Write Anyway

Hello once again everyone!

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Welcome to another mid-week random word bank. I rather like random word banks. There is a challenge in them that not only gets your mind working, but you can also end up with a scene that you didn’t know you had it in you to write.

I hope you find these word banks useful. If there is a type of prompt you would prefer to see, please let me know.

Remember, with all the words, you can use any form, any tense of the word. Eg. Laugh can be laugh, laughter, laughs, laughed.

For the first word bank, I don’t want you to write a short story or anything actually. What I want you to do is word association. For every word there, I want you to write the word and then write the first word that comes to your mind after.

For the second word bank, I do want you to write a short story (or something longer if you like) that incorporates this week’s theme. This round goes as usual; just include all of the words in the bank.

For the third word bank, it is something different yet again. I would like you to try your hand at writing a poem incorporating the words provided. (Don’t worry if you can’t quite use all the words; eight or nine is great!)

Enjoy!

First Word Bank
Confetti
New Year
New York
Party
Whistle
Number
Time
Midnight
World
New

Second Word Bank
Red
Lightning
Shout
Kiss
Dance
Grass
Fire
Fun
Girl
Forget

Third Word Bank
Stars
Hold
Meet
Sky
Swirl
Anticipate
Clap
Smile
Whisper
Sneak

A friend recently asked me, “If you could define what 2008 was for you in one word, what would it be?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “Fast.”

No word defines my 2008 better. The world whipped by so fast this past year, I feel like all I have been doing is trying to catch up. In the case of work and getting things done, that’s absolutely true.

Because of this, there are a lot of things I wanted to do last year that I didn’t. I don’t think I touched my scrapbook, though my wedding photos are all patiently waiting for me. (How’s THAT for procrastination?) I didn’t finish my work in progress – not even to the point of just the first draft being done. I didn’t spend as much time as I wanted out in the world meeting people, and I didn’t spend as much time with my husband as I wanted to.

Most of my time was spent working, thinking about work, catching up with work or something else related to work.

This year I want that to change.

Now, I don’t do resolutions. I do ‘general hopes for better things in the coming year’, but resolutions just tend to piss people off.

My hopes for this year, things I’ve already been working on for a couple weeks, are learning to relax a bit more, focus on the things that make me truly happy, find my way back to writing and to spend more time and devotion to those I love.

I also hope that, with the coming of the New Year, every one of you finds what you’re looking for and hoping for in this world. Just remember that the world is what we make of it.

Best wishes,

JM

It’s almost noon on Saturday here in Australia, but it’s still Friday in some parts of the world!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and relaxing Boxing Day. My husband and I had a lovely time just breezing around and having fun. We also learned that things can be just as fun and meaningful when you give one present instead of six (or whatever number).

“Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and happy holidays to all! Questions this week are courtesy of Heather from It’s All About The Hat! Thanks, Heather :-)”

Friday Fill-In 104:

1. I must before I die.

2. You can’t stop the rhythm of life.

3. I wish I never had to buy food again. Free food or food for trade would be awesome.

4. My husband has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song And So It Goes (Billy Joel) by heart.

6. If I weren’t so afraid, I would just finish writing my book already, edit it, and start submitting it for publication.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include going to the movies and Sunday, I want to work a little bit so I don’t get stressed out and then relax some more!

Ah, I do love my Friday Fill-Ins.

That’s it for me this week. I won’t be back on Sunday, but I will be back on Tuesday with thoughts about 2009. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and, if I don’t hear from you until then, a very excellent New Year.

Wishing you the best,

JM

If you’re celebrating - Merry Christmas!

Hello and happy Thursday Thirteen, all. As per usual, I will be giving you a list of thirteen prompts in all shapes and sizes. They could be a first line of dialogue, a plot idea, or something else. I hope you enjoy and pick and choose as you please.

If there are any other types of prompts that you would find useful, let me know anytime.

Have a great day.

1. Go to some quote websites and use quotes as inspiration.
2. “It’ll be wonderful; we’ll show the world we can get through this!”
3. Try writing an original Christmas carol.
4. An ambulance speeds past and you have a premonition…
5. “It’s a classic scam.”
6. The doctor knew the battle would be fierce…
7. Try reading myths from other cultures for inspiration.
8. “I don’t think this is at all fair.”
9. Write about a time you have truly regretted one of your actions.
10. Write about a moment of being in true danger.
11. “There’s something you need to know.”
12. “Disgusting. Just disgusting.”
13. Write a love letter.

Image found at Cafe at the End of the Universe

Hello once again everyone!

To those who are celebrating, have a wonderful Christmas Eve.

Welcome to another mid-week random word bank. I rather like random word banks. There is a challenge in them that not only gets your mind working, but you can also end up with a scene that you didn’t know you had it in you to write.

I hope you find these word banks useful. If there is a type of prompt you would prefer to see, please let me know.

Remember, with all the words, you can use any form, any tense of the word. Eg. Laugh can be laugh, laughter, laughs, laughed.

For the first word bank, I don’t want you to write a short story or anything actually. What I want you to do is word association. For every word there, I want you to write the word and then write the first word that comes to your mind after.

For the second word bank, I do want you to write a short story (or something longer if you like) that incorporates this week’s theme. This round goes as usual; just include all of the words in the bank.

For the third word bank, it is something different yet again. I would like you to try your hand at writing a poem incorporating the words provided. (Don’t worry if you can’t quite use all the words; eight or nine is great!)

Enjoy!

First Word Bank
Christmas
Video
Internet
Lounge
Laugh
Model
Picture
Credit Card
Key
Silk

Second Word Bank
Kids
Remember
Coal
Borrow
Mic
Fruit
Glass
Yellow
Click
Work

Third Word Bank
Knight
Grass
Crow
Goot
Dirt
Distance
Cloth
Lady
Stop
Breath

Mere days until Christmas and not long until another year is over.

This will be the third Christmas I celebrate here in Australia, and it’s still a bit weird for me to experience Christmas with no snow. It’s quite nice to not have to brush off and defrost the car whenever we want to go somewhere, but I do miss the dazzling brightness of looking outside on Christmas morning. The way the snow would sparkle in the sunshine was nearly blinding. I wouldn’t want to go outside and mar the perfect surface the falling snow and wind had come together to form.

And, oh, how the snow everywhere you looked would make the inside of the house and your feelings towards the people you were with grow so much warmer.

I try to be kind and considerate to those who don’t actually celebrate Christmas, as this must be an annoying time of year to them. However, I’m going to join up with the Christmas-celebrating folks this week and put up some of my favourite Christmas music for today’s Musical Monday - Celtic Woman style.

Enjoy.

Like I said, there are a lot more songs out there, so do some hunting! I hope you find this music inspirational.

If you have any suggestions for singers or bands you’d like to see featured, let me know in the comments. I won’t promise to put all selections up, but I do promise to take a look.

Take care and have a wonderful Christmas.

You had to see this one coming, didn’t you? With everything that’s going on, it’s hard to not contemplate Christmas.

While Christmas wasn’t always perfect when I was growing up, I am fortunate enough to have a lot of good memories to associate with the holiday. So-called traditions came and went, the few really nice ones stuck around, food was always a pleasure even when family was not…

And there was never a Christmas that went by without presents. For that, I am very fortunate.

Christmas has changed a lot now that it’s me and the husband. Things are quieter, calmer, and definitely more relaxed. It’s strange to have just a few people to shop for, but it’s definitely a lot nicer on my savings account, that’s for sure.

(If you don’t celebrate Christmas, feel free to substitute in any other holiday you celebrate.)

Today, think about your memories of Christmas. Your experiences. Is this a good time of year for you or bad? Why?

Do you or your family have any holiday traditions? What are they? Do you enjoy them? Have you started any traditions of your own?

Remember, to help clear your mind before you start writing, take a few deep breaths. Focus on the sound of the air entering and leaving your lungs. Let the noises and worries of the day fade for a few moments while you focus only on breathing.

After you are calm, think about your experiences and start writing.

Wishing you heaps of creativity, a generous muse and an absolutely wonderful holiday.

#142 - Late:

“In honor of being late putting up the prompt (hey, I thought yesterday was tuesday!), the prompt is “late.” What do you have to say about that?”

What do I have to say? Finally! Someone else besides me is late with something. Haha.

I’m usually spouting the line “always late but worth the wait” when it comes to things online. I’m often late replying to emails, putting up posts, getting back to forums, etc. About the only thing I always do on time online is pay my bills.

The whole lateness online is somewhat weird, though, considering that I get really anxious if I even think I’m going to be late for something in ‘the real world’. I can get to quite high levels of anxiety, and yet when it comes to emailing people back…

A story idea just popped into my head for this one, so I’ll put it on as a bonus.

~~~~~
Melissa tapped her foot on the floor, keeping her head bowed as a way to keep herself from looking at the timer. Time goes faster when you don’t think about it. Just don’t think about it.

But how could she not think about it? This had to be the longest three minutes of her life. And Jeremy was due to be home soon. Ah, and there he was. She could hear him pull into the drive, park and get out of the car.

As soon as he walked in, she shot to her feet.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, immediately noticing her pale complexion and the way she kept twisting her engagement ring around her finger. He put aside his briefcase and walked over to hold her.

She held him tightly for a moment and then eased him back so she could look at his face. “Jeremy.”

“What is it?”

“Jeremy, I -”

The timer went off and they looked at it. Beside it lay a long, white plastic holder with a purple cap.

Melissa looked at him again. “I’m late.”

It’s Friday! Woohoo! The last Friday before Christmas, to be exact. How crazy is that?

For Friday Fill-Ins #103, we are filling in the lyrics. I had quite a bit of fun with this one, as you might be able to tell…

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, “What in hades are you doing out here on a cold night like this? Get back home where you’re supposed to be.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, “I brought the keg!”
3. The aliens! They’re everywhere! Big scary ALIENS! Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, that strange creature from the black lagoon.
5. Don’t worry. Be happy! Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing “Yodelayhee, yodelayhee, yodelayhehoo!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to playing some computer games, tomorrow my plans include pestering my husband because I’m so happy to have him back home and Sunday, I want to work ahead so I don’t have to worry about work over Christmas!

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend. I know things are going to really get busy now, so if I don’t see you until then, have a happy New Year!

A special note:

Please send your best wishes to Janet, who runs the FFIs. From the FFI blog:

“Dad’s still in the hospital…but his doctors say he’s recovering tiny bit by tiny bit. All your positive thoughts, well wishes and prayers must’ve helped. Thank you so much! I’ve read all your comments and appreciate everything you’ve said.”

Hello and happy Thursday Thirteen, all. As per usual, I will be giving you a list of thirteen prompts in all shapes and sizes. They could be a first line of dialogue, a plot idea, or something else. I hope you enjoy and pick and choose as you please.

If there are any other types of prompts that you would find useful, let me know anytime.

Have a great day.

1. A friendly ghost and a not-so-friendly ghost battle it out.
2. Write about your favourite Christmas (or other holiday) traditions.
3. It’s time to go dancing…
4. “You didn’t hear this from me…”
5. Write a scene or story about relaxing.
6. Incorporate all the senses…
7. “His future is in jeopardy.”
8. “It’s been a big move.”
9. You have to try it, just to be sure.
10. “It’s far from life-threatening, we think.”
11. Write about someone you trust. If you don’t trust anyone, write about someone you would trust.
12. “She’s given me no reason to doubt her.”
13. What are your favourite foods?

Hello once again everyone!

Welcome to another mid-week random word bank. I rather like random word banks. There is a challenge in them that not only gets your mind working, but you can also end up with a scene that you didn’t know you had it in you to write.

I hope you find these word banks useful. If there is a type of prompt you would prefer to see, please let me know.

Remember, with all the words, you can use any form, any tense of the word. Eg. Laugh can be laugh, laughter, laughs, laughed.

For the first word bank, I don’t want you to write a short story or anything actually. What I want you to do is word association. For every word there, I want you to write the word and then write the first word that comes to your mind after.

For the second word bank, I do want you to write a short story (or something longer if you like) that incorporates this week’s theme. This round goes as usual; just include all of the words in the bank.

For the third word bank, it is something different yet again. I would like you to try your hand at writing a poem incorporating the words provided. (Don’t worry if you can’t quite use all the words; eight or nine is great!)

Enjoy!

First Word Bank
Think
Nuclear
Book
Laundry
Cross
Candle
Ask
Chocolate
Work
Ten

Second Word Bank
Orange
Bus
Sale
Night
Capture
Tree
Cold
Waitress
Pen
Rock

Third Word Bank
Grim
Wonder
Grey
Reach
Wander
Sigh
Intend
Our
Puzzle
Enter

Ah, the strangely beautiful and mysterious moon.

A popular urban myth (or is it?) I heard growing up was that there are more accidents on nights when a full moon is showing. Nursing home nurses and attendants have (supposedly) reported that the people they take care of get more agitated and restless on nights of the full moon.

When there is a white shimmery mist around the moon, it usually means it’s going to rain. Another rare rain teller would be if a bowl-shaped moon (quarter moon showing at the ‘bottom’) appears one night and then ‘flips over’ the next night.

Some people are very suspicious about the moon and some people ignore it completely. While the sun is considered masculine, the feminine usually identifies squarely with the moon, including phases of menstruation.

Love it, hate it, or ignore it, the moon has had a strong hold on our lore through the ages. That’s why I think it’s a perfect subject to write about.

Today, have fun. Write about whatever comes to mind when you think about the moon. Maybe you have a fiction scene in mind, a true life story, or maybe there is a poem within you about the moon. Let your creativity guide you.

Remember, to help clear your mind before you start writing, take a few deep breaths. Focus on the sound of the air entering and leaving your lungs. Let the noises and worries of the day fade for a few moments while you focus only on breathing.

After you are calm, think about your experiences and start writing.

Wishing you heaps of creativity and a generous muse.

*Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happy Musical Monday!

Believe it or not, I only just realized that Christmas is next week. That’s a bit crazy. And a bit annoying, given the the thing I ordered especially early for my husband just so it would get here in plenty of time for Christmas… hasn’t arrived yet. Bleck. So it goes, I guess. The good news is that his birthday is in January, so if it doesn’t arrive in time… Hello birthday present!

This week for Musical Monday, we’re going to ‘release the rock side’ a bit and feature music from Evanescence.

According to the official website:

“Having sold nearly 15 million records worldwide, more than 6 million in the U.S. alone, and earning two Grammys® with their major-label debut Fallen, Evanescence continue their meteoric rise with their latest effort, The Open Door (Wind-up Records). The Open Door debuted at the top of the Billboard charts selling more than 447,000 units in its first week and reached platinum status in just over a month. The album is defined by Amy Lee’s beautiful melodies, compelling lyrics, poignant piano and stunning vocals, fused with Terry Balsamo’s urgent yet intricate guitar to form a seamless, ethereal mixture that perfectly channels the band’s hard rock and classical sensibilities.”

Enjoy the music… (more…)

This week we have quite the interesting prompt from Sunday Scribblings…

“This prompt is inspired by some of you! Often in your comments you will say, “I knew instantly what I was going to write about.” So now you have to write about that.

What in you life did you just KNOW?”

I knew instantly… that I would end up writing about my husband for this prompt.

I knew instantly…, upon talking to him for the first time, that my husband was unlike anyone I had ever met. I knew he could be the man I dreamed of - someone who could teach me new things who I could teach things too as well.

I knew instantly…, well, maybe not instantly, but I knew as a child that I wasn’t where I belonged. It manifested early with me thinking I was on an alien planet. Later in life I ended up moving to my true home - Australia.

I knew instantly… that creative writing was something important to me that would forever be there for me. I started writing stories not long after I learned to write. And before that I was making up stories in my mind. (I can even tell you one that lasted for many years…) Creative writing has seen me through some of the worst times in my life, and I don’t know who I would be without it.

I knew instantly… when my husband started talking about children that I wanted to be the one to give him children. (Good thing, too, seeing as I’m his wife. Hehe!)

Happy Sunday Scribblings!