Write about yourself. Ideas on how to start: Basically I am [optimistic], sometimes I am [pessimistic]. When no one is listening, I [sing out oud]. When no one is watching, I [dance]. I am slow to [warm up to people]. I quickly [form opinions]. You can use these sentence starts: I am determined . . . Basically I am . . . Sometimes I am . . . When no one is listening, I . . . When no one is watching, I . . . I am slow to . . . I quickly . . . I am determined . . . Marlene’s Musings: I have often thought about how to “show” body language when writing. When we interact with others, there is much about body language that conveys our mood, emotions, reactions. How to show these things? The Emotion Thesaurus to our rescue!
Author: mcullen
Marlene Cullen is enthusiastic about encouraging people to write, even those who think they can’t write. Her series of books, The Write Spot anthologies, features writing that entertains as well as inspires writing. Every story, vignette, and poem in The Write Spot books include writing prompts motivating readers to become writers.
Marlene hosts The Write Spot Blog, a treasure chest of inspirational gems for writers.
Fulfilling her passion for writing and sharing with others, Marlene has created unique writing environments such as Jumpstart Writing Workshops, where participants often experience transformational changes. Her workshops provide essential elements for successful writing.
Marlene is the founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma, a monthly literary event featuring presenters talking about the craft and business of writing.
Marlene's awarding winning short stories and essays have been published in literary journals, anthologies, and newspapers, including Tiny Lights, Building Bridges, More Bridges, Redwood Writers anthologies, and The Write Spot anthologies.
She is a member of the California Writer's Club.
I was going to . . . Prompt #836
I was going to . . . and then . . . OR: I planned to . . . but then . . . OR: I thought I would . . . but then . . .
A favorite area . . . Prompt #835
Write about a favorite area: in your home in your workplace in your town Or your favorite place on earth.
Space . . . Prompt #834
Write about a space you have been in: Library, cathedral, top of mountain, a castle, Grand Canyon, Grand Central station, Emporium, head spaces. A tight space, a small space, a crawl space, outer space. Just Write!
What do you want to let go of? . . . Prompt #833
What do you want to let go of?
Now vs then . . . Prompt #832
What did you do in your twenties that you can’t, or won’t, do now? What can you do now that you couldn’t do in your twenties?
Success. Now vs then . . . Prompt #831
Now vs then What did success mean to you when you were in your twenties? What does success look like to you now?
More or less . . . Prompt #830
I wish I were more . . . I wish I was less . . .
Spring Cleaning . . . Prompt #829
Spring Cleaning time is here – will you be doing any cleaning? How about cleaning up more than your living space? Relationships? Goals? Write about Spring Cleaning.
Write What Is True
“Don’t write what sounds clever, write what’s true.” —Ethan Canin Excerpted from “Novelist Curtis Sittenfeld Thinks Middle Age is Underrated,” by Lane Florsheim, The Wall Street Journal, March 1-2, 2025 Sittenfeld continued with, “That’s good advice for writing, but it’s also good advice for how to be a person. It can be hard to be sincere, but I think you have a much greater chance of connection with others if you are.” Note From Marlene: You know what I say . . . Just Write! But, what if you can’t remember what’s true? “Write as honestly as you can about whatever it is.” Abigail Thomas “Perhaps” is another blog post that might help when you can’t quite remember exactly what happened. You know what to do . . .Just Write!