do like to see the (childish) humour in everything. Life’s meant to be fun. I’ll see what I can make of funny. I hope you receive many rib-tickling side-holding stories.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Yes, life’s meant to be fun and youth is found in belly guffaws! You can approach it as when you were young! As I write this the next door neighbor’s grandchildren are running about outside, laughing. I thought, there’s no better sound than children giggling.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Bottle it Charli.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I tried but the neighbors are on to me! They already know I’m that weird writer who paces and talks aloud, alone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Giggling is such a happy, infectious sound. We should all do more of it. Geoff’s contest will be great for this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You will surprise yourself Norah. Just don’t be too self critical
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m working on it, Geoff. I’m grateful for the time extension. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Norah Colvin and commented:
My Contest #1 in the Carrot Ranch #FFRODEO is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered. I’ll be able to start reading tomorrow. Yippee!
Today the second of the contests kicks off. You are required to make the judges laugh in 300 words! And you have only until Friday (13th) to do it! I hope you enter. Get those laughing pens ready! Good luck!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks for sharing and encouraging the laughing pens!
LikeLiked by 3 people
My pleasure! I hope I can shake a little laughter our of my pen too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Do they come in colours? Guffaw sounds deep and reddish while giggle is essentially light blue.
LikeLiked by 4 people
We should create those, giggles would color like blue notes of electric squiggles.
LikeLiked by 3 people
We have lots of humor in my family. Once I was telling one of my sons that when you laugh you live longer. So he told me a joke…and I laughed. Then he stuck out his hand and said OK pay me for extending your life. Young whipper snapper.
Some of the best jokes are for children. Like this one: “Why was 6 afraid of 7?”
Just pause a minute and think. This isn’t deep as a well and when an kid tells you, all you can do is groan.
“6 was afraid of 7 because 7, 8, 9.” Read that out loud and slow.
Cheers and best wishes to all who enter as contestants or as a challenge.
LikeLiked by 8 people
Ha, ha! At this rate, Jules, you are going to live forever! Your son is clever. I hope he keeps adding to your years. Cute joke! Thanks for getting us warmed up!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re on to a winner with such script writers behind you Jules
LikeLiked by 3 people
What did Zero say to Eight?
Nice belt.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Had to think about that one for a minute! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to stop and actually think about that on :S
….you know how to make a grown gal groan 🙂
I guess you could say eight had an hourglass figure… (yes, I’m only half awake and I thought of that! I’m a baaad girl, she said sheepishly.)
(please don’t hit or throw anything at your computer screen…or me).
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jules! Now I’m thinking of an added skating joke: “Nice figure eight!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sure wish I could remember the sixth grader who told me that last year, give credit where due. At least I retained the joke.
LikeLiked by 2 people
[…] Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #2 […]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here’s my Challenge entry:
Timing is Everything
(308)
We’ve always had humor in my family. I grew up with a Dad
who did the ‘Pull my finger” when he needed to pass gas bit.
When I was a teenager he’d answer the phone with; “You
stab ‘em, we slab ‘em.” He had a bunch of awkward sayings
that would either get you laughing or get you down right scared,
especially if you were a guy calling to date one of his daughters!
There’s a bunch of different types of humor. Some more hush,
hush and snicker, snicker bordering insulting and grotesque.
And then there’s the kind that just makes you smile wide like
Limericks and tongue twisters. Or children using words too
big for their vocabulary. When a four year old comes up to you
with disappointment for not getting what they want right now
and saying with a straight face; “I am not amused with your
behavior, Mother.” It’s hard to be a parent when that happens
and not laugh.
One of the big jokes in my house is that I’m always the last
to know anything. I’ve got a big calendar on the on the door
of my Frig to try and stay organized… Does anyone use It?
Noooo! That would make it to easy for me to know what’s
going on.
Last week I’m at home and my front door starts to open
at 3 pm. This is not usual. Hubby gets home after six. But
that day he was playing in a golf tourney and I wasn’t even
expecting him for dinner. Guess who it was… HIM! He forgot
to tell me that the tournament was taking place in the morning
after getting a text the day before from his golfing buddy.
Shoulda made him do my laundry…I didn’t really Sh*t a brick.
But it would have been nice to know.
©JP/dh
LikeLiked by 7 people
Haha…out of the mouths of babes 🙂 I laughed just imagining your four year old saying that in all seriousness. Gives me some ideas, thanks! As for the big calendar…I’m reduced to a small diary now which I check umpteen times a day, quite lost without it. You would think I have better things to do living in a van with a field of geese for a view…there has to be a funny story somewhere there 😉 Enjoyed your story Jules!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Actually I think they are making them…children, smarter all the time.
That bit with the four year old could have come from my Grand-daughter. Though I’m sure my own had their fine moments too. 🙂
We often say our children (and grands) are smart where they sit!
LikeLiked by 4 people
So true!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, I guess you could have a game of Duck, Duck, Goose any time you want, eh? 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Haha! Guess so! And you know Jules, I had never heard of that game until I lived in the USA and my kids played it with their friends. They taught me a lot I didn’t know 😉
LikeLiked by 3 people
OK I found two minor mistakes.
“Or children using words too big for vocabulary.”
Should read “Or Children using words to big for ‘their’ vocabulary.”
& “…getting a text the day before from his golfing buggy.”
Buggy should be buddy.
So that brings the count to 309.
Thanks for forgiving my phat-fingering.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Got it!
Great challenge response! Oh, I recall some of those phone answering jokes. Such a pity we no longer have that with cell phones. I think we have a similar calendar issue — I bought one to keep track of the Hub’s VA appointments and I just found it underneath a stack of appointment letters. The calendar is empty, of course! We have to laugh at life’s silliness sometimes! Thanks for joining in the challenge!
LikeLiked by 3 people
House rule is if it isn’t in the family diary it’s not happening. I’m the worst culprit too which bugs me if I’ve booked tickets for a game, forget to write it down and end up at the MIL’s instead for nut roast and some really sparkling conversation about the neighbours.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ooo…that’s nasty. Bet it doesn’t happen that often though! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yep you are so right. Those small people are chock full of wonderful material.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I woke up in the middle of the night and read this challenge. I got all excited because I had a great idea…but then I fell asleep and totally forgot it. *sigh* More proof of what I have been saying all along: Sleep is dangerous!
LikeLiked by 5 people
just take a pencil to bed and see what’son the walls in the morning…
LikeLiked by 5 people
I was up around then… since Hubby was out of town I just sat down and wrote my piece. But then I would have done that if he was home too.
And then I stayed up until four AM finishing a murder mystery.
No sleep can be dangerous too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
I have scribbles all over the house because inspiration in a flighty duck! I like Geoff’s idea of using the pencil to sleep with. Is this the part where it wouldn’t be funny to admit I have about 30 sticky notes already next to my bed on the wall? Gives new meaning to “scrap-booking”! Hope your idea returns even funnier than the original!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Many times C Jai have i had to get up onnout of bed cuz i thought i had some brilliance that must be written down. Now, with my memo app on my phone i can type it up real quick and dont have to worry about getting a light on.. but it def bugs me in thr morning trying to recall the ones i just let loose in dreamland
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darn it Geoff, that’s the very title I had in mind… Ha, seriously, we’ve shared a few good laughs haven’t we?I’ll do my best to turn you into a gibbering fatsoid of mirth, in the best possible way, naturally… 😉
LikeLiked by 3 people
That should be our collective goal! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dang soz Sherri. I’m sure you’ll th8nk of another
LikeLiked by 3 people
Okay Geoff…dang it all I missed your cut off…but then I’m better at posting as a challenge, can’t take the pressure! Sorry I’m so late though…as per 😦 I’m blaming Charli for this story…ooops, I meant inspiration. Hope it gives you a giggle at least…
Goose Flight (299 words not counting title)
By Sherri Matthews
All day long she heard them. Geese. A field full of geese, honking and calling and barely sitting still for a second, a sea of long white necks floating on a field of green.
“Don’t they ever fly away?” she asked the farmer one morning.
“I have this fear that I’ll wake up and find them swimming happily on the reservoir,” he teased.
“Don’t you clip their wings?”
He laughed. “No, no need. They’re domestic geese, too heavy to fly.”
So she got to watch them every day through her camper van window while she performed her online tasks on her laptop, thanks to her ever-present dongle.
How did she ever manage without her dongle, she marvelled? In fact, the more she used her dongle, the faster she got at everything, and not all online. Her dongle empowered her. And not just her, but the geese too. The quicker she typed, the louder those geese honked.
“How was your day darling?” asked her husband when he returned from work.
“Great! I’ve already finished my book and submitted it to a publisher.”
The next day, when her husband asked the same thing, she gleefully boasted that not only had the publisher offered her a six figure sum, TV and film rights, but her book had already hit the New York Times Bestseller list.
“Wow. That was fast.”
“Yep,” she smiled as she glanced down lovingly at her dongle, which by then glowed with a thousand shards of light, like the sun itself.
But when she sat on Oprah’s couch a few weeks later, she didn’t mention that her husband left her and the geese flew away. No more goose & plum sausages for her.
But she didn’t care.
She had her dongle that shimmered and zimmered and nothing else mattered.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah to dongle or not to dongle there’s the rub
LikeLike
Yes that raised a welcome smile
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I have to have a dongle! 😀 Great story, Sherri!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on A View From My Summerhouse and commented:
Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #2, Geoff Le Pard’s challenge Little and Laugh, is up and running live at Carrot Ranch! Geoff wants us to make him laugh. That’s it! Deadline Midnight EST October 13. Read on for full details and keep flashing!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Sherri! Keep on laughing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s the plan… 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Woohoo! I’ve entered and only hope you find my entry to be funny. 😀
LikeLiked by 6 people
So glad to see you here, Colleen!
(We just met a bit ago.)
– Can’t wait till all of us can read the entries 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hello! I’ve been having fun with flash fiction. Glad to see you also. ❤
LikeLiked by 4 people
My contest is up next – you’ll have to mix poetry with flash fiction 🙂
Please come back on Thursday Oct 12.
LikeLiked by 5 people
You bet! I love poetry and will enjoy the challenge. ❤
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yay! I’ sure you’ll get guffaws from the Little Laughter Crew! And, yes — poetry on deck for next. You are doing an awesome job at spreading your writerly fairy wings at the Ranch!
LikeLiked by 4 people
It is pure inspiration. These stories ignite my creativity. ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
Got it! Though I’m blind of course….
LikeLiked by 3 people
LOL! Thank goodness! 😀
LikeLiked by 3 people
CHALLENGE (NOT ENTRY)
—
That’s My Girl
We’re at the Woodchuck when the local news leads with the campus protest. A young reporter is on location, clutching a microphone and fighting back a stray curl in the wind.
“Julia, can you turn this up?”
…this on the eve of Senator McFadden’s visit to Woodberry College. As you can see, we have a group of protesters…”
Kurt looks at me. “Is that Emma?”
Julia turns it up, squints at the TV. “Which one?”
Kurt points. “The cute one, with the gray stocking cap.”
Julia squints. “I see like six of them wearing gray stocking caps.”
They cut to a clip of Senator McFadden, lauding family values and vowing to fight the constant defacing of culture.
Kurt’s snapping his fingers. “Wasn’t that the guy who got caught with the hooker?”
I nod. “That was before he found God, Kurt. And no one paid attention because of OJ and his glove.”
The McFadden scandal went mainly unnoticed, but I remember it well because McFadden’s call girl had nothing to lose, claiming that she could pick the senator’s genitals out of a lineup, if given microscope. Direct quote.
Julia hustles off. On screen, the reporter turns to my daughter and asks if she has a problem with free speech. Kurt and I exchange glances. Emma lets it rip.
“I don’t have a problem with free speech. THIS is free speech. We’re expressing our concerns with what’s happening in our country and in congress. We just want to have a conversation, voice our opinion, to ask publicly why micro-dick homophobes are preaching to us about the sanctity of marriage.”
Kurt whoops. Julia returns, smiling. “Did she just say ‘micro-dick homophobes?’”
The broadcasts cuts, leaving us with two wide-eyed anchors. Kurt is maroon with laughter. Julia gives us two beers on the house.
“That’s your daughter?”
“My one and only.”
LikeLiked by 7 people
Sometimes ya just gotta call a duck a duck….
“The duck test is a humorous term for a form of abductive reasoning. This is its usual expression: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. The test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject’s habitual characteristics.”
🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
This makes me giggle, Jules! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m whooping it up, Pete and I think I found a new favorite phrase! A nice piece of American humor, modernized.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Just love the line up line. Perfect!
LikeLiked by 3 people
As if ripped from the headlines themselves. Ah! Articulate, unabashed youth! ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s it… Entered!!!!! Hope it gets you giggling!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Woohoo! I mean, ha! ha! Thanks for entering Ritu — bust them up! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol!! Hope they Enjoy!!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Can’t wait to read though of course it will be blind so I’m not expecting to see many words….
LikeLiked by 2 people
HA ha lol! I just hope it doesn’t disappoint!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Just submitted. This one was the one I saw as the hardest, as I have a hard time being funny on purpose. Then yesterday, while writing for a daily prompt I realized it could fit this contest, and refrained myself from publishing so I could enter it here. Not sure if funny enough, but decided to give it a try. ;o)
LikeLiked by 4 people
Great strategy, Etol! It is tons of pressure to perform humor. I make my family laugh all the time and, at work I used humor to soften the tensions on a management team that didn’t always see eye to eye. But tell me to be funny — I go blank! So this is a great exercise for us all and like you, I think we just need to unwind and let lose from a prompt or funny story we recall or the last time we had the giggles. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looking forward to reading it Etol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Initially i think “i am going to use ‘centre’ instead of ‘center’ from here on out.” Idk why but i think it has more of a fascination…. Then this post makes me smile quite a few times! ! Very enjoyable. Perfect idea Geoff!! Short turnover yee-owzers. But see if i can produce something in a …..flash!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Go forth and nail your funny to the page Ellliott – and have a gas as you do!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Find your centre, Elliott! You got this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup! Already submitted =]
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yay! I thought I heard laughing..!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol it might be good for a rimshot. Hey, question Charli… are we going to share these #ffrodeo entries with the ranchers? Just curious. I am sure we would have a riot and enjoy reading these as well as the other week’s stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good question, Elliot! Depending upon the number of entries, we will also post the Best of Show along with the winner and runner-up. Short answer is yes. But I don’t yet know how, where and when! I’ll keep you all posted though. I agree, and have always felt that an important aspect of being a writer is being read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good good. Yes it is good to be read, but even more i always gain some writing insights from the ranchers; and of course some quality words to creatively steal. I truly enjoy the writings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like centre and chuffed! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yes indeed, going to have to look up chuffed in through this thread im thinking
LikeLiked by 1 person
Elliot, I feel the same way about theater/theatre as in, “Theatre, theatre, what’s happened to the theatre?” Okay, somebody name the film, scene, actor for that quote. Should be easy for this crowd.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Or ‘Infamy, Infamy, they’ve all got it in for me…’
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ahh yes thats another good one. .. it is a sophistication to put the ‘r’ initially (ive always felt). That movie quote is distant in my brain, or maybe not at all, but its not coming to me. Trying not to just look it up. I feel like i know
LikeLiked by 1 person
John Wayne…no…White Christmas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
White Christmas 🎄 it is, Charli. There’s no prize for that , but you might write a comedy about the 🎭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, ha! I’ll have to plan on watching the movie again, perhaps gain some inspiration. For now, the show must go on!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on ShiftnShake and commented:
The Rodeo rocks on. The second event challenge is to provide a little laugh. Read on and mosey on by the Ranch to enter this free writing contest. It should be good for a laugh.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for spreading the funny stuff around!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Give it a go! You know you want to!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
200 Shy
“Hey, Pal, what’s funny?”
“I ain’t laughin’, Kid.”
“I know. But what’s funny?”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously, what’s funny? ‘Cause the more I think on it, nuthin’ seems funny. ”
“Jest consider yer audience.”
“British.”
“That’s easy. They laugh at men dressed up as dowdy women.”
“Really? Why?”
“Kid, I don’t wanna know.”
“What else?”
“They’ll laugh at innuendo, if ya know what I mean.”
“Uh, no, what do ya mean?”
“You know, talk about, you know, but don’t actually say anything, you know?”
“No, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Jeez, this humor challenge is no laughing matter. “
LikeLiked by 5 people
‘They laugh at men dressed as dowdy women’ ha! That’s how we chose our governments. Excellent.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ve watched some of the ‘British’ comedy…Like ‘Are you being served?’ and ‘Faulty Towers’ …. I get tears in my eyes from laughing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh this sounds like fun! I only just saw this and not sure if I can whip something up in the next 3 days, but if not, I sure look forward to the reads. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Go on give us a tickle
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll see what I can do with time Geoff. If not, I’ll certainly be reading! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
We extended the deadline, Debby! If you get laughs lined up, you can enter up until 11:59 pm EST Sun 10/15. You weren’t the only one feeling the pressure! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
OH, fab. Thanks Charli. This just may work!!! 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
[…] the honour of being a judge in the humour section of the Flash Fiction Rodeo Competition over at Carrot Ranch Literary Community. There are cash prizes, apparently. Follow the link for the details, I have to admit to being a bit […]
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is something about ‘natural humor’ – like getting caught in the rain. It just happens. Especially if you are open to it.
Nice post – thanks for being a judge. Hubby was a Ref for Little League one year – That’s a thankless job. Reminds me of “Do your job well and you will be rewarded… with more work” or “No good deed goes unpunished.” and “If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.” So let’s laugh long and loud!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, let’s laugh long and loud!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Geoff and Charli,
Mine’s in! Sarah Brentyn was right. Flash fiction is addictive. Hope you enjoy my offering. It’s so hard to know what might make others laugh. It was fun to write anyway. And as my old Granny used to say ” it’s the taking part that’s important…” But she was a good liar!
Have a lovely day.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks so much Juliet; I have it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! I think I’d like your old Granny! Thanks for entering, Juliet. Yes, humor, for as much as we all like a good laugh, is not easy to write. Flash fiction is addictive and I can excitedly tell you why (I’m a flash fiction pusher). It’s the same as getting addicted to crossword puzzles or solitaire — our brain recognizes a game as a familiar and satisfying form of problem solving. Flash fiction is addictive because our writer’s brain recognizes that it solves the problems that block us from writing. Therefore it’s all good! Flash fiction is both a fun (and powerful) literary form as well as a tool. I hope you’ll join us for more contests this Rodeo and our weekly challenges that resume Nov. 2. You have a lovely day, too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mine’s in as well…I realize that nobody finds my jokes as funny as I do, but I hope this one does crack a smile for a few of you-alls.
Loving the new submittal form & process…so easy! Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Ha, ha! I think I would find your jokes funny, Liz, because I have a quirky sense of humor and find most everything funny in one way or the other.
Thanks for the feedback on the form! We kicked around different ideas and were going to try different platforms, but files became problematic and forms the solution. Good to hear it was user-friendly! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
In the spirit of creative, successful pantsing…just keep swimming, swimming, swimming…!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yup! Pants until it’s done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on judyedwinamartin and commented:
I have entered, why not have a go too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s fabulous, Judy! Thanks for sharing the laughs! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Judy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Can we submit more than one entry? With the deadline extended, I can probably do better than my first go at this. Comedy writing is hard work, something I usually try to avoid. But for the Ranch and the Rodeo, I’ll sweat it out.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yes, grab another steer by the horns and write sweat out some more humor! Comedy writing is hard work. A good challenge.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Nice Chris! ! Thats a great question. We can give it another go? Might have to give it a go!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yup! As long as it’s funny…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, number two is submitted and it’s actually got some humor in it. Charli, thanks for setting the standard high. Nicely done. I’m looking forward to reading as many of these stories as we can put up.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Woohoo! There’s going to be some good reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darn tootin’ comedy is hard. I’ve entered one in the contest and one as a challenge. I don’t think I can do a third!
Keep ’em coming. We can all use a laugh. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
And D.’s revealed the secret to humor and politics over the pond…somebody needs to dress up a cowboy as a dowdy woman. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve written the most peculiar story which will no doubt convince everyone who knows me that I am totally bonkers. Will submit it soon…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bonkers is good for humor writing! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had pressed send!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve not seen it Marje. Can you send it to my email direct?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes will do Geoff. No problemos
LikeLiked by 2 people
Our gremlins might have been a bit bonkers, too! Sorry about that! It was in the spam folder where the gremlins like to eat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I rewrote it and sent it to Geoff. I think my second version was better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I submitted then hit the red ‘go back’ I assume you got it? Eric
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – just me being a tad twitchy when it appeared to disappear! And of course I did subsequently receive a confirmation email. Now on to contest #3. Eric.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a sinking feeling to see it go, but at least it arrived! Thanks, Eric!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Need to get #3 sorted today! It has proved to be a challenge, not the poetry, but the encasing prose … so doing what I always do as deadlines loom … resort to instinct and be me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Mills at the Carrot Ranch. Charli shared a “possibly spam” email received as an entry into the Carrot Ranch Rodeo Contest #2: Little and Laugh. You can read the email in Charli’s post, which also includes the challenge to […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] This post was written for the Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #2. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Carrot Ranch Rodeo#2(10/13/2017) Little and Laugh: You have 299 words, give or take 9, to make us chortle. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person