“The only sin writers can commit is not to write.” — Eleanor Hyde, originally in the August 1976 issue of the Writer Magazine, reprinted in the August 2014 issue. Note from Marlene: So, you are itching to write and need a jumpstart? Go to the prompts page of this blog for ideas. Click here for more prompts and read what others have written. Scroll down and click on a plaque.
Tag: freewrite
Aprons . . . Prompt #88
My grandmother put her apron on every morning right after she put on her house dress. She wore an apron every day, even to parties. She made all her clothes, including her aprons. She always chose a small flower design and used colorful seam binding for trim around the edges. I also wear aprons, but only when cooking and eating. . . saves many an outfit from food stains. Today’s prompt is: Aprons Thank you, Kathy Myers, for the inspiration to hang my aprons in the kitchen. Thank you, Pam Swanson, for emailing so many years ago, “The History of Aprons.” THE HISTORY OF APRONS The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few dresses, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing…
Three-part prompt . . . Prompt #87
Today’s prompt is three parts. Take about 20 minutes, or as much time as you need, for each section. Part One: Write a list of events from this past month: What aggravated you? What frustrated you? What made you laugh or cry? What made you lose your temper? What was the worst thing that happened? The best? The most disturbing or weird? Part Two: Choose one thing from your list and write about it. Write whatever comes to mind. Write what you would really like to say to the other people involved. Take your time with this. Write until you have no more to say on the subject. Write what happened from your point of view. Part Three: Only do this after you have done Part Two — If another person was involved, step into his or her shoes. Write what happened from the other person’s point of view. …
What should you throw away but just can’t? Prompt #86
Write about something you should throw away but just can’t.
Your intangible treasure. Prompt #85
What is the one intangible thing you treasure above all else? Intangible, meaning: you can’t touch it, feel it, smell it, hold it, see it . . . it may be a character trait, a personality trait, a quirk. . . a feeling. . . . Prompt: Write about something intangible that you treasure. Photo by Jane Person
Fourth of July . . . Prompt #84
July 4th is coming up. . . . what does this mean to you? Do you consider yourself patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you? Which reminds me of one of my all-time favorite “brain teasers.” Do they have fourth of July in England? Yes. . .and third of July and fifth of July. Writing Prompt: What does July Fourth mean to you?
Right now . . . Prompt #83
Set your timer for 12-15 minutes and write. No judging. Shoo your inner critic away. Just write. Today’s Prompt: Right now . . . Photo taken in Ireland by Jim C. March
Listen to your body as a way to creativity.
In this Just Write post, we’ll take a look at the idea of listening to your body as a way to get past blocks toward your creativity. First, turn off your cell phone or put to vibrate. Unplug from Facebook and emails. Eliminate as many distractions as you can. If you are experiencing extreme grief or pain, please get professional help. This post, of course, cannot replace the need for professional assistance. Ready? Here we go. We all experience grief, trauma, sadness. And we have our own ways of handling those stresses. There is no one right or wrong way to handle these difficulties. What is right for one person, may be wrong for someone else. What works for me, might not work for you, so take what works for you from this post, ignore the rest. Let’s take a moment now to breathe, relax and get settled. Take a…
Things you no longer do. Prompt #82
Write about things you no longer do.
Stroll down memory lane . . . Prompt # 81
Today’s writing prompt is inspired by Rebecca Lawton’s May 26, 2014 blog post, which begins: “Candles of buckeye blossoms and their subtle fragrance have always confirmed the return of summer. Seeing them this week reminded me that certain sights, sounds, and smells trigger strong memories. The whisking sound of a broom on stairs recalls family vacations at the lake, where our host rose early to sweep fallen live oak leaves. The musky scent of open water reminds me of being on a raft enjoying the primal sensations of floating a muddy river. The first bars of a Beatles song bring back the excitement of junior high school dances. Sipping tequila reminds me of kayaking from Loreto to La Paz on the Sea of Cortez.” Click here to read the rest of the post. Writing Prompt: Stroll down memory lane . . . pause when a remembered event causes a visceral…