Thursday, October 2 According to Jewish law and tradition, this year, 5775, is a Shmita or Sabbatical year, when Jewish farmers are supposed to let the land rest. The idea of fallow fields got me thinking about what grows when you don’t actively plant seeds, either physically or metaphorically. Prompt #1 Write about toiling, perseverance, steppingContinue reading “Fallow”
Category Archives: Working with Words
Childhood Toys
Saturday, August 16 Write a about a childhood toy or game. Writing suggestions and inspirations: 1. Describe the game. What did it look like? How did it work? Did you play it with others or by yourself? 2. Do you associate any particular sounds or smells with this game? Was it a new or oldContinue reading “Childhood Toys”
Sign Up
For Wednesday, August 13 Write a poem or prose piece inspired by a sign. Over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for unusual, playful, or cautionary signs. Then, incorporate one of them into a written work. Suggestions: 1. Write from the point-of-view of someone who passes the sign frequently. What goesContinue reading “Sign Up”
The House with Porthole Window
Today’s Prompt Write a poem, flash fiction piece or the beginning of a story inspired by this photo. Incorporate at least four of these words: rough pie slant oboe smooth dirt bolt round home worn road deserted once must broom Write for 15 minutes.
Super Star
June 30, 2014 Prompt #59 Today’s prompt follows up on yesterday’s Sunday Shape-Up which starred stars. Further Writing Use one of these phrases as your prompt: Gold Stars. Hollywood Star. Star struck. Starburst. Star of David. Star of Bethlehem. Star-crossed. Write in response to the painting Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. Imagine you areContinue reading “Super Star”
Sunday Shape Up: Star
June 29, 2014 Prompt #58 This week’s Sunday Shape-Up lets you shine like the star you are. Instructions For 10 minutes, jot down phrases, dialogue and images that come to mind when you hear the word star. Re-read what you’ve written and circle a phrase or sentence that stands out. Next, underline a phrase thatContinue reading “Sunday Shape Up: Star”
Expendable Adjectives
(One Day Late for) June 23, 2014 Prompt #52 For most of this week, we’ll be looking at revisions. So dig up some old writing and get ready to rethink, revise, and re-do. Today we’ll focus on adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives modify nouns. Adverbs modify verbs. They supply your readers with information about the nounContinue reading “Expendable Adjectives”
Sunday Shape Up: Oval
June 22, 2014 Prompt #51 For this week’s Sunday Shape-Up, we will carefully press a circle into an oval and give it a spin. Instructions Quick Tip: The word oval originates from the Latin ov or egg. Hence, oval means egg-shaped. For five minutes, jot down phrases and images that come to mind when youContinue reading “Sunday Shape Up: Oval”
Picture {Postcard} Perfect
June 19, 2014. Prompt #49 Today’s prompt may take you to places unknown. Have a marvelous journey. Instructions Do you have a collection of old travel postcards? If so, choose one for this prompt. If not, in Google image, Flickr, or another image search, type “travel postcards.” Choose a postcard image from it.Continue reading “Picture {Postcard} Perfect”
By The Sea
June 17, 2014. Prompt #47 I’ve been steadily editing a novel of mine that takes place at a beach. Even while I am typing away here in landlocked Colorado, much of my brain has relocated to a Jersey Shore beach town circa 1993. For today’s prompt, therefore, we’ll work with words associated with oceans, bays,Continue reading “By The Sea”
Ellen Orleans 