I think of writing prompts as being to a writer what practicing is to a musician. I often begin my writing sessions with a short prompt write — sometimes, those prompts evolve into longer stories, or become scenes, sometimes not. Lately on this blog, I’ve been having fun with microfiction and prompts, inviting friends I’ve met in person and cyber-friends to join in. If you’ve missed them, do check out the posts Serious Stuff with Alan Heathcock, Micro Monday where writer friends Jo Ann Heydron and Tony Press joined me, and Four Flashers, where Lisa Rivero, Christi Craig and Kim Suhr participated. There’s some stunning work in those posts, so have a look if you haven’t.
I don’t believe in a lot of rules when I’m doing writing prompts on my own, simply for the purpose of practicing, exploring, letting the words lead me along. And, the same thing applies in my 100 word entries here. The only rule I use, for me and my guests, is to try to stay close to 100 words for the finished piece. If the prompt actually appears or not in the piece doesn’t matter to me. Where it falls in the piece, if it is used, doesn’t matter. Today, I’m joined by Sara Lippmann. We were cyber-introduced when we were both in the same issue of The Potomac Review. Our prompt for today was: This, he/she now realized, ….. Enjoy!
Niddah – 101 words, by Sara Lippmann
It started like a child’s game: If only. If only he reached across his coffee,
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carried his empty cup to the sink. Peonies filled vases. If only he wiped his feet. When she removed her wig, long dark feathers, would he notice she’d cut her hair? Nightly her fingers struggled with a clasp. If only his touch could free her. Her father’s hands once blessed. But she was a wife and this was tradition so she waited. Twelve days a month. Wind blew the curtains. Mayonnaise hid watermarks. Shoes laced until death. This, she now realized, was how they would live.
Sara Lippmann’s fiction has appeared in or is forthcoming from Jewish Fiction. Net, PANK, Our Stories, Slice, Potomac Review, Big Muddy and elsewhere. It has been included in Sex Scene: An Anthology, Mamas & Papas (City Works Press) and two other anthologies from Wising Up Press. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.
Awareness – 99 words, by Pam Parker
This, she now realized, mattered. This was no ordinary breakfast with her teenaged son, harried before school. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he cleared his throat. Finally, he spoke. “I’m just not into girls, Mom. I thought you should know.”
Out the window, a cardinal lit on a grey branch, then disappeared. Take me
with you.
“Oh…okay… honey, that’s absolutely okay,” she said, wanting to mean it.
He smiled his perfect grin, leaned and kissed her cheek. “Thanks. Remember I have volleyball after school.”
“I’ll be on time,” she said, as her skinny, smart boy, her gay boy, left.
Hope you enjoyed our entries and are exploring some writing prompts yourself. Happy #writing!
15 Comments
I’m surprised some people get any real writing done with all these silly prompts, contests, blogfests, and “awards”.
Well, we disagree on this one. I don’t consider prompts “silly” – ever. For me, they’re a warm-up, before the “real writing.”
I think we’ve disagreed on everything so far.
Nice micro pieces. I attempted to write something that would fit on the back of a business card, and that turned out to be around 131 words in 12pt. I think I cut my piece to about 140. 100 is so short.
100 is tight – that’s why I love the challenge. Do you do much prompt writing? Just curious due to the prior comment by someone else.
I like prompts, because they challenge me not to stick to their initial obvious responses, but to push beyond that into something more organic to my writing.
I agree, Hannah. You never know at the outset where they will lead you.
Haven’t even read this one yet, but I will! Pam, please note my new email address, above.
Got it. Thanks for stopping by again, Tony.
I’m with you Pam, anything to get you writing is nothing to be called silly. Sometimes it is through those microfiction or prompts in which some great works are born.
AND even if they don’t produce anything but 100 words, so what? Writing leads to more writing which in turn leads to BETTER writing.
Writing is writing is writing
That’s my two cents.
Anything that make me feel creative is nothing to be belittled.
I love both your pieces. Continue writing them and enjoying them. They’re great.
“Writing is writing is writing. That’s my two cents.” Amen. And, thanks!
Roguemutt doesn’t know what he (she? it?) is talking about. Prompts are great; add a little spice to the life we call writing – take http://storyaday.org for example. He/she/it clearly isn’t a writer or perhaps a very good one.
Whoa, now Morgen, let’s all play nicely.
For whatever reason, clearly Roguemutt sees prompts differently than we do. It is a relief to know though that other writers appreciate them as I do! Thanks!
This is a great prompt. I have been trying to get a scene for my Novella to come out of hiding and make it onto the page. This might just be the trick.
Thanks Pam!
You are most welcome – hope it works for you.