Flint & Steel Weekly Newsletter
Sparks №34: Keeping Your Balance in a Topsy-Turvy World
Writing prompts across Medium-land to spark your creativity
“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
I’ve been doing some spring cleaning, as I do this time of the year (even though the Minnesota weather seems focused on staying in winter!)
My focus has been on cleaning out the garage, the hub for putting the things we don’t want to bring into the house in the hopes I’ll take the time to organize a garage sale. Yeah, no that’s only happened once. Instead, I’ll sell some things online, otherwise trips to the local Goodwill are in order.
As I was cleaning, I hit my head on my bicycle that was hanging upside down from the wall. The cute bike my husband gifted me a few birthdays ago with an equally cute basket. I’ve ridden it maybe five times since that birthday. Shameful!
Right away, an old memory of my first “real” bike popped up. I grew up in the heart of the city of St. Paul in the late 70s and 80s. My friends and I biked everywhere with no care in the world.
I received my first “real” bike as a hand-me-down gift for my birthday. Freedom.
I lived one block from one of the busiest streets in St. Paul, but rode that bike like I was one of those bike messengers in New York City. As a kid, you’re not aware of anything but yourself, oblivious to the craziness surrounding you. The traffic, other kids, the poor condition of the streets and sidewalks. One jarring move on a bike can mean disaster.
And one day when I was about 10-years-old, that reality hit me. Or I should say, a car hit me.
I was simply riding my bike from the corner store back to my home, riding on the sidewalk next to the busy street. I felt safe on the sidewalk; nothing can happen there.
My mistake was I never paused when I came upon an alleyway or parking lot entrance/exit. So that day, I remember pedaling at full speed down the sidewalk about a block from my home. The next thing I remember is sitting on the ground wondering what had just happened.
What happened was a car was approaching the parking lot exit to turn out onto the busy street as I was racing down the sidewalk. Crash. Thankfully, they weren’t driving very fast.
I don’t actually remember being hit or getting back on my bike. I remember feeling stunned for a millisecond and riding back to my house.
The car that hit me followed me to my home, which freaked me out at the time, not understanding the gravity of a hit-and-run accident. Thankfully, my mom was home. I rushed into my house, into my bedroom, afraid I did something wrong. Ironically, the man that hit me was actually a doctor from a nearby clinic. He checked out my scrapes and scratches. Nothing too serious.
The scar is still visible on my right knee.
I think that incident marked the first time I felt vulnerable as a child. That I couldn’t just do as I wished in my own bubble of imagination. I needed to be aware of my surroundings and my responsibility in it.
As a mother, I want my kids to feel that freedom of childhood, flying down the road on their bike or skateboard, but at the same time I needed to teach them about safety.
As a warning, I showed them my scar from the bike accident. “I was hit by a car on my bike, so watch for cars and wear your helmet.”
“That’s so cool Mom!”
Okay, not quite the reaction I was hoping for. But looking back at it now, I’m glad they weren’t scared off by my warning.
Being thrown off balance is never our hope in life. But remember don’t sit on the ground for too long. It’s time to get back up, shake the dirt off, and get moving. Trust in yourself to know you are strong enough to get the bike moving again.
My prompt for you this week is to think about a time you were thrown off balance. Maybe physically, like in my story, or mentally thrown off. Start a word bank and list the words that come to mind right away. Write a flash fiction story. Write a poem. Write a creative nonfiction piece. Remember there are no rules!
I hope everyone has a wonderful upcoming week!
✨ Ellie, editor Flint & Steel
Writing Challenge: A Two-Part Writing Challenge
📣Announcement 📣
I extended the due date for our latest writing challenge to May 16, 2022, to make sure writers have enough time to write their articles.
Remember to read over all the guidelines of how soon you must post the second half of the story after the first part posts, for example.
We have our first entry for the latest Flint & Steel’s latest writing challenge!
Charlie Cole wrote,
“She grips a gun that secures onto her hand and bobs up in down in her crouched stance. Verity was ready to go and was tired of the patience required to work with these people. She was a woman of action and had many years of living compared to the three dweebs next to her,” in the fiction short story “A Band of Bogarts: Part I.”
Charlie did a great job of creating tension throughout the story, looking forward to reading part II.
As a reminder, the donations at my Ko-fi page go towards these writing challenges. Thank you to all who have donated this year!
Supportive Writing Group
Don’t write alone!
Come on over to our writing group over on Facebook. This is a safe, private group to share your writing questions, goals, and advice with writers of all skill levels.
Featured Writer
🎉 E. Katherine Kottaras is our Featured Writer this week! 🎉
Katherine wrote,
“I first learned of Medium years ago — I had created an account and read many pieces for a while. Last summer, I started to get my toes wet in writing and sharing here, but I didn’t feel compelled to share until I found myself laid up in bed for weeks with debilitating hip and back pain. I suddenly found that I wanted to — no, I needed to — write again. Though I’ve written and published for years, including two YA books and other projects for kids, I’d been having a bit of a dry spell.”
Make sure to stop over and read Katherine’s interview and learn more about her upcoming Writing and Yoga Generative Workshop, which sounds fabulous!
Would you like to be a featured writer?
Read over the guidelines to find out more about being featured.
✨Your Articles ✨
As always, take time to support your F & S writers! Stop by their articles and share your thoughts, claps and highlights.
Those marked with a✨next to their name mean it is an Editor’s Pick!
View all the Editor’s Selections
Responses to Library Prompt
It was so fun to read all the submissions that came in response to the library prompt. Brought back so many memories that I forgot about.
Dennett wrote,
“I took three huge bags of books to the Friends of the Library, an organization that collects books all year and has two annual sales to raise money to buy new books for our county’s library system. I donated my books right before the cut-off when the volunteers start preparing for the spring sale. I know in a couple of weeks, my books will find new homes where someone will truly want to read them.”
I loved reading about Dennett’s reflection on her life with books and the library. I too am more a book-buyer than a book-borrower, like Dennett mentioned to support the writers. But I do have to purge my own library at least once a year and those books go to my local library for their sales.
Read all the library-inspired stories
Anne Bonfert wrote,
“Misunderstandings happen in a normal relationship where both partners have the same mother tongue. Just imagine how it is when you’re communicating in your second or even fourth language,” in “10 Things You Don’t Know About Me.”
I can’t even imagine, Anne! And I do think you should send that high-school teacher a copy of your book!
Ellie Jacobson wrote,
“When he was younger, he was afraid of his own shadow, trying to find places where his shadowy friend would leave him alone. He likes his space.
Now he enjoys a subtle touch on his friend in shadow.”
Share your shadow photo essays in response to Anne Bonfert’s shadow prompt.
Jennifer Pierce wrote,
“I have on my lap a dangerous cat
known to most as Penelope.
With stunning green eyes and a midnight physique,”
in her poem “The Black Cat On My Lap.”
Oh yes, I understand the danger found in a lap kitty. Once they stake their claim, you are done!
Amanda Laughtland wrote,
“Like Nilla Wafers, Perry Mason gives back my younger self, soothed by the low, assured voice of Della Street and the parade of classic cars as Paul Drake does surveillance from his roadster,” in “With the Help of Miss Street.”
Amanda brought back fond memories with her poem. The comfort found in reruns when shows were wrapped up so nicely and neatly.
More Poetry by Flint & Steel Writers
✨ Welcome To Our Newest Writer ✨
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 the role of stress in our lives.
📣 Around Medium: Calls for Submissions, Writing Prompts, and Challenges 📣
Check out last week’s newsletter for more writing prompts and challenges.
And all our newsletters for even more writing inspiration
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!
⌚ Flint & Steel’s latest writing challenge is underway!
Make sure to read over the submission guidelines for further information. Due date for submission is May 16, 2022.
Trista Signe Ainsworth, with Thank You Notes, posted this week’s theme, “Your Fabulous Food Memories. What dishes are the most memorable ones for you? What scents, sounds, and visuals do you appreciate when you cook them?”
⌚ Yana Bostongirl, with Coffee Times, posted their latest Coffee Challenge where three writers will be awarded cash prizes. Make sure to read through the challenge guidelines for all the details!
Marilyn Flower, with Middle-Pause, posted their latest prompt asking, “How was your holiday and what did you celebrate? There’s Easter, yes, but also Passover. Pasqual and Pessach. Did you attend a Sadar, dye eggs, go to a sunrise service, or eat a chocolate bunny?
Or given this is Angel Monday, what’s your understanding of and/or experience with angels? Have you been visited by any? When have you been an angel for someone else?”
Marcus aka Gregory Maidman, with Promptly Written, posted their latest spiritual prompt, “Create a poem, personal essay, or creative nonfiction that discusses or is inspired by a coincidence or coincidences you have experienced in your life and the meaning you ascribed thereto.”
Liberty Forrest, Author, with Hope, Healing and Humour, post their latest prompt, “This week (and beyond), I would love to see your stories and poems about how you have dealt with this painful topic.
In particular, I will be looking for content that offers hope and healing for those who are currently in a dark place, or those who have been affected by a suicide.”
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, 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 💖
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. . . and our 196 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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