Cafe Writing

Dear Cafe Writers.

I’m so sorry - I haven’t forgotten about you, have just been dealing with work craziness and prepping the house for the arrival of my parents (who got here at midnight), because even though I’m over thirty, my mother still has the power to make me feel inadequate if things aren’t perfect.

I’ll be posting prompts this weekend, and giving y’all some extra time, as well.

Welcome to the April Project at Café Writing, and many apologies for being late. As you may not know, April is the month in which we celebrate the birthday of the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. (His actual birthday is unknown. He was baptized on April 26th, however, and died on April 23rd, which date is also used to celebrate his birth.). It seems appropriate, then, that we take our theme from his works, this month. (This post will be updated frequently until the month changes.)

For guidelines, please see The Rules. Remember that you should leave a comment with your link, including the title of the piece that you wrote, and the appropriate option number. Also, I would encourage everyone to visit the blogs of CW participants - most of our Regulars have amazing writing on their sites throughout the month.

If this is your first time here, please be aware that comments from first-time posters are held in queue until they’re approved by a live person.

Option One: Timed Writing

I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
–Julius Caesar Act III, scene i

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of loyalty or constancy. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

1. Hopelessly Devoted to You, by Becca
2. Home, by Rebecca
3. The Triumph of the Human Spirit, by Rebecca

Option Two: Seven Things

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
–As You Like It, Act II, scene vii

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.

Tell me about seven stages or changes in your life.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

1. Seven Changes, by Medhini Seshadri

Option Three: Pick Three

Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft’ is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
– William Shakespeare Sonnet #18

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

brag, course, decline, eternal, possession, rough, temperate, wander

1. Eternal Rain, by Lissa
2. The Laysan Albatross Faces Extinction, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
3. Ms. Literate Speaks, by Niebla
4. Beaming, by Lucricausa
5. Dear C–, by Ambiguity Lotus
6. Set Me Free, by Jane Doe
7. Petrified Wood, by AmarettoGirl
8. Eye of the Beholder, by J. C. Montgomery

Option Four: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer L. H. Prior

1. Back to the Bar, by Paisley
2. Back Home, by James Steerforth
3. Redrum, by Ambiguity Lotus
4. Faded Red Velvet, by Tiel Aisha Ansari

Option Five: Poetry

Edgar:
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us:
The dark and vicious place where thee he got
Cost him his eyes.
Edmund:
Th’ hast spoken right, ’tis true.
The wheel is come full circle, I am here.
– King Lear Act V, scene iii

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about coming full circle.

1. Edgar on Time, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
2. Who, Not What I Am, by Paisley
3. Circularity, by J. C. Montgomery
4. Sacred Circles, by Gemma

Option Six: Fiction

If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
–Twelfth Night Act I, scene i

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story involving music.

1. Musical, by Niebla
2. Vision, by Tiel Aisha Ansari

Don’t forget to comment on any April post with the direct link, title, and selected option for each piece you create. This post will be updated frequently until the month changes. Happy Writing!

Welcome to the April Project at Café Writing, and many apologies for being late. As you may not know, April is the month in which we celebrate the birthday of the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. (His actual birthday is unknown. He was baptized on April 26th, however, and died on April 23rd, which date is also used to celebrate his birth.). It seems appropriate, then, that we take our theme from his works, this month.

For guidelines, please see The Rules. Remember that you should leave a comment with your link, including the title of the piece that you wrote, and the appropriate option number. Also, I would encourage everyone to visit the blogs of CW participants - most of our Regulars have amazing writing on their sites throughout the month.

If this is your first time here, please be aware that comments from first-time posters are held in queue until they’re approved by a live person.

Option One: Timed Writing

I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
–Julius Caesar Act III, scene i

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of loyalty or constancy. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

Option Two: Seven Things

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
–As You Like It, Act II, scene vii

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.

Tell me about seven stages or changes in your life.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

Option Three: Pick Three

Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft’ is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
– William Shakespeare Sonnet #18

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

brag, course, decline, eternal, possession, rough, temperate, wander

Option Four: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer L. H. Prior

Option Five: Poetry

Edgar:
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us:
The dark and vicious place where thee he got
Cost him his eyes.
Edmund:
Th’ hast spoken right, ’tis true.
The wheel is come full circle, I am here.
– King Lear Act V, scene iii

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about coming full circle.

Option Six: Fiction

If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
–Twelfth Night Act I, scene i

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story involving music.

Don’t forget to comment on any April post with the direct link, title, and selected option for each piece you create. Happy Writing!

…or two.

Note the First:

This is late because during the upgrade of wordpress I did something stupid, and broke the code. I fixed it, but there was a lot of cursing involved.

Note the Second:

Last month’s experiment with creating multiple posts with participant links was just that, an experiment. We’re reverting to one post, this month, updated every few days.

Note the Third:
You can leave your links in comments on the original project post for each month, or on the participant’s post. As long as I have the link to the specific entry, the title of the entry, the option it’s for, and some kind of a name for you, I’ll find it.

Thanks bunches.

Option One: Fiction

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.
- George Santayana

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story about a happier state of mind.

1. Miss Knit Brow, by Medhini
2. Journey, by One More Believer
3. Salt, by Melissa A. Bartell

Option Two: Timed Writing

Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat.
–Author Unknown

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of fleeting gifts. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

1. Fleeting Gifts Are…, by A~lotus
2. The Future is Now, by J. C. Montgomery
3. Fleeting Gifts / Easter Runup, by James Steerforth
4. A Dream Divine, by Rebecca

Option Three: Seven Things

Never think someone will be there forever…forever is a long time and time has a way of changing things.
–Author Unknown

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.

Tell me about seven people who have influenced you.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

1. List #4, by LovesMukiwa
2. Seven People who have Influenced Me, by Janet
3. Seven Things: Influential, by Melissa A. Bartell
4. Seven Influences, by Zan

Option Four: Pick Three

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.
– E.B. White

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

spring, change, virgin, dalliance, fertile, nature, oil, crank

1. A Mere Dalliance, by James
2. Autumn is the Bridesmaid of Spring, by Gemma
3. Eden Lost, by Tiel
4. Forever Fall, by Jane
5. The Felling of a Tree, by Rebecca
6. Technicolor, by Paisley
7. Early Spring, by Richard
8. The Knifemaker, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
9. Renewal, by J.C. Montgomery
10. Mass Astrological Influences, by Zan
11. Spring, by Lissa

Option Five: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer Therese Chase. Her web page is here: http://velma-dacron.livejournal.com/.

Click for full-sized image.

1. Butterfly Delight, by Gemma
2. Metamorphosis, by Rebecca
3. Butterflies, by Melissa A. Bartell

Option Six: Poetry

Each leaf,
each blade of grass
vies for attention.

Even weeds
carry tiny blossoms
to astonish us.
- Marianne Poloskey

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about something you find astonishing.

1. A Gift of Wonder, Love, and Sacredness, by Rebecca
2. Astonishing, by Thaleia
3. Perpetual Amazement, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
4. Flight, by Sunrise Sister
5. Astonishing, by J.C. Montgomery
6. Haiku…Spring, by Beloved Dreamer

Despite the fact that I do own a calendar, April snuck up on me.

The March participant wrapup will go up tonight or tomorrow.
The April prompts will be up by Saturday morning.

Thank you for your patience.

Trying something new this month. Instead of one continuously updated participants post, I’ll be doing one every week - ten days. THE PROJECT WILL REMAIN OPEN TIL MARCH 31st. This just makes it easier for y’all to see who’s written what - I hope.

Option One: Fiction

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.
- George Santayana

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story about a happier state of mind.

Option Two: Timed Writing

Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat.
–Author Unknown

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of fleeting gifts. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

1. The Future is Now, by J. C. Montgomery
2. Fleeting Gifts / Easter Runup, by James Steerforth

Option Three: Seven Things

Never think someone will be there forever…forever is a long time and time has a way of changing things.
–Author Unknown

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.

Tell me about seven people who have influenced you.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

1. Seven Things: Influential, by Melissa A. Bartell
2. Seven Influences, by Zan

Option Four: Pick Three

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.
– E.B. White

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

spring, change, virgin, dalliance, fertile, nature, oil, crank

1. Early Spring, by Richard
2. The Knifemaker, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
3. Renewal, by J.C. Montgomery
4. Mass Astrological Influences, by Zan
5. Spring, by Lissa

Option Five: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer Therese Chase. Her web page is here: http://velma-dacron.livejournal.com/.

Click for full-sized image.

Option Six: Poetry

Each leaf,
each blade of grass
vies for attention.

Even weeds
carry tiny blossoms
to astonish us.
- Marianne Poloskey

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about something you find astonishing.

1. Perpetual Amazement, by Tiel Aisha Ansari
2. Flight, by Sunrise Sister
3. Astonishing, by J.C. Montgomery

Folks.
I apologize for confusing you.

I’m not closing the project early.

Instead, I’m posting your links in separate posts every week-to-ten-days so that instead of one big link post that is updated often, there are several smaller ones throughout the month.

(And you can comment on any March entry. I’ll find it. Promise.)

Trying something new this month. Instead of one continuously updated participants post, I’ll be doing one every week - ten days.

Option One: Fiction

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.
- George Santayana

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story about a happier state of mind.

1. Miss Knit Brow, by Medhini

Option Two: Timed Writing

Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat.
–Author Unknown

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of fleeting gifts. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

1. Fleeting Gifts Are…, by A~lotus

Option Three: Seven Things

Never think someone will be there forever…forever is a long time and time has a way of changing things.
–Author Unknown

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.

Tell me about seven people who have influenced you.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

1. List #4, by LovesMukiwa
2. Seven People who have Influenced Me, by Janet

Option Four: Pick Three

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.
– E.B. White

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

spring, change, virgin, dalliance, fertile, nature, oil, crank

1. A Mere Dalliance, by James
2. Autumn is the Bridesmaid of Spring, by Gemma
3. Eden Lost, by Tiel
4. Forever Fall, by Jane
5. The Felling of a Tree, by Rebecca
6. Technicolor, by Paisley

Option Five: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer Therese Chase. Her web page is here: http://velma-dacron.livejournal.com/.

Click for full-sized image.

1. Butterfly Delight, by Gemma
2. Metamorphosis, by Rebecca

Option Six: Poetry

Each leaf,
each blade of grass
vies for attention.

Even weeds
carry tiny blossoms
to astonish us.
- Marianne Poloskey

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about something you find astonishing.

1. A Gift of Wonder, Love, and Sacredness, by Rebecca
2. Astonishing, by Thaleia

Welcome to March. Where I live, winter is giving way to spring, and we’ve had really odd weather, with warm sunny days followed by cold snowy ones. Wash, rinse, repeat. To me, March has always seemed like as good a time as any to embrace change, so our theme for this month is Change. You’re free to interpret it literally, spiritually, or metaphorically, of course.

Also, if this is your first time here, please be aware that comments from first-time posters are held in queue until they’re approved by a live person.

Option One: Fiction

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.
- George Santayana

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story about a happier state of mind.

Option Two: Timed Writing

Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat.
–Author Unknown

Take seven minutes (use all seven, but don’t go over), and write on the subject of fleeting gifts. This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

Option Three: Seven Things

Never think someone will be there forever…forever is a long time and time has a way of changing things.
–Author Unknown

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.

Tell me about seven people who have influenced you.

You are not required to provide any explanations, but it’s more interesting for readers if you do.

Option Four: Pick Three

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.
– E.B. White

Pick at least three of the following eight words, and write a paragraph, scene, flash-fic, essay, blog entry or poem using them. It’s fine to change tenses, or pluralize if you want to, but please bold the words you choose.

spring, change, virgin, dalliance, fertile, nature, oil, crank

Option Five: Can You Picture That?

Use the following photo to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry. Please copy the photo to your own server if you want to include it in your post.

If you respond to this prompt, please copy the image to your own server, and credit the photographer Therese Chase. Her web page is here: http://velma-dacron.livejournal.com/.

Click for full-sized image.

Option Six: Poetry

Each leaf,
each blade of grass
vies for attention.

Even weeds
carry tiny blossoms
to astonish us.
- Marianne Poloskey

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about something you find astonishing.

Don’t forget to comment on this post with the direct link, title, and selected option for each piece you create. Happy Writing!