I’m Not Chicken
The first time I was introduced to “Six Sentence Stories” was years ago from the original meme creator Josie Two Shoes, so while visiting her yesterday she reminded me of it again.
These days, Zoe at Uncharted, runs the meme but Josie plays along and promotes the weekly linkup. I’ve toyed with the idea of rekindling my creative writing but keep putting it off. Last month’s A2Z challenge stirred a lot of creativity within; I feel I need to do more than I have with my blog (life) and decided to give this writing exercise a try.
Here’s how Six Sentence Stories works. Each week, you’ll get a cue (Wednesday) to write about and in 6 sentences, any genre using the cue any way you want you’re to create a masterpiece then link up (Thursday). This week’s cue is Chicken.
Sophie Mae stared in anguish at the mother hen and her chicks. Gramma motioned the little girl to join her but she wasn’t having anything to do with going inside the chicken coop; after her last experience with those crazy birds flying every which way and becoming entangled in Sophie Mae’s long locks. Just thinking about it made her shudder nervously. Slumping her shoulders, she sighed deeply with her head hung low ready to pivot on her heels to head back indoors to the safety of her grandparents’ farmhouse when her cousin, Bobby Jean ripped out the front door yelling, “What’s the matter, Sophie Mae, are you…?” Catching the boy’s smirky grin, she felt the heat flushing her cheeks red and knew what was coming next. Scrunching her brows together, she flashed angry eyes his direction that could even stop a creek and make it run backward; marching across the yard defiantly with arms swinging fast, she retorted, “I’m not chicken!
What do you think of my snippet? Is there hope for me as kittie lit author?
I hope these weekly prompts will spur my interest to pick up where I left off with writing for kids again and to do something with them instead of letting more time pass. Doing nothing when you could do something is a regret I can do without when I’m too old and can’t do anything at all. The game is on, so bring it on…next week’s cue that is! 😉
Stop in tomorrow for a weekly Rx of giggles with Friday Sillies and more!
31 Comments
Lisa @ The Meaning of Me
Nothing quite like the taunt of a sibling or cousin to get one fired up! Cute story!
Cathy Kennedy
Lisa,
You’re so right! 🙂
Barbara In Caneyhead
I enjoyed your snippet and I have a rather childlike mind in some ways. I think this hen & chicks may be my favorite of all your sketches.
zoe
Awesome! Not only could you write kiddie lit but you can illustrate it too! Really good! Thanks for joining in and always thanks to our buddy Josie!
Cathy Kennedy
Zoe, thanks! I’m delighted to be a part of your hop and look forward to spreading my wings; not like a chicken but an eagle! 😀
15andmeowing
Well done, you could write and illustrate a children’s book.
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you, Ellen! This is what I want to do and hopefully before the year ends. *cross fingers*
Clark Scottroger
Welcome to the Six Sentence Story!
Very excellent Six, engaging and very ‘visual’, which really is an accomplishment, given the sixness of the rules and all.
Cathy Kennedy
Clark,
Your comment “very visual” encourages me to try this again and eager to play along next week. Thanks for the warm welcome and visit. Have a good weekend!
Birgit
Love it! I can see a boy say that too. You can do anything you want to if you set your mind to it. I’m a believer in that
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
When I was little I had a similar experience as Sofie Mae, except I didn’t have a cousin taunting me about being chicken, though. It was a scary situation for a little toddler. I know I was younger than four, maybe three. Thanks for visiting.
Josie Two Shoes
This was a delightful tale of childhood, so true to life, and I loved your sketch! I was happy to find you joining us for SSS, it really is a fun thing to be a part of! I must go back an check out your A-Z sketches, clearly you are talented and these could make wonderful illustrations for children’s stories! 🙂
Josie Two Shoes
Cathy Kennedy
Josie,
I appreciate your encouragement and kind words. I wished I had started this little hop long ago but I wasn’t ready for it and now I am. 🙂 I’m happy you stopped by!
scr4pl80
Great six sentence story. I followed Josie during the A to Z too. Makes me wonder if I could do something like that too. Congrats on yours!
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks, Janet! If you’re interested in art then I say toss caution to the wind and go for it. Don’t wait forever like I did. You might surprise yourself. I know I was when I tried my hand with my first drawing. 🙂
scr4pl80
I was thinking more about the writing art. Possibly I could put six sentences together and have it make sense 🙂
Cathy Kennedy
Writing is definitely an art. The gift to turn words into something visual in the mind is amazing. I hope to be able to do that one day. 😀
McGuffy's Reader
Cathy, it is great to see you having such fun! I think you should just go for it! You are doing great. I really look forward to seeing your sketches in colour. You have a beautiful creative outlet, my friend. HUGS!
Cathy Kennedy
Annie,
I am having lots of fun and I’m figuring out how to incorporate the things I enjoy in my life a little each day. Thanks for visiting!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
This is a super post in several ways. First, it was nice to see again one of your best sketches submitted during the recently completed A to Z Challenge. On top of your abilities as an artist, it is plain to see that you would make a darn good writer of children’s stories. Your six sentence Chicken story was very clever.
I also appreciated watching the historic clip of R&B legend Rufus Thomas performing his hit “Do the Funky Chicken” (which was immediately followed by “Do the Funky Penguin”) at the historic Wattstax benefit concert commemorating the 7th anniversary of the 1965 riots in Watts, Los Angeles. At first it was alarming to see all those kids flooding onto the field because it looked as if another riot was unfolding. When it became clear that they were the equivalent of a modern day “flash mob” and all they wanted to do was dance, it gave me a feeling I can’t even describe. I read some of the YouTube comments on the video and they perhaps express it better than I can: “Must be hard to see your grandparents were cooler than you”, “If you want respect. You gotta give respect.” “Young black brothers and sistas, if you’re reading this post this is for you- notice everybody pants are up? Notice “no violence of any kind”? Notice the black women are adorned and not disrespected? Do you see and feel that Black Power?”
What a great post, Cathy. I slept in today but I’m glad I came over to experience this!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
You flattery! Thanks for your sweet comments. You really know how to boost a girl’s self-esteem. I couldn’t resist sharing the “Do the Funky Chicken” mewsic video. I had forgotten about the song until I went in searching for one. I didn’t know about the riots you mentioned. I was only four years old at the time, so I didn’t think much about the crowd rushing. I figured they were going to get a little funky and I was right. lol There wasn’t a disrespectable looking black youth in that sea of faces. Kids today can learn a lot from the past. It would be awesome to see a day when people dressed liked they cared how they appear to others instead of their own peers. I’m glad you came by this morning, dear friend. Have an excellent day!
valj2750
Your sketch is beautiful. Welcome to the SSS blog hop. You wrote a very vivid tale in six. I want to go back and look at your A-Z drawings. (I did photos)
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you for stopping by for a visit and for the warm welcome to SSS. I’m looking forward to doing more writing prompts. If you like sharing photography, then you may want to join my not-so Wordless Wednesday hop each week. Now, allow me to skip off to check out your blog. Have a good day, Val!
messymimi
She’s not chicken! Keep writing.
Cathy Kennedy
Messymimi, all it took was a hard push to get her courage to do it again! 🙂
UP
Yes you do! Great job, and welcome to the SSS gang.
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you, UP for the wonderful greet to SSS! I’m looking forward to writing my next post. Have a good day and thanks for stopping by!
Keith's Ramblings
I just love your story and your sketch. Chicken she’s not!
Cathy Kennedy
Keith,
Thanks! When backed into a corner we all find our inner superhero to do what’s needed. 🙂
aslifehappens60
Wow ! Loved what you did with the “chicken” , both literally and figuratively . 🙂 Great 6 sentences. And , love your sketch too. See you , next Thursday 🙂 🙂 A Happy new beginning to you
Best wishes
Moon
Cathy Kennedy
Moon,
Thanks for popping over. I’m delighted you enjoyed my short-short story and illustration. Have a good day!