The Promptly Written Monthly Theme for March
Let’s spring clean your writing practice
With spring finally emerging how are you feeling? Eager for the season change or not quite ready to say goodbye to your hibernation? January felt like it lasted forever and February was a whirlwind of crazy that has left many of us feeling a little dizzy.
Last month’s theme of the ‘human and animal relationship’ led to so many touching and heartwarming stories of pets and much beloved animals, and it also made space for some fascinating pieces that questioned whether is it right for humans to ‘own’ animals in the first place, and whether that relationship and it’s ethics has changed over the last decade.
Please do check out the top picks for the month as we had some really special pieces in each of the categories, and remember that you can still respond, there is no time limit. Feel free to tag me in your work, I’m fascinated by your responses to this subject.
March is my birthday month… hooray for all the Pisceans out there… and it always leaves me in a celebratory mood as it heralds the spring, the moment of balance during the equinox, and a lighter more hopeful feeling all round.
This month I’m curious about your writing practice. What are your normal habits? To write when the mood takes you, or to set aside allocated writing time and just get to work? Maybe instead of opening the windows and cleaning the external house, this spring could be a time for you to focus on cleaning up your internal world and trying something new.
The theme for March is ‘the writing process and what it means to be a writer’.
For this month I’d like to invite us to explore our writing practice on a deeper level. That might mean you start with a ‘day in the life’ style piece but then realise something you weren’t quite aware of about your own habits and rituals.
Speaking of rituals, what are they? Have you gotten into the habit of using a certain pen, listening to set music, or sitting at your favourite table in the coffee shop or library? What happens when those things are taken away?
Why do you write? Are the words on your pages for yourself or for your readers, and if they aren’t for you, are you speaking to a specific person? And how important is the response of the reader to how you feel about your work?
Do you call yourself a writer when other people ask you what you do? If so, how long did it take for you to own that word? If not, when do you think you’ll be worthy of the title? Who gets to decide that?
For me a writer is a magician, a wizard, a conjuror. A person who can weave whole new worlds into being, who can turn ideas upside down and shift your perspective in ways you never imagined. A writer is a person who can invoke a sensation in your body so vividly you feel connected across time and space. A person who can make you laugh, cry or rise up against an injustice. A writer is a very powerful thing, do you feel powerful?
Before I give you some writing sparks and a few quotes that might just help get the creativity flowing, here is how to use the monthly theme…
1. Write specific poems, fiction, essays, or articles related to the theme — try using the Writing Sparks.
2. Choose a Weekly prompt or select a Writing Spark, and center your piece around the theme.
3. Remember to tag your work appropriately (Poetry, Fiction, Essay, or Articles) and use ‘Monthly Theme’ if your work is centered around the theme.
Writing Sparks
1. How has writing helped you throughout your life? Do you have a secret diary, or is your blog your space to share the inner workings of your world? Do you think people share too much?
2. We say everyone has a story in them but are all stories worth reading? Now that it is easier than ever to be published, is it harder to find ‘good’ writing and should everyone put their work out there, or publish a book?
3. Reflect on what you’ve learnt about the life of a writer so far. What has been the response of the people in your daily world, are they supportive or doubting? Do they read your work, or leave it untouched, and how does that feel? What has writing meant to you, is it a type of therapy or are you sharing to help others, inform others, or some other reason? Do you need a reason to write?
4. Who is your favourite writer and whose writing inspires you? Do you have a writing hero or heroine?
Bonus Prompt — Consider the following quotes:
‘Writing to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.” ― Issac Asimov
‘The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.’ — Anais Nin
“Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.” — Stephen King
“Writing is something you do alone. It’s a profession for introverts who want to tell you a story but don’t want to make eye contact while doing it.” — John Green
“Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.” — Neil Gaiman
Have a creative month, and maybe offer yourself room to play. Try a new style of writing, be a poet for a day or maybe try fiction for a week. Share what works and what doesn’t, your favourite books on writing or what advice you’d give to a newbie. I can’t wait to see your responses!
Important Reminder
Write what comes to mind, don’t try to shape it or edit, let that first draft flow out of you like a stream of consciousness in direct response to wherever inspiration took you.
Only after that and perhaps a little time, should you reread and polish. We want to see your passion and excitement for your stories, and it’s what you write best.
Best Wishes
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