Friday Writings #61: Such Inspiring Titles

Greetings, dear writers!

How are things in your bit of the universe? New York City is all right, maybe a bit cold. But I’m not complaining. Wintry days are perfect for reading a good book (or 10). I just finished rereading Terry Pratchett’s Maskerade (which was wittily funny); before that, I reread Isabel Allende’s Memories of the Eagle and the Jaguar (an interesting trilogy); earlier in the month, I read Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (which was instructive and humorous).

Since I’m rather nosy, I’m always curious about what other people are reading. So, for today’s optional prompt—which I am not using to fatten my to-be-read pile, really—I invite you to write poetry or prose inspired by the title of the first book you read, are reading, or will read in 2023. You don’t need to use the actual words of the title in the piece of poetry or prose you’re linking, but please include it somewhere in the post. For administrative purposes, of course *cough*.

If this prompt doesn’t warm up your ink, share a piece that does. Your contribution can be new or old, short or longish (369 words or fewer), fiction or nonfiction. Share the direct link to your post, please. One link per participant. Visit other writers.

next week, Rommy will invite us to use ‘pivot’ (or any variation of the word) in our poetry or prose.

photo by Seven Shooter, on Unsplash

photo by Alex Blăjan, on Unsplash 

photo by Road Trip with Raj, on Unsplash

“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library
(full of really cool people and lots and lots of plants).”
— Jorge Luis Borges
(and moi)

Friday Writings #60: The Visitor

 

Hello, dear Wordsmiths!

How are you settling into the New Year? Have you come back refreshed? Are you still in holiday mode?

I have recently farewelled my Firstborn after he came up from Melbourne to visit me for a few days. Thanks to COVID, it had been four years since we met in person! – though of course we have kept in touch in other ways.

We had a lovely time – some dining out, some dining in, some movies, connecting with some of my friends here, and lots and lots of talking and catching up between the two of us. As well as some excellent hugs! Here we are, looking very happy to be together. (Taken by an obliging waiter. Maybe not the most professional shot, but I think the expressions on our faces say it all.)

He also did a couple of handyman jobs I needed, sorted out some technological glitches I was experiencing, and hung the wind chimes my neighbour gave me for Christmas. (What else are adult sons for, when they come visiting?)

We did a lot of laughing, compared notes on our reading and viewing, and had some deeper discussions too. He got to check on how I'm coping with the inevitable ageing, and to observe that I still have caring friends and neighbours in case of need. I got to rediscover, with some gratification, that he continues to be a pretty good human being, and one who thinks for himself and researches the matters on which he bases his opinions. We confirmed that we generally agree on both practical and ideological politics – but I must concede that these days he is usually better informed than me on the details.

All in all, a very good reunion.

Following which, my (optional) prompt for you this week is 'the visitor' – whatever that may suggest to you.

As always – one piece per person please, verse or prose, old or new, on prompt or off, 369 words maximum (excluding title). Link to your post (not your whole blog) below, and enjoy sampling the variety of each other’s offerings.

Next week, Magaly will invite us to write poetry or prose inspired by the title of the first book we read, are reading, or will read in 2023.  

Friday Writings #59: Wheels

 

Hello, Word Artists and Admirers! I hope your 2023 has started off well. Things are a little complicated at the Driks homestead. On New Year's Eve, our corgi, Kit, was unable to use his back left leg at all (his back right leg wasn’t all that much better). We were terrified about what this meant for his future. The little guy is 12-ish, 13-ish (he’s a rescue, so we aren’t sure). Either way, that’s a pretty venerable age for a corgi.

Almost two weeks later, the good news is that Kit is a stubborn little guy. He’s gotten much better control of his basic functions and he’s even stood up and taken a couple of steps. The bad news is that he’s a stubborn little guy. He isn’t a fan of being picked up and carried, but he prefers that to the rear harness we’re trying to get him used to. As for the wheelchair I built him… he’ll go near it if I shmear peanut butter on one of the rails, but Does Not like wearing it (I’m hoping more peanut butter training will help). But today was the first day Kit realized he could move fairly quickly in his harness, so we are all hopeful that he’ll continue to get better.

So in honor of Kit and the wheelchair he is side-eyeing as I type, this week’s optional prompt is wheels. Use the word wheels or wheel somewhere in your piece. As always, I’m taking poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction. But I’m only taking one piece per person and, please keep those pieces to 369 words or fewer.

Next week Rosemary will ask us to write about 'the visitor' – whatever that may suggest.

Friday Writings #58: Reclaim, Rekindle, Rebirth

Welcome back, dear poets and storytellers! 

Did 2023 sneaked up on you, too? I had all these plans, all these things I was going to do (or, at least, start) during the break, and you know how much of it I did? Not one bit. Well, that’s not completely true. I did a lot of thinking, mostly about things I used to love doing but haven’t done in while (due to illness, lack of time, and pure old laziness *cough*).

2023’s first optional prompt was born out of those thoughts. With that in mind, I invite you to create poetry or prose inspired by the words Reclaim, Rekindle, Rebirth. Use one, two, or all three words in your writing. Be literal or metaphorical. As always, the choice is yours.

If the prompt doesn’t get your muse going, share something that does. Let if be new or old, fiction or nonfiction, short or longish (369 words or fewer). Add the direct link to your post. One link per participant, please. Visit other writers. And have a great New Year.

next week, Rommy will ask us to use the word “wheels” in a piece of poetry or prose. 

photo by Tangerine Newt, on Unsplash