March 2018 SOLC–Day 11
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
I just finished reading a slice from Purviben Trivedi-Ziemba that shared a couple of student writing challenges. I particularly liked the sound of the 5 sentence challenge. In this challenge a photo prompt is provided and students are invited to write 5 sentences about it. It’s sort of a prose twist on Laura Purdie Salas’s 15 Words or Less poetry photo prompt, and it sounded like a great slice idea to me.
I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately and have been reminiscing about our family trip to Europe almost three years ago. In particular, my thoughts have often turned toward the week that my youngest daughter and I spent together exploring Brittany, France before the rest of the family arrived. One of the highlights of that time was a visit to Locronan. I’ve written about it before (here) but thought I’d pull a picture and try for a five sentence version. (I ended up with 6 sentences, but the last one is only one word, so it barely counts, right?)
Locronan, France, 2015
If there is magic in this world, it pulses through the stones of Brittany. Locronan is an exquisite Breton town shrouded in the mists of time, a place that somehow transcends its physical presence. Once upon a time on a summer morning long ago, my daughter and I walked the streets together, transported. Stone cathedral towers rose magically from the mist, and around each corner, more wonders awaited– cobbled squares, an ancient chapel by a moss-covered spring, and everywhere, glorious bursts of blossom against the weathered gray stone. Today I remember that day with her, that week with her, and it seems similarly lost in time, yet preserved in all its wonder. Magical.
Nix the comfort zone 
My favorite is sentence 5. Mother and daughter connected.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We both cherish our memories of our time together in Brittany. Any chance you and Hannah will take some hiking journeys overseas?
LikeLike
If I get Hannah out to Portsmouth, I’m lucky. Homebody. Fortunately, California’s sun draws her West.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for including those pictures! The fog and “glorious bursts blossom” are what adds the magic to it! When will your next trip be?
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you have time, Cindy, check out the photos from the previous post I linked. It’s such a beautiful place. Next trip? Hah!
LikeLike
Magical is exactly right, Molly! Your writing transported me to this enchanted place. Thank you for sharing this special memory, and your gorgeous photos, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It truly feels enchanted, Catherine–so much of Brittany does. A place out of time.
LikeLike
Those are five sentences well used! I can see the place and feel the bond you had with your daughter. The link between the magic of the place and the magic of your time with her clearly transcended physical presence. Thank you for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’m so glad that the magic came through!
LikeLike
The five sentence approach works magically, and your pictures are exquisite. I had to read your post because next week a student will be presenting a speech on Brittany, France. He lived in France during his junior year. I’ve been looking forward to his speech and am even more excited about it after reading your post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I would go back in a heartbeat. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the presentation and hope there are lots of visuals. It’s a stunning place.
LikeLike
“Shrouded in the mists of time” was my favorite part. It so eloquently illustrated the fog and mist in the image. What a lovely image and time to hold onto.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was the perfect day to visit. The mist gradually drifted away throughout the morning, revealing more and more of the beautiful town and its stunning vista.
LikeLike
Another prompt to add to my collection. Love this image and the amazing memory you shared. I should pull out some travel photos to do the same. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will keep an eye out for your travel photos. I love to see where people have been and read about their experiences there. Do you have a favorite trip to share?
LikeLike
My favorite was Tanzania Africa. That was two summers ago but has stayed with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the feel of the pictures and your 5 sentence slice even more. Your words capture the beauty you saw and the tenderness between you and your daughter. Magical is a perfect t ending! I admire your complex sentences that are so desctmriptive! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brevity isn’t my forte, so I had to pack as many details as I could into each sentence. Holding myself to 5 (with the one word cheat) was tough! I hope you someday have a chance to visit Brittany.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Molly,
Reading your post reminded me how time with daughters (and sons as well) is magical.
Your photos looks like they came from a picture book. Obviously it did – from you own memory making one.
Thanks for a shout out.
Looking forward to continue the dialogue.
Purviben
@TrivediZiemba
LikeLike
[…] and I went early for a week together in Brittany, France (I just sliced about this briefly here). It was, hands down, one of the best experiences of my […]
LikeLike