June 9, 2014. Prompt #40 I just finished binge watching marathon viewing four seasons of Downtown Abbey. The very first episode opens with a close-up of a telegraph in motion, complete with taps and beeps as the operator sends a message. The telegraph not only grounds the story in history (in this case, 1912) butContinue reading “Breaking News”
Tag Archives: sensory writing
Inspiration Everywhere: Poetry and Prose Readings
June 6, 2014. Prompt #38 On Thursday night, I attended an outstanding reading at Naropa’s Summer Writing Program. It featured Lee Ann Brown, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Rebecca Brown, Norma Cole, and Eleni Sikelianos. Over the next month, I’ll talk more about all these writers and how their work might inspire you. If you’ve never beenContinue reading “Inspiration Everywhere: Poetry and Prose Readings”
Inspiration Online [Part II]
June 6, 2014. Prompt #37 Today we build on yesterday’s visit to the Smithsonian’s image gallery. If you haven’t read my June 5th post, do that now. Today’s prompts build on yesterday’s images. Further Writing Project yourself into the image you are viewing. Write for 10 minutes. Does this changeContinue reading “Inspiration Online [Part II]”
Inspiration Online: Paintings, Prints, and Photos
June 5, 2014. Prompt #36 Today we turn to the Smithsonian’s image gallery to be inspired by one of the thousands of images there. Warning: This is a mesmerizing site. Don’t get so lost in exploring that you forget to write. Instructions Go to http://www.siris.si.edu. In the “Search AllContinue reading “Inspiration Online: Paintings, Prints, and Photos”
Inspiration Everywhere: Public Art II
June 4, 2014. Prompt #35 Today’s prompt follows up yesterday’s post on artist Gary Hirsh’s Bot Joy interactive mural. Learn more about the mural here and at #botstories. Instructions Writing for five minutes, list people, situations, activities, and emotions that you are afraid of. For instance, mine would include gondola rides, small planes, glass elevatorsContinue reading “Inspiration Everywhere: Public Art II”
Inspiration Everywhere: Public Art
June 3, 2014. Prompt #34 Last month in Boulder, artist Gary Hirsh of Bot Joy painted an interactive mural at the northeast corner of Arapahoe and 13th Street, near the Farmer’s Market. The mural poses several introspective questions of its viewers. You can find out more about the mural here and at #botstories. ForContinue reading “Inspiration Everywhere: Public Art”
Inspiration Everywhere: Maya Angelou
June 2, 2014. Prompt #33 As a writer, I am often asked, “Where do you find your inspiration?” That question always surprises me, as I find inspiration everywhere. In this week’s posts, I’ll offer a variety of people, places, and instances that may inspire you. Using your writer’s notebook, track what engages you throughout theContinue reading “Inspiration Everywhere: Maya Angelou”
Uniform Writing
May 31, 2014 Prompt #31 To wrap up Clothing Week, today’s prompt is short and sweet: Write about work clothes. Your work clothes might be an actual uniform or simply what you wear when it’s time to earn a living or get the job done. If you need more structure, refer to the prompts fromContinue reading “Uniform Writing”
The Task At Hand
May 30, 2014 Prompt #30 Do you have a favorite item of clothing that you wear for a particular task? A gardening shirt, a well-loved apron, a pair of road trip blue jeans? This item of clothing will be your touchstone for the following prompts. If you don’t have a particular garment that fits thisContinue reading “The Task At Hand”
A Tip of the Hat
May 28, 2014 Prompt #28 Bonnets, boaters, and bowlers. Berets and beanies. Sombreros. Stetson’s. Stovepipes. Fedoras. Fezzes. Fisherman’s caps. Coal miner helmets. Army helmets. Bike helmets. Yes, today’s prompt is all about hats. With their long and rich history, writing about hats can enrich characterization, provoke memories, and, again, ground your writing with specific, sensoryContinue reading “A Tip of the Hat”
Ellen Orleans 