Modern Women: July Writing Prompts
Let’s see where the rabbit hole leads us
One of my favourite aspects about writing prompts for Modern Women is the effect they have off the page.
I was sent a private note recently, and it wasn’t the first, talking about the new perspective a prompt had led to that the person hadn’t felt able to write about in a way that could be shared publicly.
I think that prompts can be like pebbles dropped into a lake… the ripples move across our thoughts whether we are conscious of them or not. If we choose to work with them, as we mull the words over, looking at things from different angles, parts of us can be forever changed. This is especially true when we use them as a focal point for a meditation or journaling exercise.
So, this month my invitation to you is to see where the prompt leads you. You can start with journaling and see what flows from the pen before shaping it into something you feel comfortable sharing, if you choose to.
Before we get to the prompt for this month can we take a moment to celebrate some of the amazing pieces that came our way in response to the prompt Nourishment.
Dr. Preeti Singh wrote a truly inspiring story about a woman brave enough to break free from cultural and societal norms to change her life and in so doing nourished the core of herself by living in alignment with who she knew she could be rather than what others told her she ‘should’ be.
Mika delved into the layers of nourishment held in food and the ways in which we eat that surpass the simple physical act of feeding our bodies.
And last but by no means least Jenny, explored how nourishing the act of writing can be. Something I feel most of us will identify with.
And now, with no further ado…
The prompt for July is:
Saying goodbye
It’s never easy but something we have all had to do, time and time again, whether to a person, place, or thing. Saying goodbye is an experience we have all shared.
How do you feel about saying goodbye?
Is there a goodbye in your past that stands out in your memory?
Is there someone you wish you had said goodbye to, or a goodbye you wish you could take back?
What have your goodbyes taught you?
Have you had to say goodbye to an aspect of yourself?
Is there a goodbye you know is coming?
Our monthly prompts are open to you not just for the month in which we release them but for whenever they strike the cord of inspiration within you.
Whether you respond to one of the questions I pose or the overall theme in your own way is entirely up to you, and we welcome work in any style, whether that is poetry, prose, fiction or an essay. The choice is yours.
Our only request is that you share genuine, heartfelt and down-to-earth stories that you think other women might be inspired or empowered by.
If this month’s prompt isn’t the spark you need today, you are welcome to write for any of our previous writing prompts. Some of my personal favourites have been,
If you are submitting a response to a prompt, please include the tag ‘prompt’ when sending it to us and add a link at the bottom of your piece to the prompt you are responding to.
If you’ve never written for Modern Women before, then please do take a moment to read our ‘how to’ guide below.
If you’d like to read my response to last months prompt, you can check it out below.