March Project
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.
For guidelines, please see The Rules. Remember that you should comment on this post with your links, including the title of the piece that you wrote. 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.
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!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hooray!! These prompts are absolutely gorgeous! :) I don’t know which to do first! They’ll be up shortly. :D
March 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
[...] Cafe Writing Option Three: Seven Things - Tell me about seven people who have influenced [...]
March 6th, 2008 at 9:50 am
i am submitting this for option four
technicolor
my three words for this prompt can be found in act III
March 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I am submitting mine for option three. Come check it out please!
March 6th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Option six…
Astonishing
Thanks for the prompt!
March 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This is a piece I had written for Sunday Scribblings a while back, but it fits Option #4 — it is a story of a couple’s lifelong love set against the backdrop of the love the character has for nature….
The Felling of a Tree
March 6th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
A personal post on what happens when you exit your cocoon-spirited self into the world….
<a href=”http://www.rebeccarites.blogspot.com/2008/03/cw-metamorphosis.html”
March 6th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Sorry, let’s try again…
CW - Metamorphosis
March 6th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Option 2: Timed Writing
Poem Title: “Fleeting gifts are…”
URL: http://ambiguitylotus.livejournal.com/71419.html
March 7th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Option 1: Fiction
short story title : Miss Knit Brow
URL : http://medhini.blogspot.com/
March 7th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Hi there, this is my contributon for Option Four…
Forever Fall
Thanks,
Jane
March 7th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Option #6: The following is something I had already posted…not a poem (but exquisitely poetic in form)…a glimpse into the mind of Gregory Colbert’s works of photograph and film that will leave you humbled, in awe and, yes, ASTONISHED….it is, simply, nothing short of spectacular. Please take a moment to watch the clip, it will leave you breathless…
A Gift of Love, Wonder and Sacredness
March 7th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Option 4: Pick Three
I will probably post something else for this later… this is more like a “found poem”, or bricolage.
Eden Lost
March 8th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Here is my posting for Option 4.
Title: Autumn is the Bridesmaid of Spring.
http://greyscaleterritory.blogspot.com/2008/03/autumn-is-bridesmaid-of-spring-option-4.html
Hope you enjoy!
March 8th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Now here is my response to Option 5.
Title: Butterfly Delight
http://greyscaleterritory.blogspot.com/2008/03/butterfly-delight-for-cafe-writing.html
March 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
[...] The challenge from Cafe Writing for March (option #4) was to weave at least three out of seven words – spring, change, virgin, [...]
March 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Here’s A mere dalliance in response to option four.
I’m not entirely happy with this … maybe because the matter would deserve more serious treatment. But then there’s Oscar Wilde, who never gave anything serious treatment …
March 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Oh, dear, this is all getting to be too confusing. I’m going to post again here, though I may be late, I’ll still anticipate your kindness:
early spring
March 12th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
This is for option 6:
Perpetual Amazement
http://knockingfrominside.blogspot.com/2008/03/perpetual-amazement.html
March 12th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
And this is for option 4:
The Knifemaker
http://knockingfrominside.blogspot.com/2008/03/knifemaker.html
March 13th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Here is my submission for Option Two: Timed Writing
The Future Is Now
March 14th, 2008 at 12:32 am
[...] CafeWriting, this month’s Seven Things is to write about Influential [...]
March 14th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Here is my submission for Option Four: Pick Three
Renewal>/a>
March 17th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Seven people
here
March 17th, 2008 at 11:03 am
[...] Cafe Writing, March Project Option Four: Pick [...]
March 17th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
[...] Cafe Writing, March Project Option Three: Seven [...]
March 17th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I have two entries for your consideration…
URL: http://www.zannim.com/2008-03-17/seven-influences-cafe-writing
Title: Seven Influences
Option Three
URL: http://www.zannim.com/2008-03-17/mass-astrological-influences-cafe-writing
Title: Mass Astrological Influences
Option Four
Lotsa influences today, aheh!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Here is my submission for Option Six: Poetry
Astonishing
March 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I just noticed there is another poem which has the same name…if it would make it easier, you can rename it “What’s Beyond” - just let me know what you decide. Thanks!
March 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
[...] * * * * For the Cafe Writing March Project . Option One: [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 11:18 am
found a piece to add to the Option 1… journey … have enjoyed the multiple choice prompts