The smell of freshly-cut grass, the soothing touch of swimming pool water, the sweet, sweet sonnet of blue robins returning to discarded nests, is summer finally here? Listening for the drip drop of melting snow, watching for the parting clouds, surprised to see the awakening sun after months of chilly day and night. Waiting and wishing, hoping and dreaming, woolgathering between warm sheets deep in thought about the refreshing weather People mentally tallying the days, crossing off day after winter day Excitement is building for surely summer is here! The days have become longer, the nights shorter and warmer. The sun rises higher and higher, drenching the frozen earth in her light. Soon the insects buzz and chirp, playgrounds fill with laughter and fun relieved smiles sported on weary teachers All the creatures and people rejoice because summer is finally here!
Much of my day is spent fiddling about online reading poetry or stories from other writing. Sometimes while reading others' works I become inspired, my muse pops out, and away I go, writing and creating and having a delightful good time! Unfortunately, this almost never happens. But I will tell you what almost always clicks on my thinking cap. . . Can you guess? That's right! Writing prompts. Now I know what your thinking. "Really, Sarah? You are wasting my time on writing prompts? Those are so middle school." I'm completely, one-hundred percent serious. I use them just about all the time. My muse is such a flaky lady; she can never make up her mind. And once she does FINALLY decode on a topic... "Ooh look! Over there! Sarah, let's write about monkeys wearing hats taking a ride on the Subway!" Suffice to say she can be considerably vexing. A writing prompt gives me a challenge (write a 100 word story about an old married couple visiting their parents grave, etcetra blah blah) and most importantly a goal. I sometimes become overly upset and stressed due to the vlexibilty writers have when imagining characters and conflicts - sometimes I just need an idea. this is where the writing prompt comes in. (cue imaginary oohs and ahhs) There is a handy app I like to use called Flash Fiction Prompt that picks out a character (their profession), a setting, and a conflict. It is generally pointed towards flash fiction, but I sometimes use it to create longer, more complex stories. It's so handy and it's FREE! Off to my writings now. . . You should definitely check the app out or just google writing prompts. They're everywhere! Hope I kept you entertained with my obsessing over WPs. If I didn't, that's okay too! ~Goddess of Words