August 22nd:
Back to school tends to get busy for everyone, whether you are in school or not. It signifies the end of the summer and preparations for winter typically commence. In this crazy busy time, I find that I have been spending a few minutes each day with my brood of chickens (12 hens and 1 rooster) just watching them. I’ve discovered that I can learn a lot from my animals—even from my cat who spends equal times inside as outside. Lessons learned from my pets? Try all the tasy bits of food. Take time to “chatter” with friends. While I notice from time to time there is a bit of pecking at each other, I have not seen any bullying—even from the rooster. Sometimes snuggling into pine shavings (aka my blanket) is a good thing. A “cat” nap in a patch of sunshine can revive you for the rest of the day.
Think about your per or a pet you’ve had in the past—if this doesnt’ apply, think about a time you spent watching an animal. Perhaps wildlife or in the zoo. What do you/did you notice afrom watching animals? Note their interaction with you and with other animals. Spend 10-minutes exploring what you notice and what lessons you can take away and integrate in your own life.
August 12th:
Think about a memorable trip you have had. It could be a trip to another country, a trip across country, or a trip to your grandmother’s house when you were young. Set a time for 10-minutes and, using all senses, write about your trip. What do you remember? What made the trip memorable? Is this a place that you would visit again?
July 31st:
It’s been a busy spring and summer as we were out of the country (lots to write about there) and then immediatly upon return started working on farm projects. Baby chickens (lots to write about there as well) who needed a chicken coop! So we’ve been remis at providing writing prompts.
Describe a “first” (first apartment, first kiss, first time driving a car, first lie, first big success, first roller coaster ride, first time in this setting). Include as many details as possible, being sure to include an aspect relating to each of the five senses.
April 25th:
Everyone has baggage left over from events in their lives. Some people are better than others at setting thier baggage on a proverbial conveyor belt and simply walk away. Others may watch thier baggage move away before they too, turn and leave it behind. Think about what particular piece of baggage would you like to let go of. What is it? Where did it come from? Imagine the physical act of placing it on that conveyor belt and watching it slowly move away. Using all senses, write about this imagined experience.
April 1st:
As I was taking some time to myself, I found myself working on a short stroy surrounding a teacup that my grandmother used to have. Though I don’t have the duplicate, I do have one just like it and it holds special meaning as well. Along those lines, think about an object you have that holds sentimental meaning. It could be something from your childhood, an items passed down to you, a gift from a special person, or perhaps an item you purchased for yourself. What is this item? Describe it. What is it about this item that makes it so special. Write for at least 10-minutes.
March 21st:
A while back, I purchased three books that are filled with “What if…,” “Would you rather…,” and “Unfinished sentences” type of prompts that are designed to initiate deep conversation and introspective writing. These are not close ended “yes or no” questions, but rather lend an air of explansion. From time to time, we’ll use one of these writing prompts. Pulling this week’s writing prompt from the “Unfinished Sentences” book:
“The biggest problem I have with my friends is…”
Take 5-10 minutes: Identify the problem. What do you believe the underlying cause is? If the root cause lies within yourself—-can you change it? Do you want to change it?
Keep in mind, many of our writing prommpts are also great conversation starters with your significant other and children.
March 12th:
Let’s continue along the same lines as last week. I’d like you to think about a word that describes your current life. Explore the word and how it relates to your life for 5-minutes. Then think of a word you wish described your life. Explore the word and how it relates to your wished-for life for 5-minutes. Take an additional 5-minutes to explore the differences between the two words and the differences between your two lives.
March 2nd:
we’re going to do some introspection this week. I recently had the privilege of istening to Will Steger speak at a regional PTK conference. He certainly got me thinking, which I want to pass along. How do you define yourself? How do you define and live your authentic life? WHat are the obsticals to living your authentic life? How do you overcome those obsticals? Write for at least 10-minutes.
February 23rd:
Let’s pretend you are being gifted an all expenses paid trip for yourself and one other person. What? You can’t take time off work? Oh, well, that’s taken care of as well. Not only will we cover your wages while you AND your travel partner are gone, but also we’ll smooth it over with both of your bosses.
Think about where you would go…the sky is the limit of course. It matters not whether it’s within the United States or not—it’s YOUR dream.
For the next 5-minutes, write about your dream vacation using all of your senses--what will you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Once those 5-minutes have passed, I want you to shift your thoughts. What do you hope to learn on this trip: about the place, the culture, and the people. Most importantly, what do you hope to learn about yourself?
February 12th:
Let’s go back in time a bit (or a lot if you’re like me) and think back to your 16th birthday. What do you remember about your 16th birthday? What happened on that day? How did you feel? Looking back, have your feelings changed about that day? If you can’t specifically remember the day, then pick an event that happened when you were 16.
January 28th:
Most people have items that have deadlines—particular if you
are a student. This week, think about when you are working on a project with a
deadline. Let’s set aside construction type projects with time and
this needs to occur before that” type of constraints for right now. Think about
a homework project or a project dealing with a large pile of family photos. How
do you feel about taking a break mid-project? Are you the type that pushes
through hours on end, only taking a break for food or the bathroom? If so, what
is the worst that could happen if you took a longer break? If you are they type
who takes frequent breaks, what is your choice of activity for a brain break?
I am a big proponent of breaks, whether I am engaging in something physical or something intellectual. My choice? It depends on the activity. My favorite brain break, especially if I’m writing a complicated paper, is baking something. If I’m working in the garden, my break is sitting down and reading for 15-30 minutes.
January 20th:
This week we are looking at something a little different as a way to thaw our frozen brains—not only due to the cold weather we’ve been experiencing, but also from the brain freeze that comes after the rapid pace of the holidays. I would like you to pick a random color. It could be your favorite or your least favorite. Perhaps it’s the color of the nearest wall. Using all senses, write what comes to your mind when you picture that color. What does it smell like? Is there a particular memory or season you associate with that color? What doe sthe color feel like? Does your color have a taste? Do you associate a sound with the color?
Have fun with this one. I know I did.
January 17th:
In the northland, we’ve not had truly BIG snowstorms for many years—at least not as big as the Halloween snowstorm of 1991. On our Facebook feed earlier was the warning of a “possible” snowstorm early next week. With predictions of 10.6” to 21.9” (Minneapolis to Duluth), explore your won thoughts. Do you hit the grocery store for last minute items? Do you look forward to being snowed in” If you could choose who you would be snowed in with, who would it be and why? What is your idea of a perfect snow day?
Me? I love being snowed in!
January 1st:
My appologies, I’ve been remiss at providning a prompt due to being ill. I read an article by Richard Branson, Founder at Virgin Group, called, “Why you should write down your New Year’s resolutions.” I was amazed that someone who is incredibly successful would have resolutions, probably because I have failed to follow though with them in the past. However, looking at this idea as making short-term goals, strikes a chord.
Take a few minutes to write down a goal or two that you would like to accomplish this year. Using SMART criteria, make them: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Your time-bound would be in the year 2018.
Writing prompt December 8th:
Keeping our Christmas theme, let’s look at food and traditions. Many families in the Northland have the tradition of lutefisk. Now, this gal coming from southern regions, am rather puzzled by the idea of dried white fis, reconstituted in lye and then cooked. It’s all about the sauce I’m told—no thanks! However, one of my favorite Christmas foods traditions is an incredible French Silk pie that my former mother-in-law would make. Yes, I have the recipe, and she swore, that though I followed ir to the letter, it never turned our the same as hers. That’s OK, I still make it and everyone who eats it, falls into a chocolate coma.
Using all senses, what foods and traditions do you associate with Christmas? Who is it that started the tradition or introduced you to it? Is this something that you will pass, or have passed to your own children? Write for at least 10-minutes.
Writing prompt November 29th:
I share these life lessons that my son passes along to his son. In fact, his 8-year old has them memorized.
“If you live an ordinary life, all you’ll have are ordinary stories. You need to have a life of adventure. Laws are made to be followed, rules are made to be broke. Be your own person, don’t let someone tell you what you can accomplish or who you are. We are defined by our actions, not our words. Only make promises you can keep. Keep your promises. The only way to succeed is to fail. Always be a learnere. Do hard things and face your fears.”
Do you have a life motto or lesson?
Writing prompt November 28th:
Tonight, though it’s not quite December and we have just finished Thanksgiving, we’re going to turn our attention to Christmas with a fun prompt.
Most children have an item, at least once in their life, that they really, REALLY want for Christmas. I clearly remember when I was 4-years old the Lazy Dazy Doll came out. The TV commercials drove me nuts with that little doll who would fall asleep and flop over. Yes, I was a naughty little girl and SNOOPED! Incidentally, my partner found a Lazy Dazy Doll a few years ago on Ebay and bought it for me since mine was lost during a move as a teenager—yes, I kept her for many years. Google her—she’s really quite cute.
Think back to a time, when there was something you really wanted. It could be this year, last year, or like me, when you were four. WHat was it? Where did you see it? Describe the item in detail the best you can remember. WERE YOU SO EXCITED THAT CHRISTMAS THAT YOU SNOOPED WHEN YOU THOUGHT NOBODY WAS LOOKING? Did you receive it? If so, how did you feel? Did the novelty wear off or did you, like me, keep it for several years? If you did not receive your desired item, how did you feel? Did it make you a bit jaded for the next Christmas?
Write for at least 10-minutes. HAVE FUN!
Writing prompt November 12th:
In the month of November, people tend to jump on the “What are you thankful for” bandwagon. It’s always a good idea to audibly talk about what you are thankful for. I’d like to change it up a bit. Think about where you were in life last Thanksgiving. What has changed in the past year? Is there something that is no longer in your life that you are happy/relieved/thankful about? Take 10-minutes to not only name what the change is, but also why you are thankful for that change. For myself, strangely enough, I am thankful that I was not awarded my graduate scholarship, for it forced me to take a year off and take a much-needed break. While I am looking formward to graduate studies, I am thankful not to have homework. THe mental rest has been great appreciated.
Writing Prompt October 31st:
Today’ let’s keep it simple. In the spirit of Halloween, what is your favorite memory? Do you have a specific tradition you follow? If so, where is this tradition come from? Take 10-miutes to write.
For me, it was the Great Halloween Blizard of ’91. My youngest was a wee one and didn’t miss not going trick or treating. We didn’t leave the house for 3-days. Glorious time for reading, baking, and probably sewing.
Writing prompt October 23rd:
Trust is a funny thing. Some of us extend trust to people right away until that trust is broke, while others of us hold our trust back making the persons around us earn trust. Where fo you fall? Do you offer trust right away or do you make people earn your trust? SPend the first five minutes defining what trust means to you and how do you extend trust? Spend five minutes (or more) writing about a time when your trust was broken. Did the person gain your trust back? Do you believe there is a happy medium between extending trust blindly and making trust something earned? What would that look like?
Writing prompt September 28th:
Personal journals become important pieces of history—not only ours, but act as a snapshot into the culture and humanity of a specific time frame. My mother kept a journal for the first 3-years of my life and in it is the notation about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Novermber 22, 1962. I was 10-months old at the time.
While most prompt deal with events surrounding you, as writers, on a personal basis (memories and the like), I would like you to do something a little different. Unless you’ve been living with your head in the sand, you are aware of the controversies surrounding the standing or kneeling phenomena running rampant in the media. Take 10-minutes and explore your feelings surrounding this controversy. Which camp do you fall into What is the framework/root cause for your reasoning? Tradition based on how you were raised? Freedom of speech vs. disrepect vs. believe grounded in patriotism? How would you react to your best friend/partner/husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend taking the opposite stance?
Writing prompt September 23rd:
Life has been crazy, so we’re a little behind on our writing prompts.
Everyone, even the most self confident, falls into the practice of self-talk. Unless one is a narcissist or extremely egotistical, this self-talk is negative. Real or imagined, it’s never good. I’d like you to do something different this time. Take 5-minutes and write down all the self-talk that you frequently indulge in. Lit it rip—BUT only for 5-minutes, so you’ll need a time.
Once you 5-minutes are up, set you pencil aside. Re-read what you have written. Grab a fresh writing utensil—it’s symbolic as we’re going to set aside the negative self-talk. Starting a new paragraph I want you to take no less than 5-minutes to refute everything you have just written. Fell free to write past the 5-minutes. Take a brightly colored highlighter and circle the paragraph. Use squiggly lines even!
The next time you indulge in negative self-talk, grab your journal and re-read your positive paragraph.
Writing prompt September 4th:
Today our weather has ranged from summer to fall in one afternoon. I don’t know about you, but fall is my favorite season. I love the warmth of the sun during the day with the underlying chill. I love the chilly nights—yes I sleep with the windows open under lovely heavy blankets with my nose just peeking out. Nope, we’re not writning about your favorite season, unless fall happens to be it. There is something to love in every season—or something to appreaciate. Take 10-minutes to write about fall. What do you think/feel about the season we are entering? Is there a particular smell you notice? Perhaps you have a family tradition that either only happens in the fall or starts with the fall. Perhaps you have a particular memroy associated with fall.
Our new tradition, starting at the end of this mont, is a 3-day camping trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area—complete with kayaking.
Writing prompt August 28th
Many times we are asked to define success or what does success mean to us personally. I’d like to flip the coin on you and ask you to think about failure. What is is? What if you hade to define it to someone who was learning English? What is failure to you? Was there a time when you thought you had failed, but in retrospect determines it was not a failure at all? Take 10-15 minutes to explore these questions.
Writing prompt August 5th:
We cannot bu help change and evolve with events in our lives. Sometimes people we love and care about are the sources of our greatest pain. Think about a tie when someone close to you, did something or said something that hurt you deeply. Write about the event—explore the pain and anger you might have felt. More importantly; write about how you have changed because of it.
Writing prompt July 16th:
I have a “Would you rather” prompt for you. Though one could answer the question with a sentence, I would like you to take at least 10-minutes to explore your answer behind your choice. What would it be like?
“Would you rather be fluent in seven languages and never leave the United States or travel the world by yourself and be unable to speak to anyone?
Writing prompt July 5th:
Yesterday was the 4th of July celebrating the Declaration of Independncefrom Great Britain of July 4th, 1776. This national holiday has become a time of family and friends with festivites such as parades, fireworks, and cookouts. Think about what you did yesterday or perhaps there is another that stands out in your mind. I remember marching in a parade when I lived in Kansas at the age of 15 with members of the flag corps. I remeber being very hot—yet very proud that I was carring one of the American flags. I also remember not being able to grab any of the candy that the firefighters were throwing and making a pact with one of my friends to nab some for me.
Spend 10-minues writing about how you spent (or spend) this holiday.
I confess yesterday, we kept our low key—just the two of us. I celebrated by taking a NAP.
Writing prompt June 28th:
Certain songs from the since Rod Stewar )yup dating myself here) takes me back to the white 2-story white farmhouse in Hutchinson, Kansas I lived in when I was 14. I remember sitting in the small upstairs bedroom listening to a small transistor radio to my favorite radio station. It’s funny, in my memory it’s always summer. Iremember the heat and the smell of the hot dryness. “Tonight’s the Night” and “Y0u’re in my Heat” are just a couple of the songs I remember.
Think about a song or singer that transports you back intime. This can be a good memoru or a sad memory. Start with the name of the song. Where does it transport” What do you see, smell, feel or think? Write for at least 10-minutes.
Writing prompt for June 19th:
Many time we are asked to define success and many people come up with a one or two sentence answer. Take 10-minutes to write about what success means to you — what does YOUR sucess look like?
Writing prompt for May 24th:
If you could go back in time and change one decision you made, what would it be> More importatnly what would your life look like dos? Write for at least 10-minutes using as many senses as possible.
Writing prompt for May 7th:
Robert Frost wrote a poem titled, “The Road Not Taken.” Name a road you’ve always wanted to travel. Where do you hope it takes you, and what might you see on the way? Write for at least 10-minutes.
Writing prompt for April 7th:
This week’s writing prompt comes from one of my peers:
How do you know you are a good person…or not a good person?
Write for 10-minutes.
Writing prompt for March 31st:
You can go back to your childhood for one day. What day and age will you choose? Be specific and write for at least 10-minutes.
Writing prompt for March 21st:
The illness that’s sweeping though our community has paid a long visit at Anyone Can Write. Weith this in mind let’s explore an odd writing assignment. think bakc to a time when you were sick and laid up for a while. I remember having something called “The Hong Kong Flu” as a child, which was the last influenza epidemic we saw in the U.S. Using all senses: what memories do you have surrounding a long illness” What was your comfort food? Was your sense of smell, time, and place distorted? Who took care of you?
Writing prompt for February 27th:
Isn’t it funny how we relate a behavior to eating rather than it being an action. I was “naughty” and “bad” when relaying what our weekend diet was like. I wonder if we changed our relationship to food, the placing a “good” or “naughty” value on it, would we have the issues we do? Take 10-minutes to explore your feelings surrounding the lables of good and bad surrounding food. Why is one valued over the other, when even the “bad” stuff is necessary from time to time?
Writing prompt for January 25th:
Where are you the happiest? Be specific and write for at least 10-minues—set a time if necessary.
Writing prompt for January 15th:
Who is one person who changed your life? Be specific and write for at least 10-minutes—set a timer if necessary.
Writing prompt for January 8th:
In our house, we are taking down our Christmas tree today. Yes, we are late because we wanted our company last weekend to enjoy the tree. Taking your Christmas decorations is a good time to reflect on the holiday. Did you enjoy your time with family and friends? If you spent Christmas alone, what did you do to keep it alive in your heart? Is there something you want to do differently for next Christmas? Tkae 10-minutes to write about Christmas 2016. Next year as you start to put your tree up, read your reflections from this past Christmas.
Writing prompt for December 30th:
We are in the time of, “What will I do with all of these darn cookies?” As a child, before we would go on trip, my mother would make Cherry Coconut Cookies—an old recipe using Pet mile (aka evaportated milk) that I always associated with the 8-hour drive to grandma and grandpas house. The recipe was passed to me as an adult and over the years I have made them for my familyy as well as others. This weeks writing prompt: What treat holds memories with you? Engage in all of your senses as you write about the treat and memories surrounding it.
Writing prompt for December 22nd:
Think back to your childhood. What was the best gify you received for Christmas? It may have been a toy, book, article of clothing; something along those lines. However, perhaps your best gift was an unexpected visitor. What was the memory surrounding your gift?
Writing prompt for December 9th:
With Christmas fast approaching, our thoughts tend to turn to family and memories past. Spend 10-15 minutes writing about your most memorable Christmas. Use detail from all five senses to recreat the memory.
Writing prompt for November 21st:
At this time of the year, it’s common to ask and answer the age-old question of, “What are you thankful for?” Let’s dig deeper. Take 5-minutes and bullet point what you are thankful for. Then take one item from your list and free write for 10-minutes. Restate what it is then answer: “Why are you thankful for it? What impact does the item make on you? What would your life be like without it?
Writing prompt for November 1st:
What was your favorite school lunch and why? Was it because of a particular lunch lady? I learned to love spinach during school lunches because a lunch lady told me to try sprinkling vinegar on it.
Writing prompt for October 10th:
Many people will relate that fall is their favorite time of year. Do you love fall? Do you dread fall? Why? Explore your thoughts about fall for 10-minutes. Memories included.
Writing prompt for October 10th:
What scares you a little? What do you feel when you are scared? How do you react?
Writing prompt for October 3rd:
This week’s writing prompt. Think about a piece of advice you would give your 14-year old self. What would it be and more importantly explore how your life might be different.
Writing prompt for September 26th:
This week's writing prompt. Write the starting of the sentence in your notebook or document and be specific. Write for 10-minutes.
"If I could change one thing about the way I was raised, it would be..."
Writing prompt for September 19th:
Remember be specific and let your imagination soar.
"What if you had an extraordiary stopwatch that could freese everything and everyone in the world (except you) when you pushed the button?"
Writing prompt for September 12th:
Think back to a book you read as a child or adolescent — yes a comic book counts - I loved “The Archies.” What was it about the book that stuck with you? Characters? Plot? Where did you read it? Be detailed. Write for at least 10-minutes, setting a timer if you need to.