Welcome to day two of the Winter Writing Challenge! Are you ready to get those creative juices flowing? I loved reading all your submissions yesterday. Let’s see what you come up with today!
Here’s your next prompt!
Write a vignette about waiting outside on the front porch.
Think you’re up for the challenge? We can’t wait to see what sort of vignette you guys come up with. Remember, it’s time to work together to unlock some of those awesome prizes, so post your vignette in the comments!
But wait…what’s a vignette and how do I write one?
A vignette is a brief evocative description, account, or episode. It doesn’t have any plot, backstory, or any elements that can move the story forward. For more on how to write a vignette, click here!
(Keep in mind, they should be less than 500 words!)
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the poems and vignettes you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Have fun!
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question. 🙂
You guys posted over 130 times yesterday, via this Q&A Board, Facebook, and Instagram! That’s incredible, and we’re well on our way for big prizes.
Remember, if at least 50 people post every day, we’ll all get one free month of Premium Membership to The Company. Premium Members get access to all of The Company’s live coaching groups, where you can get real answers from real professionals for all of your writing and publishing questions. Keep posting, and let’s get this!
Happy Writing!
Alli Prince
Madison watched the ice cubes clink as she swirled her glass, beads of water slowly running down all sides, mimicking the sweat pouring from her own skin. The air felt like a wet blanket, still and heavy with moisture. The afternoon shower had offered brief relief, but now the steam rising from the blacktop road stalked them while they waited on the front porch. As the sun dropped lower, the narrow covering could no longer protect them from its glare. Even Jack, with all the energy of an eight-year-old, had given up playing in the yard. Soaked through from the rain he now sat in front of the box fan, participating in a childhood ritual offering high pitch screeches and low hums to hear how his voice echoed through the blades.
Not turning from the wind he mustered a seriously dramatic run saying, “I’m an alien robot warrior and I’ve come to take this fan to my spaceship!”
Madison smiled, grateful she’d found an extension cord long enough to run through the front window. The only place hotter than outside was inside. Jack’s last thermostat report was 96 degrees. Some may call it a tropical paradise, but in the middle of summer, it was nothing but miserable. The repair bill would likely be too.
“Hey Mr. Robot Warrior Alien…do you have air conditioning on that spaceship?”
“Noo-ooo-ooo.” He drew out the sound, first low, then high. Turning to his mom, he giggled, “That’s why I want the fan!”
Madison laughed back, wiping her brow with an ice cube pulled from her glass. “The repair guy should be here in the next hour or so.”
She pulled her visor down lower over her eyes. What if they can’t fix it today? How could they sleep if it was 96 degrees inside? She watched a line of ants march across the step. Next to her, on the planter box, two little geckos were engaged in an epic battle of some sort, or was it a mating ritual? Hard to tell. Her mind continued to wander. How many times had she thought out replanting the planter box? It was utterly lifeless and barren, some colorful little blooms would make the whole porch look better. Maybe some paint, or at least a pressure wash.
“Momma, do we have any popsicles?” Jack asked.
Madison smiled. “I think we do!”
“Best day ever!” Jack danced around the porch in celebration. “I want a red one!”
“Red, gotcha. I’ll be right back.”
Love the reference to the boy making voices through the fan, I enjoyed doing that in my childhood. (:
Late, but still wanted to write something, so I’m posting it as a comment, if that’s ok. (it’s also not my best work)
The red gingham pattern of her dress stood out starkly against the white siding of her picturesque childhood home. From my view, her life was pretty perfect. She had a loving family, friends that were with her through thick and thin, and everything a girl could want.
And as I stood here, in the street, my breath puffing out into great white clouds in the cold, watching her wait for me on the porch, I realized something.
I couldn’t stand here forever, watching her wait for me here on the porch. It was now I had to make the decision.