Writing prompt #1
Hello! Some folk and I were talking on my Facebook page about flash fiction, and how super fun it is, but how it can be hard to get started.
Ergo, I’m going to put up a weekly writing prompt. There’s no pressure to share what you write, at all, but if you want to, please do pop a link in the comments!
This week:
- Natalie rocks some tactile realism
- Erin Marie gives a beautiful sense of place and space
- Lisa shares something truly disgusting and delightful
- John James sends some people on a mission
- Liz punches us in the heart with some social realities
- MJ has some familiar smells at her place
Read all the writing prompts »
Here is mine. I just did ten minutes of writing whatever popped in, which for me is the beauty of a prompt, but there are no rules obviously.
On weekdays the morning smells like the darkness; that vast undercurrent of night. When it is dark, I can smell him. He always smells like dirt and leaves, and a bit like rough soap and just a bit like man, that kind of nondescript hair and testosterone and erection smell. The weekday mornings smell like secrets, when he slides out of bed and into the shower and the house is full of warm children curled like fat caterpillars, and steam from the bathroom, and then the rush of crisp air as he escapes to work. But mostly of him, of the place in the bed he has evacuated, damp with his sweat and dreams.
On weekends the morning smells like bacon and pancakes, and the ringing laughter that is part butter and salt, and part that chalky, rubber balloon smell. The weekend mornings smell like raised newspaper ink hot in the sun, and pulpy orange juice spilt on the table, and usually a bit like the couch as well. The couch and books, the smell the spine makes when it’s cracked open; cotton and glue and tree. But mostly of breathing, of the stillness of the air where the urgency has been sucked out.
John James
January 30, 2014 at 12:07 pmWhat a great idea – I’m definitely going to have to join in! :)
Anna Spargo-Ryan
January 30, 2014 at 5:59 pmHooray!
John James
January 31, 2014 at 8:33 amHere’s mine! :)
http://johnanthonyjames.com/post/75080605293/flash-fiction-what-does-morning-smell-like#.UurEuPmSyZE
Jodi Gibson (JF Gibson Writer)
January 30, 2014 at 2:26 pmDefinitely going to do this Anna. Thanks!
Anna Spargo-Ryan
January 30, 2014 at 6:00 pmOh good! Hopefully I can think of things that aren’t rubbish.
Natalie
January 30, 2014 at 5:36 pmThis definitely prompted me. I don’t know if it was meant to be fiction thought? I hope you put these on your fb page so I can keep up with them. It’s good for me to do!
http://fancybidet.tumblr.com/post/75027122776/annas-flash-fiction-prompt-what-does-morning
Anna Spargo-Ryan
January 30, 2014 at 6:01 pmDefinitely not just fiction! I love your decision to write deliberately. That’s what I’m trying to do too.
I will absolutely share them on the Facebook page :D I love this. My mornings smell a bit like your mornings.
Erin Marie
January 30, 2014 at 7:58 pmI’ll be joining this too – when thinking recently about how I wanted to start writing more, I became overwhelmed with not knowing where to start. Monthly prompts seem very achievable! Here’s my first attempt – I wanted to start with fiction straight off, but I ended up going with whatever came to mind. For now I think I need to focus on just writing, and not get caught up on exactly what that is.
http://erinaree.tumblr.com/post/75034053075/i-have-to-thank-fancybidet-for-sharing-the-link
Thanks for the prompt!
Anna Spargo-Ryan
January 30, 2014 at 8:35 pmSuch a pleasure to have you Erin! Rain on pavement is one of my favourite smells of all.
lisa
January 31, 2014 at 2:17 amHi Anna, I have written a post on your prompt..http://mummymanifesto.com/www1/?p=3717 (unfortunately it is a true story & I have taken “write what you know” a little too far)…thanks for the writing prompts…
Anna Spargo-Ryan
January 31, 2014 at 7:53 amThanks for joining in Lisa :) That is quite a story!
Catherine Rodie Blagg
February 3, 2014 at 1:59 pmHere is my feeble attempt. Hopefully I’ll do better next time.
“Outside her window, the morning smelled of damp, dew soaked grass and lavender. Inside, she slept, oblivious to the new day. Sunlight trickled in around the curtains and danced playfully across the room. But she didn’t care about the sun; she only cared about the stars.”
John James
February 3, 2014 at 2:01 pmI liked it! :)
Catherine Rodie Blagg
February 3, 2014 at 2:06 pmThanks JJ xx
Anna Spargo-Ryan
February 3, 2014 at 2:36 pmI love it. It’s poetry. x
Catherine Rodie Blagg
February 3, 2014 at 2:42 pmThe first line came really easily but just had no idea where it was going! Will try and manage more than a few lines next time xx
Liz
February 4, 2014 at 2:07 amIn an attempt to begin writing again, I’ve joined in.
http://toomanyteaspoons.com/2014/02/writing-prompt-1/
Love your work as always, Anna.
Anna Spargo-Ryan
February 4, 2014 at 8:23 amThis is really confronting and wonderfully expressed, Liz. Thanks for sharing x
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February 6, 2014 at 7:29 amAnika Johnstone
February 25, 2014 at 11:45 pmHi Anna,
I have followed you on Twitter for a while and just came across your blog. Late to the party but thought I would give this ago. Attempt #1 here http://spokenly.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/writing-prompt-experiment-1/ I plan to work my way through the others shortly.
Ps Love your work x
Anna Spargo-Ryan
March 19, 2014 at 5:03 pmI don’t know how I missed this! Sorry Anika! Thanks so much for participating, I loved your piece.
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March 19, 2014 at 4:39 pm