One of FVP’s Featured Authors, Sheri J. Kennedy, is hosting a Writing Challenge on her blog: REALITY WITH A TWIST BOOKS… Here’s the details:

Due to my love of alliteration, I’ve decided to host a writing challenge. After the rules and definitions, I’ll post my example to inspire and… well, challenge you.

1. Your entry must have a plot. If it’s poetry it must describe or emote with some development from beginning to end rather than an abstract observance. Think storytelling.
2. All words other than pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions or ‘to be’ verbs such as ‘was, is’ (so all but simple connectors) must be alliteration in keeping with your single chosen consonant sound.
3. Alliteration is defined as: Alliteration is a literary device that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sounds. Alliteration does not refer to the repetition of consonant letters that begin words, but rather the repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of words. For example, the phrase “kids’ coats” is alliterative; though the words begin with different consonant letters, they produce the same consonant sounds. Similarly, the phrase “phony people” is not alliterative; though both words begin with the same consonant, the initial consonant sounds are different. In addition, for alliteration to be effective, alliterative words should flow in quick succession. If there are too many non-alliterative words in between, then the literary device is not purposeful. (Thanks to literarydevices.net)
4. Bonus points if all of your alliterative words begin literally with the same letter.
5. All alliterative words – except for main character names – must be unique within the piece, so this is also a vocabulary challenge. Feel free to frequent your dictionaries and thesauruses.
6. Use as many unique words as you can, (sample below has nearly 200!) but you must keep the integrity of meaning in the flow of your storytelling. In other words, it must make sense.
7. Submit your Alliterative Literature by email to: freevalleypublishing@gmail.com by St. Patrick’s Day – March 17, 2022 Deadline. (Note: It will not be published in any other form than sharing on Reality with a Twist Books blog. Writers keep all rights to their works.)
8. After all entries are shared online, a winner will be chosen on consideration of number of unique alliterative words used, plot/sense continuity, overall enjoyment by the challenger, and comment responses from readers on Reality with a Twist Books blog. The winner will receive the Prestige of Plentiful Praise of their Prowess by their Peers!

And for your inspiration and challenging pleasure, I give you…

Persnickety Pursuit

Penelope, though pretty, was particularly picky and perused the proffered products at Pittsburgh’s Provincial Plaza with practiced precision to procure the perfect pair of pumps. She persisted in poking and prodding prolific piles of plastic and patent. There were paisley, pink, puce, and platinum. She was partial to the pastel purple pointy plush, but she put priority on price and pushed them to the posterior. Peeved, her pulse palpitated.  “Please provide a pleasant proposition,” she pleaded to Providence. Presto! She pinpointed a perky plaid prize precariously perched on a pedestal. She was poised to pounce when a peculiar pesky patron perpetrated a perplexing play popping the pleasing platforms from their post into her pernicious paws, provoking Penelope and parting, Poof!, preventing proper pardon.

Portly Paul peered through the pane into Polly’s Posh Primping Pavilion perceiving that Penelope was profusely perturbed. He pivoted in place pounding the pavement in perpendicular patterns, patiently pacing, prepared to plod for a prolonged period.

Penelope persevered in plundering the plain and perfunctory piddle plying for the paragon of prissy polish. The purity of her pursuit produced a prime praiseworthy pick. Proud of her proficiency, Penelope pried the pittance of pence from her purse to pay the prim proprietor.  “The pinnacle of palatable pretentious preference!” Polly pronounced as she presented the pristine package. Penelope preened.

Paul promptly pulled to predominant position with their Porsche and plucked his pompous paramour and her precious pearls from the public parking place. The passenger peeled her prestigious purchase from its packing and pushed in her plump professionally painted piggies. “They pinch!” she proclaimed with a perilous pang. Penelope pummeled them to a pulp and pined pathetically, “That was positively painful.”

Paul planned a prospective plane passage pronto to pamper his poor Penelope in a palatial Parisian paradise to purge the petrifying proceedings from her person. Placated, Penelope passionately purred.

by Sheri J. Kennedy, All Rights Reserved