Category: Prompts

  • Something you will never forget . . . Prompt #266

    Today’s prompt is inspired by Hal Zina Bennett, Write From The Heart

    Pink lemonadeFor some people, summer means sipping cool drinks. For others, summer might mean sitting around a campfire after a day of hiking, swimming, exploring. Summer might mean telling stories —tall tales or short ones— while lounging on a porch, a patio or a boat deck. There is a rhythm to summer, unlike any other time of year.

    Summer ’round the campfire brings out story tellers. The shaman storyteller of ancient times, embraces his own life experience, tells stories to the community that gathers in a circle around him, a fire blazing at its center. In the telling of what most deeply touched his life, the shaman helps others to see that they are not alone. And in the process both storyteller and listeners are healed.

    Imagine now, that you are sitting ’round a campfire, very comfortable with the folks you are sitting with. It’s story telling time. Each person tells a story about a time that was so meaningful, it is something they’ll never forget.

    Prompt: Write about something you will never forget.   Remember: first thoughts are where the energy is. If you can, start writing where your first thoughts take you. If that becomes difficult, write about another time, another story. And when you are finished writing, please take a few minutes to do some clearing (described below).

    Right after writing: Take a deep breath in. Hold for a moment. Let it out. Shake out your hands. Another deep breath in. Let it out.

    Again: A deep cleansing breathe in. Hold and release.

    If you wrote about something that leaves you feeling wonderful, keep it. Hold it close to your chest.

    If you wrote about something that leaves you feeling uncomfortable . . .  release it. Gather your thoughts and your words. Send them up in the campfire smoke. Send those thoughts up with the smoke.

    We’re going to replace the space that those thoughts occupied with an image that comforts you.

    Choose an image that is comforting to you. Any image you like, as long as it soothes. Give it a color.

    Fill the space in your heart with this image and the color.

    Take a deep breath in. Hold for a moment. Let it out. Stretch. Another deep breath in. Hold and release. Congratulate yourself. Even if you didn’t write, you may have thought about what you could have written. Maybe, when you have time, you will write on this topic: Something you will never forget.

    Marlene C

    , , , , ,

  • Note to your younger self . . . Prompt #265

    Before you start writing on this prompt, how about a little relaxation?

    Sit back. Relax into your chair. Both feet flat on the floor. Hands resting lightly.  Take a deep breath in. Relax it out. Roll your shoulders in a circle.  Other direction.  Drop your chin to your chest and roll your head in a circle. Other direction.

    Take a deep breath in. Ease it on out.

    Now, We’re going to time travel back in years.

    Time Machine

    Think back to the person you were ten years ago. See yourself as in a snapshot.

    Now go back to when you were 25. Remember what you looked like. What were you doing? Just take a moment to remember yourself at 25.

    Hand writing in journalNow go back to when you were twenty.

    Take a look at yourself when you were 15.  What were you like at 15? What influenced you?

    When you’re ready, write a note to your younger self.

    Marlene C

    , , , , ,

  • Here and There. Prompt #264

    Today’s writing prompt comes in two parts.

    Before writing on this prompt, I have a suggestion.  Do a little relaxation first. Just for a few minutes. Use your own method or follow this method:

    Relax into your chair. Feet flat on the floor. Hands loose, resting on your thighs.

    Take a big, deep breath in, feel your chest expand.  Let it out like a deflated balloon.

    Another deep breath in. And release.
    This time, when you take a deep breath in, bring your shoulders up to your ears. Shrug them down hard with the out breath. Another one.

    Let your head drop forward on your chest. Rest there for a moment. Rotate your head in a circle. Opposite direction.

    As you read about the next prompt, please place the palm of your writing hand on any place in your body that calls for attention. If you can’t put your hand there, bring your breath there. Take deep breaths as you need to.

    When you read the next prompt, notice what part of your body has a reaction.

    Prompt, Part 1: Write about a place that is uncomfortable for you.

    As you think about this, take your hand and rest it on the part of your body that is having a reaction.   Or put your breath there.

    The place that causes discomfort could be a small place like a corner, a closet, a chair, a nook. It could be a larger place, a building. It could be a barn or a city.  This could be a place that makes you feel very uncomfortable . . . it could have you itching and twitching with discomfort.

    When you are ready, Write about that uncomfortable place.

    Don’t leave yourself feeling uncomfortable . . . go to Part 2. If you don’t have time to write, at least daydream about . . .

    Prompt, Part 2:  Write about a place that you are comfortable in.

    First, make a short list of places you could write about. Just a list. Don’t start writing about the place just yet.

    With your comfortable place in mind, start writing with this opening:

    bookshawl“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . . ,” based on the poem How do I love Thee?  by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

    Be sure to end on a positive note:  A place you are very comfortable in.

    Thank you, Claudia, for the idea of palm of hand or breath for body-mind connection.  Thank you, Marjorie, for teaching me how to breathe and shrug.

    Marlene C

  • While you were out. Prompt # 263

    While you were outIf you are of a certain age, you might remember those little pink telephone message notepads, “While you were out.”  Back in the days when executives had secretaries, and before answering machines, we would fill out these forms with information:  Who the message was for. The date. Who called and why. There were little boxes to check:  Telephoned. Came to See You. Returned your call. Please call. Will call again. Wants to see you.

    And my favorite, “Urgent.” I don’t know why it’s my favorite, perhaps it appeals to the dramatic aspect. And there is a larger space to write a message.

    Today’s Prompt:  While you were out.

    A variation of this prompt: The red light is blinking on the telephone answering machine. Or “you have one new message” on your cell phone.

    You hit “play” or “voice mail” and listen. You are shocked to hear. . .

    I can imagine all kinds of things you might write about, especially with the idea of “While you were out . . .  ”  I’m seeing pets go wild, plants taking over, bathtub overflowing, kids making a mess, stuffed animals/toys come to life.

    I look forward to reading your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog.

    Marlene C

  • Worst and Best . . . Prompt #262

    Think about this past weekend . .  . this past week . . . this past month.  Take a few minutes to reflect how things have gone, are going.

    ledger.ink wellWhen you are ready, write about the worst thing that happened to you this past weekend, or week, or month.

    When you are done with that, write about the best thing that happened to you this past weekend, or week, or month.

    Worst and Best. Just write.

    Marlene C

  • Found . . . Prompt #261

    Found.

      What do you think of when you hear the word “Found?”

    Some Thing you found somewhere?

    Something you discovered about yourself?

    You found you had . . .  fill in the missing piece.

    Something you lost and then found?

    Today’s writing prompt:  Found.

    Key.buttons

    Marlene C

  • Yard Sale Find, But . . . Prompt #260

    What kind of writing prompts do you like? Let me know and I’ll see if I can create prompts to meet your desires.

    Today’s writing prompt is inspired by one of my all-time favorite authors, Hal Zina Bennett.

    What if . . .

    Yard SaleDuring a long car trip, you stop at a yard sale in a strange town and find an interesting picture frame. It holds the photo of a familiar face —your fiancé’s or fiancée’s! There’s a passionate inscription to a stranger, dated three weeks ago.  Write about what happens next.

    From “40 Prompts To Get You Writing,” The Writer Magazine, February 2012.

    Hal Zina Bennett is the author of more than 30 books including: Write From the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity; Write Starts: Prompts, Quotes & Exercise to Jumpstart Your Creativity; and Writing Spiritual Books: A Bestselling Writer’s Guide to Successful Publication. Hal has helped writers embrace their creativity and develop successful book projects for more than three decades.

    Marlene C

  • Someone Who Is Always There For You Prompt #259

    Write about someone who is always there for you. Or someone who needs you. 

    To Kill a Mockingbird I thought of this prompt when reading the quote from To Kill a Mockingbird:

     “I was to think of these days many times. Of Jem, and Dill…and Attticus. He would be in Jem’s room all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”

    Let me (Marlene) know if you have a favorite quote. . . I can use quotes for writing prompts and for Tuesdays – Quote Day on The Write Spot Blog.

    Marlene C

  • Stumped for writing ideas? First lines . . . Prompt #258

    Vivi with book 2011First lines from books can make good writing prompts.

    “There was death at its beginning as there would be death again at its end.” The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

    “Whenever my mother talks to me, she begins the conversation as if we were already in the middle of an argument.”   The Kitchen’s God’s Wife  by Amy Tan

    “I woke up to find the message in my left hand.”  Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox

     

    “I drove up to the restaurant and parked, then leaned back in my seat to think for a moment.” The Celestine Prophecy  by James Redfield

    “We used to stay in bed most of the weekend”  My Dream of You  by Nuala O’Faolain

    “Take care to chop the onion fine.”    Like Water For Chocolate  by Laura Esquivel

    Click here for more first lines for writing prompts.

    Marlene C

  • Antique inspires transportive writing . . . Prompt #257

    Singer Sewing MachineChoose an old object from your home. If you don’t have one, find a picture of an antique.

    Imagine that when you touch the object, you are transported to its original time and place.

    Where are you? What happens? How do you interact with the object? What emotions does the object evoke?

    Prompt inspired from Rochelle Melander, excerpt in The Writer Magazine, February 2012

    Marlene C

    , , ,