Write about an appliance or a gadget you cannot live without.
Sentence starts:
I have to have . . .
I cannot live without . . .
Category: Prompts
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First Lines From Books . . . Prompt #571
First lines from books can inspire writing.
Choose one, or more, and Just Write!
“My name is Ruth. I grew up with . . .” — Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson:
“This was probably a mistake . . .” —Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell
“With wobbly knees, I stood at the edge of the three-foot diving board.” —Beyond Recovery by Shawn Langwell
“Marsh is no swamp. Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky.” —Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
“The biggest irony about that night is that I was always scared to fly.” —How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
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Dinner Party . . . Prompt #570
“Imagine a dinner party post-pandemic. Which humans will be with you around the table? Where will it happen? What music will you listen to? What will you serve? What stories will you tell, what toasts will be made? What truths do you want—maybe need—to share? — Carla Fernandez
Prompt inspired by Carla Fernandez, a creative entrepreneur and cofounder of The Dinner Party, the nation’s first community fighting the isolation of grief and loss for 20-40 somethings. Her work has been featured on NPR, Good Morning America, and O Magazine, and as a case study in a dozen+ books.
A Senior Innovation Fellow at USC, she was named one of the city’s “most fascinating people” by L.A. Weekly. She currently lives between Accord, NY, and Joshua Tree, CA, with her partner Ivan and rescue dog, Biscotti.
Originally posted in Suleika Jaouad’s The Isolation Journals.
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Hygge . . . Prompt #569
Hygge: “A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being, regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture.”
I bought some pasture-raised eggs the other day and was intrigued by the little information sheet tucked inside the egg carton:
Naturally Hygge Hens
“Without ever stockpiling cuddly blankets or chunky candles our hens instinctively practice the Danish art of hygee all winter long. Their pasture-raised lifestyle means crisp days spent together enjoying the simple things – tasty grasses, crunchy critters and warm sunshine. As evening falls, they rest in the safety and comfort of the barn. Days with friends and cozy nights with not a screen in sight!” (Vital Farms)
Since then, I learned there is a Hygge Facebook page.
The following is excerpted from the February 2017 issue of Charlotte at Home.
How to achieve hygge at home
Because simply defining the term with words like “coziness” and “togetherness” does not do hygge justice, it is up to you and how you interpret the pleasantness of good company in an inviting atmosphere. Hygge is a sense of intimacy created in any space at any moment. It makes guests feel welcome and warm. Since Scandinavian winters are known to be bleak, the concept of creating comfortable retreats became paramount to the Danish people and their happiness. Some quintessentially hygge elements are below.
Texture
Soft, fur blankets and luscious rugs. Knits and plush items are musts for an inevitably warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Candles
Speaking of warmth, there’s nothing quite like a flickering flame to make a place feel like home.
Note from Marlene: I use battery operated candles that flicker like real candles. I am nervous about real candles due to a house fire caused by a candle (years ago, but still nervous).
Enjoy the Simple Things
Delving more into the term’s definition as it relates to “moments” and “feelings,” the act of enjoying the simple things in life is supremely hygge. Take a moment to truly enjoy your morning coffee. Treat yourself to an indulgent bubble bath. Venture outdoors for a long walk with nature. Creating a hygge lifestyle encompasses a variety of areas beyond home design, just as your home’s design can completely improve the way you live.
Phone Friends
Gathering with people is another important aspect of this Danish concept. Invite friends over for a weekend lunch, and create an atmosphere that allows for visitors. Simple changes such as ensuring there are enough chairs around a table make a big difference. To hygge with friends is also a way to bond and uplift others as you connect over wholesome food and feel-good drinks.
Note from Marlene: Zoom works, too, Invite friends to a Zoom party, or a singalong with Diane Dupuis.
Take Time
Life is fast, and hygge reminds you that it doesn’t always have to be so fleeting. Slow down. Enjoy the moment. Take the time to indulge in the time you’re given, and be present.
Note from Marlene: Be present. Re-consider multi-tasking . . . rather, consider being mindful and focusing on one thing at a time.
Writing Prompt: What is your hygge?
Or: What can you do to create hygge?
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But Why . . . Prompt #568
I’m working on a short piece of writing about a childhood tradition to submit to an anthology. It’s done, except I feel I’m not conveying the heart of it. This afternoon, I asked myself “Why was this so special?” After this blog post, I’m going to look at my story again, and try to dig up the “but why” that made this tradition so meaningful.
Writing Prompt: Using something you have written, pull out an excerpt, and answer the question, “But why?”
Just write and see where this takes you.
But, why?
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What? . . . Prompt #567
Just some things to think about and explore through writing.
What isn’t working in your life? What is working?
What are you resisting?
What needs to change?
What really matters?
What do you want?
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Writing Personal Essays
Make a list of issues and experiences, important and trivial, in your life right now.
What frustrated you in the past month?
What made you laugh or cry?
What made you lose your temper?
What was the worst thing that happened?
The best?The most disturbing and weird?
Write: Choose one thing from your list and write about it.
Write whatever comes to mind.
Write what you would really like to say to the other people involved.
Write what happened from your point of view.
Prompt inspired from, “On Writing Personal Essays,” by Barbra Abercrombie, The Writer magazine, January 2003
Barbara Abercrombie teaches creative writing in the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension, and a master class in memoir and personal essays via Zoom and Canvas.
“We write the book we need to read and The Language of Loss is the book I needed when my husband died six years ago. It’s an anthology full of the very best poems and prose that I could find about losing the love of your life. These are the writers and poets who got me through my own grief. If you’re going through a loss right now, or know someone who is grieving, I hope this book will help.” —Barbara Abercrombie
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Healing. Prompt #565
Write about a time you experienced a healing—physically, spiritually, or emotionally.
Or, if you are in the process of pursuing healing . . . write about what you are doing.
Or, what healing methods do you want to pursue?
Let me count the ways . . .
Aromatherapy, autogenic relaxation, art, biofeedback, deep breathing, exercise, Feldenkrais, guided imagery, hydrotherapy massage, meditation, music, prayer, progressive muscle relaxation, qi gong, tai chi, tapping, visualization, yoga.
There are a number of resources listed in The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing, especially ideas about how to write about difficult events without adding trauma. Available at Amazon, print ($15) and ebook ($3.49).
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A place you have visited. Prompt #564
Sit back. Get comfortable and relaxed in your chair. Think about a place you have visited.
It doesn’t matter where. It could be the downtown area in your city. It could be the city where you were born. Could be a vacation.
Take a few minutes to scroll through your mind and choose a place you have visited.
Let your mind drift back to your visit or time you spent at this location.
If you are working on fiction, how would one of your characters respond to the prompts below.
Prompt #1: What is the first picture, or scene, that appears?
Prompt #2: I can still hear . . .
Prompt #3: I can smell . . .
Prompt #4: This place is important to me because . . .
Prompt #5: I wish I could . . .
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Shoes . . . Prompt #363
Write about shoes.
Your shoes, a baby’s shoes, or a grandmother’s slippers.
A pair of shoes hanging by the laces on a high wire.
A favorite pair of hiking boots.
Ballet shoes.
Sandals worn on vacation.
Shoes.