Authentic April Alliteration Challenge

I am a writer. It is something that brings me joy, not that I need a qualifier.

A big part of being a writer is reading. Reading widely with intent and reading widely for the sheer joy of it. I was sitting at my desk the other day and I just finished reading one of the Novellas (for Otherworldly Emergence) that is currently at the beta phase. This was a fantastic opportunity, as beta reading often is, to note where I am engaged/excited, where I am conflicted/confused and if there are any parts within the story that push me out/pull me in deeper. I tend to write my notes in the document and then send the annotated version back to the Author. Or if it is in google docs they can check as I progress through the story. These comments raise questions to the creator of how their work is being interpreted by the reader. Not an editor. A reader. It is a very important part of the process. I know that I will read it again after further editing rounds are completed and there will be changes that the author has chosen to take on board and others that they feel doesn't match their creative genius. In the end, all decisions for what changes in the narrative remains in the hands of the original creator.

This months challenge is about writing and reading. More than just the first thought that falls out of your fingertips though. This challenge is about refining the way each sentence sounds (see what I did there?). Considering the cadence (and again?) of each word and how it impacts the readers interpretation of your story. This personal revision on smaller creations will help build your toolkit when it comes to larger narratives.

Again, it is only 5 minute challenges. A chance to build a habit to consider the poetry in your writing and the end product that the reader will see. After all, part of writing is rewriting and then rewriting again.

Have you ever read something that has stuck with you for days? It has an almost poetic element to it that sticks in your brain. I could just be one sentence that you think, wow, that was beautiful. One of my favourite book series is the Kel Kade - Kings Dark Tidings series. It is something that I listen to at minimum once a year (we have it on Audible). There are smatterings of those sentences all the way through the narrative and when Kel does take to time to compose a poem at the start of one of the stories, I am fixated from beginning to end. There are a few other writers that also stand out, but I am actually relistening to Kings dark tidings now, so it is front of mind.

By this point I have assumed that alliteration is a term that you are comfortable with. It is the repetition of the initial consonant sound within a sentence or phrase. It is often used in marketing. Think Coca-Cola, Best Buys, Krispy Kreme. Or if you a lucky enough to have younglings in your world it is used encourage early learning strategies. Like Adam Apple, Bouncing Balls, Candy Carrot... I think you get the point. The words don't need to be directly next to each other to be considered alliterative. Think of tongue twisters She sells seashells by the seashore. Or Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers... that is a long one when you are typing it.

Have you used and alliteration recently? Do you find it fun to include alliterative additions to you daily drafts? Do you want to try to spark your creative considerations into five minute flames throughout April?

If yes, then join us for the Authentic Alliterative April Challenge at Bushland Pages. Bushland Pages is a free community available through Bushland Castle Productions and Every day there will be something a little different to try. Never more than five minutes for you to ponder your prose.

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