Category: Prompts

  • Create a vignette. Prompt #308

    Many of us have vignettes, little stories of things that happened, that we could write about: Events or situations that enlightened, inspired, or changed us.  All are memorable and could be written. But why? Why should you write these stories?

    “All humans understand and use story on an intuitive level. It’s our most effective teaching tool. It’s how we understand our world, ourselves and each other. It’s how we make and deepen our connections. It’s how we draw meaning from experience.”  — Deb Norton, “Story Structure, Simplified,” WritersDigest, February 2017

    What if there was a recipe for this type of writing like there is for voodoo doughnuts?

    “Learning when to throw the flour, proper handling of a rolling pin, the intricacies of an old fashion, the ‘flip,’ and countless other tricks of the trade were now in the hands, minds, and notebooks of  Cat Daddy and Tres.”  Voodoo Doughnut

    Recipe for Writing Vignettes

    Learning when to throw in anecdotes, proper handling of strong verbs, the intricacies of memory, the fear of exposure, and countless other tricks of the trade are in your hands and your creative mind. There are many resources to help shape your creation.

    Click Memoir for recipes . . .  how-to ideas . . . for writing anecdotes. Now, get to creating!

    Marlene C

    , , , , ,

  • How we affect others. Prompt #307

    It’s after the holidays, when some of us spent time with family.

    It’s inauguration day.  Lots of energy. Lots of emotions.

    Today’s prompt, “How we affect others,” is something I’ve been thinking about for awhile.

    We don’t live in a bubble, immune to the thoughts and emotions of others.

    Today, I suggest writing about how we affect others.

    If that doesn’t work for you, how about:  Do we affect others?   What does that mean?

    I look forward to your response.

    Marlene C

    , , ,

  • Despair and broken promises. Prompt #306

    broken-bowl-180-150x135You might know that I facilitate Jumpstart writing workshops. One day, a participant read her freewrite which contained the phrase, “Despair and broken promises.” I immediately thought that would make a great writing prompt.  What do you think?

    And that reminds me, during this season of many deaths, if you need to write a condolence note and are stymied about what to write, take a look at “The Condolence Note – What to Write.”  You might get some ideas.

    Today’s writing prompt:  Despair and broken promises.

    Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog and I’ll offer commentary  . . . always positive.

    Marlene C

    , , , ,

  • Favorite Recipe . . . Prompt #305

    grits-breakfastDo you have a favorite recipe?

    Write about that recipe . . . where did the recipe come from? What kind of occasion did you have it?

    Photo:  Fried eggs on top of sauteed kale on top of grits, sausage patty on the side. Yum!  My new favorite recipe inspired by a trip to Athens, Georgia, where every meal was delicious!

    Marlene C

    , , ,

  • Something you have had forever. Prompt #304

    lil-brown-rocking-chairWrite about something you have had forever.

    Write about your oldest possession.

    You could also write about your earliest memory.

    I have had this rocking chair since I was two years old. I used to rock in it while watching I Love Lucy on our black and white television set. I lent it to my sister when her children were little. Then my three children enjoyed it. And now, my granddaughter reads her books while rocking.

    The books:  The Wonderful World of Oz and The Secret of the Old Clock . . those go way back. I spent hours captivated by Nancy Drew’s amazing sleuthing abilities and fascinated with the variety of characters in the Oz books. I was especially intrigued about how much time was spent for Dorothy and some of her companions to sleep or look for food. Time that could have been used to get them to their goals. Perhaps that’s where I learned patience and that books are a form of discovery and adventures into new worlds.

    Your turn:  Write about your oldest possession or an early memory.

    Just write!

    Marlene C

  • What do you cherish? Prompt #303

    heart-friendshipToday’s Writing Prompt:

    What do you cherish?

     

    Marlene C

    , , , ,

  • If I have to . . . prompt #302

    thewritespotblog2016Today’s writing prompt:

    If I have to . . .

     

    Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.  Guidelines.

    Marlene C

    , , ,

  • Unique. Prompt #301

    Dorothy and friendsWhat makes your fictional characters unique?  What makes one person different from others?

    Write about someone from real life or write about a fictional character who embodies a unique quality.

    You can use the following list to describe a special characteristic or trait that sets a person apart from others.

    Charisma: charm or personal magnetism (from the Greek word meaning “favor”)
    Chutzpah: admirable or excessive self-confidence; this word and ginger are the only ones on this list that have both positive and negative connotations (from Hebrew by way of Yiddish; several other spellings are used, but this one is the most common)
    Élan: enthusiasm
    Esprit: vivacious wit (French, from the Latin term spiritus, “spirit”)
    Flair: style, or talent or tendency
    Ginger: spirit, or temper
    Gumption: initiative
    Gusto: enthusiasm (the Italian word for “taste,” from the Latin term gustus)
    Je ne sais quoi: a quality not easily described or expressed (a French phrase that means literally “I know not what”)
    Knack: intuitive capacity or knowledge (originally meant “trick”; perhaps from the onomatopoeic word akin to knock)
    Mettle: vigor, stamina (from an alternate spelling of metal)
    Moxie: energy, enthusiasm, courage (from the brand name of a soft drink; early on, such beverages were often touted, long before the advent of energy drinks, as providing pep)
    Panache: flamboyance; originally, a decorative plume of feathers on a helmet
    Pizzazz: glamour, vitality (unknown etymology)
    Spunk: courage, pluck
    Verve: vivacity, energy, enthusiasm

    Adapted from Daily Word, 2012

    Marlene C

  • Your greatest fear. Prompt #300

    Write about your greatest fear.

    Scary thought?  Well, yeah . . .  But, you know that writing about your greatest fear doesn’t make it come true.

    Take a deep breath and write.  Take many deep, nourishing breaths as you write.

    Emotional Freedom Technique tapping can help calm your fears and worries.

    Tap With Brad Yates   — hundreds of youtube videos, with an amazing array of topics for tapping.

    http://www.tapwithbrad.com/brad-yates-videos/

    Marlene C

  • Difficult Time Part 2 Prompt #299

    Hand writing in journalPrompt 298  on The Write Spot Blog suggests that you write about a difficult time.

    Thinking about a difficult time:

    Take the role of counselor . . . If you could step out of the box that contains The Difficult Event and look at it from the point of view of a counselor:

    What would you advise this person, or these persons, to do?

    Then:

    Take the side of one of the persons involved. Write from his/her point of view.

    And then:

    Write about the situation from another person’s point of view.

    For a good read about an interesting point of view: Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern.

    Marlene C