Cafe Writing

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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