The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

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  • Did a single decision change your life?

    Real Simple magazine Essay Contest:   Did a single decision change your life?

    Would your world now be completely different—even unthinkable—if, at some point in the past, you hadn’t made a seemingly random choice? Maybe you stayed a few extra minutes at a party—and met your soul mate. Maybe you decided to have lunch with a friend or quit a job or just took the long way home. If you can’t imagine the rest of your life without what happened next, write it down and share it with us.

    Decision. July 2015Enter Real Simple’s eighth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple magazine and receive a prize of $3,000.

    Deadline: September 21, 2015

    Photo by Jim C. March

     

  • What I like and don’t like . . . Prompt #169

    I facilitate writing workshops in Petaluma, CA called Jumpstart. We use prompts  to spark our imagination. For this type of free-writing, you can respond from your personal experience or from someone else’s personal experience.

    You can write as your fictional character would respond to the prompt. You can use these prompts to get deeper into your fictional character’s mind.

    The idea for this prompt is inspired by the poem, “What I Like and Don’t Like,” by Philip Schultz.

    Writing Prompts Oval

  • . . . something from The Twilight Zone . . .

    Guest Blogger Steve Fisher writes. . . (and I love it) . . .

    Writing. We love it; we hate it. Anyone who has put pen to paper, or in this modern age, fingers to keyboards, understands that sentiment. It’s a process both joyous and painful. When it works—that is, when our brain clicks into gear and coherent thoughts manage to escape the gray matter—there’s no more exciting feeling. When emotions actually materialize on the page, or screen, leaving you feeling drained in the best of ways, it’s the best of all possible worlds.

    On a rare occasion I have found myself laughing at something one of my characters said or crying because of something they did. And I didn’t feel like the mystical God creating those words or actions that I was at that moment. Once, I actually walked out my door and ran into my characters. People who seemed like mirror images of what I had just written. It was like something from The Twilight Zone. And it was glorious.

    But there are also the times that can only be described as writer’s hell. When the dreaded BLOCK forms. There is no worse feeling of helplessness. No one to call or text or email with a magical solution. It hits us all—the newbie and the pro. We go for runs or walks or drives, we drink, we turn to mind-altering substances of dubious legality. Yet none of that works.

    Ironically, the secret cure is within each and every one of us, and it’s very simple. Write. Write anything. Don’t worry about whether it’s good or bad. Don’t evaluate it for worthiness. As in the old Nike ads, just do it. You may end up eventually deleting most of it, but it may just be the jump start you need to write something you’ll read later and say, “Wow! Who wrote this?!!” In a good way.

    Steve Fisher Steve Fisher has written for television, film, stage and print for more than 3 decades. He sleeps in formaldehyde to keep his youthful good looks.

    Marlene’s musings: “Like something from The Twilight Zone.”  Steve Fisher writes what I think. How did he do that?  I’ve never even met him . . . cue The Twilight Zone theme song . . . Like he says . . .  Just write!

  • Connections. Prompt #168

    Connections have always fascinated me. Our connections to one another.

    Lack of connections also interests me.

    Connections . . . when you meet someone for the first time and instantly feel connected.

    Or when you are compelled to go somewhere and you don’t know why. Once you get there, you re-connect with someone you haven’t seen in awhile.

    Connections – that “aha” moment when something becomes crystal clear.

    Are connections important to you?

    Connections to one another, to things, to ideas. . . what does connection mean to you?

    Write about connections. Or write about disconnections.

     Just write!

    Connections.Jim MarchPhoto by Jim C. March

  • All sorrows can be borne . . .

    My Journal.1“All sorrows can be borne if you put them in a story or tell a story about them.” Isak Dinesen

    Excerpted “From The Editor,” Alicia Anstead, editor-in-chief, July 2015, The Writer Magazine, writing about trauma and loss.

    Marlene’s Musings:  Sometimes our writing explores fun journeys. Other times our writing takes an unexpected turn and drifts into a gully where sadness could be overwhelming. Next week I plan to post how to write about difficult subjects without re-traumatizing ourselves. Stay tuned!

  • Write from that place where the real you exists.

    beach filled heart“Write from your heart. You’ll hear that a lot, but what it means is to write from what moves you, what frightens you, what makes you deeply sad, what makes you ecstatic. Remember to write from that place where the real you exists.” John Kelly, Writer Magazine, July 2015

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

  • Cimarron Review looks for strong writing and cover art

    CimarronCimarron Review is “interested in any strong writing of a literary variety . . . especially partial to fiction in the modern realist tradition and poetry that engages the reader through a distinctive voice—be it lyric, narrative, etc

    Cimarron Review is now accepting both electronic and postal submissions. Please read these guidelines before submitting. The link to the online system appears at the end of these guidelines.

    Cimarron Review accepts submissions year-round in poetry, fiction, and art.

    Artists and photographers interested in having their work appear on an upcoming cover of the Cimarron Review should query by E-mail at cimarronreview@okstate.edu.  If our editors are interested, we’ll reply and request to see more work.

    Marlene’s Musings: I don’t know what “modern realist tradition” means. Do you? If yes, post the answer here. . . educate us!

  • What can you do with these random words? Prompt #167

    Use these words in a freewrite:  rain, symphony, diamond, place, play, sea, true, gorgeous, swim, beauty

     Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.

    Creek.Upper AdobePhoto by Karen Bobier

  • Freedom . . . Prompt #166

    You can use the prompts on The Write Spot Blog to write about your personal experiences, or experiences that others have had, or to write fiction. If you are working with a fictional character, respond to the prompt as your fictional character would. Don’t have a fictional character? Maybe now is the time to create one.

    You can take actual events from your life and fictionalize them. Your fictional character could be based on an actual person, or a combination of many people.

    Today’s Writing Prompt: FREEDOM

  • I may never finish my novel . . .

    Lola“I may never finish my novel, but the joy of writing, of using those 26 letters to express and share what I create with them, is the comfort that keeps me on the journey.” Connie Mygatt

    Connie Mygatt is a writer/artist living in beautiful Petaluma, California. She was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, married and started her family there. The rich memories of life in that rural area and living in California for over 30 years have allowed her to experience many wonderful and sad moments that are an ever constant source of inspiration to her. Plus, life is ever offering intriguing “what if” moments from which to harvest story lines. She enjoys writing short stories, poetry and has started her first novel.

              Last year, Connie finished writing, illustrating and publishing her first children’s book, Only For A While, which can be purchased on Amazon or through her directly at Maye123 – at – comcast.com