Prompts

Random Things About Yourself  Prompt #325

Today’s writing prompt is in two parts. Part 1:  Write 25 random things about yourself. Write whatever comes up for you. Some things from my list: I like to be organized. I come from poor, but not poverty. I like sharp colorful pencils. I love the smell of cucumber/melon hand soap. My first job besides babysitting and house cleaning was at Playland-At-The-Beach, in the accounting department. You get the idea. . . Write whatever pops into your head.  When you have a list of 25 things, scroll down for Part 2.   Part 2:  Pick one thing from the list and expand upon it. Thank you, Adair Lara, for the inspiration for this writing prompt. ~Marlene

Prompts

Your first experience with death.  Prompt #324

Write about your first experience with death. Or write about a death that transformed you. Or a death you might never get over.   Grief by Gwen Flowers I had my own notion of grief I thought it was a sad time That followed the death of someone you love. And you had to push through it To get to the other side. But I’m learning there is no other side. There is no pushing through. But rather, There is absorption. Adjustment. Acceptance. And grief is not something that you complete. But rather you endure. Grief is not a task to finish, And move on, But an element of yourself — An alteration of your being. A new way of seeing. A new definition of self. ### There have been many deaths this July 2017. This poem came across my Facebook feed on the day of my dear friend’s memorial…

Just Write

Make Sense of Your World Through Writing

“Portable Corona number 3. That’s my analyst.” — Ernest Hemingway Heal Through Writing “Several incidents contributed to social psychologist James W. Pennebaker’s interest in ‘healing writing.’ But when his parents’ visit during college launched a bout of the asthma he thought he’d left behind in the dry Texas of his childhood, he realize climate wasn’t to blame; his emotions were. Once he recognized the connection, the asthma attacks stopped.” —“Writing to heal,” by Gail Radley, May 2017 The Writer magazine. Pennebaker has conducted multiple studies indicating that writing can lead to healing. Dr. Edward J. Murray investigated healing through writing and concluded “’It seems that putting our thoughts and feelings into language helps confront them, organize them, and wrest the meaning from them. . .” —Gail Ridley, May 2017 The Writer magazine. Perhaps we can make sense of our world by using freewrites as a vehicle. Note: If you are experience troubling…

Prompts

Who will you interview? . . . Prompt #320

Today’s writing prompt Interview yourself or your fictional character, by answering these questions: How did you get started in your line of work? How did you become interested in your hobby? What did you desire at age 12? What did you desire at age 18? What did you desire at age 25? What did you desire at age 26 or older? What do you desire now? More ideas on Interviewing Character . . . Prompt #6

Prompts

Smaller stories within larger stories – set the scene. Prompt #319

Whether you are writing memoir or fiction, it’s all composed of people and things that happened. It’s smaller stories within larger stories. Today’s prompt is in two parts. Part 1: Make a list of people and factors that shaped you, during your childhood, teen years, young adult years. What has happened in your life that makes you who you are? We’ll be using these lists later. During your childhood/early years: Who helped shaped you? Who was influential in your life?  Who was important in your young life?    Family, family friends, teachers, your friends. Where did you grow up? Did you walk to/from school? What did you do after school? Who was home when you got there? What were weekends like?  Be brief. You can expand later. Anything else you want to add – important people and events in your childhood. During your teen years. Who was important during your teen years? …