Friday, January 28, 2022

Friday Writings 11: Feast or Famine

Hello, Word Artists and Admirers! I have been alternating between periods of hyper-busy activity and periods of waiting where my current work-in-progress is concerned. Writing a novel is a multi-stage process and, for me at least, it is helpful to give my brain some time off between working on it. I find that I can catch errors and inconsistencies much better that way. I am nearing the end of another big editing stage, and the quiet part may last a little longer this time while I wait for feedback. 

I’ve promised myself a celebration for when I get to that point. (I’m still figuring out what form that might take…any suggestions?) I also know that there are plenty of other words and worlds to explore inside me. So while I might not be actively working on that novel, there’s still plenty more writing I’m interested in tackling.

Because I am a mega-dork, I made a playlist of songs that reminded me of
some of the characters and themes in the novel. This song is on it.

But right now, I’m ready to open the floor to your writings. I’m taking poetry and prose, old and new pieces, fiction and non-fiction. Please keep prose to 369 words or fewer and one post per person. For those of you who would like a prompt to work with, may I suggest writing about what comes to mind after reading the phrase “feast or famine”.

Next week, Rosemary will ask us to please write about color or the absence of color. 



 

Friday, January 21, 2022

Friday Writings #10: So, I Overheard…

Greetings, poets and storytellers. How are things in your bit of the world? Peaceful? All right, stop laughing already. I know these days peacefulness seems to be something that happens to other people... people no one even knows. Two days ago, I made the mistake of picking up a newspaper, and just minutes later I had read about murder in the subway, a toddler getting shot in the face, and... well, you get horrible the point. Still, if you have peaceful news in your life, share some in the comments—New York City (and I) can use all the peacefulness we can get, even if vicariously through friends.

But we aren’t here to discuss terrifying news. We are here to write, share, and read each other’s words. So, let’s get to it. If you are in search of a prompt, I invite you to create poetry or prose inspired by a conversation you’ve overheard. If the optional prompt does not speak to you, then you’re welcome to write about a topic of your choosing. Let your contributions be new or old, short or longish (prose pieces should be 369 words or fewer). One link per participant, please. Visit other writer, delight in their words.

next week, for those looking for a prompt, Rommy suggests writing about what comes to mind after reading the phrase “feast or famine”.


photo by Christian Wiediger, on Unsplash
 

Friday, January 14, 2022

Friday Writings #9: Telling Secrets

 Secrets. We all have them. 

I just learned on Q.I., the English comedy quizz show, that according to psychological studies EVERYONE has five things they've never told another living soul! How fascinating is that? (I wonder how true it is.)

What are yours, dear wordsmiths? Go on, tell! It's your prompt for today – for those who desire a prompt.

I'm not asking you for deep dark things which would be distressing to relive, or which might even get you into trouble. (Of course you never inhaled!) And I don't ask you to break any sacred promises about keeping other people's secrets. 

Little secrets are the kind I'm thinking of ... personal yet silly stuff ... harmless but a mite embarrassing ... or just sorta odd ... or maybe even sweet.

Like, what is your secret nickname for your cat? (Bubbaloo. I have no idea why!) Or, who did you have a huge, secret crush on in your teens? (Not so secret in my case. And not mine alone. Elvis, always Elvis. Well, also there was this boy at school....) Who do you have a secret crush on now? (Ooh, that's getting a bit nitty-gritty! Not telling.) What is your secret vice? (Several! Sweet-eating; reading Romance novels; buying ebooks....) Secret obsession? (Doctor Who. Writing poetry. Reading poetry. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hmmm, no, none of those obsessions is at all secret. I'd have to think about that. Maybe I don't have one.)

Secret revenge? Secret triumph? Secret disappointment? Secret dream? Secret wish? Secret fear? Secret plan? Secret mistake? Secret hiding place? Secret treasure? The secret way you make yourself brave? What you would secretly like to say to a particular person?

Maybe it's only secret in the sense that you haven't told anyone yet; not that you couldn't or wouldn't. Or perhaps you weren't planning to divulge it, but now you're tempted?

If you don't have a secret you care to share, feel free to make one up.  

But either way, tell us a secret! I dare you. Whether fiction or fact, in verse or prose.

Or you could write on the subject of secrets in general.

If this prompt doesn't appeal, we'd love you to share something else – anything at all, old or new.

If you're giving us prose, please keep it within 369 words, excluding title.

Post the link to your blog. Visit each other's posts. Leave a comment here too, if so moved.  (If you post early, maybe wander back later in the week to make sure you don't miss anything good.)

Next Friday, for those who would like a prompt, Magaly will invite us to create poetry or prose inspired by a conversation we’ve overheard.


Whispering photo from Unsplash, by Annie Spratt

Friday, January 7, 2022

Friday Writings #8: Resolutions

Hello, Word Artists and Admirers! Welcome to 2022. How did you ring in the new year? It was fairly low key around here. Darling Youngest had a few close (and fully vaccinated) friends over, while my husband ran them in a D&D campaign. I was nearby, adding stickers and washi tape to set up my 2022 planner while binging Avatar: The Last Airbender in the background.


If you are looking for a prompt to bend your words around, may I suggest New Year’s resolutions – whether you love them or loathe them, if you’ve made any for this upcoming year, or what the idea of resolutions means to you. Next Friday, Rosemary will have “secrets” as the suggested prompt.

I am happily accepting words on any topic, in either prose or poetry form, fiction or non-fiction. Please keep all prose to 369 words or fewer and one entry per person. Thanks, and here’s hoping 2022 will be kinder to all of us.