Thursday, April 30, 2015

Writing Challenge!

Before I share about our new horse, Baylie, I wanted to do a brief  challenge. For once, this is a challenge that I, myself, came up with and it will appeal to all my authors/writers out there! So, here are the rules.

1) I give you a traditional story. (Like one of Aesop's Fables or a fairy tale, etc.)
2) You write it up differently from the original and send it in to me via the email me gadget that I added to my blog on the right sidebar. (Please, try to keep it about 500 words max but not more than 600. Thanks!)
3) I will judge the entries, place them in order of first, second, third and post them! Please let me know if you prefer me not to publish your entry. This challenge is just for fun so there is no reward.

Here is your first challenge: Rewrite The Boy Who Cried Wolf! Here is an example for you written by my younger sister from an assignment in her writing program, Excellence in Writing. Thanks, Sis! She calls it, Nobody Will Believe. 


There once was a girl who watched the ranch horses in a grassy meadow near the ranch. Earlier that spring the ranch owner had sternly instructed her to keep a keen eye out for bobcats. He did this because he feared that a young girl such as she could not handle a job as important as this.

After several weeks of herding, the drowsy girl had become very lonely. Suddenly an idea sparked in her head. If she called “Bobcat,” then the ranchers would come to save the horses. She would then have company. “Bobcat!” the girl shrieked. After two more calls, the ranchers had arrived. Surprisingly, the ranchers did not scold but simply replied, “Do not do that. It practically made the grub jump out of me.” The girl, who was upset that they would not stay, agreed as they galloped over the hills. She did not call for quite some time . . . until she got very lonely again because it had been two months since she had been in proper civilization. “Bobcat!” she foolishly cried. When the ranchers rode over the ridge and discovered her prank, they were furious. “Don't EVER do that,” they all barked.

Several weeks later, a large bobcat, skinny from starvation, silently approached the herd. Because of her sharp eyes, the girl saw the hungry beast sneaking in the tall summer grass. Jumping to her feet, the frightened girl cried out in alarm. “Bobcat! Bobcat! Help!” With so much as a glance, the ranchers ignored her. “Bobcat! Please, help! Bo–” her cry was interrupted by a screaming horse. This of course caught the ranchers' attention. Loading their rifles, they raced to the scene but were too late as they found the petrified girl huddled against a rock in the horses' dust staring where they had bolted. “It seems as if you have learned this lesson the hard way,” the leader piped up. “If you lie, then when you don't lie, nobody will believe you.”

Have fun and please get your entries in as quickly as possible. If you want to, you can title it, but if you don't that's okay too! Please include your name (or an alias if you don't want your name public) and state if you are willing. Thank you!

27 comments:

  1. Oh cool! I did a course of IEW a year or two ago! Maybe a different level, but that's still so neat! Is her teacher Mr. Pudewa? He's a great teacher! :)

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    1. Yes, it is. She has really enjoyed him and his teaching. Her writing skills have greatly improved since she has taken the class. Are you going to enter the contest? If so, I look forward to reading your entry!

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    2. I did the class by Mr. Pudewa wit hour homeschool group, it was really fun.

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    3. Yeah, I took the class when I was her age too! He is a good teacher!

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  2. I nominated you for a Random Question post on my blog!

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    1. Thanks, Rishona! Is it okay if I answer the questions in a comment on your blog? I was already nominated by Emily McConnell and I would prefer not to have to do another post with it.

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  3. Is there a deadline for sending in a story? I'd like to know how long I have to write it. This sounds like a lot of fun! :D

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    1. I'm not sure because I cannot commit to a specific date but I would say a week or so. If I remember, I'll leave a comment on your blog a day or so before I post the entries I get. I probably won't do it for a while if I only get one or two entries in the first week.

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  4. Everyone: if you are thinking of entering, please let me know so that I have an idea of who will be entering. That way, if I am ready to post the answer but one of you who said that you would like to enter has not entered, I can check in with you before I post the winner. Thanks!

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  5. I'll be entering, and I'll try to send you my story this weekend ;)

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  6. Hopefully I will be entering, but I'm not sure.

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    1. I can't wait to read your entry! Hopefully you can enter!

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  7. Replies
    1. Wow! I never thought that adding in that one line would generate so much feedback!

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    2. I used to. Now I just finished the book "Elegant Essay"

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  8. I would like to enter too, but it could possibly be a day or two before I have my entry written.

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    1. Ok, so far I haven't gotten any entries so I guess that I will have to wait until I get some entries to post the winner! I am eager to read it!

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    2. I tried to send it, but I don't for sure whether it went through or not. Can you let me know if you get it?

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    3. Did you send it via the Email me gadget?

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    4. Hmm. I'm not sure why it didn't come through. So you put in your email and then pasted it into the box where it says "message" and then hit send?

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    5. Yep. I wonder if the message was so big that it couldn't send it.

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    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    7. I sent it to you. Thanks!

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Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog! I really appreciate feedback—your thoughts are what keep me blogging! I always reply to comments, so be sure to check back!

Please be considerate of others and please keep all comments God-honoring. Your comment will be visible after I approve it. Thank you!

Blessings,
Bethany R.