The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

Category: Prompts

  • It takes all kinds. . . Prompt #154

    Today’s prompt is inspired by the May 6 theme for West Side Stories in Petaluma.

    “West Side Stories believes that everyone has a story.   Our goal?  To give those stories a forum.   After producing successful shows where stand-up comedians told their stories, former comic turned storyteller, Dave Pokorny sought to accommodate all those people who asked, ‘When can I tell my story?’ And to encourage those people who doubted they had a story worth telling.”

    If you are in the Petaluma area . . . join these storytellers at West Side Stories.  Get your ticket early . . . these shows sell out!

    How about you?  Are you ready to share your story?  Write and post on The Write Spot Blog.

    Prompt:  It takes all kinds . . .

  • What did you steal? Prompt #153

    Key.skeleton

    Today’s writing prompt:  What did you steal?

  • Who would you like to chat with? Prompt #152

    Old time phoneWho would you like to chat with? If you could converse with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would you like to sit down and yak with? Or, maybe you would rather lean against a bar or a counter and chew the fat, or drive and talk, or ride and shoot the breeze. Who would you like to have a conversation with . . . a one-to-one, a heart-to-heart, a tête-à-tête, a rap session, a discussion.

    Hmmmm ???

  • Our imaginary selves. Prompt #151

    Excerpt from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach, April 3:

    Court JesterWhat are you going to be when you grow up? Today, let’s think about paths not yet taken—the paths of our secret imaginary selves. Each of us leads many lives vicariously and often simultaneously. By acknowledging our secret lives and tapping into the wisdom of our imaginary alter egos, we can glean tips to help us develop our own personal sense of style.

    If you had ten other lives to lead, what would you be doing?

    You might want to be a radio disc jockey, a mountain climber, a Broadway lyricist, a filmmaker, a romance novelist, a brain surgeon, a syndicated newspaper columnist, a psychic, a horticulturist, a holistic veterinarian, or a potter. . . Now write down your secret selves. How do they live? How do they dress? What can you do to bring some of the magic of your imaginary lives into your everyday existence? Brainstorm with your authentic self.

    Look within today and have fun. . . one of your secret selves might reveal a passionate wish.

    Note from Marlene: One of your secret selves might reveal a fictional character, who just might lend mystery and magic to your writing.

  • This time next year . . . Prompt #150

    crystal ball at night.drake

     

    Today’s prompt:  This time next year . . .

    Write whatever comes up for you. No thinking. No analyzing. Just write!

  • Last . . . Prompt #149

    Fun.112Sometimes writing prompts are fun and playful.

                            Akeret.Family tales.100    Sometimes they inspire memoir type writing.

    My Journal.1Other times they work well for fiction writing.

    Mostly the prompts are what you make of them . . . you can go light and stay on the surface, skating on the edge, or you can go deep.

    This quick type of writing is an opportunity to explore and perhaps come up with ideas for writing, or . . .for solutions to situations . . . or, for personal growth and transformation.  Butterfly.100

     

    Shed your ideas about what perfect writing means.   Give yourself permission to be open to whatever comes up. Writing isn’t always about talent, it’s about practice and going into another dimension. Rather than write for an audience, write from an instinctual level.

    Creative writing is an act of discovery. Immerse yourself in writing. Let go of your worries and write. Write to a satisfying inner desire to go to a meaningful place.

    Go deeper into the recesses of your mind and really write. Write from the well that stores the fears. Let the tears come, let the stomach tie up in knots. It’s okay to write the story that is difficult to tell.

    Get through the barriers to go to a deeper level. See your story and tell it.

    Today’s Prompt: Last

  • Hardest thing to give up. Prompt #148

    Write about a hard thing to give up . . . either something you gave up, or kinda, sorta want to give up.

    Prompt:  The hardest thing to give up.

    Set your time. Go. Write.

    Go write!

    cup of joe    Wineglass   bookshelf           birthday cake + candle         Shopping and boots

  • My heart hurts. . . Prompt #147

    Today’s writing prompt is inspired by my dear friend, Eva.

    You can always write on variations of these writing prompts. For example:

    My heart hurts when . . .

    I want to tell you about the time my heart broke . . .

    The phrase “full of heart” means . . .

    beach filled heartWrite from your personal experience, or write fiction. Just write!

    Photo by Jeff Cullen. Click here to see Jeff’s portfolio on fotolia.

  • What keeps you going? Prompt #146

    What keeps you going? What fuels you?

    Gas Pumps California Adventure

  • A route you have taken, or wish you had taken. Prompt #145

    Write about a route you have taken, or wish you had taken.

    Route 66