Weekly Newsletter | Flint & Steel

Sparks №27: Introducing Editor’s Picks

Your writing prompt resource to spark your creativity

Is anyone else wondering where did February go? Or is that just me? January dragged on and now February rushes by, which is fine with me because we are inching closer to spring!

As I write this, a large snowstorm is heading our way in Minnesota (the forecast is six to ten inches). We haven’t had a storm of more than three inches since December, which doesn’t seem usual (after some quick research, per the Department of Natural Resources, January is normally the snowiest month in Minnesota, followed by December).

I’m actually excited for some snow, mainly because I have a ton of writing homework to get done this week so it gives me an excuse to stay focused at home.

And how are my friends doing in England after Storm Eunice? I hope everyone is doing okay!

Okay, onto some Flint & Steel news. First I want to say thank you to Mary Chang Story Writer for the Ko-Fi donation, which is going towards our next writing challenge (watch for that news at the end of March!). I will use any tips that come my way for future writing challenges here at F&S.

Also, I’m introducing Editor’s Picks, articles that stand out to me. I will feature these articles towards the top of the Flint & Steel main page for about a week or so. I will share these selections across my social media channels as well: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram (feel free to connect with me, I’ll return the follow).

Thank you again to each writer and follower here on F&S. I’m honored to read everyone’s words as they inspire me when I’m feeling at a loss of what to write about.

I appreciate each and every one of you!

✨ Ellie, editor Flint & Steel

✨Your Articles ✨

As always, take time to support your F & S writers! Stop by their articles and share your thoughts, claps and highlights.

✨=Editor’s Pick

✨ Kris Bedenian wrote, “Our challenges must make us stronger, not weaker. Our challenges are here to teach us, not to detain us,” in “To Work Towards Your Dreams or Not.”

I could have highlighted the entire article by Kris. Thank you so much for your inspiration; it is priceless!

Kaori Mitsui wrote, “One of the things I said I would try to do was keep a record of my walking exercise for the first month of the year and see how it goes. My aim was to reach 5,000 steps per walking exercise,” in “I Aimed for 5,000 Walking Steps in January.”

Woohoo Kaori, great job! You inspire me to get back out walking (I hate walking outside during the winter months).

Elin Melaas wrote, “Invite me into your text and make it delicate to look at. Design your layout in such a way that I’m floating effortlessly through your story,” in “Learn to Format Your Story. I Don’t Read a Wall of Text” in response to the Tips for New Medium Writers prompt.

Very good advice Elin!

Jennifer Pierce wrote,

“Now that I’m here, popcorn in hand, unsure where to stand.

I want to go home”

in her poem, “I’m Lucky.”

The inner conflict captured perfectly. I love the last five lines!

✨ Anne Bonfert wrote, “No, just bend over and shoot while looking at the world upside down. Or stand up straight and hold the camera upside down. Lie down on your back and hold the camera up,” in “My World is Upside Down.”

I adore Anne’s photography and her challenges. Her prompts have no deadlines so check out her article for her latest photo essay challenges.

Anne Bonfert wrote, “But as soon as I would see that mist bank hanging over the ocean, I’d know what comes next. The fog can roll it really quick. And within minutes the entire coast, including the city of Swakopmund, would be covered in a thick layer of fog,” in “When Life Gets Foggy.”

There is something mystical and magical about fog. How the environment changes in reaction and Anne captures that beautifully in her photographs.

✨ Barb Dalton wrote,

“We were getting mixed messages which only caused fear The shelves were emptied, people buying in bulk No loo paper in sight caused many to sulk,”

in “An Ode to the Pandemic,” in response to the Freewriting Friday Covid prompt.

Awesome job Barb summing up the craziness of the last two years!

✨ E. Katherine Kottaras wrote,

“Still the little tree grows, and as does the vine — and perhaps, someday, we’ll have mounds of figs and bundles of grapes — We’ll make jam or wine or both, and more — and we’ll taste joyously,”

in “I Thought the Grapevine Was Dead.”

Your words resonated with me so much Katherine. I’ve been feeling flat for a while now and not understanding why. You have given me hope with your words!

✨ Welcome to Our Newest Writer ✨

Annette Liron

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

In the latest Freewriting Friday post, we are exploring how our lives have changed because of Covid.

📣 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!

KiKi Walter, with Quick Talk, is launching a new series, called “Funking Prompts With Mama Ki!” Check out the post below for fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and anything goes prompts.

kasey sparks posted at Counter Arts in response to a prompt by Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) about sharing our writing struggles and strengths in “Will a Prompt Help Me Regain Focus?”

Marilyn Flower, with Middle-Pause, asks you to write about a love story from Black History in her article, “Happy Valentine’s Day! Celebrating Black History Month with Love Stories.”

⌚ Ravyne Hawke, with Promptly Written, posted an Essay Writing Challenge with the question, “What drives me as a writer?” Essays are due by February 28th at 6:00 pm US CST

Trista Signe Ainsworth, with Thank You Notes, posted the latest prompt about Surprise and Delight: What things or experiences have surprised or delighted you in life? in “Your Delightful Surprise.”

Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), with The Brain is a Noodle, is asking…”Do you have a challenge to set for yourself, whether big or small? Or, if you do not like set challenges that bound you into rules, what might be the reasons, and what other ways do you like to move forward?” in “What challenge (large or small) are you setting for yourself this week?”

Sahil Patel, with Lifeline, posted their prompt for this week: If you haven’t met your love yet, write a letter to that person and tell them how excited you are to meet them someday or if you have a partner in your life, then write a poem dedicated to that person who makes you feel special.

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.

— Ellie Jacobson, editor

📣 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 Flint & 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 weekly on Monday.

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, 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, Danielle Hestand, Rick Allen, Jennifer Pierce, Tamil — Amy Rosie — Jennifer McDougall — Susan Poole — Adrienne Parkhurst — Chelsea Marie — Charlie Cole — Katie Michaelson — Sandra B — Buse ermen — E. Katherine Kottaras — Bingz Huang — Winston — Stephanie Stephenson — Marilyn Flower — Kris Bedenian — Kathy K — Nick Stockton — VerityAlways — Makena Darya — Umme Salma — Călina Mureșan — Anne Bonfert — Jennifer Dunne — K-kun Writes! — M Cher — CARMEN F MICSA

. . . and our 177 followers! 💖

✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, ©2022 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.

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