What talent would you like to have? Or, what talent do you have that you are proud of? Dubbed “America’s Funniest Cowgirl,” Karen Quest has been blazing a trail since 1998 with her one-woman award-winning original comedy act, Cowgirl Tricks. Skillful trick roping, impressive whip cracking, outstanding audience rapport and improvisational kooky cowgirl shenanigans have proven wildly popular at venues for audiences of all ages. Karen’s talents include juggling, clowning, acrobatics, fire-eating, unicycling, and stunt work, Your turn: Write about your talents. Or your fictional character’s talents. Just Write!
Category: Prompts
What was your role as a child? Prompt #673
From “Write From the Heart” by Hal Zina Bennett During a trip to Disneyland, a priest became fascinated with the costumed figure of Mickey Mouse. Every time Father Sean turned around, there was Mickey Mouse shaking hands with people, talking with kids, keeping everyone’s spirits up. And Father Sean began asking himself, “I wonder who that person is under that costume? What are they like at the end of the day, when they take off their Mickey Mouse suit?” Instead of being who we really can be, we take on masks like the Good Little Girl, or we become the Black Sheep of the Family or the Rebel. Early on, we learn that if we are to be loved and cared for, we’d better buckle under and be what is safe for us to be. Writing Prompts What role did you play as a child? What is your role now?…
Just For Fun . . . Prompt #672
Write a quick 9-minute story or poem using these words: Summer or winter Fling or saunter Apple martini or grape juice Reality or ruse Rain jacket or scarf Breaststroke or rollerskate New York or Liverpool Thread or button Green or turquoise See what Mary O’Brien did with this writing prompt. #amwriting #justwrite #iamawriter
What if we could change the past? . . . Prompt #671
What if we could change the past? According to Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox, in “Your Mythic Journey,” we can change the past simply by retelling it differently than we usually do. “The past is open to revision because memory is a function of present intention. You can turn your story over (and over) and find new perspectives on past events and emotions.” —Sam Keen Think about some stories you have told over and over again. It could be a little thing or a big thing. It could be something that happened a long time ago, or recently. It can be repetitive thoughts you have. Choose one story or one repetitive thought. In your mind, “see” that story you have been telling and re-telling. Pause, while you choose a story. See this scene as if you are looking at a wide screen. You can see everything in this scene. Where…
Greatest Extravagance . . . Prompt #670
Write about your greatest extravagance. Or something you paid a lot of money for. Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
After all these years . . . Prompt #669
After all these years . . . Just Write!
Flowed beautifully . . . Prompt #668
Write about a time, or an event, that flowed beautifully. Maybe it was a trip or a visit that was perfect. You could also write about music, art, or any creative endeavor that you cannot forget. Or write about something you read, or something you wrote, that conveyed a message succinctly and engagingly. Today’s writing prompt is inspired by the Writers Digest Review of “The Write Spot: Musings and Ravings From a Pandemic Year.” “This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of a variety of genres. Because this is a collection of different voices, the styles and rhythms are unique to each author. Yet they all flow beautifully, conveying their message succinctly and engagingly.” Note from Marlene: Why yes, I do find…
Liminal . . . Prompt #667
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl Prompt: Write about the space between stimulus and response. Write about a time you recognized it – or you didn’t – and how that impacted your life. OR: Explore the word or the concept of liminal: Liminal specifically means relating to the point (or threshold) beyond which a sensation becomes too faint to be experienced. Liminal: Related to or situated at a sensory threshold; barely perceptible or capable of eliciting a response, things that exist at the threshold (or border) between one thing and another. Examples of liminal: The liminal stage is the middle stage, the in-between period during which a person has not yet fully reached their new status in whatever rite of passage they are going through. ~ Being “the…
Turning Point . . . Prompt #666
Write about a turning point. Or, a point of no return. #justwrite #iamawriter #iamwriting
Adversity . . . Prompt #665
The idea of using prompts is to inspire writing in a freeform style. There are no rules, except to write without too much thinking. Let your thoughts flow and capture them in writing. Give your inner critic time off during this writing. The challenge of freewriting is getting Self out of the way. With freewrites, you are writing for yourself, not for an audience. Give yourself permission to be open to whatever comes up while you are writing. Writing Prompt: How do you handle adversity? There are several prompts, ideas about freewrites, and resources about how to write without adding trauma in “The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing,” available from your local bookseller and as both print books and ebooks on Amazon.