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Rodeo #5: Sound and Fury Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

14 Dec 2018 25 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Ranch Rodeo, Winners

The final Rodeo results are in… and GUESS WHAT?

I got third place!!!!!

Wow!!!

Some fantastic entries. Please click the link below to read them.

As always, I’ll leave my entry for you to read at the bottom! ❤

Thanks again judges!

By D. Avery Sometimes fear, respect, and awe are the braids of one rope. Sometimes that one rope is all a buckaroo has to hang onto. Your flash should never let go of that rope. That was my lead-in…

Source: Rodeo #5: Sound and Fury Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

Third place and a copy of Chicken Shift go to Ritu Bhathal forGoodbye Fall.

Below me flowed water, fast and furious.

I tightened my grip on the pot.

“All ready?” The instructor checked my harnesses.

I gulped.

But I nodded. I needed to do this.

Launching myself, as instructed, I fell, headfirst, feeling the air zoom past me.

The elastic went taut and I bounced up and down several times.

My heart was in my mouth.

As I came to a stop, I looked at the pot, still in my hands.

Loosening its lid and allowing the contents to fall into the water, I whispered “Goodbye Jake,” before slowly being pulled back up.

What is apparent from the beginning is both the narrator’s fear and resolve to make this jump, though Ritu reveals this through discreet details, such as a tightened grip, a gulp, a silent nod. The motivation isn’t revealed until the end, with the detail of whispering and being pulled back up slowly adding to the poignancy.

I am honoured!

December 6: Flash Fiction Challenge #CarrotRanch – Graffiti

07 Dec 2018 24 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction, Graffiti

Charli’s prompt this week:

December 6, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about graffiti. It can be an artist, art or the medium itself. Get out your can of spray paint and go where the prompt leads you.


Pure Art

Stepping back, he looked up to admire his work.
He inhaled the spray paint, fresh on the wall.
A huge mural filled with colour. 
It had taken him the best part of six hours, what with dodging 
oncoming traffic.
His tag proudly displayed at the bottom.
Sure, the wall wasn’t his property, and there was a slight chance that 
if he got caught, he’d end up at the police station again…
He pulled his hat down firmly and wrapped his scarf over his mouth, 
rendering himself unrecognisable.
Some might call it graffiti, but to him, it was pure art.

December 6: Flash Fiction Challenge

Rodeo #4: Fractured Fairy Tales Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

07 Dec 2018 18 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Cinderella, Fiction, Rodeo

Here are the winners of the 4th Rodeo!

By Norah Colvin Fairy Tales — Fractured in 99 Words Once upon a time on a virtual ranch, Was a whole bunch of writers wanting a chance To fracture a tale in no more and no less Than 99 words to sho…

Source: Rodeo #4: Fractured Fairy Tales Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

My entry (non winning!) is below!

Cinderella’s Pumpkin

She watched, as her fairy godmother turned the pumpkin into a glorious carriage, then the mice to horses.

“Go, my dear! Find your Prince!”

It was a whirlwind of food, dance and laughter.

He loved her, she was sure of it, but that dreaded bell had to chime, didn’t it?

The beautifully crafted glass slipper left behind in the rush, she would mourn.

But not as much as that giant pumpkin.

It had been the largest one in the garden.

Oh, the plans she’d had for that beautiful gourd.

All those potential meals, ruined, and for what?

A man.

November 29: #Carrot Ranch – Into The Dark…

01 Dec 2018 23 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction Tags: #CarrotRanch, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction, Into The Dark

Charli’s prompt this week:

November 29, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the phrase “into the dark.” What must a character face? Write about an encounter, journey, relationship, or quest. Follow the ship’s lights on gloomy seas. Go where the prompt leads you.

Into The Dark

Swaying slightly, she stumbled out into the dark.
It took Penny a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim light.
The door had slammed shut behind her.
Why had she decided to have that last drink?
She knew alcohol and her didn’t mix, yet all it took was the encouragement of a few mates, and she was knocking them back.
And with each drink, came confidence.
She danced, and smiled, and flirted.
But he took it too far.
The pushing to the toilets.
The clawing hands.
She shoved him and ran, fleeing via the fire exit.

November 29: Flash Fiction Challenge

Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

30 Nov 2018 12 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Rodeo, Winners

Check out the winners of Rodeo #3!

By Sherri Matthews Well, we asked for travel stories with a twist, and we got ‘em. Thank you so much to all who entered, 29 in all. You’ve taken us around the world (twice), to Rome and through mo…

Source: Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

In case you’re interested, my entry was this…

Always BE Prepared!

Travel light. That’s what mum always said.

Easy enough when you are off on holiday to a sun-soaked destination. What more do you need than a few swimsuits, some cheap sundresses, sunglasses and sun cream?

So, there I was, with my one bag, ready to be slung into the overhead locker.

And there was Jen.

With her huge suitcase.

“Jeez Jen! What’s in there? Your whole life?”

“Always be prepared,” she smirked.

***

The wind howled.

For the third day running the weathermen warned us to stay inside.

I sat, shivering.

Not Jen.

In her emergency thermals and gloves.