By Geoff Le Pard, Rodeo Leader
Writers are notorious people watchers. It’s a small miracle we don’t get done for stalking more often. Part of that idea — thieving we do involves listening to what people say — phrases, the modes of speech, dialect, etc. People convey ideas and feelings with words. [READ MORE…]
So, those pesky rules:
- Every entry must be 99 words, no more, no less. You can have a title outside that limit.
- It’s dialogue only. Everything inside speech marks, please. (American and British styles both accepted.)
- Any genre, time, place, just let us know via words. If you can world build a fantasy, hats off! (Oh, by the way, I bloody loathe the overuse of the exclamation mark. Be very sparing or my prejudices may show through.
- It’s a conversation so you need two characters at least. But can you have a conversation with yourself? With an inanimate object? Go for it. There’s a prompt at the end for you to use, but use your imagination. It doesn’t have to be anyone in the picture who’s speaking, does it?
- I don’t mind what English spelling or slang you use, just make it recognisably English.
- I want emotion, but I want fiction. Not memoir, not a personal narrative and no non-fiction, though dialogue non-fiction sounds a challenge in its own right.
- You must enter your name and email with your entry using the provided form below. If you do not receive an acknowledgement by email, contact us at wordsforpeople@gmail.com
- Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on October 10, 2018. Entries are judged blind and winners announced November 9, 2018 at Carrot Ranch. Please do not compromise the blind judging by posting your entry before the winners are announced.
- Go where the prompt leads, people.
- Have fun.
JUDGES (read full bios at SPONSORS)
Geoff Le Pard
Find Geoff’s books at Amazon US or Amazon UK. Follow his blog at TanGental and on Twitter @geofflepard.
Esther Chilton
Whether it’s an edit you’re after, some advice about a market, writing in general – in fact, anything and everything, you can get in touch, and she’ll try and help you. To find out more, visit her blog: https://esthernewtonblog.wordpress.com. Or contact her: estherchilton@gmail.com.
Chelsea Owens
When not cleaning (an infuriatingly large amount of the time), eating, sleeping, parenting, driving, reading her blog feed, budgeting, and cooking; Chelsea breathes in and sometimes out again. She also writes daily on her blog: chelseaannowens.com.
In judging we will apply the following criteria:
- Word count: 99
- Pure dialogue.
- Use of the prompt.
- Emotion: does the piece convey feeling? Do you generate a reaction in the reader?
- Ideally we want a story, something that makes us think. Where’s this going? What’s happened? Engage us in your tale.
- We love any clever tricks, to make us go ‘ah ha’. Include something to make us wonder and up the slippery pole you go.
- Just remember, in real life, we don’t say everything, we finish each other’s sentences, we talk over each other. Use that. Make it feel real. Make us hear it, and you’ll be a winner.
And the picture prompt?
Oh come on, it’s me. Wadyaexpect? The inside of Starbucks?
Thank you for entering! The contest is now closed. Winners announced November 9, 2018, at Carrot Ranch.
Carrot Ranch Literary Community 
Ha! Great photo prompt for Dialog, Geoff! Good luck to all entering (and judging). Have a fine ride this week!
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Hahaha! What a photo prompt, Geoff. I think you’ve set yourself up here for some fun conversations. I wonder which one is the sage and which the student. 🙂 This is a fun contest. I think you’ll have many joining in.
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It’ll be fun to read the different takes on that pondering, Norah. Thanks for sharing the post at your place!
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Reblogged this on Norah Colvin and commented:
And so the rodeo begins. Geoff le Pard has introduced the first contest: Dialog. You won’t believe who are conversing. Will you join in?
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Thank you Charli, and Norah for you instant support. One entry already and Dog hasn’t abluted yet. I hope people enjoy this. As for the pic there are so many possibilities here, esp. off camera. I hope my mind is twisted out of shape!
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Off to a good start on a mind-twisting adventure!
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[…] via Rodeo #1: Dialog […]
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What a great photo, Geoff! This should be fun.
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look forward to your entry Lisa!
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With a photo like that, fun comes to mind!
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Not an easy prompt.
But I gave it a go.
Rodeo!
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Thanks for giving it a go!
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I shall put my thinking cap on.
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Have fun, Robbie! I think one day you should recreate this photo in fondant. 🙂
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Thanks Geoff,
OK. I’ve got my entry in. Might be back before the deadline with a challenge piece. Unless I like it enough for a second entry.
Ooooh, off camera… I hadn’t thought of that.
Good Luck everyone.
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Thanks, Jules! Have fun!
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Geoff… I think my first entry has some errors… I sent a second with corrections. Please use that one. 🙂
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Love the photos prompt, so many possibilities 💜
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I’m looking forward to reading them
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💜😁
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It’ll be interesting to read those possibilities!
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Yes will we get to see them too 💜
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[…] Rodeo #1 Dialog […]
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OK we gotta have a conversation in the comments, don’t we?
(Use title as it is the link to post.)
All the Glory and Then Some
“Al get off my case. How many time do I have to tell you
that I didn’t fix the race?”
“My kids don’t believe me when I tell ‘em you got the
drop on Bugsy.”
“So bring ‘em into the shop why don’tcha. I got the trophy.”
“Yeah, I know you display it proudly as the owner of this joint.”
“So I got a degree in advertising too. You gonna wait until
closing and offer me some concrete Wellies? Remember I
also got Glinda watching out for me.”
“If only you didn’t have the best carrot juice in town…”
©JP/dh
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That should be : How many times… with an ‘s’.
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This is very clever, Jules. I read it on your blog and decided I had to submit mine before I read any more or I’d chicken out. You should have entered this one. I don’t know what Geoff thinks, but I think it’s mighty good, and like the tortoise, will be hard to beat. 🙂
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um, not allowed to say, sadly… we judges are held hostage throughout this purdah of the rodeo…
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I know. I wasn’t implying you should comment. Just sayin’.
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Last year I did the same thing… I wrote at least one for the contests and one in the challenge sections… I’m actually racking my brains to come up with another entry. But it is tough to come up with that ‘Punch-line’.
I was lucky I guess that the two I did write popped out 😉
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You are very lucky. I look forward to reading them, eventually. Mine just popped out too, but … oh, well, no further comment. 🙂
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Shhh…. we’ll get to see everything soon enough 😀
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Geoff ,
‘All the Glory and Then Some’ is just a challenge piece, not a contest piece. Like last year – I wrote pieces for both the contests and for the ‘comments’ section. I believe anything in the comments section is just for giggles for every one to enjoy. It is my understanding that only pieces submitted as entries are for judging.
Yep, it was a fun piece to write. Now I gotta wonder if I shoulda entered it… but it’s all good. Since I’m just having fun. 🙂
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That’s fine Jules
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Love this.
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Fun challenge, Jules! I like the powered by Carrot Juice.
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Reblogged this on A View From My Summerhouse and commented:
And we’re off! Geoff Le Pard is first through the gate at the Rodeo with contest number 1, ‘Dialogue’ All details below. Open to all, free entry, and a cash prize for the winner. Contest closes October 10 at 11:59pm EST. See you back here with next week’s contest, and best of luck to all.
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Thanks Sherri
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Welcome, Geoff. You’ve thrown me, though. I had an idea and then your photo…love it, btw. Back to square one…but I’ll be there with something…anything… 🙂
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Thanks, Sherri!
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I sent TWO. If the one is too ‘RAW’ (‘Paytreeotic’), enter the other one – “IT’S A SMALL WORLD”). Thanks. ♥♥
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they both can have a go, BillyRay
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Thank you. ♥
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Much insprired to enter two, Billy! Thanks!
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Oh, this is fabulous! It has Geoff’s brand of humor all over it. LOL! 😀 ❤
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Fraid so… guilty as charged..
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We need laughing likes on WordPress – like you get on FB.
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So true, Colleen! It’s got the Le Pard Humor Imprint.
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Submitted, EEEK!!!
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Brave, brave sir ritu!!
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Always ready for battle!!!
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Ritu unleashed her rodeo turtle!
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love the cheeky photo, great prompt and Jules entry is super!
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That was just my challenge entry. I also submitted a contest entry.
There are so many ways one can go with that great photo.
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I daren’t begin to think!
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exactly it’s so inspiring … now to find the time 🙂
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hope it stimulates your word flow!
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mmmm… you want more?
I might have to put on my thinking cap 🙂
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time is my issue Geoff but hope to submit something … is that you?
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It’s me! Hopefully you’ll find a moment!
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then your face paints a thousand stories, now I must make the effort even if I’m late 🙂
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I love the idea that Geoff has the face to launch a 1,000 stories!
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oh he has indeed, count the number that come in, it’s an inspiring photo 🙂
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as a judge that’s a terrifying prospect!
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lol enjoy the infamy 🙂
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being thought two-faced is bad enough but a thousand-faced? eeek
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I think there will be a lot of humorous dialog given that prompt. Nice one!
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hope so!
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I think Geoff figured out how to tickle the funny pen of writers!
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Definitely! Lol.
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Oh this looks like so much fun. If finish my projects by weekend I’ll be hopping on this one. 🙂
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What a fun reward that would be. Good for your dedication to your writing priorities, Debby!
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🙂 🙂
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Keepin’ It Real
“Pal! The rodeo’s o’fictially begun.”
“What’s up with the purposeful misspell, Kid? It’ll spook Shorty, git her all worried about errorists.”
“Don’t mean ta worry Shorty; she’s got enough goin’ on. It’s jist that I ‘m always a might confused about fact an’ fiction. Like this rodeo… is it real? ‘Cause you an’ I ain’t, ya know that, right Pal?”
“Kid, we’re real- an’ we ain’t… I mean, we’re real characters…”
“Made up an’ hangin’ out in a made up place…”
“Kid, folks keep comin’ here ta write an’ read an’ that’s real-ly a big deal. It’s all good.”
Write Off
“So, is our writer friend, D. Avery gonna do anything with this prompt?”
“Her?! This is about dialogue. What’s she got ta say?”
“Thought you’d be able ta speak ta it Kid. An’ I’m a might worried she might leave it ta you ta do the sayin’. So jist wonderin’ if she’ll be talkn’; jist sayin’.”
Well I ain’t sayin’ if she’s havin’ me say anythin’ cause the facts (alternative as they might be here in our fictional setting) are that there’s plenty folks around with plenty ta say an’ they will relish the challenges presented each week.”
“Relish?”
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“If these two, and their friend D. Avery, don’t enter the dialog contest, then …”
“Then what?”
“Well, I dunno. But they should!”
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Thanks for keepin’ it real with these two alternative factual characters! Hope their writer enters…
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Reblogged at ShiftnShake.
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Submitted, but are we supposed to put it in the comments, too, as well as our blog? Will wait for an answer before I post here in the comments and on my blog.
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My thoughts are that we don’t post here or on our blogs if we wish our story to be judged as part of the contest. We would lose anonymity that way. When judging is over, it will be fine to post on our blogs, and Charli will be sharing all the entries here. I’m looking forward to reading all the stories.
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i agree, please keep private in case a judge comes across it, unannonymised – is that a word?- and rather distorts the judging process.
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please keep private for now here and on your own platform, until judging complete. It will be done annonymously.
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Thanks so much. I have just started writing here recently so this is the first attempt. I wasn’t even sure if I could enter.
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yes, please have a go; we judges are v nice (I coo at pigeons in my spare time) and Charli’s space is very welcoming even if all that yee-haaing can get a bit noisy. Bon chance…
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Glad you entered! The Rodeo is a bit different in that what we enter in the contest we don’t publish until after the judging (November 9 for this one). Some writers do “challenges.” That is, they post responses in the comments that are not entered in the contest. Have fun!
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I was all set for this one, my friend. So excited to attempt a dialogue-only story. And then… Your photo. Oh, dear. It’s fun. Fun? I don’t know how I’ll manage that one. I’ll try but things tend to turn dark when I write so I can’t promise either of you will be alive at the end.
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I would expect no less, Sarah, and am looking forward to reading your story. 🙂
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tortoise stew? the shell becomes a home for leprechauns?
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Aw, Geoff. Tortoise stew? That would just be gross. Leprechauns… Hmm… Perhaps.
Thanks, Norah. 🙂
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We — or rather the carnivores — had turtle soup (with a whole turtle) in China. Gave some people quite a shock.
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so we can expect blood or at least gastronomy in your entry?
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May fun drive you to the darkest side on the turtle shell, Sarah!
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Sorry. I think I messed up the entry form. Ah, well. I’ll post it in the comments here. That alright? (Not to be counted, of course, if I do that.)
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Ingenious photo prompt, Geoff. I’ve had a couple of ideas, but they’re more slippery pole than emotion. I assumed entries would be limited to one per person but an official clarification would be appreciated.
And since I’m now in the habit of writing a blog post tangentially connected to the weekly prompt, I’ve done one about the start of the Rodeo (and not about tortoises) but stemming from my initial reluctance to compete:
Does your inspiration come mostly from inside or outside? #amwriting https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post/2018/10/does-your-inspiration-come-mostly-from-inside-or-outside.html
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I’ll ask Charli but I think multiple entries are fine. Thank you for the link!
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I do remember that last year there were multiple entries to several contests as well as in the challenge (comment sections – which are not judged). Some folks did not want to enter the contests. But plenty entered in the ‘challenge’ /comments of each rodeo.
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I couldn’t figure how to do multiple entries. ??? But that works just fine as one was pretty bad. 😉
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For the contest you just have to enter with the submit section. With challenges (non-judged entries) just put your piece or link in the comments sections like any other Carrot Ranch 99 word prompt.
Your entry couldn’t be ‘That’ bad… Any challenge just stretched us. Be one with the rubber band 🙂
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pah, you couldn’t write rubbish is you wanted to
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It is that bad. But was fun. 🙂 I didn’t enter any contests last year (just wrote them for fun) so I know where those go. I *think* I managed the form submission but not sure it went through. All good. Fun challenge. Thanks, Jules.
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yep received two entries from you, one twice!
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Two and one twice. Nice, Sarah. I did mess it up. Well, good on me for that! 🙂
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Multiple entries are fine, Anne, and challenges are welcome too for those not wanting to enter a contest, but play along for the fun of writing.
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As a contestant, I’m glad of the opportunity for multiple entries. As an assistant judge, I’m quaking.
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Ha! Fair enough, Anne. I do think You helped Norah with some ways to pare down a shortlist.
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A fun competition. Entered.
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Thanks for entering, Darlene!
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OK – #2 has been Entered.
Oy the pressure …
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You are on a roll, Jules!
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I enjoyed doing this. I forgot to put the title in (sent to Leader Le Pard) . Will share on my blog after the judging is over. 🙂
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Thanks for entering, Marje. Intriguing title! I emailed Geoff your title and then removed it from the comments since the judges will be doing a blind review of all the entries. We’ll all be in the dark for a month! 🙂
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Thanks Charli I had fun with this!
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Hi
I’m a very green greenhorn, but that terrific picture broke the ice for me!
That “eye conversation” between the Tortoise and the Guy triggered ideas for my FF. Thank you!
And my contest entry is in.
Thanks to you, Charli & all Rodeo leaders & judges, for your hard work, and for your great enthusiasm — it’s very catching.
Saifun
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That’s fantastic, Saifun! Glad the turtle conversationist inspired an entry!
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Mine is entered. I have never written a dialogue only flash fiction before. YeeHaw!!!
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Way to stretch your writing skills, Robbie! You are off with a wild ride!
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I use dialog with rarity. But with this prompt – well who could resist?
Just hope that Tortoise wasn’t part Borg (that’s a sci-fi reference… Borg is more AI than real).
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I thought Tortoise was awesome and never gave AI a moments thought.
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[…] Anyway, this is a 99 word (no more, no less) piece of dialogue only, flash fiction for The Carrot Ranch Literary Commu… […]
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Reblogged this on ShiftnShake and commented:
“Check out that old man talking to that tortoise.”
“What do you think he’s saying?”
“I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Why, I- you – I haven’t seen you since-“
“- that kiss. When you said…”
“I could change.”
“Have you? Are you ready to come out of your shell?”
“I still think we should take it slow.”
“Really? Won’t stick your neck out? Take a risk?”
“Well, uh, I, uh…”
“Look, I changed. It’s your turn. Shall I kiss you?”
“That man is still talking to the tortoise. Ugh! Now they’re kissing.”
“OMG! He turned into a tortoise!”
“Freaky!”
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OOh – I like. A cool take on the Frog Prince fairy tale 🙂
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Thanks jules. I don’t do well with photo prompts, wasn’t sure if I’d get anything. Got a little somethin’.
You! Jeez you have a prolific pen.
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Too much time in my creative brain pan?
Not all that rises is ‘edible’ 😉
I’ve been doing this one photo prompt weekly for about five years. They can be fun.
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Has it been five years already? Seemed like maybe five days… Must be tortoise time.
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The 5 year photo prompt Place I’ve been going to is called Sunday Photo Fictioner…. I was doing that long before I found Carrot Ranch.
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I was joshin ‘ you!
I’ve only written a couple times for Sunday photo. Photos are already a thousand words so I find them difficult, the pictures get in the way for me. I don’t think anything gets in your way!
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….Sonnets and maybe writing a novel 😉
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A fine freaky fairy tale of a conversation, D.! And yes, Rodeos get Jules’ pen revved up and rapid firing ink every which direction. I think that’s how we’ll get her to write a book! 😉
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I think I have enough material to fill several books… in verse or flash fiction. The longer novel… that’s just scary!
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It’s like accumulating lots of yarn. Sooner or later you take up knitting sweaters!
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[…] Rodeo #1 Dialog […]
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I’ve just been having too much fun thinking of the different conversations that could be created from this prompt so here is a second challenge piece.
The title is the link to the post:
Lacking Commitment
“Look deeply into my eyes… you are getting sleepy, very sleepy”
“Didja want me to start counting back from ten or one hundred?”
“Shhh,… just concentrate. Stay focused, please. Did you want to be cured
of your coffee addiction or not?
“And you really think trying to hypnotize me inside a coffee shop is the
right location to do this.”
“You are talking again. You are supposed to be listening.”
“But I can smell the coffee and hear the machines brewing.”
“You aren’t looking into my eyes.”
“Wise Tortoise, I think I’ve changed my mind. You want some coffee?”
©JP/dh
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Hee hee. Coffee is always a good idea.
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Jules, it’s fun watching you have fun! Coffee addiction is a fun twist.
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[…] “In exactly 99 words write only dialogue in response to the photo prompt.” – a prompt for this week’s CW piece. [Source: @CarrotRanch] […]
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[…] Now, I’m not as good G, but I do enjoy trying sometimes. And now I even took part of Carrot Ranch […]
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[…] first weekly contest was themed around dialogue and all the different ways to use it, not only through what people say, […]
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