Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Prompts

Today is Martin Luther King Day. You can reflect on either the quote in the photo or the quote below. Write for 15 minutes without stopping.


"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

When reflecting on forgiveness, you can:

1 Start an essay about forgiveness in your life and what it took to forgive someone, or reflect on the process if you are still working on it.
2. Write a poem about something you have or have not forgiven.
3. Write a story or dramatic scene where two characters must forgive each other in order to move on with their lives.
4. Write a short essay about whether or not you agree with the quote.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#AAEDjWhsRCqOpHdt.99

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html#AAEDjWhsRCqOpHdt.99

An Ordinary Object

Make a list of 10 ordinary objects you come across often in your life.

Read a featured poem on Writer's Almanac. https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2014%252F01%252F15.html
It is "Towels" by Samuel Hazo.

Now write a poem or short essay about an ordinary object from your list, or start a scene with a character and an ordinary object from your list to open a story.

Happy Writing! 

Earth Day Creative Writing Prompts

Happy Earth Day!

Below is last week's column from American Life in Poetry.  I chose Linda Hogan's poem "The Sandhills" for your enjoyment.  I hope you like the poem.

Creative Writing Prompts

Fiction:  Write a short story that starts with 2 characters watching sandhill cranes.  Where are the characters?  What are they talking about?  Note:  This can be written as drama, too. 

Poetry:  Write a poem with a bird in it.  10 lines or less.

Nonfiction:  Reflect on watching birds.  If you are fortunate to look out your window and see a bird, just observe for a few minutes, then reflect on life via a journal entry.

Free write prompt starters from Hogan's poem:

From the following lines, free-write for 3 minutes and see what you get!

1.  The wind is. . .

2.  The shine of water. . .

3.  Above strands of earth. . .



Commentary by Ted Kooser, from American Life in Poetry

This column originates in Nebraska, and our office is about two hours’ drive from that stretch of the Platte River where thousands of sandhill cranes stop for a few weeks each year. Linda Hogan, one of our most respected Native writers and Writer in Residence for The Chickasaw Nation, perfectly captures their magic and mystery in this fine poem. 

The Sandhills  by Linda Hogan

The language of cranes

we once were told

is the wind. The wind

is their method,

their current, the translated story

of life they write across the sky.

Millions of years

they have blown here

on ancestral longing,

their wings of wide arrival,

necks long, legs stretched out

above strands of earth

where they arrive

with the shine of water,

stories, interminable

language of exchanges

descended from the sky

and then they stand,

earth made only of crane

from bank to bank of the river

as far as you can see

the ancient story made new.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem reprinted from Sing: Poetry from the Indigenous Americas, Ed. by Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, The Univ. of Arizona Press, 2011, by permission of Linda Hogan and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2013 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Poetry Slam with Animals

Happy Poetry Month!

I got such a kick out of this cartoon that I asked the writer of the cartoon, poet Barbara Crooker, if she would mind if I shared it on the blog.  She graciously gave permission.

So, a chicken walks into a poetry slam. . . .

Your crazy prompt is to write a slam poem written by the animal of your choice.  Which animal will it be?  A cow?  A pig?  A dog?  A cat?  An elephant?  A dolphin?  ?????

As always, I would love to read what you come up with.  Please share in the comments section.

Hans Christian Andersen Writing Prompts

In honor of Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, I would like to offer up a special fairy tale prompt.  Did you know that Hans Christian Andersen wrote 175 fairy tales in his lifetime?  Among them are The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Emperor's New Clothes.  The Writer's Almanac has a nice write-up about him today.

Well, if Hans Christian Andersen can write 175 fairy tales, we can at least attempt to write one.  Today's challenge is to write a fairy tale using something magical and follow the guidelines below:

1.  The protagonist is stuck in a situation he or she hates (school, job, family, etc.).  You pick the situation and give the protagonist character (sex, age, personality, motive, etc.)

2.  The magical element is some kind of a talking plant or flower or tree.

3.  Somehow, love must be involved.

4.  Develop a conflict around the situation the protagonist hates and the person he or she falls in love with.

5.  Use the following items in your story:  a coffee cup, a pebble, a stream, stars, and music.

Alternative Creative Writing Prompts:

Here are some lines from Hans' stories, and you can start free-writing from any one of them:

1.  For many heavy days and dark nights the heart must suffer to. . .
2.  The bird flutters round us. . .
3.  In the country, close by a high road, stood a. . .
4.  It was made of clay in the shape of a. . .

You can read fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen for free here:

http://www.readcentral.com/book/Hans-Christian-Andersen/Read-Fairy-Tales-of-Hans-Christian-Andersen-Online
 

Writing Prompts for Easter!

May you all enjoy a little springtime inspiration today.  

Today I want to post a link to a poem from YourDailyPoem.com.  It is by Caroline Johnson and you can read it here. 

Notice how the poet starts with a striking image.  I am a sucker for goldfinches and sunflowers, so I was hooked right away.

For your writing practice, just journal for 5 minutes from the following starter lines that can be found in Caroline's poem:

We (or I) yearn. . . 

We (or I) need. . 

After free-writing for 5 minutes, take from what you have written and start either a poem or an essay. 

Enjoy!!!!

Young Man with Cigarette Writing Prompts

Photo of James Dean

Today's creative writing prompts contain a short poem by Mary Jo Balisteri from her new book, gathering the harvest.  There are many prompt options below, and I also created a study guide for the poem that teachers are welcome to use in the classroom.   Please let us know if you use our materials and if they are helpful.

Young Man with Cigarette by Mary Jo Balistreri

He sits alone, a dark-haired vision
in glasses, haloed in a billowing cloud of smoke.
Fellow students jostle and crowd
into his space at the Steaming Cup
but he remains still and unconcerned.

In my car, I memorize his image and arrange
a still life --- geometric blue tie, an electric blue
sky on white canvas of his tee, slant
of wrought iron chair, long blue-jeaned legs.
The stoplight changes and I take one last look,
prop him in the crevice between
longing and loss.

Below are today's creative writing prompts based on Balistreri's poem.

Fiction:  Give this man in the poem a name and write a scene about what happens when he is done with the cigarette and leaves the Steaming Cup.
Creative Nonfiction:  Write about one of your favorite coffee shops or cafes (past or present).  Why do you like this place?  Why is it important to you?
Poetry:
1.  Write a poem of your own in 10 lines or less that uses at least 5 of the words listed here from the poem:   haloed, billowing, electric blue, crevice, changes, last, longing, geometric, steaming.
2.  The contrast between the two stanzas is part of what makes this poem work.  Try your hand at writing a poem where you describe a scene in the first stanza, and then add to it from a personal perspective in the second stanza.  Also, in your second stanza, do like the poet did with the scene ---- show (don't tell) your reader what you take away from the scene and what it means to you.

Study Guide for  the poem "Young Man with Cigarette" by Mary Jo Balisteri

1.  Are there any lines that you especially enjoyed in this poem?  Please list them and explain why they struck you.
2. What is the function of the first stanza?
3.  What are some differences between the two stanzas?
4.  How many times does the poet mention the word "blue" in this poem?  Why do you think she did this?
5.  What kind of physical movements do we see in this poem?
6.  What kind of art terms does the poet use in this poem?  Why do you think she uses these words?
7.  Do you think the young man in the poem is handsome?  Why or why not?
8.  There is something slightly magical (in a figurative sense) in the last stanza.  Discuss this.  
9.  What do you think the last line means?


Note:  The poem is courtesy of Mary Jo Balistreri, and the study guide was created by Anjie Kokan.  Teachers are welcome to use both in their classrooms.