Nathaniel Hawthrone 4th of July Writing Prompts

Happy 4th of July!


Today is the birthday of Nathaniel Hawthrone.  Below are some quotes by him.  Respond to one of the quotes in any way you would like.  Try writing for at least 5 minutes.

Sunlight is painting.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Time flies over us, but leaves it shadow behind.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Father's Day Writing Prompts

Father & Daughter Fishing Wacissa River, a photo by MyFWCmedia on Flickr.

It's Father's Day. Read this poem by Donna Pflueger on Your Daily Poem.


After you read the poem, write a story or poem about your dad or a man who gave you wonderful memories.

Happy Father's Day!

Issa Haiku Writing Prompts

Tiger Lily, a photo by Kristymp on Flickr.

Happy Birthday Issa!
Last year I celebrated the birthday of  Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa by posting some of his haikus and a haiku prompt. In honor of Issa's birthday, today I will post more Issa haiku and challenge you to write haiku again for poetry prompts. Click on the other Issa link for how to write haiku. Enjoy!

amid blooming lilies
many, many prayers
to Amida Buddha

dangling from
the young buck's antler...
lilies

a green paper
mulberry leaf, offered
to the stars



For story or essay prompts today, write from the beginning of one of these phrases (from Issa's haikus): 

Dangling from. . .
Amid blooming lilies. . .

Happy Writing Everybody!

Barefoot Writing Prompts

Barefoot, flowing black skirt, hair down: I love it when my girlfriend gets all neo-hippie., a photo by colorblindPICASO on Flickr.

For your barefoot creative writing prompts today, you have a couple of options.

1. Write from the pormpt, "Barefoot". (I know I don't usually do one word prompts, but some people like this.) Just go where the Muse leads, and time yourself for 5 minutes. This can emerge a story, essay, poem or play.

2. Fiction or play: Give this character a name and tell us where she is going. Then throw in a conflict while she is on her way there.

Hats off (or should I say "Shoes off") *to "colorblindPicaso" for putting on the share button so we could use this awesome picture for our writing prompts.

Word Play Writing Prompts

Monkey, a photo by eirikref on Flickr.

For today's creative writing prompts, I would like you to use at least 5 of the words or phrases below in a short story, essay or poem.

Enjoy!

Words:
essence, stern, concrete, sorrow, flying ball, shadows, curve, conquer, tangled, contortion, life, worn out, bubble, hula-hoop, neck, root, pressing down,
cut flowers

Poem in Your Pocket Writing Prompts

Heart Shutters, a photo by GenevaLife on Flickr.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

- Emily Dickinson


HAPPY POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!  Today I am happy to offer poem in your pocket poetry prompts and the beautiful poem above by Emily Dickinson.  But I did not forget my fiction writers.  There is a story prompt for you below. 

Enjoy your day and don't leave the house with a poem in your pocket.  Here are some more pocket poems. 

Poetry Prompts: Write a pocket-sized poem of 7 lines or less on any subject, or use the picture for inspiration.

OR

Write a poem that is 10 lines or less that starts with the line
"If I can. . . "


Story Prompt:  Write a scene that is going on behind the shutters in the pictures.  Use only two characters, but they both do not have to be human.

Hunger Games Writing Prompts

53:366(Y2) - The Hunger Games, a photo by Nomadic Lass on Flickr.

Today's writing prompts are inspired by The Hunger Games. Whether you know anything about the book or movie, you will be able to respond to the prompt below inspired by a quote from Suzanne Collins' masterpiece.

“As long as you can find yourself, you’ll never starve.” - Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

Poetry and Essay prompt: Think about things that fill your emotional hunger. What, besides food, keeps you alive? Free-write a list for one minute. After a minute is up, pick one thing from your list and start an essay or a poem.
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