The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Inspiration/Block (for the writer) (05/20/10)
I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. Why do we have to write about giraffes? I don’t want to write a story about giraffes. I don’t like the rule that we have to keep writing our thoughts until we can come up with something on the subject. I like writing stories about what I want to write about. I don’t know what to write about giraffes.

I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. I hate writing that I don’t know what to write.

What do I know about giraffes? I know they only sleep about 12 minutes a day – scientists used to think they didn’t sleep at all. The sign at the zoo to see how tall they are goes up to 18 feet, but the one I saw walk by the sign was only 16 feet. They don’t have a voice to make a giraffe noise. I wonder how they communicate with each other. I can’t write a story about a giraffe without knowing how they communicate. Do they do Morse Code with their hoofs?

I don’t know what to write about giraffes. I don’t even like writing about giraffes. I wonder if this has to be creative as I can’t think of anything creative to write about giraffes. I don’t know what to write. I remember reading something about giraffes last week in my nature magazine. What did it say?

Oh yeah, I read that a giraffe could break a lion’s neck with one backwards kick. Now there is an animal I could write about. Lions are cool. They are strong and once they have eaten, they lay peacefully in the shade all day. After sunset, a male lion will roar, which will be heard for miles and calls all stray members of the pride together. I wish I could write about lions instead of giraffes.

Maybe I could write about a giraffe that kicks a lion and breaks the lion’s neck and the whole pride of lions attacks the giraffe as a result. Then they feast on the giraffe and all the other giraffes learn not to kick the lions. That would be a much better story than something with the giraffe as the main focus. But I don’t think the teacher would like that story.

Maybe I could have the lions plotting to gang up on the giraffe, but the giraffe shows up at the funeral feeling bad that he killed the lion. Nah, lions don’t have funerals and how would the giraffe tell them he was sorry since he doesn’t have a voice. Guess it would be fiction, huh? The teacher might like a story with the giraffes and lions becoming friends because the giraffe apologized. But the lions would never accept that apology. Maybe they only pretend to, but then get back at the giraffe later. I like that idea better. Maybe I will add that to the story after the teacher grades the shorter one where they get along.

Leon Lion crouched down ready for the kill. Oh wait, the female lion does the hunting.

Lynnette Lion crouched down ready for the kill. Warnings from her mom and aunts resounded in her head – come from the side not the back. This would be a feast for the pride if she could take down a giraffe. Memories of the only other time she had eaten giraffe motivated her to risk trying.

What? Time to move on to math? Now I will have to write the story for homework. Just when I finally got some inspiration.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1183 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Charla Diehl
05/27/10
The MC gave this story a feel of authenticity with the different directions his mind went as he tried to be inspired about something he wasn't interested in. And the ending was just right. For me, this was a cute, enjoyable and entertaining entry.
Avigail David
05/28/10
Another hilarious entry in level 2! My! I'm among the "neurotic" bunch. You held up me laughing all the way through. :) :) :)Good job.
AnneRene' Capp
05/30/10
I too liked the humor and your title grabbed me, as I am a huge fan of The Wizard of OZ!
Mildred Sheldon
05/30/10
What an enjoyable story. I chuckled from beginning to end and you brought it all together beatifully.
Lisha Hunnicutt
05/30/10
As a teacher I have to assign writing assessments to my students 3 times a year. The kids are required to write to a given prompt. I wonder how many of them wrestle with thoughts just like these? It gives me pause, that's for sure.
Lollie Hofer 
05/31/10
It's just not students who carry on like this. I've had my share of "I-don't-know-what-to-write-itis" on numerous of challenges. Thanks for the good laugh, the story was fun to read.
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
06/01/10
LOL
When I homeschooled my children I read lots of journal entries with a similar sentiment!
Very fun!
Carol Penhorwood 
06/01/10
A very fun read! Great job, Joanney!
Jody Day 
06/01/10
What fun! I have seen many a student sitting at their desk, pulling their hair and chewing on a pencil. I know this is very much like what they are thinking.
Maria Egilsson
06/01/10
Joanney, this a cute story. I like the ending, just when you get "it", something else comes upl

lol.
Carol Slider 
06/01/10
This was a lot of fun to read! Even though I always had my students do "free-writing" when I taught composition, I always wondered (secretly) if it was really a good way to generate ideas. I think I would have about this much success if I tried to write about giraffes off the top of my head. Enjoyed this!
Virgil Youngblood 
06/01/10
A fun read with a realistic feel. Good writing.
LINDA GERMAIN 
06/01/10
Very creative...and I learned interesting things about giraffes and lions! Good job~
Sarah Elisabeth
06/01/10
Ah, this was good! You capture the voice so well
Susan Montaperto
06/01/10
Very well written and funny too. I didn't know much about giraffes or lions until I read this. Thank you.
Brenda Shipman
06/01/10
Very cute. Really felt the "student voice" was believable. Good job.