Weekend Writing Prompt – Crucible

Published January 9, 2021 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section

As I’d hoped, this week’s word is perfect for the sequel to my last week’s kvetch and moan piece. 😉 Thanks, Sammi.

Genre: Just the facts, Ma’am.

OLD BOUCHERVILLE

“This photo’s amazing, Dale. I’m tempted to paint it.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not sure I can pull it off.”

Dale’s photo with its stellar composition and unique lighting rented space in my head, refusing to leave.

The preliminary sketch took days. And, oh those many trees.

What am I thinking?

My trial by fire didn’t end with the watercolor. The paper, nothing I’d used before, was a cotton rag with its own personality—my crucible, challenging every stroke.

When all is said and done, I’ll never ever be a fan of that paper, but I am pleased with the outcome.

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Weekend Writing Prompt – Niggle

Published December 13, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

FRENETIC WATERCOLORIST

Months of seclusion

Have wrought hours of creation

Payne’s grey, cerulean

Shades of crimson

Burnt Umber, phthalo greens and blues.

Colors blend into pictures of

Faces,

Seascapes

Water and glass.

Whatever appeals to me.

Whatever challenges me.

These things I must render

Even the proverbial kitchen sink

With sable brushes on

Gloriously textured paper.

The thought niggles at me.

Have I painted myself into a corner?

Weekend Writing Prompt -Quixotic

Published December 5, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s comment section.

CHASING WATERFALLS

“What’s the secret to happy life, Grandma?”

“Never stop pursuing your seemingly quixotic dreams. Work hard. Play harder.”

With a splash, Grandma dove under the water.

Season of Light!

Published November 21, 2020 by rochellewisoff

David Bayard is doing it again. Today, Saturday, November 21, 2020 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm! A virtual arts festival! Come to David’s Festival Page and meet the artists (including Yours Truly). The interviews will be run simultaneously on Facebook Live here: https://www.facebook.com/SkyboyPhotos. Check out David’s new calendar and handcrafted holders.

Be sure to visit my art page. Lots of prints and originals to choose from as well as a large selection of note cards!

A Walk in the (Virtual) Park

Published September 7, 2020 by rochellewisoff

For the most part, 2020 art fairs, concerts and festivals around town, large and small, have been cancelled. These cancellations include a few I’d planned to participate in. Heavy sigh. Potential for sales out the window.

However, 2019 wasn’t exactly a great year for us and outdoor fairs. In June, at Corks and Canvas, it took an hour to set up in intermittent rain. Happily the rain stopped. Unhappily it gave way to stifling heat and humidity, coupled by high winds. I spent a lot of time chasing my note cards across the pavement.

Corks & Canvas June 2019

In September there were two fairs. The first one was Independence Uncorked. One would think my wine glass pictures would go well there, right? Not so much. People seemed more interested in wine than art. To be fair (hee) I did fairly well at that one. The wine note cards were my best sellers.

The next September fair was the annual UNPlaza fair, not to be confused with the Plaza Art Fair held the same weekend. Torrential rains washed out our hopes for decent sales.

This year, You-Know-What washed out hopes for this year’s UNPlaza renamed PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair. However, the wonderful board of directors at PeaceWorks decided to try something new. A virtual fair! Each artist will have an online booth. There will be video chat rooms to speak with each artist. Artists’ web pages will give attendees an opportunity to shop in the comfort of their own home.

I am excited and nervous at the prospect. Save David Bayard, who’s heading the planning, none of us really knows what to expect. At any rate, it is an opportunity for a broader audience. You don’t have to live in Kansas City to come, browse and buy. 😉

While you’re in the neighborhood click my art tab at the top of the page. Thank you.

The fair goes live Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For info on how to participate

CLICK HERE!

Join other local artists and me for a new experience.

It’s a Writer’s Life

Published March 13, 2020 by rochellewisoff

At first meeting with Kathleen Rodgers, we found we had much in common. Both of us are military wives as well as authors. As life has a way of separating even the best of friends, our writing paths took us in different directions. So it has been such a pleasure to reconnect with her recently. Now we have an agent in common as well–Diane Nine, president of Nine Speakers

Kathleen and me. We connected at first meeting. We found we have a lot in common. (Height isn’t one of them.)

About three weeks ago, in conversation, she asked if I’d ever thought of painting an old typewriter. She thought it would make a great note card for authors. I found the prospect somewhat daunting but decided I had nothing to lose. I’m extremely pleased with the outcome. Even my husband had only “Wow” to say about it. 😀

NEW!

So intent on promoting the prints and note cards, Kathleen has posted this wonderful, if not head-swelling, article on her blog. CLICK HERE for her side of the story. 😀

Going for a Read

Published November 29, 2018 by rochellewisoff

Although I’ve never met Dr. Paul Reeves face to face, I come to see us as old friends. Other authors who have interviewed with him say the same thing. He has a knack for making a person feel at home. A month ago, after the release of my long awaited coffee table book, A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY, he invited me back for a second go around on Dr. Paul’s Family Talk.

Dr. Paul Reeves

I hope you’ll check out all four books of the Trilogy.

After we signed off, he invited me to return to his show in a month to talk some more about the new book and to read a few of the stories. Again, we had much to talk and laugh about. Below is the week’s interview. The other two interviews can be found in the side bar to your right. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Here are the stories I shared:

30 March 2018

Published March 28, 2018 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

My weekly admonition to over 70 participants. Please keep your stories to 100 words or less. Thank you for your consideration.

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Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

SUITABLE FOR FRAMING

I spent my twelfth summer with my aunt and uncle in Monticello, NY.

Uncle Harold won my heart, not just because he showered me with attention and frozen custard, but because he was an artist. While he never achieved national acclaim, he did win a few awards in local shows for his impressionistic works.

I cherish memories of painting with him on the patio.

“A masterpiece,” he proclaimed my robin watercolor.

Today, as I put the finishing touches on my latest opus, I almost hear Uncle Harold say, “Good job! Let’s go for a frozen custard. Don’t tell Aunt Lu.”

***

Nothing fictitious about this story. 😉