Photo Prompt Contest: Runaway Storm

Photo Prompt Contest, hosted by me, Mimi. This is a user-run contest on the writing website, figment.com.

Here is your prompt:

In 3000 words or less, write a story that is inspired by one picture, the other, or both. Publish it to figment.com. The person doesn't have to be a runaway, despite the name of the contest. Total originality, inspiration, detail, style.

Enter by September 11th (9/11). The winners will be announced within the next two days of that.

First place:
Five reads, three reviews, the chance to get five hearts.
That story will be recommended on 'Found Something Good On Figment'.
I'll run a swap for you, reading other peoples work and asking them to read yours, not mine, in return.
I'll post your story on this blog, with full credit to you of course.

Second place:
Three reads, three comments, the chance to get three hearts.
Your winning story on 'Found Something Good On Figment'.
I'll post your story on this blog, crediting you.

Third place:
Three reads, the chance to get three hearts.
I'll post your story on this blog, crediting you.


Tag your story with RunawayStormContest under the 'Details' page.
View Entries.

Poetry versus prose

Which do you prefer? Let's hear pros and cons of each, writing and reading them.

Prose:
Pros: 
Can be more fun to read, makes you know about the author rather then several short poems.
Easy to acquire to get to read. 
Occupies you for a longer time.
Can be easier to write because you don't have to deal with stanzas or timing


Cons:
Takes longer to read.
Takes longer to write.
You need an actual idea, not just a few words to create it.




Poetry:
Pros: 
Quicker to read.
Quicker to write, don't need too much time.
Not using correct grammar can sometimes make it better.


Cons: 
Though it is shorter, it takes a while to think of the idea. You can't just start writing, you have to have something in your mind.
Harder to get to read.
Harder to get published.


So, what do you like to write?

Where to write?

There are lots of places out there to write-from your phone to your notebook to a computer to a napkin.
Writing online though, presents a different idea. You can get feedback, good and bad. On some it's a community, where you can make friends, maybe win a writing contest. What's a good way to find these though, other then google? 'Write' here. Three websites you can use, counting down to my favorite.


Writing.com
An online community for all sorts of writers, teaching and excelling them.


Inkpop.com
Another community, where you can connect for feedback, and win a contests to get published!


Figment.com
A friendly website where you can talk to others or write a book. Easy and free, great to get feedback, and easy to get noticed! A nice comment and a 'heart' always feels good.

Three types of poetry

Don't want to write the same thing as the author before you? Check out these three types of poems that you probably haven't heard of yet.


1 The Waka-Similar to the Haiku, but instead it has a few more lines. The syllable count goes 5-7-5-7-7. Like a Haiku, the lines don't rhyme. The Waka originated in Japan thousands of years ago. (Specific type of Waka concerned-Tanka)

Example:

     To live is to break

      by

      Ueda Miyoji

To live is to break 

One's heart for the sake of love; 

A couple of doves, 

Beaks touching on their way, 

Are stepping out in the sun.

2 Blank Verse-Blank Verse is poetry that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. Blank verse is often unobtrusive and the iambic pentameter form often resembles the rhythms of ordinary speech.
Example:

   The Ball Poem

    by

    John Berryman

What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,

What, what is he to do? I saw it go

Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then

Merrily over-there it is in the water!

3 Cacophony- The word cacophony originates from the Greek word meaning "bad sound". The term in poetry refers to using words with hard to pronounce, discordant, clashing, hissing sounds, though not all types of this type of poetry sound bad in any way.
Example: 

     Jabberwocky

      by

      Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; 

All mimsy were the borogoves, 

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Source: Types of Poetry

Out of ideas?

Get inspired! There are probably a gajillion ways to do so, but here are some of my favorite tips:

1 Imagine yourself. Go ahead, do it. Now just see what you do. Just imagine yourself moving, meeting, munching, whatever! Keep going like that. How do you interact? What would you do, because you can do anything?

2 Base it off of real life. This is different then Number One. Write a quick paragraph about a moment in your life. Use that to create a new story. Maybe your character does the same thing is you. Maybe not.

3 Watch a movie! Read a book! Listen to music! Inspiration is when you get an idea. How do you get the idea? You are inspired by something someone else did. Acknowledge someone else's words. So get reading! Get watching! Get listening!

4 Out of new ideas? Use an old one. Whenever you have an idea, write it down so you might use it some other time. Look at old ideas, or continue an old story. Something new may come to mind, or maybe you'll just have fun finishing that old story you started.

5 RELAX! Don't stress. Chill out, and let your mind rejuvenate. Ahh. Bliss. It's like Hawaii, but less calm.