To participate check it out here
From my walk today…
Month: July 2021
Simply 6 Minutes—Welcome To The Challenge: 07/27/2021
Welcome to the 6 minute challenge!
*****For any participants that do NOT like restrictions, please feel free to participate in any way you would like. It is great to read the contributions!***
- Set up a timer or sit near a clock so you can keep track of the six minutes you will be writing.
- You can either use one of the prompts (photo or written) or you can free-write.
- Get ready and write for 6 minutes, that is it! Can you write a complete story? Can you think of a new Sonnet? Can you write 400 words? 400? 500? There are no restrictions on what kind of writing you do, but you should try to be actively writing for six minutes.
- After you are done writing, include your word count and then post back to this page #Simply6Minutes or include your link in the comments section. Pingbacks are enabled.
- *Feel free to leave your work completely unedited. I believe it is good to see, especially for new writers, that even very seasoned writers don’t write a perfect first draft.*
- Have fun, challenge yourself if you’d like, read and respond to others’ posts.
Thank you for participating!
**************************************************************************************************************
Blogging Insights — New Format # 2
Dr. Tanya has put a new twist on Blogging Insights. Check it out here
Here is the secret of writing : there is no secret. — Ralph Fletcher
There has to be some secret to it! I have been told I am a good writer but my mind goes blank. I would love to write more stories but I get so… I don’t know…I just can’t think of things to write about that go anywhere….
Share Your World — 7/26/2021
QUESTIONS
Do you believe in second chances? I think second chances are okay if both parties genuinely want a different outcome than the first. The question is, why do you need a second chance? Is it that you didn’t really try the first time? I think it needs to be looked at closely to see if a second chance is really a worthy endeavor.
Is your glass half full or half empty? Almost always half full. I think that if you think of the negative then you get the negative. If you focus on the positive points then you see things brighter and more positive.
Would you rather someone be honest and hurt your feelings or lie to protect them? If I had to pick I would say, just be honest. I mean if they see something about me or feel a way about me then chances are someone else is out there that will feel the same or see things the same as they do. In the end, if you don’t care even after they tell the truth then no one is hurt by it.
When have you felt your biggest adrenaline rush? When I get on a roller coaster.
GRATITUDE SECTION
What are you grateful for? I’m grateful I have a place to come home to and to have a roof over my head. I am not completely happy where I am right now but I am safe and healthy here so I hate to complain. I can’t even imagine how many people in the world would kill to have a crammed apartment, just to have a place to live.
Paula’s Monday Peeve
Who doesn’t like to bitch now and again, just to get it off your chest? Welcome to Paula’s Monday Peeve! Unburden yourself of an annoyance and you’ll feel better afterward. Or not. Complain in my comments or crab in your own post. Doesn’t have to be on a Monday. You do you.Check it out here.
Paula mentions the state of the public roads…
There is so much construction around me that I wonder how they think they can even man so many jobs! They have roads closed all over the county and you can’t tell me they have enough workers to work on all these spots at one time. Why close all the roads? Why not leave them alone until they are ready to work on them? And in those spots, why go back to two lanes only to go back down to one lane 50 feet ahead? A bad joke? A way to see who the impatient people are? Maybe public transportation shouldn’t be scarce or expensive, cut down on some of the drivers. You know, I don’t know what it is like in other countries but here in the US I find that there are so many cars and trucks all day and night! There is never a quiet highway.
Wordle 511
Find it here
The Criminal Cruncher: A superhero story
Sparks were flying as the legendary superhero raced through the streets in his sports car turned criminal catcher. The Criminal Cruncher was a spontaneous hero who could often be seen rising in the sky with a ring encircling him like the planet Saturn. The heat’s high temperature, which was emitted from the Cruncher’s car was a far cry from the temperature of the sun but it could still melt a criminal, landing him incapacitated instead of incarcerated. The Criminal Cruncher knew his powers were like magic and were what would make the future possible for the civilians in the city, though dressed in his black garb he was more ominous than hopeful. Somehow the Cruncher knew he had to find a way to rekindle the hope of the people or all of his work would be for nothing.
©2021 CBialczak Fiction
Book Review: The Marriage Pact
The Marriage Pact
by Michelle Richmond (Goodreads Author)
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond will have you hooked the minute Jake and Alice sign their contracts. The question is, what did they just sign up for?
This novel has so much important information that pertains to all marriages alongside what the Pact will go through to protect the institution of marriage. Jake and Alice have always been happy so they don’t really think the Pact is what they need. Other members find ways to convince them differently. The rules and regulations compounded with penalties and punishments will have you thinking about whether tying the knot is worth the trouble! Alice is a smart woman and Jake has a background in relationship counseling and Jake begins to wonder if this is some sort of cult.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars as I felt the ending was weak. The plot was packed with twists, turns and surprises and although I am not disappointed with how the story ends, it is not what I would have expected after reading the rest of the work, seeing the depth the author is able to achieve throughout the writing.
©2021 CBialczak Book Review
FOWC with Fandango — Idiom
Click here
An idiom is a phrase, saying, or a group of words with a metaphorical (not literal) meaning, which has become accepted in common usage. An idiom’s symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.
Okay, I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I’m going to bite the bullet and just write. I know most of my blog followers won’t cut me any slack so I want to make it good.
What you might say
when he saunters your way
and your skin starts to crawl
and you wish you were small
enough to just shrink
but you’ve no time to think.
Well, I’m going to call it a night. I didn’t try to cut any corners even though I am a little under the weather, so I take this weight off my shoulders and say “goodnight”!
Fandango’s Flashback Friday — July 23rd
Fandango has a great idea with this! To read more click here
Here is my flashback from last year: https://christinebialczak.com/2020/07/23/tale-weaver-285/(opens in a new tab)
Written for Michael’s prompt at mindlovemiserysmenagerie: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2020/07/23/tale-weaver-285-forgiveness-july-23rd/
Feeling Alone
Veva knew that nothing which had been done in the past could be undone, she could only hope to find some forgiveness in her heart. She was not sure if that was possible.
Two weeks ago Veva heard some terrible news about an old friend. Struck by COVID Meg had not made it. She was so heartbroken at losing her friend, especially because there would be no services to honor Meg’s life. In her sad state she decided to call her coworker, with whom she had become very close with in the last ten years at the same advertising company. She knew Barb would be able to give her the sympathy she needed at this horrific time.
Veva called Barb on her personal cell phone, wanting Barb to know that it was not a work related call. After the third ring, right before the call went to voicemail, Barb answered.
“Hey Veva, what’s going on?”
“Oh, Barb, I just found out one of my oldest and dearest friends died from COVID!”
“Veva, that is awful. Where did she live? Will there be services?
“She was from Syracuse, like me. Her brother said they can’t have any services because of social distancing so they will bury her ashes with just the immediate family and priest.”
“Wow, that sucks. Hey listen, can I call you back? I just got to the store and I just have to run in to return something.”
“Sure, Barb, talk to you later.”
Veva was left alone to cry. She thought Barb would offer to come right over and keep her company. She had thought wrong.
A few hours passed and Veva had still not heard anything from Barb. When she tried calling her the call went directly to voicemail. She wasn’t sure if she should be mad or worried. Putting her concerns aside she wanted to check Facebook to see what kind of tributes were being made to honor Meg’s life. Turning on the computer and navigating to Facebook, the first picture to show up on the feed was Barb, sitting alone at a small cafe, drinking a glass of wine. The caption read: “I love being alone!”
Veva was taken by surprise. Hadn’t Barb said she was just returning something and would call her right back? Here Barb has posted a picture of herself enjoying a glass of wine alone. She could have asked Veva to join her, she could have waited to have a glass of wine to comfort her friend. Obviously, the wine was more important that she was.
Veva sat back and closed the browser. No point in torturing herself anymore. She was now hurt twice in one day.
Veva called Barb on her personal cell phone, wanting Barb to know that it was not a work related call. After the third ring, right before the call went to voicemail, Barb answered.
“Hey Veva, what’s going on?”
“Oh, Barb, I just found out one of my oldest and dearest friends died from COVID!”
“Veva, that is awful. Where did she live? Will there be services?
“She was from Syracuse, like me. Her brother said they can’t have any services because of social distancing so they will bury her ashes with just the immediate family and priest.”
“Wow, that sucks. Hey listen, can I call you back? I just got to the store and I just have to run in to return something.”
“Sure, Barb, talk to you later.”
Veva was left alone to cry. She thought Barb would offer to come right over and keep her company. She had thought wrong.
A few hours passed and Veva had still not heard anything from Barb. When she tried calling her the call went directly to voicemail. She wasn’t sure if she should be mad or worried. Putting her concerns aside she wanted to check Facebook to see what kind of tributes were being made to honor Meg’s life. Turning on the computer and navigating to Facebook, the first picture to show up on the feed was Barb, sitting alone at a small cafe, drinking a glass of wine. The caption read: “I love being alone!”
Veva was taken by surprise. Hadn’t Barb said she was just returning something and would call her right back? Here Barb has posted a picture of herself enjoying a glass of wine alone. She could have asked Veva to join her, she could have waited to have a glass of wine to comfort her friend. Obviously, the wine was more important that she was.
Veva sat back and closed the browser. No point in torturing herself anymore. She was now hurt twice in one day.
©2020 CBialczak Fiction
Take Seven
Di at Pensitivity101 has a challenge to challenge her daily challenge! Lol. Check it out on her page: https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/take-seven-23rd-july/
Our words were: animal, betray, double, duet, forever, friend, gist, honest, hump, lies, party, petty, pretend, single, sorry, story, true, trust, tune, wet, whistle
Walter looked at his book, the one with the animal on the front. At first glance it looked like a dog but that was his eyes betraying him. It was in fact a small rodent of some kind, hidden in a bunch of roses. Walter did a double take and could see the rodent clearly. This book, as it lies upon the sofa, is a reminder of the duet he sang in his church group, and would forever be a reminder of his close friend, Martin.
When Martin had handed Walter the book at the party he saw the twinkle in Martin’s eye, letting him know the gist of the wrapped novel was a memento to be cherished. Walter had been honest with Martin when he had told him he only reads in his free time. When Walter unwrapped the package he threw the wrappings to the floor to land in a hump of frilly ribbon and colorful paper.
Martin didn’t care for the petty glances of the other members and had been sorry that he hadn’t saved the gift for a more private setting. He wanted to pretend they weren’t even there, that him and Walter were a single unit in a mystical theater. It was a story he longed to tell Walter and hoped that someday it would come true. Walter trusted that Martin knew how much books meant to him and with a lick of his wet lips, began to whistle a tune of happiness and love.
Stine Writing 
You must be logged in to post a comment.