Prompt 46 ~ Endings

It’s the last prompt of the year and also the last prompt for 26n.  As we head towards the end of 2011, I thought it might be apposite to stop and reflect, if you so wish, about what endings mean to you.  Never mind resolutions and where do we go from here, but really just try and be with the moments of ending.  Here are some quotes to get the juices flowing, whether you agree with them or not.  Might I suggest that the disagreements are the juiciest places from which to start your writing and reflecting.

“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” – Orson Welles

“The beginnings and endings of all human undertakings are untidy.” – John Galsworthy

“That’s something I think is growing on me as I get older: happy endings.” – Alice Munro

“True love stories never have endings.” – Richard Bach

“What the caterpillar calls an ending the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” – Lao Tzu

~

We may not be posting any new prompts but the site will stay up and the prompts will always be there for anyone to use at any time.  If you ever want to post a response to any of the prompts, just leave us a comment and we will come over and read it.

Thanks for visiting.

Namaste.

Prompt 45 - science (-inspired) fiction

I was reading through the Guardian's top 10 scientific discoveries of the year. Which made me think that so many of the headings for each of the ten were actually great ideas to inspire short stories. I google-searched science journals, and looked through some of their titles, marvelling at how they could provide some great ideas - just by reading the headings, without necessarily reading the articles themselves.

For example, over at Science Daily, I found the following titles set my 'cogs' in motion and had potential short stories brewing up...

- 'The Shadows in a City Reveal Its Energy Flow'
- 'Artichokes Grow Big in Texas'
- 'Detecting the 'Heartbeat' of Smallest Black-Hole Candidate'
- 'Immunity Against the Cold'

If you want to try out this week's prompt, try visiting Science Daily or some other science journal, look for potential short-story inspiration in any of the titles and ...well, ...write.

As ever, if you feel like sharing what you've written connected to this prompt, leave us a message to let us know.

Prompt 44 ~ kitchen action

Make a list of 6 verbs.  Then go into your kitchen and make a list of 6 objects you can see there.

Spend a few minutes matching up a verb and an object.  Take one you fancy and use that as your writing prompt.

Here’s one I came up with – Love Measuring Spoons.

If you’d like to share what you’ve written, as ever, leave us a comment with the url of your blog post and we’ll come over and read it.

Prompt 43 - in reverse

It's nearly the end of the year, and with the end of the year the 26n project will be drawing to a close. This got me thinking about endings, and beginnings. And this, in turn, made me think of this week's prompt.

Take a story or poem you've already written, and try retelling it, in a different order, ideally in reverse, from the end to the start. You might have to play about with it a bit, so that is is still understandable, but by the time you put down your pen you should have arrived at the start, with something that makes (new) sense! Or maybe not, but I hope it'll be fun playing anyhow!

26n is drawing to a close, but if you feel like sharing before the end of the year, as ever, the invite is open...

Prompt 42 ~ mood

Have a look at / listen to these videos.  Settle into their moods.  Write from whatever inspires you, however big or small.

Murmuration

At the Hop

The Ship Song


It there's anyone out there still with us and if you fancy playing along and want to share what you've written, please leave a link to your post in the comments below and we'll come over and read you.  Promise.  

Prompt 41 - book titles

As I'm sitting typing, I look up at the shelf of cookery books above the computer.

"Book of Soups", "Falling cloudberries", "Indian Food", "Grandmother's Herbs", "Farmhouse Kitchen", "Native British Trees", "Wild Food Yearbook", "Self Sufficiency", "Herbs on the Table", "My Orchard", "Through the Kitchen Window", "A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain"...  there are lots more, obviously they're not all cookery books.

I wonder which I would choose as the title for a piece of writing. Or would I prefer another title, from one of the other bookcases around the house.

Have a look through your bookcase, try not to be influenced by the content of the book. Which title most inspires you? Jot down a few of them, then settle down to play with your ideas.


As ever, I you feel like sharing, you're more than welcome!


p.s. - Sorry I'm a day late!

Prompt 40 ~ Dark & Light

Take a sheet of paper and make two lists.  One entitled 'dark' and the other 'light.'  Give yourself 5 minutes to write down whatever comes to mind for each one.

When 5 minutes is up, stop.  Pick something(s) from each list and write.