Monthly Theme
This page is your playground. Each month I'll post a new theme. Send me your short piece of fiction, non-fiction or poetry (use the contact page or email me directly at sweetwriter@gmail.com) and I'll select one entry to post the following month.
July's Theme
Band concerts in the park, home-town parades, hot dogs, fireworks and ice cream—all celebrating the birth of the USA, freedom and democracy. In the United States, July is a month of flag-waving patriotism, dressing up in red, white and blue. Many Americans have built traditions around this holiday. In my family, Uncle Bob declared the 4th of July the one day a year you could eat all the ice cream you could hold. He'd go out and buy a gallon each of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. We'd go to the park for a picnic and throw frisbees. For this month's writing, I invite you, whatever your nationality, to write about a national holiday. The choice is yours to write about traditions, personal feelings about your country of origin, memories of celebrations... whatever you choose. Then, if you like, send it to me—I love reading responses to the prompts and themes I put out there.
Writing Prompts
Each month, or more often if the muse moves me, I'll put new prompts here to inspire and motivate you to write. I'd absolutely love it if you'd send me your responses!
July's Prompts:
I've never known a time when...
Roman candles went off in my head when...
It was a sticky day in July...
When I (saw, heard, remembered) __________ I felt a sense of longing like a fist in my chest
The following poem was submitted by Susan Leon, who is participating in the free sample version of the InExpressible Joy of Writing workshop:
Into the Light
After a while you learn the subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining the soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and
Company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and
Presents aren’t promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and
Your eyes open;
With the grace of an adult and not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today because
Tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans.
After a while you learn that even sunshine can burn
If you get too much.
So you plant your own Garden and decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you,
Flowers…………..
Susan M. Leon
1996
In response to April's prompt "Someday I will tell you..." Sameer Mohammad sent me this lovely poem. Thank you, Sameer!
One moment i think to talk and the next i stop
Its in me the conscious of which does not stop
Someday i will tell you whats in my heart
there is warmth and there is light
each day because of which i fight
Someday i will tell you whats in my heart
i seek it rather it seeks me
wherever i go it pulls me
Someday i will tell you whats in my heart
its a mystry that refuses to reveal
Perhaps i will be enlightened, till then
How can i tell you whats in my heart
