Poetry | Writing Challenge | Fiction

Charlie and Chantelle — Poetry Challenge

A strange love story

Background

OK, so I have just launched a writing challenge for my short story writers, and it occurred to me that the same challenge could be adapted for poets. Some of my fellow writers on this platform will know that I rarely take part in challenges (what a hypocrite!). I am never short of ideas but get very little time to write for pleasure. When I do, I want to expand on them.

I was chatting with one of Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Poems’ very talented poets, Block Wife. What started as a discussion about using emojis evolved into a chat about the part swear words can play in communication. To make a point, I came up with the following snippet:

Charlie pulled the knife out of the side of his head. How he was still able to think and speak was beyond him. ‘Paula, we’ve done so much harm to each other over the years in this dreadfully toxic relationship of ours. But after everything that’s happened — the murders, the affairs, the violence — you stabbed me in the head because I burnt the fucking toast! What the fuck is wrong with you?’

I really enjoy making up snippets. My mind is random, and I can conjure up crazy stuff on demand, anytime and anywhere. It’s as though my head is full of this nonsense. All I have to do is take a peak, and as soon as the door opens a crack, lines spill out.

Do other authors share this ability or is it a bit of a quirk, I wondered. This gave me an idea. Introducing…

The Expansion Challenge

Your task is to expand on the snippet with a poem.

You can either delve back in time and write about the main character, Charlie, and his partner, Chantelle, and lead the reader up to the point he was stabbed.

Then you would either finish with the snippet supplied or go a little further. Or you could start with the snippet and develop the story from there.

Rules:

Publish it where you like, but I’d love to see your poem Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Poems.

Copy and paste the snippet, challenge and rules from this post, and share it at the end of your post. Please mention that the challenge was launched by me at Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Poems. (Can’t beat a bit of self-promotion — something I don’t do enough of, to be honest.)

Ask others to take part.

I don’t usually tag people into posts, but I am going to make an exception here: Author, D. Denise Dianaty Logophobic Paciego Solado Glenn Stok Sapir Nahari

If you’ve been tagged, it’s because you’ve recently submitted. If your name isn’t tagged, it either means I knew this challenge wouldn’t suit you OR it means nothing at all. I only tagged a few people.

Thanks a lot.

Happy writing.

Martin Morrison — English writer