Sparks

Seasonal Considerations in 14 Stanzas

Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Seasonal Considerations in 14 Stanzas By Christine Renaudin Yesterday’s rain was announced,yet came as a surprise,we’ve grown so used to dreading drought and fire. Yesterday’s rain was a giftearly for the wet season,tardy for the thirsty and parched. Yesterday’s rain relieved anxieties, expectations, released myriads of winged insects dancing in today’s afternoon sunlight. Some are termites, I think, roused by the premature sprinkle.They flutter aimlessly as if lost in the midst of dream.In two hours, I hear, their wings will fall and drop them home to thrive or die. Yesterday’s rain took us insidetrading shade for shelterto share a Sunday lunch with friends. Today the sun glistens over puddles,the air feels clean, cobwebs glitter,alive with earthy fragrances. Breath deepens, heart quickens,there is a bounce in the season: I want to catch its tune. Soon the grass…

Sparks

Halloween

Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Halloween By Tina Deason This season holds mystery and thrill, as the sun fades and the fog clings to the earth. The darkness hides creatures and haunted beings. The empty trees have died for a bit, but plan to return in the spring. The thought of witches casting spells and making potions right out in the open after hiding away for the eleven other months of the year, intrigues me. The creaking bones of the dead and the soft sound of earth moving as the zombies unearth themselves to rise to life. . . And Dracula! I had the most fear of Dracula when I was a kid. I used to slam my hand against the light switch and run up the stairs as fast as my legs could get me to the top. In my…

Prompts

The thing about grief . . . Prompt #754

Inspired by an email from Susan Bono: I was at Dollar Tree the other day and didn’t have quite enough cash to cover my Halloween garlands. As I fumbled with my card, the cashier said, “I never carry cash anymore.” I said, “I don’t either, but I miss it sometimes.” She looked at me full in the face and said, “There are things I miss every single day about the way things used to be.” I saw such grief in her face before she smiled and urged me to have a nice day. Prompt: Write whatever comes up for you . . . Shopping at the Dollar Tree store Halloween Cash vs credit card I miss . . . The way things used to be . . . The thing about grief is . . . Susan Bono is the author of “What Have We Here: Essays about Keeping House…

Prompts

Birth Day . . . Prompt #749

Remember self-care when writing about difficult topics: Get up, walk around. Take a sip of water or herbal tea. Choose something in your surroundings to look at when the writing gets difficult. Look at that focal point as a reminder to breathe. Take a deep breath in. Hold. And release. Take a few more calming breaths. Write this in your notebook or on a piece of paper. What I really want to say . . . I remember . . . I don’t remember . . . If you are stuck with writing, you can use one of these phrases and go from there. Writing Prompt: Birth Day Think about your Birth Day. Maybe you had many birthday parties. Maybe you had a handful of parties, or one or two. Maybe your Birth Day is a big deal and you wildly celebrate. Or, maybe you are the quiet type, preferring…