A Newsletter from Flint & Steel

Sparks №42: Where Do You Give a Piece of Your Heart?

A roundup of Flint & Steel articles and September writing prompts across Medium-land

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ― Mother Teresa

Happy beginning of September, my friends. Here we are at the last stretch of the year. I must say, as a mother of two teenage boys, I’m eager for my kids to return to school this week. A return to our routine, even though it means a busier schedule for us all.

Today is Labor Day, which means the last day of a slow-paced, long weekend. Besides being Labor Day in the United States, today is also International Day of Charity. This day was selected because it marks the day Mother Teresa passed away.

So my question for you this week is tell me about a charity that is dear to your heart. Or volunteer work that you have done in the past that you will never forget. Or a time you have needed the charity of others. How did that feel for you, to ask for help? And how has it felt to give back?

Remember giving of charity does not have to mean money; it can be of your time. It can be a small moment or something bigger.

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” — Mother Teresa

Full Circle Writing Challenge

I’m in awe of the submissions in response to the “Full Circle” writing challenge. Thank you to all the writers who have submitted so far and remember you still have plenty of time to write and submit.

Judy Walker wrote,

“Like white waters, change is unpredictable. It will pull us down, spit us out, spin us around in an eddy, and then as if nothing had happened, we’re floating down easy stream once again. That’s the beauty and charm of change and also its downfall.”

Susan Poole wrote,

“I’ll forever picture my kids’ faces when the school bus drives past my house without pause. Moments of melancholy will always arise, and I wonder whether I’ll ever stop wishing for a time machine to send me back.”

Bingz Huang wrote,

“Launching this first book into the world set off profound shifts within me. In my first book, I shared the idea of how we need to keep processing our thoughts and feelings intuitively, such as through dancing, singing, and writing.”

Susan Poole wrote,

“Fear of dying transcends from the periphery.

No longer obscure,

But a real danger —

Grounded in lab results.”

Jason Edmunds wrote,

“These are questions that pop into his mind regularly. It’s his daily struggle — heavy stuff for a 12-year-old boy to handle.”

Courtney Capone wrote,

“Can you call it a memory if you don’t actually remember it? It’s more of a story that I’ve been told so much that it feels like a memory but those shoes were slipped onto my feet when I was only two years old.”

I hope everyone has an inspiring week ahead!

✨ 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.

Freewriting Friday: Full Circle

Adrienne Beaumont wrote,

“I have come full circle. 72 years ago I was in a hospital named Brisbane Women’s Hospital. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t get out of bed. I wore a nappy which I happily pooped and peed. I had to have soft foods — mother’s milk.

Today I am in a hospital named Brisbane Private Hospital. Oh have I come up in the world!”

Your Fiction

DR Rawson — The Possibilist wrote,

“Do you see the young man in front of the building? His name is Miguel. He’s a law school graduate. He also has a world-class education in global finance. Unassuming, right?”

Book Reviews

Penny Grubb wrote,

“One, in particular, was that Meghan originally intended to write a contemporary tale, but found herself struggling not to drown her opening chapters in backstory until it occurred to her that it was the backstory that was the real story.”

Elin Melaas wrote,

“This summer, I’ve jumped on the trend of reading #BookTok — recommendations on TikTok. I have genuinely enjoyed the books! I wouldn’t have found them if it wasn’t for #booktok (hence the subtitle ‘TikTok made me read it’).”

Wynth wrote,

“This escapism/reality blend is a somewhat obvious metaphor for what is happening today — except this book was written over a decade ago, when the runaway escapism of Western society wasn’t nearly as discussed as today.”

Elin Melaas wrote,

“If you like fast-paced action, engaging characters, page-turners, and cool plots — read on.”

The Collection of Flint & Steel Articles

✨ Welcome To Our Newest Writers ✨

The Truth As I Know It, Michele Maize (The Sober Vegan Yogi), Jason Edmunds, Sanghita Pal, DR Rawson — The Possibilist

Calls for Submission

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, the focus is connecting the dots, tied in with our full-circle writing challenge.

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

Check out the previous 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!

⌚ Nancy Blackman posted 30-day writing challenges for both Refresh the Soul and The Shortform. You will find a lot of inspiration between the two.

Dennett, with Weeds & Wildflowers, posted their September prompt (can respond to any of their deadlines whenever you wish) asking what you are looking forward to in September.

⌚ Jason Edmunds, with A Taste for Life, posted their September theme of celebration.

⌚ Ellie Jacobson, with Six Word Photo Story Challenge, posted their September prompt of “comfort.”

⌚ Randy Runtsch, with Wildlife Trekker, posted their September challenge, featuring arthropods.

Amanda Laughtland, with The DIY Diaries, posted their call for Halloween submissions.

⌚ Sharing Randomly, with Thank You Notes, shared their September challenge, celebrating national festivities.

⌚ Jason Edmunds posted guidelines for The Engagement Club (great idea!). “The aim is to read or listen to stories participants shared with the community. We engage with the story by highlighting, clapping, and leaving a meaningful comment.”

Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), with The Brain is a Noodle, shared their latest #WritingPrompt: Write about a space, whether a bedroom or a house, an office space, or any other liminal environment you have come to miss.

Nicole Dake, with The Orange Journal, posted their September prompts.

Christine Graves, with Enticing the Muse, posted some fun mid-week motivational prompts.

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, 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, Randy Runtsch, Susan Alison, Indra Raj Pathak, Ash Moonlight, Jesse M Hawthorne, Denise Darby, Laura Jevtich, Eira Braun-Labossiere 🌻, Donna J. Allen, Sarah-Jane W., Ginger Bangs, Rebecca Frailich, James Jordan, David L. Davis, Nicholas Tarleton, Courtney Capone, Agnes, Kunal Mehra, Gauri Sirur, Nancy Blackman, Dr. Preeti Singh, Rosy Gee, Lisa M. Gott, Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages, Mridul Vijay, Patrick OConnell, Beth Peterson, Wynth, Annie Trevaskis, Judy Walker

. . . and our 243 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.

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✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2022 all rights reserved.