Note from Marlene:Grant Faulkner’s musings on his Substack page are golden comfort to a writer’s soul, offering unique perspectives that inspire writing. For example, his essay on “Surrender as Action Verb.” “When we surrender ourselves to our art, we allow ourselves to soften. Surrender invites us to give ourselves up to something larger, to meld with wonder and awe. Surrender creates intimacy and expansiveness at the same time. It sparks curiosity, exploration. It’s the equivalent of going to sleep: by sinking into an unconscious state, we allow dreams to fill us. We give up trying to change and control things. The rigidities of expectations, desires, and aspirations melt away. Think what would change if you allowed yourself to surrender in a conversation. What if you committed to listening, to let another’s words and spirit rise up and take you instead of focusing on your point of view, your needs. What…
Tag: Writing freely. Just write. Writing Prompts. The Write Spot Blog.
Birds & Blooms Wants Your Stories
Birds & Blooms is a bimonthly magazine focused on the beauty in your backyard. “Our magazine coves a wide range of topics such as attracting hummingbirds, building birdhouses, gardening for butterflies, growing veggies, plus a lot more.” Submission Guidelines Good Luck!
Memory is a river, not a block of cement
“Alternate versions of past events are common, because it is human nature, especially where childhood memories are concerned, to move ourselves—over time—to the center of a story. We are hardwired to see the world through our own points of view, and increasingly so with the passage of time. Memory is a river, not a block of cement.” — “But My Sister Remembers It Differently: On Working with Contested Memories,” by Dinty Moore, Aug. 15, 2024 Brevity Blog.
I Don’t Know . . .
Note from Marlene: I am very excited to share Jennifer’s post with you. Since my passion is how to write about difficult subjects without adding trauma, I am especially grateful to Jennifer for addressing this topic. Jennifer’s eloquent writing on what she doesn’t know about her father is outstanding and an example of how you can write about “what you don’t know.” Guest Blogger Jennifer Leigh Selig: When I lead memoir writing retreats, I like to kickstart the mornings with writing prompts. One of the tricks of my trade is a manilla envelope stuffed with images I’ve printed out of vintage and iconic toys and games from across the decades. It’s a ritual I cherish—spreading these images out on the long conference room tables, imagining my students’ delight as they light upon a special toy or game that brings back fond memories, and then watching them begin to furiously write….
Get a chance . . . Prompt #805
What would you like to do when you get a chance? What will it take to get that chance? Should you leave it up to chance? Or, can you make it happen? Imagine. For a moment. That thing happened. How would you feel? What is the first step you can take to make it happen? What would you need to change to make “it” happen? If you can’t actually make it happen, can you write about it? Can you write around it, over it, under it, through it? Just write! And maybe it will manifest. Whatever “it” is. Prompt inspired by a line in Writing Your Parents’ Stories.
More than “Just the facts”
Balancing Facts With Narrative “Fact-packed prose might feed the mind, but stories stir the soul. This is where structuring your narrative to build interest comes into play. The goal is to weave your facts into a story arc that escalates the wonder, making each page a gateway to the next surprise. By balancing detailed factual content with engaging narrative structures and vivid scene-setting, you transform your nonfiction into a compelling story. This isn’t just information, it’s an experience, a journey through the phenomenal world of your subject that educates and enchants.” — “From Ordinary to Extraordinary,” Ryan G. Van Cleave, Writer’s Digest Sept/Oct 2024
Create Original Phrases
Rather than using a tired cliché, create your own phrases that might become popular and memorable. Like this one: “ . . Maureen Seaton wrote beautiful poems the way some people eat potato chips.” — Mario Alejandro Ariza, “Writers on Writing,” Writer’s Digest, July/August, 2024 Have fun with clichés. #justwrite #amwriting #iamawriter
Do Not Be Afraid to Write What You Know
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. By Mashaw McGuinnis An acquaintance of mine texted after reading some of my novel-in-progress. “Don’t try so hard with stereotypical language and trailer park folks . . . I don’t buy it.” I wanted to disappear into the furniture, but instead I texted back a bumbling explanation that I wasn’t trying too hard, that the people in my stories are the people that I know, and I know them well. I always dread sharing my work because my middle-class friends never believe me when I say my characters, experiences, and vernacular come directly from my own dysfunctional, lower-class upbringing. By “lower class,” I mean more than low income or under-educated. I was raised by Dust Bowl migrant grandparents. Two generations back, only one had more than a seventh-grade education. Californians called them “Arkies” when they’d arrived…
At Least . . . Prompt #804
Before writing: Stretch. Get comfortable in your chair. Take some deep breaths in and release. When you are ready: Prompt #1 Making lists List 3 things you don’t want to write about. Just a list. List 3 things that happened a long time ago that you are still angry, resentful or hold a grudge about. Just a list. List 3 things that happened this past week that made you mad. Just a list. Prompt #2 Write: Choose one of those experiences. Write about it. Be as detailed and as explicit as you can. When did it happen? Day of week? Time of day? Where did it happen? Who was involved? What were you wearing? Remember to look up and breathe if the writing is difficult. Write for 15-20 minutes. When you are finished with this writing, shake out your hands. Breathe. Intro to Prompt #3 You can use writing…