First, thank you all for your patience while I’ve been absent this summer. You’re all amazing people and great writers, and I’m happy to be reading your stuff.

Second, at long last, here’s the participants list for July and August. Remember that submissions are open for July/August until the September prompts go live.

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Option One:

1. One Liners: My Shadows, by A~Lotus
2. Seven Shadows, by Leonard
3. Seven Things That Chase the Shadows Away, by Lirone
4. Chasing Shadows, by MissMeliss

Option Two:

1. Eight Words, by Janet
2. Azure Flight, by A~Lotus
3. My Society, by Linda
4. Far Afield, by Linda
5. A Difficult Kind of Dance, by James
6. Alone, by Lissa
7. The Present, by Linda
8. Fondest Imaginings, by MissMeliss

Option Three:

1. Can You Picture That?, by Susana
2. Two Female Moods, by Niebla

Option Four:

1. 6,000 Steps, by Rebecca

Option Five:

1. Muddy Waters, by One More Believer

Option Six:

1. Unopened, by Melissa

Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My My, just how much I’ve missed you?
Yes, I’ve been broken-hearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know
My my, I should not have let you go
– “Mamma Mia,” ABBA

Welcome to the July/August Project at Café Writing, and many apologies for being late. Again. This month’s prompts are light and fluffy, and, in honor of the opening of the movie Mamma Mia, based on the songs of ABBA, so put on your favorite retro clothing and find a beat you can write to.

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.
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Option One: Seven Things

Half past twelve
And I’m watching the late show in my flat all alone
How I hate to spend the evening on my own
Autumn winds
Blowing outside my window as I look around the room
And it makes me so depressed to see the gloom
There’s not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer

Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
–”Gimme Gimme Gimme,” ABBA

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.

So, gimme (give me) seven things that cause shadows in your life
OR
Gimme seven things that you do to chase the shadows away.

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

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Option Two: Pick Three

I don’t wanna talk
About things we’ve gone through
Though it’s hurting me
Now it’s history
I’ve played all my cards
And that’s what you’ve done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That’s her destiny
I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I’d be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It’s simple and it’s plain
Why should I complain?
– “Winner Takes it All,” ABBA

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.

talk, belong, victory, destiny, plain, strong, rules, dear

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Option Three: Can You Picture That?

Use either or both of the following photos to inspire an entry in any form - fiction, essay, poetry.. Bonus – somehow connect the two photos in a single piece.

Photos courtesy of iStockPhoto. Please copy them to your own server, if you wish to include them in your post.

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto

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Option Four: Poetry

Sleep in our eyes
Her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake
I let precious time go by
Then when she’s gone
There’s that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt
I can’t deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
Well some of that we did
But most we didn’t
And why I just don’t know
– “Slipping Through My Fingers,” ABBA

Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about precious time going by or about planned adventures - or both.
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Option Five: Fiction

The summer air was soft and warm
The feeling right, the Paris night
Did it’s best to please us
And strolling down the Elysee
We had a drink in each cafe
And you
You talked of politics, philosophy and I
Smiled like Mona Lisa
We had our chance
It was a fine and true romance

I can still recall our last summer
I still see it all
Walks along the Seine, laughing in the rain
Our last summer
Memories that remain
– “Our Last Summer,” ABBA

Write a flash-fic, scene, or short story involving either a fine and true romance or memories that remain.

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Option Six: Timed Writing

You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl
Watch that scene
Diggin’ the dancing queen
– “Dancing Queen,” ABBA

Take eight minutes (use all eight), but don’t go over), and write on the subject of dancing. Alternatively, use the words seventeen and/or tambourine as your inspiration, and see where they lead you.
This is a timed exercise and it’s expected that it won’t be perfect. Any format - fiction, essay, verse - is acceptable.

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