Eight hours of work Helping with research papers One day of many What connects Huck Finn With Morrison’s Beloved And Black Boy, as well? Shared traits of heroes Of Hemingway, Crane, Heller Or anti-hero? Tom Sawyer and Huck Just boys on an adventure Or symbols of hope? Our founding fathers White, self-serving elitists? Why did…
Category: Writing as a Discipline
Haiku Prompt: The History of Dogs
Wolves transformed to dogs One miraculous moment Where did this happen? Scientists believe Singing dogs of New Guinea The “mother” of dogs Where do dogs come from? Evolutionary leap Once a savage wolf Did humans tame them? Or did the wolf turn itself? How did the wolf change? Some think wolves foraged Hungry in…
Prompt: My Sister’s Eulogy Complete with a Few Jokes
Good afternoon. My name is Len Leatherwood and I am Leslie’s younger sister. On behalf of my entire family, I’d like to thank you for coming today to help us celebrate Leslie’s life. We are all here because we loved her. So, thank you. Leslie. How do I best describe her? First, my sister had…
Flash Essay Prompt: Free At Free!
I am sitting with my last student of the day and we are writing for ten minutes. I’m going to use this opportunity to write for my blog since I know the rest of my evening and the next several days are going to be busy. Let me first say all the papers are done…
Flash Essay Prompt: When Will This Quarter END?
I am knee-deep in a term paper with daughter Rachael on allegory in Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown and Poe’s Ligeia. Dear Lord have mercy. I am ready for this quarter to END. I can’t say that I’m not being challenged intellectually by my students. I am. I am stretching and growing and learning a lot….
Flash Essay Prompt: A Knock at the Door
Lately, there have been a rash of burglaries in Beverly Hills. Someone comes to the front door and distracts the homeowner while accomplices sneak around back and steal valuables. In the case of our house, this wouldn’t be much of an accomplishment since the back door is always open, at least during the day when…
Flash Essay Prompt: My Sister’s Eulogy: To Joke or Not to Joke?
I have been working today on my sister’s eulogy for her memorial service this upcoming Saturday. I have done this once before, giving the eulogy for a sibling, and it is a tough task under the best of circumstances. How is it possible to convey how one feels about a beloved sister or brother? In…
Flash Essay Prompt: Birthday
My husband’s birthday is tomorrow. I spent the evening making two lasagnas: ground turkey and spinach, plus chocolate cookies and a pie crust for a coconut meringue pie. We are having a little party with two of our three kids, their friends, and a few of our friends tomorrow evening. My husband is a good…
Flash Essay Prompt: Losing My Sister Twice
Today, I’m sad. I feel a weight in my chest and a general heaviness in my whole body. I just want to lay my head down, stare at the wall, or go to sleep. Of course I know why I’m sad. It’s reasonable to be melancholy when you’ve just lost your only sister, your oldest…
Poetry Prompt: Good-Bye to My Sister
I see her lying in her hospital bed Dark brown eyes half closed Square jaw tight Can she hear me? I lean close “Hello, Sister.” Her pale lips shift Into a half-smile Her skin is smooth Her body warm Her legs toned From constant walking But I know this body Is hiding the truth That…
20 Minutes a Day 