This week, Esther Chilton's challenge is to write a 47 word story using: Toffee, Resign, Houseplant, Fling, Tablet, Ladder, Slogan #AnnEdallRobson #FromWhereICome #imaginationoverdrive #47wordstory #photowritingprompt #writingprompt #CapturingMomentsOthersMayNeverGetToExperience #RuralLiving #WhoaBackUpStop #AnnEdallRobsonPhotography #annedallrobsonbooks #flashfiction #wordwritingprompt
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99 WORDS...AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
Maybe I had heard the word Cryptozoologist before; however, when it came up as part of this week’s 99 Ward Story prompt, I looked up its meaning. In doing so, Wikipedia, as long as it isn’t screwing us over with their information, divulged: A pseudoscience and subculture that searches for the studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated. As long as this source isn’t screwing us What immediately came to me is the writer’s mind and how we fly under the radar in the daily search for the unknown. Which often as not results in the creation of legendary and possible unknown characters who become extinct by the end of the story they write, or not. Me, the writing panster, plan for very little when it comes to putting pen or pencil on paper. It’s true I have more projects on the go than one most likely needs. What is one supposed to do when there is a continual eruption of ideas floating about the gray matter? There are those who would ignore it, and there is me who says it needs to be recorded as much as possible. There is not much allowance for escaping tales, stories, and anecdotes. Some pair wonderfully with previous thoughts; yet others stand alone that may just do that - stand alone in history with no other thought to encourage growth. You could say I might be somewhat superstitious when it comes to corralling my thoughts on paper. Always a bound journal, no coil-bounds allowed. My theory behind this is that the coils are open to let the melding pot of ideas escape, not true for the bound version. It’s okay to laugh, there are others who choose to be shakers of heads and rollers of eyes rather than laugh. Of course, when the journal is not handy, which is very seldom, any scrap of paper will do to record the idea, character conversation, the next book in a series. It doesn’t matter what I write with or on, the raw first draft will be longhand. Galavanting thoughts of the study of legendary animals filter into me from the previous paragraph. I do believe my era has the makings of such animals based on our knowledge and use of cursive writing. The future Cryptozoologist will spend copious amounts of time dissecting the traits of a panster. Are they legendary and now extinct? Did they actually exist? Yes, I suppose that’s a bit of a stretch; yet there have been a number of occasions while writing in my journal in a bistro, I have been asked what I am doing. The scenario may play out with a reply, “Writing a chapter of my next book.” The next question might come forth as, “Don’t you use a computer?” That’s when I explain my penchant for writing my first draft longhand. I have been asked, “You know how to do that?” Of course, I am poking the stick at the lack of writing with a pen and pencil by others. It’s good fun to see reactions, and to be able to share one of my favourite topics - The Old Ways. I think it will be a compliment to go down in history as people who may or may not have created their own code to communicate with each other by writing their stories without electronics. And so, perhaps a book saga begins...for someone.
#AnnEdallRobson #FromWhereICome #99WordStories #FlashFiction #weatherstation #ranchtradition #writingprompt # #undertheradar #Cryptozoologist #familytradition #CapturingMomentsOthersMayNeverGetToExperience #TheOldWays #RuralLiving #WhoaBackUpStop #AnnEdallRobsonPhotography October 24, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a cryptozoologist. Who is this character? What cryptids do they research and why? Are they serious about their work, skeptical, or scheming to fool others? Go where the prompt leads!
99 WORDS...AND A LITTLE BIT MORE Looking out the window at the lazy snow flakes settling in the grass; at this time of year it might be snow or rain. Glancing at the calendar, she wasn’t surprised to see the moisture. A note written on today’s square told her precipitation was expected. Sure enough, the old ways her grandmother had ingrained in her held true once again. No need to listen to the radio, TV, or check an app to know if moisture should happen. Her weather report: record the foggy days, count out 90 days, make the note FOG90 in the appropriate calendar square. Carrying the history and traditions forward from previous generations is a passion of mine. The old way of making notes like Fog or Feb Fog on the calendar continues, at least in our family. In generations past, and current, the knowledge there will be some form of precipitation, be it snow or rain, at certain times of the year, can be a bonus. Think about it, those who lived before radio, television, and cell phones needed a way to tell them what was going to happen in the weather department. Who did they turn to? Nature and keeping information in journals &/or notes on calendars. These notes included the weather patterns and paying attention to animals and birds. I talked about this in articles I wrote in 2016 - Old Timers Prediction, and again in 2018 - The Weather Forecaster. For example, consider the month of May as the time to plant the garden; however, if there was a lot of fog during the month of February, your planting strategy might need to be reviewed. You will most likely want to put seeds in the ground before the 90-day note on the calendar. This gives the seeds the needed moisture to germinate; you are less likely to have to plant them in mud, or have to wait until the ground dries out some, so you can actually put the seeds in the ground. It is my experience that the lack of fog in the first quarter of the year can affect the moisture expected during the growing season. Of course, fog in the second quarter could mean that moisture might affect the harvest season. Does this form of telling the weather hold true 100% of the time? No; but it’s close enough to make me record the foggy days on my calendar. Besides, it makes for interesting conversation and it’s surprising how many people I have told this to, now do it. This is not the first time I have written about the old ways. The funny thing is, that I mention the old timers thinking about my parents and their parents when I do. In a recent conversation, I mentioned old-timers, stopped, laughed, and proudly said, “I guess now I would be considered one of the old-timers.” How do you keep track of weather happenings?
#AnnEdallRobson #FromWhereICome #99WordStories #FlashFiction #weatherstation #ranchtradition #engrained #familytradition #CapturingMomentsOthersMayNeverGetToExperience #TheOldWays #RuralLiving #WhoaBackUpStop #AnnEdallRobsonPhotography August 22, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about the arrival of the weather. It can mean any kind of weather event meteorological or mythological. Is the weather personified, random, or calculating? Where does it arrive? Is it typical or epoch-changing? Who is involved? And if the Womam Who Doesn’t Want Red Hair shows up, well, ask her what’s happening. Go where the prompt leads!
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Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life. "Capturing moments others may never get to experience.” 99 Words
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