A Fairly Cliche Tale

And now for something completely different...

But first, a little background: In November 2024, my friend Tamara and I attended the West Coast Christian Writers Conference in Sacramento, California. The conference had a few writing contests open for entry. One was called the “Bad Writing” Contest.

Using only 250 or fewer words, create a story of “bad writing” which could include cliches, poor grammar, awkward structure, etc. You get the idea. We usually try to write well, so this was a fun exercise. I decided to write a fairytale using ONLY cliches. I won third prize. So, here for your enjoyment, hopefully producing a chuckle, is my entry: “A Fairly Cliche Tale” by Kathleen Knapp.

"Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a princess. She was down in the dumps and head over heels for a prince. He fit the bill for her long-lost love but a loose cannon with an axe to grind.

Just in the nick of time, at the eleventh hour, along came a frog—better late than never—who grabbed the bull by the horns and asked her out for dinner. He might be just the ticket since you can’t judge a book by its cover, and if she played her cards right, it may not be the end of the world. Therefore, she thought outside the box and read between the lines of this new romance.

But the grass is always greener or clear as mud, even for a frog. At the end of the day, it was the kiss of death. The frog was a glutton for punishment and ate like a pig, which was an uphill battle since she had her plate full, no pun intended. To add insult to injury, he was all thumbs and a fish out of water.

Mark my words; it goes without saying that there are plenty of fish in the sea. Better luck next time; after all, every cloud has a silver lining. She ditched the frog, better safe than sorry, and fled back to her castle at the speed of light to start with a clean slate, free as a bird, since all’s well that ends well.”

Behind the Writing Desk...

Hello, friend ~ thank you for joining me today…I appreciate you reading my musings. Spring is attempting to emerge here in Western Canada. However, today we are having a snowstorm blast - several inches of snow have fallen, and the fat robin outside my window is not looking impressed! Hopefully, this is the last blast of winter, and spring will bloom soon. Wishing you sunshine and warmth wherever you are!

This weekend, Saturday, April 18/26, I am hosting a LIVE book launch for my new book. If you are local, please come; otherwise, catch us on a FB LIVE on my group page “Psalm139Promises”. See that group/event for details. We are celebrating what God has done!

“Speechless: A Mother’s Memoir of Caregiving” is now available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

About the Book:

“Speechless - A Mother’s Memoir of Caregiving” is a poignant memoir about a mother’s journey as the caregiver of a multiply handicapped son. Through the challenges of raising him, she discovers her true identity as a woman of faith and learns to navigate life’s trials with grace and resilience. Using the butterfly as a central analogy, the story unfolds the transformative process of personal growth, surrender, and spiritual awakening. As the butterfly emerges from its cocoon, the author mirrors her own evolution—finding strength, purpose, and divine purpose amid profound struggle.

1. Speaking…Do you need a speaker for your event? I am now booking dates in 2026. You can view presentations on my website’s “Speaker” page.

2. Download a FREE Resource: “Scriptures of Hope” page.

Blessings, Kathleen