Morning, Toads!
Today, we're looking a bit at storytelling. What makes a good story? What is the must-have element? No, it's not sex (but that helps!). It's conflict. A good story must have a conflict.
After all, what would Popeye be
Or, Dorothy
without the Wicked Witch?
Boring, that's what! It's conflict that makes a reader care.
Poetry is a beautiful vehicle for conveying conflict. From mundane, everyday tensions to the darkest moments of human existence, poetry has the depth and breadth of expression to tell the tale. And, it doesn't have to go to epic lengths to do it.
So, let's get conflicted today. Give me a little poetic drama . . . in 30 words or less.
I hope you weren't expecting seriousness?! LOL
ReplyDeletei wrote a conflict-filled little poem last night before seeing this, but it was (slightly) more than 30 words and would have been cheating anyway. so here ya go.
ReplyDelete30 words or less? You're the best at short poems, but I might give this a try before this cough knocks me flat again. (For two days I've had laryngitis, so, if I can't talk, maybe I can write.)
ReplyDeleteK
No way, we both shared Dorothy pics today! I so love the witch...I could do her voice! ...Love this!
ReplyDeleteOkay how to combine SARK for PU and the witch...?! lol
Great idea Mama Zen! :D
all right, i can't resist sharing this after all, as i wrote it about an actual conflict i very recently experienced. http://www.runawaysentence.com/2012/10/all-around-water-cooler.html
ReplyDeleteToo much fun playing with the sketcher tool this morning ....
ReplyDeleteThis was quite a challenge, but brevity is forcing me to choose words more carefully. Thank you for the opportunity, MZ.
ReplyDeleteThat was fun! I love brevity!
ReplyDeleteThis makes 55 words look like a thousand! But I couldn't miss it, and dredged something up from the witchy cauldron for the occasion. I'll be around tomorrow to read and see what everyone else did for this one.
ReplyDeleteWrote up a real-life conflict event for the prompt!
ReplyDelete30 words,including the title.
ReplyDeleteHow low can you go :-)
I enjoyed Patricia Anne's succinct poem but couldn't comment on her blog.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read these poems
ReplyDeleteThanks Mama Zen :D
I didn't count the title...?! oh, damn... I can go delete it..which is odd. I never give my poems a title~
Ella, I didn't count the words in the title either! 30 words in my poem though. Some times real life's conflicts is the stuff of poetry.....unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteWell, I made it under thirty words. Thanks for the prompt Mama Zen!
ReplyDeleteI could swear you said 60 words! Back to the drawing board. Sorry for my false posting.
ReplyDeleteMZ didn't say anything about "including the title". That was Aprille.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Brevity! A great lesson. Platonic, even
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
Okay thirty-one with my title! ;) Thanks MZ!
ReplyDeleteI was unable to log in with the three options given to leave a comment on Patricia's blog. Sorry, but I do not have a wordpress, twitter or facebook account.
ReplyDeleteSo much can be said with few words. Makes me wonder if I should parent with fewer words too!
ReplyDeleteMama Zen, this prompt was meant to be for me. After viewing a PBS special, Half the Sky, I knew whose story I had to tell. It's a brutal piece, but completely real. THANK YOU (I thanked you by name on my blog, too). Peace, Amy
ReplyDeletehttp://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/10/04/little-lajwanti-lost-brothels-of-india/
i messed up the first time so did an entirely different poem with "conflict."
ReplyDeletei've visited a few but will have to come back to visit more tonight.
♥
Thanks to everyone for participating! I've had a blast reading these.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun challenge - reminded me of why I love to write.
ReplyDeletealoha Mama Zen. i landed on this post today and it sounded like fun. i played in haiga - which i hope is okay. thanks. (and yeah, it was fun) aloha.
ReplyDelete