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    </div><p id="5a14">Remember, you can submit your articles in response to prompts at any time as there are no deadlines.</p><p id="c53b">Take some time to check out the articles from fellow F&amp;S writers and share the love!</p><p id="0712" type="7">Thank you all for submitting your work!</p><h1 id="0eb5">📣 Holiday Hours 📣</h1><blockquote id="8939"><p><b><i>Just a note: I won’t be publishing any articles on December 25th.</i></b> Otherwise I will be checking for stories once a day, so please allow for 24 hours for your submitted article to be published.</p></blockquote><h1 id="c9fe">Calls for Submissions</h1><p id="5474">I welcome writers to share their own freewriting exercises, writing prompts, and writing contest alerts here at Flint and Steel. You can write short-form or long-form posts.</p><p id="a00f">You can find submission guidelines on our <a href="https://readmedium.com/welcome-to-the-flint-steel-publication-f7722efd9b15">Be a Writer page.</a></p><div id="f61d" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/welcome-to-the-flint-steel-publication-f7722efd9b15">
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            <h2>Welcome to the Flint &amp; Steel Publication</h2>
            <div><h3>Submission guidelines</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><h2 id="c3b2">Freewriting Friday</h2><p id="4617">I asked you about how you leave your mark with three new writing prompts in the latest <a href="https://readmedium.com/freewriting-friday-fiction-edition-f85fb355529e">Freewriting Friday prompts.</a></p><div id="6290" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/freewriting-friday-how-will-you-leave-your-mark-d4db7d1ac176">
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            <h2>Freewriting Friday: How Will You Leave Your Mark?</h2>
            <div><h3>If you could only write one story, what would you write?</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><h1 id="226f">Around Medium: Calls for Submissions, Writing Prompts, and Challenges</h1><p id="f4f8">Check out <a href="https://readmedium.com/sparks-17-looking-back-to-your-cherished-reads-of-the-year-b5d004f38eb5">last week’s newsletter</a> for more writing prompts and challenges.</p><div id="fa10" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/sparks-17-looking-back-to-your-cherished-reads-of-the-year-b5d004f38eb5">
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          <div>
            <h2>Sparks №17: Looking Back to Your Cherished Reads of the Year</h2>
            <div><h3>A weekly newsletter from Flint &amp; Steel</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><h2 id="3a0d">Tips</h2><p id="9434">As always, review each publication’s guidelines for their prompts. Many prompts do not have a set deadline.</p><p id="da64">Make sure when you are responding to a prompt, you credit where your inspiration came from, like a link to the prompt article.</p><p id="44b9">Many of these prompts could fall under nonfiction, poetry and fiction so don’t limit yourself. There is no right or wrong. Use these prompts as a springboard to your writing.</p><p id="e019">⌚ = time-sensitive writing prompt!</p><p id="ed1e">⌚ <a href="undefined">Winston</a>, with <a href="https://medium.com/coffee-times">Coffee Times</a>, announced their <a href="https://readmedium.com/new-years-resolution-a-writing-competition-like-no-other-d54239b344cb">latest writing challenge.</a> “<b>This competition is about being truthful to yourself. Reflect and write about the challenges you faced in 2021 and what changes are you going to make, to become a better you in 2022.”</b></p><p id="bf83">Submit your entry by December 31, 2021; make sure to read through the submission guidelines. You are welcome to submit your article with Flint &amp; Steel.</p><div id="578d" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/new-years-resolution-a-writing-competition-like-no-other-d54239b344cb">
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            <h2>Win $100 For Making a New Year’s Resolution</h2>
            <div><h3>Have you ever seen a writing competition that changes your life just by participating?</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="daab"><a href="undefined">Adrienne Parkhurst</a> asked, <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-did-you-discover-santas-true-identity-c7803cb1a71e">“How did you discover Santa’s true identity?”</a> Write a shortform in response (make sure to tag Adrienne!)</p><div id="95ff" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-did-you-discover-santas-true-identity-c7803cb1a71e">
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            <h2>How did you discover Santa’s true identity?</h2>
            <div><h3>For me, it happened at 8-years-old.</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="d2db"><a href="undefined">Trista Signe Ainsworth</a> with<a href="https://medium.com/thank-you-notes"> Thank You Notes</a>, shared this week’s prompt theme of <a href="https://readmedium.com/your-peaceful-reflection-9d556db4fd25">reflection</a>. <b><i>What are your bright spots?</i></b></p><div id="6c43" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/your-peaceful-reflection-9d556db4fd25">
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            <h2>Your Peaceful Reflection</h2>
            <div><h3>Thank you notes #36</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="8e44"><a href="undefined">Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)</a>, with <a href="https://medium.com/the-brain-is-a-noodle">The Brain is a Noodle</a>, wants to know <a href="https://readmedium.com/whats-something-that-tickled-your-funny-bone-this-week-5d05ca02711c">“What kind of humour tickles your funny bone?”</a></p><div id="c94c" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/whats-something-that-tickled-your-funny-bone-this-week-5d05ca02711c">
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            <h2>What’s Something That Tickled Your Funny Bone This Week?</h2>
            <div><h3>Sunny Side Updates with TBIN || Week 62!</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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Options

AxARnNIc_UMwQw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="ed15"><a href="undefined">Ravyne Hawke</a>, with <a href="https://medium.com/promptly-written">Promptly Written</a>, posted their <a href="http://You’ve just received an alert on your cellphone. There is a 2-hr sale on something you’ve desperately wanted. Write a story.">latest fiction prompt.</a> “You’ve just received an alert on your cellphone. There is a 2-hr sale on something you’ve desperately wanted. Write a story.”</p><div id="cc7a" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-daily-special-dec-20th-1036a12aa02d"> <div> <div> <h2>The Daily Special — Dec 20th</h2> <div><h3>Fiction Prompt</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*kgih0aTGpYAN7VcP)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="96c1"><a href="undefined">Marrisa W.</a>, with <a href="https://medium.com/coffee-times">Coffee Times,</a> asked in their <a href="https://readmedium.com/unpopular-opinions-prompt-times-9-3c8dcba3ad5b">latest book prompts:</a> a book that you dislike but everyone likes, a book that is over-hyped, and a book that discusses controversial/taboo topics.</p><div id="339b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/unpopular-opinions-prompt-times-9-3c8dcba3ad5b"> <div> <div> <h2>Unpopular Opinions | Prompt Times 9</h2> <div><h3>A penny for your thoughts?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*3ZJKU8qmkv4-NxXHOlZK1A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="c04e"><a href="undefined">Liberty Forrest, Author</a>, with <a href="https://medium.com/hope-healing-and-humour">Hope * Healing * Humour</a>, invites you to write <a href="https://readmedium.com/to-a-community-of-like-minded-writing-souls-my-pub-family-859ffabb3de1">about community.</a> What does community mean to you and why it is important?</p><div id="2788" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/to-a-community-of-like-minded-writing-souls-my-pub-family-859ffabb3de1"> <div> <div> <h2>To a Community of Like-Minded Writing Souls: My Pub Family</h2> <div><h3>Gratitude, updates and news to feed your soul</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*_iQDx69Ak_ES4GC1i6rOqQ.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h1 id="049e">Subscribe to the Sparks Newsletter</h1><p id="3aa1">If you would like to subscribe to the Sparks newsletter, <a href="https://medium.com/flint-and-steel/newsletters/sparks">visit the newsletter page.</a> You can also find past newsletters for more writing inspiration.</p><div id="028d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/flint-and-steel"> <div> <div> <h2>Flint and Steel</h2> <div><h3>Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*i4reK9bZK_DH6XYjFi1sEQ.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h1 id="abd7">📣 Attention Medium publication editors 📣</h1><p id="f7cb"><b>Have a writing prompt, challenge, or a call for submission you want included in an upcoming Sparks Newsletter?</b> Feel free to leave a comment in the Latest Newsletter (link found on main page at <a href="https://medium.com/flint-and-steel">Fleet & Steel</a>), email me at [email protected], or tag me in your prompt article and I’ll include the info in the next newsletter. Newsletters go out on Monday or Tuesdays.</p><p id="cc52">Please include a link to the article that summarizes the prompt/challenge/call for submission and if there is a deadline. I will link to the article and to your publication in the newsletter. I also <a href="https://twitter.com/ellietjacobson">tweet the newsletter</a> throughout the week for added exposure.</p><h1 id="5f39">💖 Thank you to all the Flint & Steel writers 💖</h1><p id="ef65"><a href="undefined">Sahil Patel</a>, <a href="undefined">Shirley Jones Luke</a>, <a href="undefined">Samantha Jensen, MA, MAEd</a>, <a href="undefined">Trista Signe Ainsworth</a>, <a href="undefined">MIGHTY MISCELLANY</a>, <a href="undefined">L Burton</a>, <a href="undefined">Heathere CW</a>, <a href="undefined">Kaori Mitsui</a>, <a href="undefined">Penelope Mayfield</a>, <a href="undefined">Pierce McIntyre</a>, <a href="undefined">Pene Hodge</a>, <a href="undefined">Yean Foong (M.Ed.)</a>, <a href="undefined">Elin Melaas</a>, <a href="undefined">Sarah Minnis</a>, <a href="undefined">Mindy Morgan Avitia</a>, <a href="undefined">JM Heatherly</a>, <a href="undefined">Nikki</a>, <a href="undefined">Andria Kennedy</a>, <a href="undefined">pockett dessert</a>, <a href="undefined">Dennett</a>, <a href="undefined">Diana Lotti</a>, <a href="undefined">Ronald C. Flores-Gunkle</a>, <a href="undefined">Mulan</a>, <a href="undefined">Amanda Laughtland</a>, <a href="undefined">Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles</a>, <a href="undefined">Penny Grubb</a>, <a href="undefined">Sorina Raluca Babau</a>, <a href="undefined">Prashansa Chandekar</a>, <a href="undefined">Will Hull</a>, <a href="undefined">Ravyne Hawke</a>, <a href="undefined">Jane Grows Garden Rooms (Jane Frost)</a>, <a href="undefined">Mimi Bordeaux</a>, <a href="undefined">Adrienne Beaumont</a>, <a href="undefined">Karen Schwartz</a>, <a href="undefined">Divina Grey</a>, <a href="undefined">Sangeetha Shankar</a>, <a href="undefined">Ellen Andaya</a>, <a href="undefined">Barb Dalton</a>, <a href="undefined">Sam Branstner</a>, <a href="undefined">Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)</a>, <a href="undefined">Beverly Annette Little</a>, <a href="undefined">Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)</a>, <a href="undefined">Beverly Annette Little</a>, <a href="undefined">Aabye-Gayle F.</a>, <a href="undefined">AliciaMarie Belchak | Master Life, Build Dreams</a></p><h1 id="a07d">. . . and our 110 followers! 💖</h1><blockquote id="46df"><p>✍ Written by <a href="https://elliejacobson.medium.com/">Ellie Jacobson</a>, @2021 all rights reserved.</p></blockquote><blockquote id="1d33"><p>✨ I’m a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, <a href="https://medium.com/my-novel-journey">writing my first novel</a>, a psychological suspense novel. Are you a writer? Check out <a href="https://medium.com/flint-and-steel/newsletters/sparks">Sparks</a>, my newsletter filled with writing prompts to spark your creativity.</p></blockquote><blockquote id="2846"><p>🍮 Support me with a<a href="https://ko-fi.com/elliejacobson"> cup of coffee. </a>I thank you.</p></blockquote><blockquote id="cd5e"><p>📣 <a href="https://elliejacobson.medium.com/membership">Join Medium</a> and have unlimited access to my writing and thousands of other writers on Medium.</p></blockquote> <figure id="a9a7"> <div> <div> <img class="ratio" src="http://placehold.it/16x9"> <iframe class="" src="https://elliejacobson.medium.com/embed/list/b13e067280d9" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="184" width="undefined"> </div> </div> </figure></iframe></div></div></figure></article></body>

Writing prompts

Sparks №18: Finding Yourself in the Moments of Togetherness & Solitude

A weekly newsletter from Flint & Steel

Graphic made by author.

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” ― Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Here we are coming up quickly upon Christmas and a time to slow down, even if only for one day.

I know this time of the year brings up every emotion under the sun and isn’t always the most wonderful time of the year for many.

We miss the souls that have passed, but let’s set a chair for them at our tables. Bring them back to life with the stories that make your heart beam. Write them a letter in your journal devoted to the words you wish to say to them in person.

Writing and speaking the stories of my mother has helped me release the grief. The sadness never dissipates, only fades faithfully into the background where it settles.

My hope for everyone is you take some time to rest and make new memories with your loved ones and for yourself.

Grant yourself grace by releasing some of the holiday expectations and find yourself in the moment of togetherness and solitude.

✨ Ellie, editor Flint & Steel

Your Articles

In last week’s newsletter, I asked you to look back at your most cherished reads (I’ll be posting mine soon!).

Thank you so much Penny Grubb for your sharing your cherished book recommendations in your article, “Six Books Arrived And I’m Giving Them Away.” I added a few more books to be TBR list on Goodreads.

“Should I prioritize differently? Can I work less, do less? Who am I doing this for?” wrote Elin Melaas’s in her honest article about juggling all the demands this time of the year brings.

Thank you Beverly Annette Little for your two holiday articles! I discovered some new holiday drinks in “10 Cocktails for the Holidays” and learned more about the history of some of our holiday traditions in “Can Magic Mushrooms Explain Christmas Traditions?”

“He planned to be mean to the owner after some quick bites and a few slurps. But he did not. He sits on the bench for a while, covering his face with both hands, sobbing.” I love how Kaori Mitsui responded to Penelope Mayfield’s Bad Habits Bakery & Cafe prompt with her flash fiction piece.

“I believe I have found the best of two worlds and will always be grateful to the two places that have birthed and supported me as I navigate this life path I have been tasked to overcome,” Pene Hodge wrote in her article, “My Heart Lives in Two Worlds.” This article resonates this time of the year when traveling (or not traveling) home for Christmas. Our hearts belong to several homes over the years. And our heart brings for those who can’t travel to us. Thank you Pene for your article!

Remember, you can submit your articles in response to prompts at any time as there are no deadlines.

Take some time to check out the articles from fellow F&S writers and share the love!

Thank you all for submitting your work!

📣 Holiday Hours 📣

Just a note: I won’t be publishing any articles on December 25th. Otherwise I will be checking for stories once a day, so please allow for 24 hours for your submitted article to be published.

Calls for Submissions

I welcome writers to share their own freewriting exercises, writing prompts, and writing contest alerts here at Flint and Steel. You can write short-form or long-form posts.

You can find submission guidelines on our Be a Writer page.

Freewriting Friday

I asked you about how you leave your mark with three new writing prompts in the latest Freewriting Friday prompts.

Around Medium: Calls for Submissions, Writing Prompts, and Challenges

Check out last week’s newsletter for more writing prompts and challenges.

Tips

As always, review each publication’s guidelines for their prompts. Many prompts do not have a set deadline.

Make sure when you are responding to a prompt, you credit where your inspiration came from, like a link to the prompt article.

Many of these prompts could fall under nonfiction, poetry and fiction so don’t limit yourself. There is no right or wrong. Use these prompts as a springboard to your writing.

⌚ = time-sensitive writing prompt!

⌚ Winston, with Coffee Times, announced their latest writing challenge. “This competition is about being truthful to yourself. Reflect and write about the challenges you faced in 2021 and what changes are you going to make, to become a better you in 2022.”

Submit your entry by December 31, 2021; make sure to read through the submission guidelines. You are welcome to submit your article with Flint & Steel.

Adrienne Parkhurst asked, “How did you discover Santa’s true identity?” Write a shortform in response (make sure to tag Adrienne!)

Trista Signe Ainsworth with Thank You Notes, shared this week’s prompt theme of reflection. What are your bright spots?

Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), with The Brain is a Noodle, wants to know “What kind of humour tickles your funny bone?”

Ravyne Hawke, with Promptly Written, posted their latest fiction prompt. “You’ve just received an alert on your cellphone. There is a 2-hr sale on something you’ve desperately wanted. Write a story.”

Marrisa W., with Coffee Times, asked in their latest book prompts: a book that you dislike but everyone likes, a book that is over-hyped, and a book that discusses controversial/taboo topics.

Liberty Forrest, Author, with Hope * Healing * Humour, invites you to write about community. What does community mean to you and why it is important?

Subscribe to the Sparks Newsletter

If you would like to subscribe to the Sparks newsletter, visit the newsletter page. You can also find past newsletters for more writing inspiration.

📣 Attention Medium publication editors 📣

Have a writing prompt, challenge, or a call for submission you want included in an upcoming Sparks Newsletter? Feel free to leave a comment in the Latest Newsletter (link found on main page at Fleet & Steel), email me at [email protected], or tag me in your prompt article and I’ll include the info in the next newsletter. Newsletters go out on Monday or Tuesdays.

Please include a link to the article that summarizes the prompt/challenge/call for submission and if there is a deadline. I will link to the article and to your publication in the newsletter. I also tweet the newsletter throughout the week for added exposure.

💖 Thank you to all the Flint & Steel writers 💖

Sahil Patel, Shirley Jones Luke, Samantha Jensen, MA, MAEd, Trista Signe Ainsworth, MIGHTY MISCELLANY, L Burton, Heathere CW, Kaori Mitsui, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Pene Hodge, Yean Foong (M.Ed.), Elin Melaas, Sarah Minnis, Mindy Morgan Avitia, JM Heatherly, Nikki, Andria Kennedy, pockett dessert, Dennett, Diana Lotti, Ronald C. Flores-Gunkle, Mulan, Amanda Laughtland, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Penny Grubb, Sorina Raluca Babau, Prashansa Chandekar, Will Hull, Ravyne Hawke, Jane Grows Garden Rooms (Jane Frost), Mimi Bordeaux, Adrienne Beaumont, Karen Schwartz, Divina Grey, Sangeetha Shankar, Ellen Andaya, Barb Dalton, Sam Branstner, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Aabye-Gayle F., AliciaMarie Belchak | Master Life, Build Dreams

. . . and our 110 followers! 💖

✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2021 all rights reserved.

✨ I’m a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, writing my first novel, a psychological suspense novel. Are you a writer? Check out Sparks, my newsletter filled with writing prompts to spark your creativity.

🍮 Support me with a cup of coffee. I thank you.

📣 Join Medium and have unlimited access to my writing and thousands of other writers on Medium.

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