CARRIE KARNES-FANNIN
  • about
  • contact form
  • making art
    • digital
    • cut paper
    • line work
    • photography
  • the end pages

"RED"

10/1/2020

20 Comments

 
Picture
(Photo credit to website unsplash.com)
It's been a long summer in many ways (2020, am I right?), but Fall is finally here. I'm celebrating the cooler temps, leaves turning, and Lydia Lukidis and Kaitlyn Sanchez again hosting their "Fall Writing Frenzy" contest. 

The competition challenges writers to choose among 15 "fall" photo prompts and write a 200-word kidlit (picture book thru YA) story in response. Though we're restricted on the number of words, the sky's the limit as to what direction the piece goes. Entry dates are Oct. 1-3, 2020. You can read all about the contest & the entries on Lydia's blog. (Link here))

I chose the image above. It was a lot of fun finding a story inside it, as well as polishing it down 200 words or fewer. (197 to be precise) What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment below & don't forget to check out everyone else's pieces via Lydia's blog.


RED
 
On
a new moon
night
in an ancient
wood,
 
Rose,
a red shadow
of a girl,
 
slipped
between trees
 
and
spread her hood
on the
damp ground,
 
waiting
 
for
Lupe,
 
who ran
with a wolf’s silence
through the forest
toward
her.
 
"People
will talk,"
Rose whispered.
 
"Let them,"
Lupe replied,
 her dark hair
a shining tangle
weaving them
together. 
"We don't have to."
 
And
Lupe was right--
 no words
were needed
between
them.
 
Night
passed
as they held
hands,
and watched
stars spin
round the sky.
 
 
When morning
was still a
rumor,
 a
huntsman,
tracking deer,
found

instead
 
Rose
and Lupe,
 
asleep,
wrapped
in the scarlet
cloak.
 
Rose's heart
skipped
as Lupe leapt to
shield her.
 
"What will you do?"
Lupe demanded
of him,
 
 knowing Rose
was afraid
of her village’s words
biting and cutting
them.
 
 
"I will keep
your secret,"
the boy offered.
 
For
though a hunter,
he wasn't
cruel.
 
 
“Thank you, friend,”
Rose replied,
borrowing bravery from
Lupe’s kisses.
 "But there's no secret here."
 
They walked homeward,
with fingers
entwined.
 
A crowd gathered, but
no words were said,
except one:
 
“Welcome.”
 
For
people saw,
shining like the full
moon,
 
a love
that would become
legend.
 
(197 words, inspired by photo #6)


20 Comments
Rosanna Montanaro link
10/1/2020 03:25:05 pm

This was so creative, Carrie. Loved the tension! Congrats and good luck.

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/1/2020 03:28:59 pm

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read, Rosanna.

Reply
Sara Fajardo
10/1/2020 04:48:28 pm

Gorgeous Carrie, I can't help but feel there is so much more to this story. You might just have to consider a YA in verse!

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/1/2020 06:00:30 pm

Wow, thank you! That is something to mull a bit.

Reply
Charlotte Dixon
10/1/2020 05:17:19 pm

Suspense and tension wrapped me around your story. Well done! Good luck!

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/1/2020 06:01:05 pm

Thank you very much, Charlotte.

Reply
Kathi link
10/1/2020 09:06:56 pm

Beautifully spare but oh, so rich.lovely.

Reply
Kathy Halsey
10/2/2020 08:51:00 am

Oh, Carrie, love how you wove the elements of fairy tale into a love story for today. Beautiful writing and heart. Excellent.

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin link
10/2/2020 04:35:02 pm

Thank you very much, Ms. Kathy. <3

Reply
Nicole Loos Miller link
10/2/2020 07:34:36 pm

So much to love about this story! The excellent twist on an old tale, the way love makes them brave, and the amazing verb choices throughout! Gorgeous story!

Reply
Sarah Meade link
10/2/2020 11:55:15 pm

This is beautiful and unexpected. I enjoyed reading it, Carrie!

Reply
Colleen Dougherty link
10/3/2020 01:07:01 am

This was so well done, Carrie. I truly enjoyed it! Good luck in the contest:)

Reply
Mona Pease
10/3/2020 11:28:33 am

Oh my gosh Carrie, I love the way your mind creatively untangles thoughts into a beautiful story.You are gifted.

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/17/2020 07:39:52 am

Thank you, Ms. Mona. Your support means a lot.

Reply
Judith Valdes B. link
10/4/2020 12:08:16 am

I love your writing!

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/17/2020 07:39:13 am

Thank you so much for reading & commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Reply
Anne Lipton
10/4/2020 01:29:43 am

Such a rich and provocative fairy tale retelling in so few words. I loved the lush details and description, especially how Lupe and Red watched "the stars spin round in the sky" and then fell asleep wrapped in her scarlet cloak. And the ending—"a love that would become legend"—is simply glorious.

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/6/2020 06:52:47 pm

Thank you so much, Ms. Anne!

Reply
Kaitlyn Sanchez link
10/15/2020 12:08:05 am

This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this lovely story that made me read up with the fall writing frenzy!

Reply
Carrie Karnes-Fannin
10/15/2020 08:04:21 am

Thank you, Kaitlyn! That means a lot coming from you.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    March 2020
    November 2017

© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • about
  • contact form
  • making art
    • digital
    • cut paper
    • line work
    • photography
  • the end pages