Inspiration to Just Write by Maureen Stanton: “Most readers know that sensation when immersed in a book of being transported from their couches or chairs into another world, where a film unspools in the mind’s eye. The engines that power this transport are the smallest components of craft: sensory details. Concrete sensory details paint a story so compelling and vivid that as readers, through the awesome power of our imaginations, see, hear, smell and feel the story. This process is a bilateral exchange that I think of as literary transference: the story enters the reader’s mind, and thus the reader enters the story, as if through a magic portal. It is during this transference process when mere black and white words—hieroglyphs–are alchemized into the images, smells, sounds, and sensations that transport readers deeply into stories. This exchange yields more than the pleasure of being whisked into another realm; it allows us to flex our powers…
A Place in the Sun
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. A Place in the Sun By CM Riddle I often find myself writing about the past. It’s easy to remember and type the facts. But today I am writing about the future. Instead of facts, I’ll define the future and bring it into reality. My vision of the future is inspired by a song from the past. Tuning to Spotify I hear Stevie Wonder belt, “There’s a place in the sun where there’s room for everyone, gonna find me a place in the sun.” The lyrical line weaves its way through my thoughts and soon I imagine the most amazing place. A place without pain or suffering. A place filled with hope and everyday joy. That’s where I want to be. Suddenly an esoteric feeling hits deep within my bones. Not knowing if I will live…
How you became who you are . . . Prompt #838
Write about how you became who you are. Why you are the way you are. Is it genetics, epigenetics, nature, nurture, not nurtured? Remember a pivotal event. Something happened that changed the trajectory of your life. You may not have known it at the time. But looking back, you might discover the “aha” moment. How to find that pivotal event, that “aha” moment: You might not find a pivotal event during this writing. However, if you keep writing, it might pop up. Just Write!
Write about yourself . . . Prompt #837
Write about yourself. Ideas on how to start: Basically I am [optimistic], sometimes I am [pessimistic]. When no one is listening, I [sing out oud]. When no one is watching, I [dance]. I am slow to [warm up to people]. I quickly [form opinions]. You can use these sentence starts: I am determined . . . Basically I am . . . Sometimes I am . . . When no one is listening, I . . . When no one is watching, I . . . I am slow to . . . I quickly . . . I am determined . . . Marlene’s Musings: I have often thought about how to “show” body language when writing. When we interact with others, there is much about body language that conveys our mood, emotions, reactions. How to show these things? The Emotion Thesaurus to our rescue!
I was going to . . . Prompt #836
I was going to . . . and then . . . OR: I planned to . . . but then . . . OR: I thought I would . . . but then . . .
A favorite area . . . Prompt #835
Write about a favorite area: in your home in your workplace in your town Or your favorite place on earth.
Space . . . Prompt #834
Write about a space you have been in: Library, cathedral, top of mountain, a castle, Grand Canyon, Grand Central station, Emporium, head spaces. A tight space, a small space, a crawl space, outer space. Just Write!
What do you want to let go of? . . . Prompt #833
What do you want to let go of?
Now vs then . . . Prompt #832
What did you do in your twenties that you can’t, or won’t, do now? What can you do now that you couldn’t do in your twenties?
Success. Now vs then . . . Prompt #831
Now vs then What did success mean to you when you were in your twenties? What does success look like to you now?