Light and Shade Challenge

Hi, Lyssa here.  The last three months of prompts were set up by me during a marathon session where I looted Wiki Commons for public domain pictures and tried to remember all the great quotes (and yes, I searched online as well). I am about to start another marathon session, with Thomas' input this time, and now is a good time to give me any feedback, ideas or suggestions. We would both really love to hear what you think, please let us know.  Lyssa M x

Not only is it Wednesday but it is also Christmas Eve.  Lots of people will not want to write over the holiday as they will be focusing on their families.  Lots of people will have more time to write as they will not be working. We've decided to put the post up.  Not only do some people take the chance to write over Christmas but I am not sure that everyone who posts celebrates Christmas.  It seems a bit unfair if you don't celebrate Christmas to suddenly find things shut down on a date that has no meaning for you.  It is really important that this is an inclusive place to write.  No-one should feel they ought  to do something, just that there is a chance to write about a prompt if you think it is fun. The usual rules apply; there is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit to use for whatever gets sparked in your imagination.  However as it is the holidays for so many the time is extended to a fortnight.  I hope you can enjoy these. ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of freeimages.co.uk Here is the quotation. Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam  Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.                                                                    ...

It’s the third Monday in the month! On the third Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 100 word limit (we still don’t count it) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to focus in tight and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by David Berkowitz and used under the Creative Commons Agreement Instead of a quotation, this challenge we suggest you use the concept of tautology - but only if it sparks something off!   It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit the spot.  Sometimes you can give a ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of freeimages.co.uk Here is the quotation. When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run. Abraham Lincoln It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let s...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of freeimages.co.uk Here is the quotation. The only sure thing about luck is that it will change. Bret Harte It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their w...

It’s the first Monday in the month! On the first Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 2500 word limit (we still don’t count it) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to spread your wings a little and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Here is the quotation.   Deeds, not words shall speak me. John Fletcher It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit the spot.  Sometimes you can give a little help with a suggestion or hint.  Plea...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by Johann H. Addicks - addicks@gmx.net used under the Creative Commons Agreement Here is the quotation. Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them. John Updike It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons taken by Bjoertvedt and used under the Creative Commons Agreement Here is the quotation. Ahhh. A man with a sharp wit. Someone ought to take it away from him before he cuts himself. Peter da Silva It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can g...

It’s the third Monday in the month! On the third Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 100 word limit (we still don’t count it) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to spread your wings a little and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Here is the quotation.   A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for Grace Murray Hopper It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit the spot.  Sometimes you can give a little help with a suggestion or hint.  Please comment on the other writers as much as you feel able. ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of freeimages.co.uk Here is the quotation. It's hard to beat somebody when they don't give up Babe Ruth It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their w...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words  (We never count the words really, but hey).  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by NobbiP and used under the Creative Commons Agreement Here is the quotation. Gunpowder, treason and plot From a traditional English children's rhyme It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit the spot.  Som...

It’s the first Monday in the month! On the first Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 2500 word limit (we still don’t really count it...) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to spread your wings a little and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Here is the quotation.   I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.                                                                             ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by Daniel71953 and used under the Creative Commons Agreement Here is the quotation. Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do.                                                               ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia commons, taken by Eric Jones as part of the Geograph Collection and licensed under the Creative Commons Agreement Here is the quotation. Jealousy is all the fun you think they had. Erica Jong It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit the sp...

It’s the third Monday in the month! On the third Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 100 word limit (we still don’t count it) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to focus in tight and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Just for a change, this time try poetry (we are really, really not going to check word count for this). Just see if you can have a go at poetry in any form or just go for prose if that is sparked off. It's the fun that is important. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, in the public domain as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey Here is the quotation.   I'm not insane. My mother had me tested Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory ...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by AlejandroLinaresGarcia and shared under Creative Commons Here is the quotation. Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away... Hughes Mearns It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just le...

Welcome to this week’s Light and Shade Challenge! Every Wednesday we put up a new Challenge.  There is a picture, a quotation and a 500 word limit.  The Challenge is to take whatever is sparked by the picture and/or the quotation, however tenuous or remote the connection, and see how much fun you can have in 500 words.  We never count the words.  The main thing that is important to us (Lyssa Medana and Thomas Marlowe) is the fun.  You have until midnight GMT Tuesday. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit if you show it on your blog.   Image courtesy of Wiki Commons and used under the Creative Commons Agreement, taken by Tony Bowden in Tallinn, Estonia Here is the quotation. The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity. Harlan Ellison It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writing hit ...

It’s the first Monday in the month! On the first Monday in the month we put up the usual picture and quotation but just for a change we give a 2500 word limit (we still don’t count it) and you have fourteen days to have fun.  This is a chance to spread your wings a little and play a bit more.  Don’t forget you don’t need to directly refer to the picture or the quotation, just go with whatever gets sparked off, and (this is really important) have fun! Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you show it on your blog. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by Dr. W.G.N. (Wicher Gosen Nicolaas) van der Sleen and provided by Tropenmuseum, The Netherlands Here is the quotation.   Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away. Sir Thomas Beecham It is really encouraging to have comments on your work and it can give people a real lift.  Sometimes it is nice to just let someone know that their writ...

Tom and I are still really stunned and flattered by the positive response to the Light and Shade Challenge.  We have had far too much fun with them, but we have had a lot of real life stuff going on as well.  We really want to keep it going, but perhaps in a slightly different format.  We always knew when we started this last April that we would have to tweak things to get it right.  So here is our first tweak.  It's not going to be that different, as most people seemed to like it generally.  We just want to make it a bit easier to have fun. The challenge is dropping to once per week plus extra challenges twice per month.  We took on board the number of people who missed a challenge or who said that the weekend was a tough time to fit in writing.  I am also aware that some people do a lot of writing over the weekend.  So we have decided that the Challenge will be once per week from Wednesday to the following Tuesday which hopefully will giv...

WE HAVE BEEN GOING SIX MONTHS! Tom and I are slightly stunned at the quality of the links and the kind support of those who post here. To be honest, I didn't think it would last this long.  Thank you all for taking part, and for contributing so much good stuff! So to mark this milestone the challenge is a little bit different this Monday.  First of all the word limit this time is 1000 words or twice the normal limit.  Because that takes a little longer the time to link is extended to fourteen days , so you have until noon GMT on Monday 13th October. I have also had a real rummage to get an interesting picture and I hope it will give a good starting point to have fun. Here is the picture prompt.  Please credit it if you use it on your own blog. Thomas Marlowe Instead of a quote, here is a technique which you could use, refer to, take for inspiration or ignore. I have once again gone to Wiki. Poetic Justice - characters getting their just rew...