I’m writing this post on a day when our projected low temperature (after wind chill) is -47 Celcius (that’s -53 Fahrenheit). I despise the cold at the best of times, but on a day like this… I let my daughter stay home from school because I didn’t want her waiting at bus stops and I canceled an important appointment I had so I wouldn’t have to go outside.

I worked out, had my breakfast and then put on my coat and shoes and filled my bird feeders.

That’s right. I wouldn’t go out for an important appointment, I let my daughter miss school and I still went outside when it was so cold the air was physically heavy, to feed chickadees and sparrows.

It helps that filling the feeders only takes a couple minutes, but still, I think it says a little something about me, too.

What about your characters? What would make them go out in the cold? What do they really, truly willing to be be uncomfortable for? Or, if we take the idea a step further, to suffer or die for? What would they run into a burning building for?

Write a story or poem which includes a wickedly cold day or a winter storm. See how your characters react to it, and find out what (if anything) they are willing to open the door for (or to… dun dun dun!).

~Rhonda

Use one of the following images as inspiration for a short story or poem:

~Rhonda

Flash fiction is a short story told in as few words as possible. It can vary from 6 words to a 1000 depending on the publication.

Take the following words to write a story (with beginning, middle and end) that is 850 words or less.

Swede
conserve
box
five

Good luck!
~Amber

It’s officially summer.  Kids are out of school and on the loose.  Imagine a beautiful day.  Children and adults have money to spend on their favorite dessert truck.  What could go wrong?

Ice cream truck, cupcake truck, ice cream cart… you name it.  Just write about the disaster that takes place.

Have fun,
Amber

I was planning on using a photo I took a few weeks ago as an image prompt but it seems we’ve had a few photo prompts lately. This afternoon I read a poem about a found digital camera which made me think of a photo related writing prompt without having to use an actual image.  (Yes, my thinking is convoluted so bear with me.)

Write about the loss of a special photo.

Have fun!
~Amber

Nearly all fiction (and non-fiction) has a range of emotions in the work.  That’s what moves the reader to laughter or tears.

Write about a relationship gone bad.

Write a story that includes a birthday party. How old are the characters? How do they celebrate? What is the mood? The possibilities here are nearly endless…

…well, for this week anyway Write a story in which your main character is never referred to by name.

Write a story that ends with the following line:

…it’s been a hell of a day, he thought and closed his eyes for the final time.

You may be wondering why I’m putting up an exercise on Tuesday instead of Monday. Well, I was waiting to see if Amber put one up first because I couldn’t remember if I was even Mondays or odd. Turns out, I must be odd — I bet you all knew that already

This week start a story with the following line:

She missed her train

What do you guys think? Should we make this one into a contest? Let me know, if there is enough interest I’ll round up prizes and set some simple rules