Today’s prompt is inspired from Poetic Medicine by John Fox, “The Healing Power of Images.” “A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books” — Walt Whitman “Images are drawn from sensory experience and help us to feel what the writer or speaker is communicating. Whitman is more satisfied by the morning glory because it is real and alive, it communicates something to him about reality that is particular, clean and unmistakable. Images offer us direct experience. They can show themselves to us through any of the senses.” Think about the house you grew up in, or where you spent most of your childhood. Or, if you want to write from your fictional character’s point of view. . . picture a place where the protagonist spends a lot of time. Now, think about routes you routinely took . . . to school. . . or…
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.
My tribe. Prompt #138
Today’s writing prompt is inspired from Your Mythic Journey by Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox. “Pre-modern people didn’t think of themselves as individuals — they were members of a tribe as well as of a family. Ancient philosophers knew that human dignity begins with ‘We are a people, therefore I am.’ Modern people are tribal too but we call our tribes by different names — churches, corporations, states, nations. Each of us was nurtured within and shaped by several corporate bodies, voluntary organizations and professional corporations that molded our values and behavior — schools, athletic teams businesses, clubs, temples, and local, national, and international governments.” Prompt: I am from . . . Note from Marlene: You can write from your personal experience, or write from your fiction character’s point of view. You may have written on this prompt previously. It’s a good one that can be used repeatedly, new things…
Rescuing Your Past – Barbara Sher
Barbara Sher in Rescuing Your Past says: “People say we should let go of the past and move on. But you’ll never move into your future unless you take your beloved past with you. And that’s exactly as it should be.” “Rescuing Your Past,” from I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was by Barbara Sher
The Past – from different perspectives.
The following is inspired by Your Mythic Journey by Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox. Chapter 4, “The Past” It’s Still Happening. “We love the present tense. Be here now. Yesterday is gone and best forgotten: our tradition is to have no tradition. We aren’t Europeans buried in ancient tombs and cathedrals and medieval ruins. We were born yesterday and we will be young forever. Over thirty is over the bridge. Age embarrasses us; remembrance is a function of senility. We exile the aged to Sun City leper colonies so they won’t impair our illusion of endless summer. But history is not so easily dismissed. Repressed memories, national or personal won’t stay down. To be alive is to have a past. Our only choice is whether we will repress or re-create the past. Childhood may be distant, but it is never quite lost; as full-grown men and women we carry tiny…
Ukiah Haiku Festival 2015
THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ukiaHaiku festival 2015 – A celebration and competition devoted to the haiku form of poetry Postmark Deadline for Submissions: Saturday, March 22, 2015 Awards will be presented in the following categories: General Topics (Regional*) 1) Children, grades K-3 2) Children, grades 4-6 3) Youth, grades 7-9 4) Youth, grades 10-12 Haiku about Ukiah (Regional*) 5) Haiku about Ukiah, grades K-6 6) Haiku about Ukiah, grades 7-12 7) Dori Anderson Prize** — Haiku about Ukiah, Adults Haiku en Espanol, Temas Generales (Sumisiones Regionales*) 8) Para menores de 18 anos 9) Para mayores International, General Topics, Adult: 10) Jane Reichhold International Prize*** *Regional categories are open to residents of Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake, and Sonoma Counties in northern California. Winners in the regional categories receive a certificate, publication in a booklet of winning haiku, and a copy of the booklet. **The Dori Anderson Prize honors the memory of Dori Anderson,…
Do you Haiku? Prompt #137
Haiku is one of the most important forms of traditional Japanese poetry. Haiku is a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Another definition: “Haiku (俳句 high-koo) are short poems that use sensory language to capture a feeling or image. They are often inspired by an element of nature, a moment of beauty, or another poignant experience. Haiku poetry was originally developed by Japanese poets, and the form was adopted (and adapted) by virtually every modern language, including our own. The secret to writing great haiku is to be observant and appreciate nature.” — Wikihow-Write-a-Poem Haiku by Penelope La Montagne: Pruned vines stand in rows those charred Venus de Milos posing with mustard Penelope La Montagne (1948-2018), author of River Shoes by Running Wolf Press and Jigsaw Heart by Finishing Line Press, was a Poet Laureate of Healdsburg.
Is it Safe to Post Your Work on Critique Sites? Helen Sedwick
Guest post by Helen Sedwick Every writer knows the challenge of finding readers willing to critique our works-in-progress. We beg, barter, and guilt loved ones into reviewing just one more draft. But there’s an easier and faster way to get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your work; online critique sites such as Scribophile, Writer’s Café, and Critique Circle. Some of these sites operate on a credit system; you earn credits by giving critiques and spend credits by posting your work for feedback. Others use an honor system. Some, such as Inked Voices, set up cloud-based, on-going groups. In my experience, these online communities are incredibly helpful and supportive. But many writers worry about posting their work online. Will they lose their copyright? Will someone steal their work? Good questions and an opportunity to explain what to look for when giving anyone rights to use or display your…
Things that are meaningful to you . . . Prompt #136
Write whatever comes up for you. No judging, no criticizing yourself! Have fun with this prompt! Let yourself go. Be silly. Be creative. Be humorous. Be serious. Just write! Make a list of things that are meaningful to you, starting with the letter “A” . . . then go through the alphabet to the letter z. Write one sentence, or a few words, why this is meaningful to you. For example: A – A deck of cards – playing gin rummy and hearts B – Balloon game in the old living room C – Crafts – glitter glue, making things with the kids continue to the end of the alphabet W – Wizard puppet X – X-rays that saved my life Y – “Y” always reminds of watching the Micky Mouse Club. “Why? Because we like you!” Z – Zebra in orthodontist’s office ~ Now you have a list of…
“We write to exert power. . . ” Nellie Hermann
“We write to exert power over something we can never control . . . The past.” —Nellie Hermann — excerpted from “Why We Write,” by Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, Jan/Feb 2015 Poets & Writers
Failure is necessary to find “wondrous and magical moments”
“A rough draft is inherently an experiment, or, rather, a series of experiments. each novel, each piece of writing, is a new thing with different possibilities that demand to be explored. Many of these experiments will fail, but failure is necessary to find those wondrous and magical moments of success.” — “More Ideas Faster, Writing With Abandon” by Grant Faulkner, Jan/Feb 215 Poets & Writers magazine. Grant Faulkner is: Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, co-founder of 100 Word Story, writer, tap dancer, alchemist, contortionist, numbskull, preacher. Click here to read more about Grant Faulkner. Note from Marlene: Click here for ideas of what to write about. Choose a writing prompt, set your timer for 12-15 minutes and Just Write!