The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

Category: Prompts

  • Write about an important person. Prompt #503

    Write about someone who was, or is, important to you. Write how that person impacted you. Bonus points for a crazy coincidence . . . The unexplainable event . . . The hilarious accident. The outsized personality. Write about how that person impressed you or changed you.

    Today’s Prompt is inspired by Brandon Stanton and his Humans of New York project.

    I learned about Brandon Stanton around 2009 as he began his Humans of New York project. Intrigued, I pre-ordered his book, which is now a prized possession.

    From Brandon’s Humans of New York’s May 17 Facebook Page, about not being able to have personal interviews on the streets.

    I was initially worried about doing these interviews remotely. I thought that without the context of the street-—the stories might lose their sense of immediacy and randomness. But the experiment has been quite a success. These remote interviews have been a real joy for me. It’s been great to connect—even over video. The stories have been really beautiful, and the extra supply of photographs have added another dimension.

    So I’m looking forward to exploring this process even more.

    You can submit your story and photo to Brandon:

    Thanks to everyone who’s submitted. Many of the strongest submissions involve relationships. I think our voices tend to be most compelling when talking about other people. And not just ‘why this person is great.’ But ‘what this person did, and how it impacted me.’ A story can be strong without a twist. It cannot be strong without a transformation. So tell me how you were changed. But more importantly, tell me who changed you.

    It always helps to include a photo. Strong writing is not a requirement. There’s no need to write three pages. And don’t worry about being a master storyteller. Just tell what happened in two or three paragraphs. If the story is selected, we’ll do a video interview and figure out all the details together. It doesn’t matter where you live. It doesn’t matter if you’re fancy, or fascinating. Just tell me the best thing that’s ever happened to you! Or even better—tell me about the best person that’s ever happened to you.

  • Entering a cave . . . Prompt #502

    For this writing prompt, we’ll go through a visualization first, then I’ll suggest the writing prompt.

    Please remember: The prompts are only suggestions. Go with what is on your mind while you are writing.

    Listen to what you really want to write about . . . what you really want to say. Honor that. That is how to do a freewrite . . . go with what is uppermost on your mind

    The Visualization

    As we go through this visualization, you can tap on your chest, just above the breast bone, with the tips of your fingers. This is a calming and centering activity.

    As we go, take deep breaths, another calming technique.

    Sit back in your chair. Get comfortable. Take a deep breath in. Hold for a moment. Release.

    Imagine you are about to enter a cave. You see the opening to the cave and see the darkness ahead. You are apprehensive, but you know you need to go into the cave.

    Stepping into the cave, you smell the dank air and feel the coldness of the cave. A few more steps in. It’s getting darker.

    You are still a bit apprehensive but you are determined to see this through.

    Up ahead you make out a shape.

    Continue with tapping.

    As you get closer, you realize . . . the shape is you. Like in a dream, you see yourself chained to rocks.

    Take a deep breath in. Let it out.                   

    Listen.

    Your heart tells you that when you get quiet you will hear what you need to hear.

    Your Self that feels chained might talk about fear, anger, frustration, hope.

    Take a deep breath in. Release. Continue tapping if you want.

    Take a few minutes to check in and note how you are feeling right now.

    The chains that were holding you have slipped away.

    You are magically transported to outside the cave, where it’s a bright and sunny day.

    Writing Prompt: What is the chained version of yourself telling you?

    What does this version of yourself want you to know?

    Just write whatever comes up for you.

    This prompt is inspired from a writing class given by Lara Zielin, Author Your Life Now.

  • A wish . . . Prompt #501

    Write about a wish that came true.

  • Today I celebrate . . . Prompt #500

    Today I celebrate Prompt #500 on The Write Spot Blog.

    That’s a lot of prompts!

    I didn’t know what would happen when I started this blog September 24, 2003. That seems so long ago, and yet it’s only 17 years. A life-time for some, a blip for others.

    Since that first blog post, my daughter married, both my sons married, two granddaughters were born, we renovated our yard, bought tons of groceries, did umpteen loads of laundry, and so much happened locally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally.

    And I learned to Zoom.

    There are 1,252 posts on The Write Spot Blog: Places to submit your writing, book reviews, quotes, and guest bloggers sharing their thoughts about writing. Hopefully some of the posts have been inspirational to help you and your writing.

    Since 2003, five Write Spot anthologies have been published.

    I’ve given talks about freewrites, blogging, and how to write about traumatic events at workshops, college classes, and writing communities.

    I continue to read about writing and attend writing workshops, furthering my education about writing.

    Yep, I am passionate about writing.

    Today, I celebrate you.

    I’m raising my glass in a toast to you.

    I hope you are writing and keep writing.

    If you want to write, but haven’t started yet, maybe you will find inspiration in one of these Write Spot posts.

    Here are some prompts that might inspire your writing.

    What happened for you these past seventeen years?

    What will you celebrate today?

    What will you celebrate in the future?

  • What works for you? Prompt #499

    “Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” — May Sarton

    During this shelter in place, have you discovered what works for you as an “instrument of grace?”

    Or:

    Are you feeling you should be doing something differently than what you
    are doing?

    Today’s prompts are inspired by the article “Gardens deemed ‘essential,’” — David Templeton, April 30, 2020, Petaluma Argus Courier.

  • An Award . . . Prompt #498

    Write about an award you received or a recognition you achieved.

    Or write about a goal you accomplished.

  • Today I wish . . . Prompt #497

    What do you wish for?
    If you could have a wish come true today, what would it be?

  • Today I feel . . . Prompt #496

    How are you doing?
    How are you feeling today?

  • What are you noticing? Prompt #495

    No matter where you live, you most likely are experiencing Shelter in Place, or SIP.

    Where I live, Northern California, it looks like we’ll have another month of SIP.

    Our first day of SIP was March 17, 2020. Today is Day 44 of Shelter in Place. It’s an interesting time, isn’t it? Weird. Surreal. You probably have many adjectives you can use to describe this experience.

    Writing Prompt: What are you noticing?

  • What do you do now? Prompt #494

    How has your life changed with shelter in place?

    What do you do now that’s different?

    Make a list of your current activities.

    Write about your day.

    What do you do now?

    Use any of these writing seeds to Just Write.