Category: Writing Inspiration

Link to the Past

6/16/2020

Growing up, life, and events happened because they just did. As I got older, I had a different take on that thought, and every so often something would filter through my day creating a déjà vu moment. I maybe shrugged this off, but it got archived somewhere in the grey matter for future reference.

I was twelve years old the first time I read the trilogy by Richmond P. Hobson Jr. — a.k.a. Rich Hobson. Book one, Grass Beyond the Mountains took place some thirty years before I opened the cover. It didn’t take me long to grasp that I knew some parts of the country the setting was established in. Some would say it was in our so-called backyard. And how cool was it that he passed through our area to get to his destination. Naming towns along the way that were part of my life.

At that age, what I wasn’t acquainted with were the people in the book. Who better to talk to than someone I presumed knew everything, and maybe everyone…my dad. I did most of the talking and dad would nod, and occasionally answer a question or two that I threw out there, like:

“Do you know any of these guys (characters) in this book?”

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Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

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Rough Writers world tour

2/19/2018

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Today is Family Day here in Alberta, Canada. A day designated to spend with our loved ones doing some kind of activity or simply enjoying the company of each other.

Along with my immediate family, I am happy to be spending some time with my extended family at the Carrot Ranch. I am the third of fourteen international bloggers participating in the Rough Writer Tour Around the World, as we introduce ourselves and The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology Vol 1.

My first attempt at the 99-words - no more, no less - Carrot Ranch flash fiction was egged on by the prompt from Lead Buckeroo, Charli Mills. I remember thinking this can’t be done. Not only did I need to pare away a lot, and I do mean a lot, of that story to reach the anticipated word count, there was a timeline to get it done. Arrrg! I managed, and so the addiction to the 99-word story was born.

I couldn’t wait to read the prompt for the next week and I soon learned, after a few weeks of participating, that the prompt would also take my mind to the thousands of pictures I have taken. Pairing my writing with my other love, photography became part of the weekly challenge for me.

The weeks turned into years, and I am still at it, although sometimes I have weeks when the brain and time do not meld. Thus, the 99-word prompt sits staring at me as the deadline rears its ugly head and gallops on without me. What I do love is the moments when the words just flow; and, how over the years it has become easy to often write my story with 99-word accuracy in the first draft.

Not knowing what I was getting into when I submitted my first piece to the Carrot Ranch, I have discovered over the years it continues to open my eyes to the wordsmith world, giving me further license to tighten my stories, remove unneeded words, and more importantly expand those 99-words into something more as is seen in the five stories found in the Anthology's Part 3: Expanded Flash. It is the section of the Anthology where 99-words became the fuel for my story, Crimson Sunset.

The Carrot Ranch has also given me the opportunity to experience the diversity of all of the other writers, from all over the world, who wander in through the gate to leave their thoughts, encouragement and of course, their stories.

My first visit to the Ranch took place shortly after the launch of Moon Rising: An Eclectic Collection of Works. It was an 'in limbo' time for me while I pondered the need to continue writing as I had been, short stories and poetry or dive into the world of novel writing. The latter eventually won out, and not only did I start one manuscript, I soon found I had three irons in the fire with other ideas flying around the brain wheel. The Quiet Spirits was the novel that got to the finish line first. The others are still under the banner of WIP and have now been joined by the sequel to The Quiet Spirits. In between, I continue to blog, write a monthly newsletter and have published the first of my Backyard Series - Birds in my Canadian Backyard.

Life is grand!

Being involved with the Rough Writer Tour Around the World, encouraged me to take a trip back in time, though my 99-word archives. I couldn’t remember what my first submission was to the Carrot Ranch, and what I found made me smile, nod my head and whisper, “Damn straight!”

I found it interesting how my first post at the Ranch has so much more meaning with the completion of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology Vol. 1. The words I wrote, titled Ivor Oaks, fits the concept of the Carrot Ranch and Charli Mills’ vision to a tee. The prompt on that day in April 2015 - write a story about nurturing a neighbourly relationship.

Not once, did I imagine my early days of writing 99-words would eventually resonate with life at the Ranch, but they have. They are the epitome of what has happened over the years, driven by Charli’s dream for the Carrot Ranch to “provides words for people: stories to read, encouragement to practice craft and a commitment to creating community through literary art.”

I leave you with Ivor Oaks . . .

Ivor Oaks

The old schoolhouse located at the edge of the hamlet of Ivor Oaks was surrounded by oak trees and grain fields.

The windows in the building had been boarded up to protect the flawless six-square glass frames. The walls were solid and the roof had the look of a well loved patchwork quilt. The light from the open door revealed the smooth, well worn, original wooden floor.

Restoration funds had been procured. At the project’s completion, the Ivor Oaks Art and Cultural Retreat would be nurtured into a sanctuary for artisans to gather together to create and inspire.

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

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Link to the Past

Art Show at the Saddle Up Saloon

Rough Writers world tour

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