Flint & Steel Newsletter
Sparks №35: Will You Leave Me a Poem on My Pillow?
Writing prompts across Medium-land to spark your creativity
Happy May everyone!
Just a publication note, I’m changing the publishing timeframe for Sparks; instead of once a week I will publish every other Tuesday, along with a Freewriting Friday post every first Friday of the month.
This summer I will be knee-deep (or maybe waist deep) in my MFA thesis (my suspense novel) so I need to give myself more concentrated time to finish the first draft and work on revisions.
Did you know?!
May 3rd is “Poem On Your Pillow Day,” another day I’ve never heard of before, but thought it would make an interesting writing prompt.
The day was created by TweetSpeak with the idea of writing a small appreciation poem that you would leave for someone on their pillow. Children, partners, parents, guests, your furbabies, etc.
💡 Or write a poem for someone who no longer lives with you, an ex, the child who has flown the nest, a lover who has moved on. A future lover? And who says it has to be a sweet poem? Not me!
💡Or write one for yourself. Your future self?
So my prompt for you is to write a small poem that you would leave on someone’s pillow. Remember, there are no rules!
I hope everyone has an inspiring day!
✨ 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.
Terry Barr wrote,
“I made it though the graveyard — though as in any dream, it morphed into something more eternally fun. Was it a record store? — and the following morning, vowed to cut back on my tincture, a vow I kept over the next three weeks, ever approaching the end of the bottle.”
and part two…
“If that’s true, however, what word do we use when we witness our own almost-death?”
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.”
and part two. . .
“Homer, however, leaped into the back with the rest and charged forward to this unmasked stranger. Ripping the towel from their hand he slammed them against the van and Jess swore she saw every vein in his forehead pop.”
As a reminder, the donations at my Ko-fi page go towards these writing challenges. Thank you to all who have donated this year!
What is your Focus in May?
I think of each month as a reset, giving me a chance to refocus, making sure I’m heading in the right direction towards my larger goals.
Do you regroup at the start of each month? And if so, what is your focus this month?
Featured Writer
🎉 Will you be the next 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
L Burton wrote,
“Having a library card was like a license to drive, a privilege to explore new and interesting places. As an adult, no matter where I moved, obtaining a library card was one of the first things I did for myself.”
Yes, I totally agree about the library card. I still remember getting my first card, feeling so grown-up and “official.” I think I felt more excited to get a library card than a driver’s license LOL
Read all the library-inspired stories
✨Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles wrote,
“The sooner I get back to that balance, the better. I need to seriously sit down, breathe and make a plan. I must stop catching up on work during weekends. I must bring back that one compulsory hour of walking and meditation, as I used to,” in response to the “thrown off balance” prompt.
Such an important reminder, Vidya! I also need to find that balance, that center, for my health as well. It’s a difficult transition from just going and going as someone in my 20’s and 30’s; I can’t keep up that pace any longer.
✨ Christine Graves wrote,
“So, here is my recipe for creating a mouth-watering tale that everyone will enjoy.
For this dish, you will need:
3 fillets of Grand Idea 2 Ripened personalities A bowlful of dicey decisions 2 handsful of random facts A full glass of plot thickener A pinch of savory flirtation 1 cup freshly squeezed plot twist.”
I loved how Christine captured the needed elements to tell a story. It truly is a mixture of ingrediants and can take awhile to find that right balance for each story.
✨ Anne Bonfert wrote,
“My comfort zone is surely wider in many ways than most other people. But it is quite narrow when looking at my photography. I don’t photograph much outside my comfort zone. And my comfort zone is nature.”
and
“Photography. It’s not just the activity of snapping pictures. Photography is much more than that. It’s seeing the world with different eyes. It’s about seeing things from various angles. It’s about shifting the focus and zooming in on the detail.”
Thank you Anne for such inspiring challenges; I love how you present different perspectives for us to view the lanscape around us.
✨Jennifer Pierce wrote,
“elemental rush the deepest sea reveals a riot of color a jungle fundamental lush.”
I adore Jennifer’s imaginary using colors and the emotional shift at the end provided that “ahhhh” moment. Great job Jennifer!
✨Ian Hanson wrote,
“Finding new perspectives against the stinging cold that bites my hands isn’t easy. It isn’t comfortable. And in order to do the work, I have to move. To move out of my comfort zone,” in response to Anne Bonfert’s challenge.
I’m a fan of Ian’s photography and so glad he answered Anne’s call for new perspectives. Stunning!
The Collection of Flint & Steel Articles
✨ Welcome To Our Newest Writers ✨
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
New Freewriting Friday post coming this Friday, May 6th!
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 the latest writing theme, “Share a story about a local place you love. It may be a shop, restaurant, food cart, park, or other places you love to frequent. Tell us why you love it there. We are excited to read your poems, stories, or articles about local places near you. Share the love!”
⌚ Mary Chang Story Writer, with 6 Word Photo Story Challenge, posted the May/June prompt: Nature Art. The last day for submissions is June 30, 2022.
Marilyn Flower, with Middle-Pause, posted their latest prompt asking, What is or are your favorite way(s) to lighten up and laugh?
⌚ Dennett, with Weeds & Wildflowers, posted the May theme, “Poems, articles, essays, photos. Tell us about Escaping.”
Liberty Forrest, Author, with Hope, Healing and Humour, posted their latest theme, “If you’ve ever struggled with self-destructive behaviours and if it has been a challenge for you to get to a place of complete self-love and acceptance, please share your experience.”
Grant Faulkner posted a photo prompt: Payphone. Write a story in 300 words or less and make sure to tag Grant in your submission.
Joanne Olivieri, with Promptly Written, posted the latest photo writing challenge, “Write a story, poem, essay, or whatever you like for this prompt describing something that annoys you.”
Jason Edmunds, with A Taste for Life, posted their May theme of “life lessons,” including some word, photo and video prompts to help inspire your writing.
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 💖
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, Annette Liron, Sam Finlayson, Ian Hanson, LM, Elizabeth Kasujja, Sandi Parsons, Veronica Haunani Fitzhugh, BichoDoMato, Jules Starley, Jordan Richardson, Angie Mangino, Obinna Uruakpa, Shanice Lawton, Barbara Radisavljevic, Gaurav Jain, Terry Barr, Christine Graves
. . . and our 197 followers! 💖
About the Writer
Ellie is a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota. She is writing her first novel, a psychological suspense novel, while finishing her MFA at SNHU.
Need writing inspiration? Check out Sparks, Ellie’s newsletter filled with Medium writing prompts to spark your creativity.
Want to read more? Or even join Medium as a writer? Join Medium and have unlimited access to so many excellent writers & get started on your own Medium writing journey.
Let’s connect: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook Writing Group
✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2022 all rights reserved.
