Category: Prompts

  • A poem, from the inside out . . . Prompt #246

    Today’s prompt is inspired by Poet Georgia Heard, who suggests the following as a way to create a poem from the inside out.

    Choose something on your body: a strand of hair, a nail, a ring, glasses, a belt, a necklace, an item of clothing, a freckle . . . anything!

    1. Describe the object with as much detail as possible.
    1. List all the feelings that the object evokes. Be specific.
    1. Create similes for the object: It is like. . . It reminds me of . . .
    1. Put yourself in the place of the object. Take on the voice of the object and write from the object’s perspective.

    Take your time with this. Read what you have written. Add anything that comes up while reading.

    Take a few moments to reflect. Settle in with what you have written. When you feel done with this part, go on to the next, the poetry part.

    You don’t have to rhyme, or follow any rules when writing your poem. You simply need images and inspiration and emotions. Anger, pain and bursts of joy are perfect material for poetry.

    Do not strive for perfection. This is still the freewrite phase of writing.

    When you are done and completely satisfied, then . . . set your writing aside for a day or two.

    Come back to it when you are ready to revise and polish. Then set it free: Share with a friend, submit to a journal, post on The Write Spot Blog. We would love to read your inside out poem.

    Watering can girl. J.Pierce

     

    Girl with watering can and daisy, beaded pin by J. Pierce.

     

    Marlene C

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  • Imagine that . . . Prompt #245

    Have you heard of imagist poetry?

    “Imagism called for a return to what were seen as more Classical values, such as directness of presentation and economy of language, as well as a willingness to experiment with non-traditional verse forms. Imagists use free verse.”  Wikipedia

    The Red Wheelbarrow, by William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963) is an example of an imagist poem.

    so much depends

    upon

    a red wheel

    barrow

    glazed with rain

    water

    beside the white

    chickens.

    There have been many discussions and theories about this simple little poem.  Was it meant to be simple, or is there hidden meaning, plumbing the depths of our sub-conscious?

    “I was fumbling around, looking for a way to make sense of my life, and seized on William Carlos Williams’s poems . . .  His poems were experimental yet safe—a combo I craved in my extra-dark teenage years.”  Craig Morgan Teicher, Poetry Foundation

    One teacher describes imagist poems as “use of exact words, avoid clichés, create new rhythms, freedom  of subject choice, presents an image, is tight/distilled/concentrated, and uses suggestion rather than stating things directly.” This teacher said, “Post WWI, people lost a lot of hope in religion and Williams was commenting on this. ”

    The teacher elaborated:

    “So much depends

    The use of 3 words in the beginning is a reference to the holy trinity.

    a red wheel

    barrow

    The second stanza: barrow is separated from wheel. “Barrow” is a large mound of stones, which symbolize Christ’s burial. “Red” represents the blood of Christ.”

    The teacher continues: “A wheelbarrow is used for hauling things, much like Christ carried mankind’s burden on himself. There’s transmogrification happening (unusual transformation). The wheelbarrow becomes Christ, the rain water symbolizes Holy water, and the white chickens represents angels.”

    Or, as another teacher said, “Williams, a country doctor, had been up all night with a sick child. He may have looked out the farm house window and saw this scene.”

    Red wheelbarrow and chicksWhat do you think?  Is The Red Wheelbarrow full of hidden meaning, or is it a simple American haiku?

    Today’s Writing Prompt:  Write an imagist poem. Use any or all of these words:  tricycle, put, truly, blue, roll, next, afraid, upon, shape.

     

     

     

     

    Marlene C

  • Random words plucked from a poem . . . Prompt #244

    Random words (plucked from a poem) as a writing prompt. Tell a story, truth or not, with these words:

    Creek.Karen heavy               linger        delicate

    footprints      flat             maroon

    foam                hard          perfume

    Or use the photo as a writing prompt.

    Set your timer for 15-20 minutes. Write. Polish. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.

    Photo by Karen Bobier

    Marlene C

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  • First Lines Make Great Prompts . . . Prompt #243

    First Line BooksFirst lines from books can be sparks for freewrites.

    Read the sentence and then write whatever pops into your mind.  Don’t over think it. Go with the flow and just write.

    Here are a few for you to play around with.

    “Some time ago, when I was 6 or 7 or 8 years old, it would occasionally happen that I’d walk into a room and certain people would begin to cry.”   The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn

    “The phone rang.”   Booked by Die by John Dunning

    “Footsteps on the forest floor made a noise like paper crumpling in a child’s fist.” The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond

    Marlene C

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  • Pranks . . . Prompt #242

    Charlie BrownWhat pranks have you pulled off? Were you successful? Did you get caught?

    Have you been pranked? What happened?

    What do you think about playing tricks on people? Is it funny? Rude? Cruel? Does it depend on the circumstances?

    Writing Prompt:  Pranks

    Marlene C

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  • Well, that was an Interesting Experience . . . Prompt #241

    Write about something interesting that happened.

    It could be a little blip, just a passing thing that happened. Or, it could be big. . . earth shattering.
    It could be about something that really happened or something imagined.
    The page is a big, wide-open place for you to play and experiment (what a funny word – ex-peer-ih-ment).
    Dancing ManTry a word here, toss a word there. Mix ’em up. Shuffle. Dance your words around.
    Write about an Interesting Experience.

     

     

     

    Marlene C

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  • Music lyrics as prompts . . . Prompt #240

    Musical noteYou may already do this . . . Use musical lyrics as prompts. Here are a couple for you:
    “She lost him. But she found herself and that was everything.” Taylor Swift

     
    “I used to drive out to John’s house,” says Paul McCartney. “He lived out in the country, and I lived in London. I remember asking the chauffeur once if he was having a good week. He said, “I’m very busy at the moment. I’ve been working eight days a week.” And I thought, “Eight days a week! Now there’s a title.”

     
    Have a go. Just start writing. Be open. Be surprised. Let the ink flow. Let your fingers fly across the keyboard. Then share. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.

     

    Marlene C

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  • When we remember . . . ” Prompt #239

    Today’s writing prompt is a quote by Mark Twain. The best way to use this quote as a prompt for your writing is to have everything ready:  paper, pen, timer. If you are using computer: warm it up, open a word.doc. Give it a name. Save it.

    Whatever method you use for your writing, have everything ready, including yourself. Stretch if you need to. Loosen the muscles in your neck by rolling your head in a gentle circle. Roll in the opposite direction.  Rotate your shoulders back in a circular motion. Then forward. Squirm, wiggle, adjust. Then . . . just write. Read the quote and write whatever comes up for you.

    Mark Twain

     

    “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” — Mark Twain

     

     

     

    Marlene C

  • I was so scared . . . Prompt #238

    Today’s writing prompt . . . I was so scared.

    I look forward to reading your writing on this one!

    St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop, organized by author and blogger Francis H. Powell.

    It’s still St. Paddy’s Day here in Northern California. We are partying tomorrow! But first, let’s check in with the other blog hoppers. Check out the St. Patrick’s Blog Hop. You will be swiftly transported to a landing page that Francis created for this blog hop. Scroll down. Click on a blogger’s name and quicker than a leprechaun can jump over that pot of gold, you can explore the gems in these blogs.

    Bloggers: Contact Marlene or Francis to join us in our next Blog Hop. It’s really easy! And a fun way to get to know other bloggers and writers.

    March.Blog Hop

    Marlene C

  • Containers . . . Prompt #237

    ContainerSometimes writing prompts are a single word. Or a photo. Or both. You can alter the prompt to suit your mood. For example, today’s prompt could be container or containers. Or just look at the photo and write whatever comes up for you.

    Today’s Prompt: Container

     

    Join a variety of authors and bloggers for our St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop. Francis H. Powell is our awesome host. If you click on Blog Hop, you will end up at his Landing Page. Click on a blogger’s name and, like magic, you will end up in a different realm.  Bloggers:  Tiffany Apan, Cheryllynn Dyess, Angela Chrysler, Roma Gray, Francis H. Powell and Marlene Cullen. We love visitors!

     

    March.Blog Hop

    Marlene C

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