Descriptive Writing Challenges

[Robsia]

I used to belong to a writing forum which unfortunately shut down. But we used to have writing challenges. Not sure if you have anything like that here, but maybe we could.

So, how about three little ones to start off with.

1) Write a description of a moonlit night sky without using the words moon, stars or black.

2) Write a description of an arctic landscape without using the words snow, ice or white.

3) Write a description of a desert without using the words sand, hot or camels.

Do any or all.

 

[thiagoleal]

Any word limit?? Or is it free?

 

[Robsia]

Hadn't really thought about it. Free I guess, but not too long - if that's not a contradiction.

I was meaning to do this myself but life is busy!

 

[chrispenycate]

Onlymy eyes were outside the hooded sleeping bag., even my nose taking refuge from the chill.

The same wind that tried to suck the last poor ergs of warmth from me drove dark stains skutting across the jewelled heavens, crossing the luminous disk that seemed close enough to touch, had I been so foolish as to bring a hand out of the warmth, and mutilated constellations that were soon miraculously healed.

The sky was above me, all around, and it even seemed below; though constellated street lights twinkled frozen in the nether depths.

The snow I was lying on blazed back at the unseeing eyes of night, even that pale, reflected energy could not be allowed to warm my frigid mountain peak.

I would have frozen to the portable telescope next to me if I had attempted to unpack it, but there was no need; the glory required no amplification, I was surrounded by the planets, deep in the infinity of space.

 

[dwndrgn]

The inky darkness was full of pinpricks of light, twinkling here and there as he looked up. A light, cool breeze shifted his hair and brought with it the pine scent of the woodlands behind him.

Once again, he had lasted through the day. Survived to see the glittering dark blanket above him.

 

[dwndrgn]

The frozen emptiness around her was full of glistening water. All frozen in place, much like she would be if she didn't get to some shelter. The heavy furs she wore were good, but in an arctic wasteland like this, shelter was paramount. According to the map she had been given, the waystation should be at the edge of this frozen lake.

'Get a move on girl. Standing here won't get that fire started.'

 

[dwndrgn]

The dunes were barren. The heavyness of the dry heat pressed down. Having abandoned his horse several hours before, he was that much more relived to see a break in the bleak surroundings. A lonely palm, footed by a homely shack and a puddle of mostly mud was the best thing he had seen in this vast dry emptiness.

His shuffle stepped up a notch as he made his way through the dust to what could be is salvation.

 

[Culhwch]

2) Write a description of an arctic landscape without using the words snow, ice or white.

The brilliance of the land nearly blinded him; the sun beat down without mercy, and the daunting landscape threw it back with vigour. There was no warmth to be had in those rays, though. He huddled inside his thick clothes, wrapped in layers upon layers of woolen cloth, and stared out at the bleak, desolate plains that stretched seemingly forever around him. There was no colour, only light. His breath steamed as he set off again, stumbling forward; movement was all he had, his only hope in this hopeless place.

 

[chrispenycate]

Ah, too wordy, too romantic I see.
Sighs
Well, at least it got the thing moving

Rock and dust - this is permanent desert, not like the shifting dunes.

Rock, dust and wind - the spirit of a thousand Djinni, like a slapdash spring cleaner sweeping the dust into crevices, into corners.

This is a wadi, mute evidence that there was once water here; necessary evidence, as the parched, dehydrated landscape says otherwise.

Alternating baked days and frozen nights - at least, they would have frozen, had there been anything to freeze -crack the bones of the land to savage, razor edges, around which the djinni sing their song as they have been doing since before man arrived.

 

[JDP]

1) It was midnight. Tiny, twinkling specks, like a thousand icy motes spread into infinity, lay frozen in the darkness. She gazed upon them, turning her scarred face to drink in their gentle glow. Together they lit the sleeping world; a silent harmony of soft, white light.

 

[JDP]

3) Edgar passed the peak of the dune, dragging himself onwards with what little strength his feeble muscles still lent him, and gazed towards the horizon. Another dune lay beyond, and another, and another. His dry lips, coarse with grit and shame, cracked in a silent scream; his eyes wept gluey tears. The sun's rampant heat beat down upon him like a fiery lash and he gave another dry sob.

Maybe he should have stayed safe in the shadow of Humphrey's great, shaggy body while he had the chance. But it was too late for 'maybes'; it was too late for much of anything.

 

[Urlik]

1) Write a description of a moonlit night sky without using the words moon, stars or black.

like a tarnished EPNS tray, the pale oblate hung there. for all the world as if it was set on a velvet throw of the deepest blue, dusted with uncountable grains of salt

 

[Purdy Bear]

3.

The dust twisted in an anceint dance of nature, across the dunes of intense warmth. A lizard stood with a leg aloft, listening to the wind in its ear drums, the droan underground echoeing in all of his essence. With a swish, it turned and ran across the soft ground, away from the approaching danger. Nearby, the white horse stood on top of the highest place, while the black cotton clad rider looked out threw binnoculars, to the army of tanks which crossed the horizon.

 

[Daniel Harper]

1. I stood and gazed into the glistening silver ray of the nights lord and master. Smiled at the pinpricks of evening diamonds that lay upon the dark heaven, which blinked in and out of existence. Wondered at the possibility of angels and their godly light giving life to such a bleak sky. Comfort enveloped me, I knew at that moment I was not alone and was safe under such watchful eyes.

 

[Talysia]

1) Write a description of a moonlit night sky without using the words moon, stars or black.

The day had given way to night, and although darkness covered the heavens there was still enough light to see, pale though it was. He continued his journey, even though most of the world still slept, making his way across landscapes bleached of all colour by Selene's light.

 

[Moogle]

1) Write a description of a moonlit night sky without using the words moon, stars or black.

Beautiful silver light reflected upon the surface of the Earth lit up the blank sky. Tiny holes in the dark canvas twinkled agelessly to the small inhabitants of the planet below. Into this infinite void Lester gazed now, pondering the unfathomable origins of the Universe while he sat on the hood of his Chevette and sparked another joint.

 

[scalem X]

"How romantic", she said
"****** 'ell, quit the woman talk 'aight, this dark pudding glistering here and there is nothing new. You ain't gonna tell me that this is the first time you leant back on that fine arse of yours after twelve and used your lookers."
"But..."
"Yeah, I know don't come with that crap of silver disk is shining bright, happens only once a month. Look a falling star! Bloody superstitions. Let me tell you something, sweetheart: Werewolves. Is that romantic enough for you?"
"you're drunk."
"And you're ugly, but tomorrow I'll be sober again. Winston Churchill, that's the guy who said this. I'm sorry you're not ugly and I doubt I'll be sober tomorrow morning, hahahaha."

 

[daisybee]

1) Write a description of a moonlit night sky without using the words moon, stars or black.

2) Write a description of an arctic landscape without using the words snow, ice or white.

3) Write a description of a desert without using the words sand, hot or camels.

1) She hated nights like this; caught between darkness and light; hovering endlessly on the brink of secret magic. A half-lit world full of half-kept promises offered her nothing but unwanted memories tonight. Unable to sleep, she drew back the useless blinds and watched the sky instead; letting the romance of the sparkling heavens remind her of all she still missed, yet wished she didn't.

2) The bitter cold wind howled unchecked accross the landscape, and the creature fled on, eager to reach the safety of the warrens; before the blizzard hit the frozen coast. A sudden creaking echoed beneath the wind, reverberating beneath his soaked paws. The floating world was splitting, and would soon fall to the waves; his thick fur would not save him from the slate sea, that much was certain. So on he charged, his tracks disappearing as quickly as he made them, upon the blank canvas of the cracked land.

3) Parched; she tried to stand; but the bright yellow sky span away. As she fell, the dune swallowed her arms and face, the course grains scratchy on her skin. Tiredly she pushed away from its claws, only to lose herself further in the process. She would sink beneath the surface of this endless golden sea, she thought, and not a soul would ever know. If thirst didn't kill her, then sun stroke surely would.

 

[Purdy Bear]

2,

The white crystal glistened in the soft breeze, as the echo of the wind swept the crisp landscape. The huge pale bear lumbered forward, its claws digging into the ground with a crunch.


1.

The colbalt blue sky shone out in a magnetic resonance. The mystical night was known, as many laid out Tarot cards, crystals and the like, to be recharged in its greatness. For in its depths lay an energy that had never been seen, nor would ever. Only the wolf would howl the welcome of the bright orb that lit many a travelers way, and kept all from harm in those hours.

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

1) There was a crispness to the night air, and that luminescent glow that settled upon everything like some boundless shining blanket. Cloudless, he could almost make out the arm of the milky way this far from the city. He recalled his younger days when nights like this had seemed so magical.

2)Peering through the flaps of her tent in the biting chill of the arctic morning, the precipitation had finally subsided, and she could see the outline of the blanched and frozen mountains. The powdered crystalline terrain sloped evenly up to Gannet's pass. Now she could at least get her bearings, and might even stand a chance at survival.

3) He had never used a kiln in his life, but imagined himself a piece of blazing pottery in the making. Trudging across this granular wasteland was not his idea, and now wished he had not joined them. The lack of vegetation, or water should have been a clue to his traveling companions that staying at the crash site and hoping that the rescuers would find them would have been a less painful way to die.

- Z.