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"Where writers go to be read.
Where readers go to be inspired."
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Writing Prompts
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| Displaying 3 Writing Prompts WITH Published Titles | Total Writing Prompts: 5 |
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Writing Prompt Title: Love, Lust, and ?? |
26-May-2007 |
Description: Write a story or poem about love, lust and "something else". Are the two separate entities or different sides of the same coin? Can one exist without the other? Can there be too much love or lust? Where do the extremes lead? What do they mean?
And what of the third unknown word in the title of this writing prompt? What is it? What should it be? Anything?
You decide and let your story or poem speak.
| Published Titles for this Writing Prompt |
Malcolm Sterling :
The Pull
Brief Synopsis: Brief and wispy as is the nature of love sometimes. But this case is the opposite of fleeting love. Its strong bonds go beyond reason or logic or life.
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Reviews:
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Sandy Lulay : I do not think you have to come out and actually say the woman is dead. The last few lines of second stanza are confusing to the theme of the poem. The best thing about poetry is that is can mean things to readers that are different than what the poet actually meant. I just posted a poem "Was That You?" written awhile back. I did explain it a bit in the synopis but have often wondered if explanations add or take away. But good critique scrapsoflife. Put it under your pillow and sleep on it- Sterling. Then try to narrow it down a bit. (03-Jul-07)
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scrapsoflife : I've had to look at this several times to figure out just what about it didn't mesh: your notes actually seem to contradict the poem!
I don't see a loss of focus or a lack of hope in the woman's attitude. If anything, her constant waiting and searching is a testament to pinpointed focus rather than a lack. Yes, her thoughts drift, but I get a sense of them drifting along a familiar line, to a regular end, and that persistence of her thoughts is a sign that hope still exists. It's only when a person stops looking or waiting that hope is dispelled. (19-Jun-07)
Author Reply: "SPOILER -- Thanks for the reply. I suppose my notes should have used a different word than focus - perhaps purpose.
Something else that bugs me about this poem and something I wasn't sure how to fix except by coming right out and saying it is that the women is dead. Does that change the meaning any?
I should put more time into this poem and maybe draw out more of her wandering aimlessly along the shore line.
Something else I wanted to come across in the poem, and didn't succeed in telling, was that yes it was love that kept her in this "plane of existence" but now all she's doing is looking outward to the sea with only a brief understanding of why. Yes she knows she is looking outward but she's looking for a ship. A ship that has long since been claimed by the sea and will never return.
I think there is some promise in this poem it's just not well executed at the moment. I'd like to put some more serious revisions to flesh out the above themes. But again without coming right out and saying - she's dead, jim! - I'm not sure how to approach it. I'm against coming right out and saying that mostly because when it's said out loud it's concrete. When it's slowly understood it takes on an ethereal quality and complements her current state and meandering and also draws out the fleeting memory aspect of the poem.
Well thanks again. Perhaps when I get some time I'll do a couple revisions and repost an update. " (20-Jun-07)
scrapsoflife : Yeah, I totally didn't get the dead vibe and it /totally/ shifts the perpective several notches. Maybe if you could incorporate other imagery that carries the connotation of death or spirits or even mention the astral plane or some such you could convey the lack of a corporeal body or a lingering spirit. It's an awful lot to say in so few words but I'm sure if you let it knock about in your head for a while something will 'click' for you. (20-Jun-07 )
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scrapsoflife :
Touch
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Reviews:
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Mesquite :
I'm new and catching up on all the writers on Bards. I have read lots so far and am so impressed by all of your writing. Loved your story "Backseats" and this poem is fantastic- sure hope you will post more on the site for us to enjoy and ponder. Wonderful critique from Tara Nicholas.
(19-Jan-08)
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Tara Nicholas : This first passage is so smooth - like a good dance, I suppose.
"It begins with Touch
Dancing strangers
hip to hip
cloth between
then
later
nothing"
I think the last stanza is most poignant.
"Memories cannot sustain
the result
of choices"
How many times have we made a choice that costs us more than expected at the time? How many choices bring unexpected, unforeseen consequences? And even if you look back on those times, feelings, events can you really grasp the truth of the moment, of the events that seemed so clear in the moment? Do you often wonder, "How did this happen?"
There's a lot in this poem. It has a melancholy about it I like. Perhaps I'm a masochist in some regards? Thanks for sharing. (15-Nov-07)
Author Reply: "Thanks for the feedback, Tara, I'm glad you liked it." (20-Nov-07)
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Sandy Lulay :
The Secrets of Spring
Brief Synopsis: Love, lust and romance!
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Reviews:
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Writing Prompt Title: Argg, a pirate prompt to fill the page. |
09-Jan-2007 |
Description: In honor of the worst and yet oddly top grossing movie of 2006 a special theme.
A pirate captain is confronted by someone.
They approach the captain and say, “Argg capteen the whales be singing again.” What happens?
Can be found in Podcast: Five Minutes (or less) with the Bard - E6 (Listen MP3 : RSS )
| Published Titles for this Writing Prompt |
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Sandy Lulay :
Don Pedro Gilbert
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Reviews:
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Gojiro : I like this. As the previous reviewer said, this is a fun read! And thank you for the appreciation. You've really inspired me to do more with that story! (27-Jan-08)
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S. Gaia Chapin : Your fun write was a fun read. The places your mind goes is always fascinating. I did feel that the story jumped around a bit, the sequence of events not quite a straight line. I think it may be the way you place your descriptions.
A patch of seaweed caught in a mess of tar stopped us. Cathy searched the sand for a nesting turtle, hoping one would come ashore. It was a beautiful, balmy night in May. Perfect for a sighting of a logger head turtle laying eggs on our Stuart beach. --Seaweed to tar to turtle to balmy night back to turtle. Each thing is okay in itself, but to me, one idea does not follow to the next cleanly. -- Does that make any sense to you?
The House of Refuge stood tall on stilts in the saw grass and dunes. We could almost hear the ghosts of pirate ships creaking in the May Atlantic breeze. --Also here, how can you make the House of Refuge relate to the ghosts of pirate ships? Instead of two separate descriptive moments, can you connect them? --
But I love this, I love how it rhymes:
“Can’t kill me, no they can’t. I’ll never leave the Treasure Coast. I’ll always be wearin’ this hangin’ rope and roamin’ by the sea haunting this Florida Beach. I’m countin’ my treasures, drinkin’ rum and thinkin’ of ships and women I’ve won. Oh my crow, that was fun!”
There's a ton of potential in this little ditty. Even beyond the points I made (which are only my humble opinion), I enjoyed reading it. And I loved how it all came together at the end, when you found the pieces of eight in your pocket.
(20-Nov-07)
Author Reply: "Thanks for such an in depth review. I'm finding the short story very difficult as I tend to want to make it a poem. I hope I can develope a better "short story voice" with all these helpful critiques. " (21-Nov-07)
S. Gaia Chapin : Funny you should say you want to make prose into poetry. That thought did cross my mind when I was reading your short story. I think that's why it jumps. Prose needs to be so much more expanded than poetry. That's why poetry is hard. So much expression in so few words. Remember, people only bother giving critisism when the piece is interesting enough to be worth their time. (22-Nov-07 )
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Tara Nicholas : What an interesting short short for the writing prompt.
I would like to have gotten more descriptive text in some parts. The feel of the water, the touch of spray from the ocean, stuff like that would have given it a real creep factor to add to the tone of the story.
Whenever I'm at the beach it's the smell that keeps me there. It's so much different than inland activities. I can't get the smell from my mind. I think a dead ghost pirate would have a very powerful affect on the environment.
For a short short it told the story well, I just think there are some senses missing in the telling that would enhance it. You know? Thanks for sharing. (15-Nov-07)
Author Reply: "Thanks for the great review... I always learn so much from them. I agree with what you have said. It could have been much more creepy. Smell is something I never thought of. And at times it can really be smelly on that beach. " (15-Nov-07)
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Writing Prompt Title: Kid on a bike |
25-Sep-2006 |
Description: Write a story or poem about a kid on a bike. Any genre, any category, but the central character must be a kid on a bike.
Can be found in Podcast: Five Minutes (or less) with the Bard - R1 (Listen MP3 : RSS)
| Published Titles for this Writing Prompt |
Malcolm Sterling :
Kid on a Bike
Brief Synopsis: My writing group was given a prompt: "Write a story about a kid on a bike." This is that story. Brutal and not for the timid this is not for the faint of heart.
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Reviews:
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Mercy Manic : ************************ SPOILER WARNING!!! ************************
Well done! It makes me sad that this story reminds me of my hometown. Kids who are hardened crimminals before the age of ten were pretty common in Baton Rouge.
The fact that this child can commit murders without flinching, yet is still young/naive enough to not understand why he can't take the gun....
Wow! Disturbing, but really good.
(21-Oct-06)
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Sandy Lulay :
Kid On A Bike
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Reviews:
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thelliott : Interesting response to the prompt. I wonder how it would work if you replaced "kid on a bike" a few times, maybe with just "on a bike" or just "kid." (15-Feb-07)
Author Reply: "Very good ideas. This was a quick write for me. I've been known to re-write a poem a hundred times and still not be satisfied. But, for me this is a lot of fun. I enjoyed working with the prompt. " (16-Feb-07)
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