Writing Prompt: I am struggling with . . .
All Summer Long
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. All Summer Long By Deb Fenwick All summer long, busy house sparrows flit in the eaves of our house. Each morning, they collect tiny twigs and things I rarely notice from the ground and end up making a life with them. Seedlings sprout and reach toward a warm, welcoming sky. Children ride bikes and screech with delight. No hands! Look at me! Watch! When the sun sets at nine o’clock, those same children, liberated from the rigidity of school night routines, line up for ice cream with wide, wild eyes as fireflies send signals across the garden. The crickets just keep chirping. All summer long, there’s lake swimming in midwestern waters that have been warmed by the sun. And better still, there’s night swimming where a body, unfettered by the weight of gravity, gets its chance…
All Summer Long . . . Prompt #595
Writing Prompt: All Summer Long . . .
Help might be where you least expect it. Just ask.
Excerpted from “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?: Finding Peace of Mind While You Write, Publish, and Promote Your Book” by Bella Mahaya Carter. When you’re out there promoting your book, you’ll have to ask for all sorts of things. This might feel hard. You may make up stories, such as I don’t want to “bother” people or be a nuisance. You may feel as if you have no right to ask for what you want. You may even feel, deep down, as if there’s something wrong with asking. Of course, nobody likes rejection, either. We don’t want to hear the word “no.” But how people respond has more to do with them than with you. If you can blow by the nos, you’ll pick up enough yeses along the way. So don’t let that stop you. Those stories running through your head, that make asking for what you want seem unsavory, doesn’t mean…
Redivider
Redivider is a literary journal produced by the graduate students in the Writing, Literature, and Publishing program at Emerson College in the vibrant literary hub of Boston. Published digitally in the autumn and spring, Redivider welcomes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic narrative submissions from emerging and established writers. “And if you’re wondering about the name—it’s a palindrome!” “Each year, we host the Blurred Genre Contest and Beacon Street Prize. Winners of these contests receive cash prizes, and their work is featured online in a subsequent issue of our journal.” Recently, Redivider shifted to a digital platform. Publishing issues online allows the voices of contributors to reach more readers as web content is free for all. Submission Guidelines
If only . . . Prompt #594
Writing Prompt: If only I had or hadn’t . . .
Play . . . Prompt #593
Today’s writing prompt is . . . Play. Here’s my play on the word play: Playwriting. Play at writing. Be playful about writing. Go to a play: Sit. Watch. Listen. Go to a playground: Run. Swirl. Fly. Put into a playpen: Baby. Puppy. Kittens. Be playful: Tweak an ear. Nudge a rib. Flirty smile. Play around: Scandal. Heartbreak. Disrupt. Play through: Move aside. Slow poke. One act play: Short Three act play: Three sections: Beginning, middle, end. Play: Vacation, sand, beach, Coppertone. Play date: Strollers, nanny, my house or yours? La Playa: Mexican beach, Tequila, Sunrise, Margaritaville. Play around: No-no? Play around at writing: Yes-yes! Your turn: Write on the word “play.”
Los Padres Lope
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Los Padres Lope By DS Briggs They hit the trailhead of the Lone Condor Trail in Los Padres National Forest. After last night’s party complete with hot tub and paper umbrella drinks, Michelle was in a fragile state. Hungover was not how she envisioned starting a ten-day backpack. The trail started gently. The meadows still full of flowers and new greenery. The transformation from scrub and madrone to wild grasses and wild flowers was amazing and spoke to the renewal of life. The vigil she stood last April seemed long, long ago. For days they had wondered if anything would be left of the forest. The fire capriciously jumped here and there. Michelle’s Go Bag was packed and stowed safely in her red convertible. While the ashy gray skies rained over the hillside community, in the…
We are all storytellers.
“We are all storytellers. We are constantly telling each other about our lives—what happened to us. What we saw, what we thought. We share news of dramatic events in our lives and the lives of our friends. We tell jokes. We share dreams and memories. Starting with these kinds of ‘tellings’ can be a good way to begin our practice of writing stories.” —The Writer’s Path: A Guidebook for Your Creative Journey : Exercises, Essays, and Examples by Todd Walton and Mindy Toomay More books on writing.
Reading Nook
Reading is part of writing. Read to become a better writer, to be entertained, and to learn. Finding a special place to read is divine. Today’s post is inspired by Evan Dunn, writer at Porch.com. and inspired by the concept of Hygge. Excepted from Evan’s article about creating a Reading Nook: If you love to curl up with your favorite books, a Reading Nook can be the perfect way to enjoy this beloved pastime. From nonfiction books to thrillers and romance novels, reading is one of the best ways to relax and escape from the stresses of everyday living. If you’re thinking about creating your own Reading Nook, read on for some tips and tricks that will inspire you to craft a perfect reading space. Why Create a Reading Space? For those who have a habit of reading often, creating your own special space will make it even more enjoyable. There are lots…