Maybe I’m inspired by the American Independence Day holiday that just passed, or maybe I’m missing my grandfather, who was a hero in the army, and in ordinary life. Either way, I’ve chosen “Heroes” as the first topic of this new incarnation of Cafe Writing. However, I want to make it clear that the definition of “hero” is personal to each of us, and is not necessarily military. (Personally, I’m also a fan of Superman and Wonder Woman – vastly different kinds of heroes.)

To participate: Leave a comment with your name as you wish to have it posted, a valid email address (not visible to anyone else), and the direct link to your post. You’re welcome to respond to one prompt or all of them, but as I link them separately on the participants post for each project, please find a way to designate which prompt(s) you chose, so that I can tell. Also, it’s nice if you include a link back to CafeWriting.com somewhere in your post.

This project will remain open until July 31st. The next project will open on Wednesday, August 4th.

Option 1: Picture It

Photo Credit: Michael Greene | Click to enlarge

Use the image above as inspiration to write something about ordinary heroes. Your piece can be fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, or any other form that suits you. (Please remember to copy the image to your own server and credit the photographer.)

Option 2: Poetry

“The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.”
– Umberto Eco, Travels in Hyperreality

Use the quotation above to inspire a poem about becoming a hero by mistake.

Option 3: Pick Three

“There are new words now that excuse everybody. Give me the good old days of heroes and villains. the people you can bravo or hiss. There was a truth to them that all the slick credulity of today cannot touch.”
– Bette Davis, The Lonely Life

Use at least three of the the bold words in the above quotation to write a short piece in whatever form (poetry, prose, fiction) you wish.

Option 4: Tell Me a Story

“Heroing is one of the shortest-lived professions there is.”
– Will Rogers, newspaper article, Feb. 15, 1925

Use the quotation above as inspiration for a short piece of fiction or creative non-fiction about short-lived heroes.

Option 5: Seven Things

“I’m kind of hooked to the game of art and literature; my heroes are artists and writers.”
– Jim Morrison

In improvisation, one of our exercises is a game called “Seven Things,” in which we go around in a circle giving each other the challenge, “Give me seven things that [whatever].” We are not going to go around in a circle here, but if you’re drawn to lists, this prompt is for you.

Give me seven of your personal heroes. These can be public figures, or personal acquaintances. Have fun with it. As always, explanations are welcome, but not obligatory.

Option 6: Short and Tweet

“Old myths, old gods, old heroes have never died. They are only sleeping at the bottom of our mind, waiting for our call. We have need for them. They represent the wisdom of our race.”
– Stanley Kunitz

Do you have a Twitter account? If so, use the quotation above as inspiration, and tweet your own heroic wisdom to @cw_barista.

Bonus Option: Time It: For an extra challenge, set a timer for seven minutes when you sit down to respond to one of these prompts, and stop writing when the timer goes off!