#WEPFF – WEP FLASH FICTION GARDENS CHALLENGE

We're back! It's been a busy year for many of us, which is a good thing when you're a writer. The A to Z challenge, book tours, travel plans, and new projects has kept the WEP silent since February. We thank you for your patience, support, and especially for your continued enthusiasm!

The Gardens prompt is all about creativity. What picture comes to mind when you hear the word 'garden' - the spectacular beauty of carefully landscaped tiers – the fresh delights of a new snowfall on frozen branches – or the haunting beauty of shadows and wilted plants at dusk on a fall night. 

Please share your poetry, photography, artistry, or writing skills in a flash fiction piece inspired by a garden!

Your choice of medium, genre, word count (1000 maximum) and how the prompt inspires you!

PLEASE COMMENT /  EMAIL AFTER POSTING YOUR MASTERPIECE

Email Denise or Yolanda if you have more questions:

den.covey@gmail.com / yolandarenee@hotmail.com

Here's the code if you wish to publish on your blog.

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<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=651534"></script>

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Help us Celebrate the Garden Challenge! 

We'd love if you'd Tweet one of these: 

Does a garden inspire you? @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee a flash fiction challenge http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2016/08/wepff-wep-flash-fiction-gardens.html #WEPFF 

A Write...Edit...Publish Flash Fiction Challenge - the prompt is Gardens @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2016/08/wepff-wep-flash-fiction-gardens.html #WEPFF 

Frost on a branch – a single rose – or shadows that haunt. Are you inspired? @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2016/08/wepff-wep-flash-fiction-gardens.html #WEPFF

And they said I didn't have a creative bone in my body. Elephant's Child shares her creative journey thus far/

Hello everyone!

We asked the winner of the Spectacular Settings challenge to share her writing journey with us today. It is with great joy we welcome Elephant's Child to the WEP blog as our first winner guest poster.

Take it away, EC!

Over fifty years ago I was told firmly that I didn't have a creative bone in my body.  I have carried that label ever since.  Sometimes I barely noticed it, and at other times it weighed heavy.   As a consolation prize I was assured that everyone has a special talent - and mine would emerge.

So I waited for that talent to appear.  And waited some more.  And the years went by.

A few years ago I had an epiphany.  I am an appreciator.  I am a beauty addict and find it almost everywhere.  In nature, and in many man-made creations.  Books are a prime favourite and I guzzle them.  Across genres.  Quirkiness and whimsy too.

Painting, pottery, sculpture, architecture, crafts...   A little later I realised that not only am I am appreciator, I like to share the joy and the magic.

When I found the blogosphere about four and a half years ago it was like coming home.  I was invited into people's lives, educated and entertained.   I laughed with other bloggers, I wept with and for them.  I wrote about some of the things which move me, and took photographs to share the wonder.  And made friends.  Good friends, even though I will probably never meet most of them.

As I explored my vastly expanded world I was introduced to a writing meme 'Words for Wednesday'.  Each week a selection of words, a phrase, or an image go up and we are encouraged to play.  Some people create incredible stories.  I content myself with a paragraph or two.  And marvel at the very different things triggered by the same prompt.

When I came across Write Edit Publish I knew I would be back to revel in other people's creativity.  Some gentle encouragement pushed me out of my comfort zone. No quick paragraph, but a considered piece.  Something I have never done.

When I put my entry up, it was with intense trepidation.  I was awed at the creativity and beauty of the other contributions I read, and felt out-classed.  When very generous comments started to appear the welcoming and supportive attitude was so very welcome.

AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!!  I won!!! Surprise doesn't begin to cover it.  Shock.  Disbelief.  It is too soon to say that I can (finally) discard that label I have dragged though life, but its shackles are looser than they were.

I am so very grateful that Denise and Yolanda set this challenge up - and for the support and encouragement that everyone has provided.   I love this diverse, rich, exciting community.

Thank you EC. We are humbled by your humility. Thank you so much for sharing with us today!

If you haven't read Elephant's Child's poetic entry, Memories. Magic. Mystery. please click here for a visceral treat.

Stay tuned everybody. Next Wednesday we present a post on Copyright. Please join us.

And keep your creative juices running. Our October Halloween challenge will be here before you know it.

Help us Celebrate Creativity!

We'd love if you'd Tweet one of these:

Elephants Child is guest posting about her creative journey #WEPFF Write…Edit,,,Publish @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/and-they-said-i-didnt-have-creative.html

Have they said you aren't the least bit creative? #WEPFF They were wrong. @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/and-they-said-i-didnt-have-creative.html

Celebrate creativity with us and Elephants Child at #WEPFF Write…Edit…Publish. @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/and-they-said-i-didnt-have-creative.html

Meet our Finalists for the WEP Spectacular Settings August challenge - #wepff

Hello dear readers!

From poems to flash fiction, from photographs to original artwork, from creative fiction to travel essays and a playscript, WEP entries in the Spectacular Settings challenge were an inspiration to all. Your entries transported us to other lands, to other times, which of course was the underlying motivation for a settings theme. 

Part A - share a Spectacular Setting which stopped your heart.

The shared settings were breathtaking. From favorite poems, book extracts to fantastic photos, WEP participants took us on a creative journey. Many famous authors and poets were often acknowledged by commenters as their own favourites, while others were happy to be introduced to a new writer or artist they intend to check out.

Here are some examples....

Pat Garcia of Thinking it Over:The Sunlight Dialogues by John Gardner

Patrick Colohan of Finding Environs: Donald E. Westlake's God Save the Mark

Linda Katmarian of Scheherazade's Journal Hilary Mantel's Bringing Up the Bodies

Madilyn Quinn at She Reads And Drinks Waterhship Down by Richard Adams

Tom Benson at Tom Benson Creative Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

Toi Thomas of The ToiBox of Words endorsed Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Debbie of the Dogladys Den of gave us the poem Greece by Oscar Wilde

Angelika Schwarz of write 2 Camp Euro  brought us Janet Fitch;s The White Oleander

D.G. Hudson of Rainforest Writing took us to the streets of Montmartre in Paris.

Part B - share your own setting piece

We had entries penned especially for the challenge or the perfect excerpt taken from a WIP. Through these shared, original pieces which highlighted setting, we were left open mouthed at the sheer talent indicated by the quality of the entries in prose or images. 

We had Damyanti at Daily [W]rite sharing an extract from her WIP, currently titled Underneath the Skin. Michael E Dellert from Adventures in Indie Publishing shared a scene from his WIP, The Hills of the Cailech. Who will forget  '...a child's burnt stocking lying in the mud.' Guilie Castillo at Quiet Laughter shared a short passage from her published novel, The Miracle of Small Things set in her adopted island home of Curacao. Debbie from The Doglady' Den shared her love story of Greece with fantastic photographs, beautifully presented. Nilanjana Bose at Madly-in-Verse's contribution, Roadblock, transported us to the Himalayas. Kiran Acharya of The sea and me gave us The Ruins of Doddakudla enchanting us! Rasma Raisters at Nothing but Poetry captured our imagination with her photograph and poem Golden Birches. Deborah Drucker of Notes Tied On The Sagebrush gave us The Journal is discovered a time travel and shape shifting fantasy full of promise. Sally Stackhouse of Sally's Scribbles introduced us to Molly and her young son, in a poignant flash called The Beach.

And that's just a small sample. If you haven't had a mention it's not because we didn't love your entry, it's just the sheer number prevents us from doing a complete wrap up of all posts. 

If you haven't read any/all of these entries, please treat yourself! That's why we have Direct Links. Reading/commenting on others' work is a core belief of WEP and can and will be taken into account in the final judging if a decision can't be reached any other way.  

Now, I'm sure you'll understand the torture we piled upon torture when we tried to whittle down 44 entries to just 3 winners! Yolanda and I struggled with this, and turned over 7 entries to our guest judge for this challenge, Donna Hole. Donna was a previous co-host and knows what to look for--entries that encapsulate the challenge, in this case, setting, entries that are error-free (or very nearly so), entries that have followed the guidelines (mostly), but at the end of the day, the entry must make our hearts sing. 

So, we will start with our overall winner, who was unanimously chosen by all 3 of us. I will tell you that the top 3 were moved around in position several times until this order was settled upon:

(((Drumroll)))

The Winner of WEP Spectacular Settings August 2015 challenge who takes home an Amazon Gift Card to the value of $10 is: ELEPHANT'S CHILD!

Elephants's Child's entry consisted of amazing photographs accompanied by a poem, Memories. Magic. Mystery. The animate mood and imagery of the poem were captured at a dancing horse show in Australia. The movement and pace of the poem matched the picture, both evocative.

So, congratulations EC! Please take the badge below and share it on your blog, linking to your excellent entry. Your Amazon Gift card will wing its way to you shortly!

Next, we chose LG Keltner of Writing off the Edge for her extract from her untitled WIP.

Her awesome descriptions and vivid sense of both history and the present earned her second place on the winner's podium.

So, many congratulations LG, please accept this Runner-Up badge from WEP and display it on your blog, linking to your entry.

Then, for the Encouragement Award, we chose Samantha Redstreake Geary who shared a beautiful, magical place in her entry, Weight of Wonder. Awesome descriptions, and using the trees as Dryads gave personality to the setting.

So, many congratulations Writerly Sam, please accept this Runner-Up badge from WEP and display it on your blog, linking to your entry.

Honourable mentions go to those who were moved up and down the line as we chose the final 3. They are Robyn Campbell: what a beautiful poet. Vivid imagery in such a concise piece. Then Kate McManus: awesome travel article. we certainly wanted to visit, even in the rain. Michael DiGesu: yes, certainly a favorite. Loved the poetic imagery and who can forget that photo taken by Michael of the pink flamingos! And finally Michelle Wallace, with her edgy experimental flash on the South African beachfront.

Now! Another fun part! Each WEP challenge we will have a lucky door prize! With the help of random.org, the August winner is: Laura Clipson! Congrats Laura! You have won a $5 Amazon Gift card which will wing its way to you shortly!

Now we want to hear about your WEP experience. Please take the time to comment and congratulate the winners and tell us about your experience. There is a poll in the right-hand sidebar. We would love for you to fill it out so we can make the WEP experience better next time! We have had a debrief and have come up with ways to make it more user friendly in October.

We hope you're already thinking about your Halloween post! There will only be one part to this post--so go scare us!!

Please visit us next week when we'll be guest posting the winner, Elephant's Child.

Don't forget to Spread the Word

We'd love if you'd Tweet one of these:

The #WEPFF has announced the winners of the WEP Spectacular Settings Challenge. @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/meet-our-finalists-for-wep-spectacular.html

Congratulate the winners of the #WEPFF Spectacular Settings Challenge. @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/meet-our-finalists-for-wep-spectacular.html

Spread the word & celebrate with the winners of #WEPFF Spectacular Settings Challenge. @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/09/meet-our-finalists-for-wep-spectacular.html

WEP challenges for 2015. Why we believe in WEP.

Hello there!

Denise here. It's taken awhile to get to our second post, but Yolanda has had edits of her third novel, and I've been travelling up and down New Caledonia. You can check out my trip here. Now Yolanda's edits are all but done and I'm back, so let's get down to the fun part of WEP.

We present to you our Challenge Badge for what remains of 2015. As you see there are only three. We don't want to wear you out, so we'll go slow. This way there's plenty of time for you to participate in other challenges you may be involved in, and of course, November is NaNoWriMo for most of us.

OUR CHALLENGE BADGE:

We'd love it if you would copy this badge and post it onto your blog .

You are most welcome to post it in a blog post to help promote WEP.

For this we would be very grateful. Just send us a link so we can visit your blog!

So on August 19, we have our first challenge, Spectacular Settings. Very soon I will publish a post on settings as a prelude to our challenge. Meanwhile, think about some aspect of setting that comes to you. As you know, you are welcome to post flash fiction, non fiction, poetry, photographs, artwork...go for it, but try to keep under the 1,000 word limit. 

Our Halloween challenge, Youthful Frights Vs Adult Fears, will be posted early, so you can participate in other Halloween challenges if you wish. Yolanda is the horror Queen, so she has taken charge of this one! As well as a winner's badge, there will be an Amazon $10 gift card to the entry that catches our eye and disturbs our dreams!

The December challenge, Holiday Celebrations that are out of this world, will have a definite sci-fi flavour, so that will be an excellent way for those of us who don't write in this genre to think outside the square. It will be fun!

For further information on all three challenges, click on the page above. 

Now as mentioned in our previous post, there will be judges for each challenge, and we will return to the RFW (RomanticFridayWriters) idea of choosing a WINNER,  a RUNNER UP, and an ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD for each challenge. A guest judge will read through our 3 choices, then decide on the winning order. There will also be a wrap up of each entry.

HERE ARE THE WINNER'S BADGES:

Can't you just see your name and a link to your story on one of these?

WHY WE BELIEVE IN WEP:

So in case you're wondering, why do we feel so passionately about running an online writing challenge group? Let's try to put our passion into words...

Writing prompts are designed to help us start writing. And I don't just mean fiction. You may be a poet, a creative non fiction writer, an essayist. It doesn't matter. Sure, most who accept the WEP challenge write either flash fiction or poetry, but all writing is creative. Many creative writers use prompts every day to get into the writing groove. Some call these exercises free writing. Once they've jump-started their writing, they often move on to their WIP, energised and refreshed. 

Not that anyone here suffers from writer's block, but just say you did, a writing prompt can hasten the return of your muse. Sometimes when nothing else works, a writing exercise will! 

The best part of writing challenges such as we host here at WEP, is that your entry could be edited, rewritten, transformed into a longer piece, a short story, or even a novel. Many of us have had this experience. And it all started with a writing challenge, a very powerful tool.

Often someone leaves a comment about how we have improved as a writer with each challenge. It's true. We learn our craft by writing to prompts and editing for clarity and a word limit. Sentence structure, paragraphing, punctuation, grammar, dialogue...all can be improved in this little writer's laboratory. 

Hi folks, Yolanda here. Are those badges awesome or what? Kudos to Denise. She out-did herself with those! As a collector of old typewriters, that Winner's badge is way too cool!

Just popping in to say Hi! and let you and Denise know that first edits are done, so my attention is back on WEP. And to reiterate Denise--I know first hand that participating in Flash Fiction challenges are an excellent way of honing our writing skills. When you have to write a story with a beginning, middle and ending in only 1,000 words, well, it's called a challenge for a reason. Cutting, tightening, and rewriting until only the meat of the story remains, is a skill your editors will appreciate.

Please join us. We promise to make the journey informative, rewarding and fun!

Don't forget to share the Challenge!

We'd love it if you would Tweet one of these:

#WEPFF 2015 Challenges and dates are now up join the WEP Flash Fiction Challenge http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we-believe.html  @DeniseCCovey &@YolandaRenee  

#WEPFF The first Challenge is Spectacular Settings – join the fun on August 19  http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we believe.html  @DeniseCCovey &  @YolandaRenee

#WEPFF Winners badges designed by Denise are Perfection! Join the WEP to win at http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we-believe.html  @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee