Friday Writings #32: The Right Song at the Right Time

 Hello, Word Artists and Admirers! Like a lot of folks, my family has been enjoying the Netflix series Stranger Things. Without giving too much away, part of the plot revolves around the power of a good song, specifically Kate Bush’s Running Up that Hill. That song has had a big resurgence in popularity since being featured in the series, including placing on the pop charts again. I can see why. It was hard for me not to be moved with how much this song brought to a pretty major scene. Though that's part of the magic of the right song hitting at just the right time.

For those of you who want a prompt to work with, I suggest taking a line from a song that moves you on some level and using that to inspire your words (please do mention which song was the inspiration in your post). I’m open to poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction. One post per person and please keep all prose to 369 words or fewer.

Next week, Rosemary will ask us to respond to the phrase ‘Dream big’.

Friday Writings #31: Genuine Ink

Greetings, my dear poets and storytellers. I hope you are doing well. I’m feeling a wee bit tired, so this post will be short. For today’s prompt, if you wish to use it, I would like you to write poetry or prose inspired by the following lines: “be genuine / in life and ink / rebel against hypocrisy” (feel free to use the actual words, if you like):

As always, if the prompt doesn’t motivate your muse, share a piece of your choosing. Your contribution can be new or old, short or longish (prose pieces should be 369 words or fewer), fiction or nonfiction… Share the direct link to your post. One link per participant, please. Take a moment (or 3) to visit other writers. Share your honest thoughts about their words.

for next week, Rommy will invite us to write a piece inspired by a song lyric. Please, include the title of the song you picked in your post.

Friday Writings #30: Beloved Books

Hello, dear wordsmiths.

If you love writing, I know you love reading. 

Image from Unsplash, by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova.

Facebook recently showed me a memory of a ‘challenge’ that did the rounds a few years ago: to post, one a day, the seven most significant books you ever read. Not quite the same thing, perhaps, as the ones you loved the best – but in my case hard to disentangle the two lists.

My most loved and significant book is probably The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I haven’t re-read it all that often – though I have, of course. (Re-reading favourites has to count as one of life’s great pleasures.) I’m more inclined to dip into it here and there, for my favourite bits. But every time I see it, I’m filled with joy. I want to pick it up and hug it to my heart. (I often do.)

Yet I say ‘probably’. Don’t I know?  

Well, there are so many different kinds of books. The Young Adult Fantasy novels of Holly Black are huge favourites in that genre, and that is very likely my favourite genre. [Sub-genre? Combined genre?] But what about poetry? I’ll never fall out of love with Yeats, or Dylan Thomas, or Neruda, or Mary Oliver, or Sylvia Plath (and how different they all are!). Probably my very favourite is still the Australian, Michael Dransfield. For fiction, it might be truer to say I have favourite authors. But The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is another favourite book – somewhat like The Little Prince, being a lovely fable – whereas I am less enamoured of his others.

I’m sure you could wax eloquent about your own best-loved books, and I invite you to do so. 

 

The (optional) prompt: Your mission for today, should you choose to accept it, is to be inspired by a favourite book or books – to describe it/them, and/or the effect on you; or to retell the story; or to invent a sequel, a prequel or an alternate ending; or to attempt something in that style; or to let it lead you in some other new direction of your own. Don't forget to tell us the source of your inspiration!

And if you don’t choose to do any of the above, we’ll welcome whatever else you care to write and share. 

You know the drill: poetry or prose; one entry per person; prose limited to 369 words max, excluding title; link below to your blog post (not just your blog); visit and comment on others’ offerings; drop us a quick line here too. The prompt stays open all week.

Next week: Magaly will invite us to write poetry or prose inspired by the following lines: “be genuine / in life and ink / rebel against hypocrisy” (from one of her blackout poems).

 

Reminder: If Blogger insists you must post anonymously, please add your name in the text or in a follow-up post.

 

Friday Writings #29: Little Rituals

Hello, Word Artists and Admirers! I find that when things get a little bit crazy, it’s good to have some reliable little rituals in place. These are small touch points in our day-to-day lives that can act as moments of calm, mindfulness, or even just a break when we need it. No one should be surprised to learn that I consider my first morning cup of tea to be an important personal ritual.

For those of us who would like a prompt to work with, I’d like to suggest writing poetry or prose about the small rituals or daily routines that make up our lives. I’m open to both fiction and non-fiction. Just please be sure to keep your prose pieces to 369 words or fewer and one entry per person.

Next week, Rosemary will ask us to write something inspired by a favorite book or books.