36 Comments
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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

Beautiful. You are so very talented and clever.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

That one was an interesting challenge.. Thank you, Kathleen.

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

You’re welcome

Sharon Hudson's avatar

Beautiful, Sharron! You really made those words work for us!

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, Sharon

Rebecca Holden's avatar

Oh Sharron, what a genius idea - and so very, very beautifully accomplished.

*makes note in writing journal*

I was given a set of dice for Christmas - it's called 'Haikubes' - and every day I've been writing a haiku. I roll all the dice, look at what the two prompt dice tell me, and create a tiny, punchy poem using some of the words which the other dice have supplied.

But I love the idea of picking eight words from a book and writing a piece based on those.

I'm about to start a weekly online writing class with Terry - it begins tomorrow - and I'm looking forward to indulging myself in all sorts of new writing techniques there, too.

Sending love, dear lady. Happy, happy new year!

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Haikubes! What a fine idea! And when are we going to see a few of these Holden Haikus? Come on now! I hope you will try the random word draw from texts. ( newspaper, magazine, novel - anything). You will be surprised. It goes right along with Terry’s ideas of restraints.

Rebecca Holden's avatar

You’ll see them tomorrow! Have just scheduled my first post since early December. 😘 I’m really enjoying the Haikubes - but my haikus need practice!

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Rebecca! It is ALL practice. Can't wait to see what you have.

Rebecca Holden's avatar

I’ve actually been trying to channel my inner Sharron while I’ve been haik-ing! Your flash fiction is so tightly constructed with such precisely-chosen words and not a single one leftover for the recycling bin - I am always inspired. X

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh, yay! Thank you, Rebecca. As a prompt in our writing group this week, each member sent another member three words to work with. I received the words "guards number and journey". I am having fun with it. Again, it tends to breaks us out of our usual topics. We will see how we do. So glad you are writing again.

Rebecca Holden's avatar

I’m going to try that three words approach too, Sharron! Writing is so exciting! X

Jim Cummings's avatar

Wow! Well done, Sharron.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you, Jim

Meg Oolders's avatar

Love the poem and this idea! I used to do stream of consciousness free-writes where I would just write words down as they popped into my head. My plan was always to chisel those words into a flash fiction story, but I never did it! Maybe it's time to dust that idea off. Thank you for the inspiration.

Also ... curious what book you chose to open ...

Sharron Bassano's avatar

The book I opened was Enemy Women by Paulette Giles, a novel about women during the US Civil War and the consequences they faced. I am glad you liked the idea.

Yael Gelardin's avatar

What’s a genius idea! To choose a few words and around them create a story.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I didn't invent the technique, but I use it once in a while as it tends to take me somewhere new. I am happy you liked this, Yael. I hope you are starting the year well and content.

K.C. Knouse's avatar

I would never have guessed at the creative origin of this poem if you hadn't revealed it Sharron. Beautifully rendered.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I'm glad you liked it, Ken. Why not try an experiment? You can use a newspaper, a book, a magazine. At random. Topic of the print is not important. Just choose five to ten words you like and see what comes up when you try to put them together?

K.C. Knouse's avatar

Thank you for the suggestion, Cousin.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

👍🏻❤️

Feasts and Fables's avatar

Smart way to gather a prompt … I was wondering, at first, if it was an execution that offered the release. So happy she walked free.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yikes. I had not thought of that possibility...

Feasts and Fables's avatar

Oops, sorry!!

Joel Wisniewski's avatar

That is an interesting process for a prose poem. I am currently reading War and Peace as a slow read - Tolstoy might have a few words for me. Stay tuned.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ha ha ha! All the words you need and a few extra, Joel!

James Ron's avatar

Release, or resolution, is so sweet when finally it arrives.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I have a suspicion that all of us are waiting for resolution these days, Ron. Happy Saturday to you!

Kate Henry's avatar

Leads right into imagination doesn't it.. ))))

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I hope so anyway! Thanks, Kate

Jill CampbellMason's avatar

Your imagination in choosing 8 words to make a prose poem blows me away!

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Choosing words at random from a page gives me a direction I often would not have thought of on my own. Sort of breaks out of the usual patterns. Try it, Jill!

Jill CampbellMason's avatar

Surely will!

Linda Brown's avatar

Good!