I have written about four chapters of a new novel, but now I’m stuck. I want to have a different kind of structure – you know like Fried Green Tomatoes, where it’s a story inside a story, or Water for Elephants where there are two stories at the same time: the old man’s current life…
Tag: writing discipline
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…
Driving Back to LA
It’s almost 10 pm and we’re an hour south of Las Vegas driving in the rain. It is 37 degrees outside and we are heading home along with lots of folks who’ve been in Vegas all weekend. Liz has law classes tomorrow and because she is in an accelerated 2 year program, she can’t miss…
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: 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…
Writing Prompt: My Husband’s Birthday
My husband’s birthday party swelled to an inpromptu 14. We ended up having to buy 2 chickens to supplement my 2 homemade lasagnas. Lots of laughter, food and fun. Ray thanked me three times for such a wonderful evening. Homemade chocolate cake and strawberry cream pie capped off the night. Not much food left. The…
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 