Today’s Writing Prompt: I never thought . . . #iamawrite #justwrite #iamwriting
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.
The Education of Kevin Powell
Kevin Powell, author of “The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood,” is many things: a journalist, poet, essayist, blogger, activist, public speaker, television personality, and more. Mostly, he is an amazing human being. I know Kevin as a kind, aware, observant interviewer who listens carefully and gets to the heart of the interviewee by asking pertinent questions. “The Education of Kevin Powell” is an education for readers who haven’t experienced extreme poverty, racial inequity, misogyny, violence, and mishandled anger. It’s a multifaceted story of how a young man rose above his seemingly hopeless circumstances to become a respectful and respected innovator, leader, and healer. “The Education of Kevin Powell” is a beacon of hope for bringing people and communities together for the good of all. Book review by Marlene Cullen
Monologues
Rebecca Evans taught an amazing class about writing monologues, which sent me on a search for “monologue submissions.” Scroll down for information on Rebecca’s June 16, 2022 writing workshop. A few places to submit monologues FORWARD THEATRE: 2023 Monologue Festival Out in This World “The detour that leads to an unexpected adventure. The vacation where everything goes wrong. The annoying stranger who turns into an amazing guide. Forward Theater is looking for original scripts about travel, whether to places far away or destinations close to home. Even a trip across the street can expand your horizons. Here is your chance to create a tale of the connection, joy, fear, beauty, exploration, and discovery that can only happen when you get out in this world. As you consider what to write, please be as creative as possible. It can take the form of comedy, spoken word, drama, farce, autobiography, or pure…
Tall Tales or Truth . . . Prompt #656
Write about yourself or about one (or more) of your fictional characters. You can write the truth or embellish a tall tale. “Your” is you or one of your fictional characters. Some writing starts: Describe your career / job. If you are retired, what did you do before retirement? If you could start over, what type of work do you wish you had pursued? Hobbies? What do you do in your spare time? If you don’t have spare time, what would you do if you had spare time? What do you like to do? Something very few people know about you. Something that is not true about you. Best vacation. Children. Grandchildren. Where did you grow up? Where do you live? What are you especially good at? What do you want people to know about you? #justwrite #iamawriter #iamwriting
Becoming a Writer in the Third Chapter of Life
Guest Post by Carole Duff All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. —Anatole France Western culture divides life into three stages: birth/student, work/family, and retirement/death. My husband and I, moving into our retirement years and building a new house, borrowed the Hindu concept of four stages, adding a time of spiritual growth and reconnection between retirement and death. The third stage of life, Vanaprastha, the name we chose for our mountain home, means retreat to the forest. Not retirement but time to learn, reflect, and grow. Time to take the internal journey and heal past wounds from loss, rejection, and inexplicable disruptions. Time to explore, discover, seek meaning, share wisdom, and serve others. Time to become our truer selves. As it turned out, I became a writer….
Colors and Moods . . . Prompt #655
I am fascinated with finding writing prompts in a variety of places. Today’s prompt is inspired from the Editor’s Letter in Better & Homes Gardens magazine, April 2018, by Stephen Orr, Editor-in-Chief. “Color Theory” “Remember mood rings? As a kid, I was obsessed for one hot Texas summer about the idea that the ‘jewel’ in those rings could indicate how a person was feeling emotionally: Pink was happy, black was depressed, blue was optimistic. My little glass oval was often an indecipherable shade of puce . . .” — Stephen Orr What mood would you assign to these colors? Purple Red Yellow Orange Green Choose a color and write what mood, or emotion, or character trait comes up for you when you think about this color. Using color when writing Describe your character by the colors they wear, or what colors they surround themselves with where they live, or work,…
Dear Number Five
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Dear Number Five By Karen Quest Dear Number Five, If we are to believe the song, one is the loneliest number, but without you, we wouldn’t know where we’d be. I checked you out, and from math to science, to art, music and literature, to religion and biology, you’re everywhere! I hope you have fun reading some cool facts about yourself. I give you my Ode to Five. Starfish are pentamerous Which might sound kind of calamitous Five appendages have they And no matter what you might say I think they are quite glamorous. It isn’t criminal to take the Fifth. Lanford Wilson chose you for the title of his play, The Fifth of July. Beethoven named one of his symphonies after you. There are 25 one-ounce shots in a fifth of alcohol. Almost all amphibians,…
New Millennium
New Millennium Writings is an anthology where newcomers are welcome to submit their writing along with established authors. NMW also hosts semi-annual awards in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. “New Millennium Writings was launched in 1996 with a 15-word classified ad. From those humble beginnings, NMW has exploded into an internationally recognized and highly sought-after literary award and journal. We believe in the creative potential of every writer, regardless of experience. Our blind and anonymous judging system ensures equality to writers of every level. All writers are welcome, and no subject is off-limits.”
Food or Art? Prompt #654
Sometimes I get an idea for a writing prompt and then search for an image to go with the prompt. The phrase “food or art” popped into my head one day. It took a while, but I found an image. So, what do you think . . . food or art? Or, food as art? Just Write! #justwrite #iamawriter #iamwriting
Jon Batiste. This is Who I Am.
As I prepared this blog post, we were a country in mourning. Another school shooting. Ukraine. And more. My heart is breaking. Maybe yours is, too. I try not to get overwhelmed by tragedies. I always fail. I try to look on the bright side. I usually succeed. Today’s post highlights Jonathon Michael Batiste, looking on the bright side. In his commencement address at Salve Regina University, May 21, 2017, Jon Batiste asked, “Who can you help along the way?” In my Write Spot Blog posts, I hope to inspire writing. I hope to encourage and offer ideas for you to Just Write. Perhaps Jon’s from-the-heart commencement address will uplift and inspire you. Quotes from the commence talk “Be as humane as possible. It’s really important to stay human.” “Who are you?” “Who do you want to be?” “What is your purpose?” “. . . internal fortitude amidst the…