Choose one topic from below, these are prompts that have recently been posted here on the Write Spot Blog: Prompt #158: If pets could talk Prompt #159: Unforgettable Also Prompt #159: Strange But True Prompt #160: Only in America Also Prompt #160: Happy Endings Today’s writing prompt: After you have written a freewrite (from above list), write one line for every four sentences from that freewrite. Take out all unnecessary words. Condense or distill your writing to the most important aspects. Tweak, form, shape and sculpt until you have a poem. Then . . . Submit to The Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest. No fee to enter. You don’t have to be a resident of Lincoln to submit. Send by July 25, 2o14 Go for it!
Tag: The Write Spot Blog
What is a freewrite and what is a writing prompt?
So. . . what is all this talk about freewrites and writing prompts? What does it all mean? A freewrite is a style of writing that is . . . well. . . freeing. The writer hears or reads a word, or a phrase, and just starts writing. Often a timer is set, so there is the “under the gun” feel of a deadline, a limited time to write. Click here for more information about freewrites. I post writing prompts writing prompts, on The Write Spot Blog. Sometimes the writing prompts are fun and playful. Sometimes they inspire memoir type writing. Other times they work well for fiction writing. Mostly the prompts are what you make of them. . . you can go light and stay on the surface, skating on the edge, or you can go deep. This type of writing is an opportunity to explore and perhaps come…
Broken . . . Prompt #156
Broken . . . Today’s Writing Prompt: Broken
If you have built castles in the air . . .
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; . . . If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” — Henry Thoreau, Walden or Life In the Woods Marlene’s Musings: In order to advance confidently as a writer. . . you need to think like a person who is in the business of writing. It’s one thing to be a writer, it’s another thing to be a published author. And if you don’t care about being published. . . then I hope you are enjoying your writing. Build those castles…
The Language of Your Childhood is Poetry. Prompt #155
April is Poetry Month. Let’s talk about poetry. The following is inspired from a workshop with Pat Schneider. Poetry is about music of language and comes in all forms: Music, nursery rhymes, hymns, jump rope rhymes. Look in anthologies for different kinds of poetry, different styles, different authors as poets. Guess what . . . You don’t have to like all poetry. Think about the language of your childhood. Imagine sitting around your kitchen table, or the living room couch or sofa . . . depending on where you grew up, you might call this item of furniture ” the davenport.” Remember your family’s way of talking. Hear poetry in music that was spoken around the kitchen table. Remember the language of your childhood. When writing poetry, don’t strain the language. Use normal words. Fall into the poetic playground. One way to write poetry: Take the melody from a song…
It takes all kinds. . . Prompt #154
Today’s prompt is inspired by the May 6 theme for West Side Stories in Petaluma. “West Side Stories believes that everyone has a story. Our goal? To give those stories a forum. After producing successful shows where stand-up comedians told their stories, former comic turned storyteller, Dave Pokorny sought to accommodate all those people who asked, ‘When can I tell my story?’ And to encourage those people who doubted they had a story worth telling.” If you are in the Petaluma area . . . join these storytellers at West Side Stories. Get your ticket early . . . these shows sell out! How about you? Are you ready to share your story? Write and post on The Write Spot Blog. Prompt: It takes all kinds . . .
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not . . .
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not, it’s not the end.” — John Paul DeJoria, Co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron Spirits companies. John is referring to his early life knocks, but he could also be referring to writers, especially when he says, “Be prepared for rejection.” Writers are given rejection advice all the time. “Don’t take it personally.” “Rejection slips means you are submitting.” “At least you’re trying.” All these words . . . do they really help when you receive a rejection notice? I worked hard a few months ago refining a piece I’ve been working on for a long time. I felt confident and satisfied when I hit the “submit” button. And then waited. And waited. Waited some more. You probably know this story. Finally, the notice arrived that although my piece was well-written, it wasn’t accepted. I felt . . ….
What did you steal? Prompt #153
Today’s writing prompt: What did you steal?
Who would you like to chat with? Prompt #152
Who would you like to chat with? If you could converse with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would you like to sit down and yak with? Or, maybe you would rather lean against a bar or a counter and chew the fat, or drive and talk, or ride and shoot the breeze. Who would you like to have a conversation with . . . a one-to-one, a heart-to-heart, a tête-à-tête, a rap session, a discussion. Hmmmm ???
Open your heart and turn on creativity.
Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There’s a light inside of you. — Judith Jamison Marlene’s Musings: Once you open your heart to your creativity, you can explore many options for expressing your creativity: Painting, sculpture, song-writing, fabric art, stenciling, sketching and more and, of course, my favorite: Freewrites. What are freewrites? Time spent freely writing whatever your heart desires and whatever your creativity suggests to you. Just write! Let your light shine. Share your work, share your passion. Post your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Click here for writing prompts and more writing prompts here.