It's time to play and this is your sand box—climb in and kick some sand around. Do you ever have that longing, the urge to write, but don't know where to start? Here's that place. It may be a simple 10-minute free write that you put away and forget about or it may be your entry into that novel that's been knocking around in your brain. Once the pen starts moving across the page (or words find their way onto the screen) you never know where you'll end up. Visit this page often. The theme and prompt are changed around the first of each month. I'd love for you to send me your writing if you feel comfortable doing so. I'm a gentle reader and love to read responses to the prompts. Also feel free to send any suggestions for prompts, themes, or other ways to enhance this page.

 

I've noticed a change in trend in my website traffic this past month. At the beginning of the economic downturn searches on my website were almost entirely individuals and non-profits seeking help with grant writing. Non-profit donations were down and their programs needed funding. Individuals were looking for ways to start a new business or fund their art projects. And for about nine months that was exclusively the kind of work I was getting. Now, as the economy continues its grinding skid, I am seeing more interest in creative writing. My take on this, and I may be making this up, is that as the reality sets in that this isn't a temporary setback but rather a sea change in our culture, we are looking for hope and solace in creativity. Writers need to write about what they're experiencing, turn it into poetry, fiction or essays. They need to make sense of it, to leave a record of these extraordinary times and find new ways of getting through this. So the topic for this month is just that. How are you weathering these times? What are your challenges? Have you found unexpected delights? What changes are you making, voluntarily or not? How do you expect it will change your life in the long term?