Today’s prompt: I never planned to . . .
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.
National Day of . . . Prompt #361
Imagine a conversation between two people of different backgrounds talking about March 13, National Day of . . . Explain National Day [choose one from the list below] as if these two people were talking in person, over the phone, or via emails. They could be friends. Or perhaps they have never met in person. Look for the twist in red below. National Elephant Day – Thailand Coconut Torte Day – Australia National Good Samaritan Day – United States. A day for unselfish actions to help those in need and to celebrate kindness. National Earmuff Day – United States, in honor of the 1873 invention of earmuffs. At the age of fifteen, Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine was credited for inventing the winter wear out of necessity—his ears were cold. National K9 Veterans Day – United States A lot of things changed after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941….
Childhood ritual when you were sick. Prompt #359
Write about a childhood ritual when you were sick. If there were no childhood rituals when sick, what would you have liked to happen? How would you have wanted to be treated when sick as a child? Or write about a time you were sick. Or write about any ritual from your childhood. You can write about what really happened, or make something up. You can answer from your fictional character’s point of view.
Guest Blogger Susan Hagen: Birthdays, cupcakes, and healing through writing
Note from Marlene: Guest Blogger Susan Hagen encourages us to have fun. And shows us how we can heal through writing . . . one of my strong beliefs, also. I hope you enjoy Susan’s post: To celebrate our 62nd birthdays, my best friend and I recently spent the weekend in Disneyland. Despite creaky knees and stiff backs, we were ready to party like … well, like eight-year-olds. We had great fun on the (not-too-wild) rides and enjoyed being playful and somewhat silly. But in that space of awareness about our childhoods, what arose in both of us were memories of disappointing birthdays of the past. It’s never too late to have that birthday cupcake. For me, it was 1963, the year I turned eight. My mother was supposed to bring chocolate cupcakes to my third-grade class at the end of the school day. But a few days before my birthday, President…
Your First Job . . . Prompt #358
Write about your first job, or a job you had as a teenager.
Write about the time of day you like best. Prompt #357
Your favorite time of day. Write about the time of day you like best.
Guest Blogger Rachael Herron invites us to meander, wander, PLAY!
Today’s Guest Blogger is Rachael Herron, one of my favorite writers. Read one of her books and you’ll know why. More on that later. For now, you get to sneak a peek into how she gives priority to the problem, rather than to the answer. Hi Writers, I spent yesterday morning in the tub, thinking about writing. It wasn’t procrastination, I promise. It was actually the most delicious thing ever. Usually, I get up and have coffee and do yoga and write in my journal, and then I jump into work. I work all morning on writing and revision, and I use my afternoons to answer email, record my podcasts, teach, and coach. Yesterday, my “writing” took the form of thinking. And I was cold. So I got in the tub at ten in the morning. I lit a candle to help me think, for something to stare at. I…
Write A New Story . . . Prompt #356
Ready to explore? Today’s writing prompt invites you to look at your old stories in new ways. Perhaps you can rewrite your story. Excerpt from October 2016 Reader’s Digest, “Down Off The Cross,” by Debra Jarvis, a chaplain and cancer survivor. “Let’s say I meet you on a bus. We really hit it off, but I’ve got to exit soon, so you’re going to tell me three things about yourself that help me understand who you are, that get at your essence.” Note from Marlene: Prompt: List three things that define you. Back to the article: “Of those three things, is one of them surviving some kind of trauma, like being a cancer survivor, a war survivor, or an abuse survivor?” Note from Marlene: Or perhaps you are currently experiencing a difficulty or a trauma. Back to the article: “Many of us tend to identify ourselves by our wounds. Claim…
Only You Can Tell Your Story
Note from Marlene: Just something to think about. No one can tell Your Story except you. 🙂
The Common Literary Journal
The Common is an award-winning print and digital literary journal published biannually, in the fall and spring. The Common includes short stories, essays, poems, and images that embody a strong sense of place. The Common Online publishes original content four times per week, including book reviews, interviews, personal essays, short dispatches, poetry, contributor podcasts and recordings, and multimedia features. MISSION To deepen our individual and collective sense of place through bold, engaging literature and art. VISION To serve as a vibrant common space for the global exchange of ideas and experiences. To be an essential destination for creative work that embodies particular times and places, both real and imagined. To mentor and promote the next generation of writers, editors, and publishers. Finding the extraordinary in the common has long been the mission of literature. Inspired by this mission and the role of the town common, a public gathering place for the display and exchange of…