If you have been writing to the prompts regularly, well done. If you haven’t followed any prompts yet and you’re here now, this is what matters. Be brave, give it a go and be present. Write and pour your heart on to the page. Write by hand if you can. When the time is up type it up. Explore a new genre if you wish. Look at today’s theme and write what first comes to your mind. If you are an artist who prefers to draw or create other pieces than writing that’s ok too.
Writing is about what you see and how you see it. Others may not want to see what you have to share. It’s your job to tell the story that’s burning inside, even if the pages get to carry too much. Your job as a writer is to write it.
If you use these prompts to make a post or other work please say what inspired you to create and link it back to this post and the Writer Pilgrim by So Elite publication.
If a prompt doesn’t work, make it work for you. Pick an element, a word or an angle and try again and well done for persevering. Be gentle and be kind to yourself.
Previous prompts are available on the Prompt Station starting page. Give all prompts a chance. While you may be inclined to pick and choose, you may want to look more closely at the ones you’re avoiding. It may be that those prompts can offer you some guidance or discovery as you set out to write. Don’t always go for the safe option. Try new things in your writing. That’s what a prompt is for, to play, explore have fun and be silly or serious without planning.
Today’s prompt is:
Set your timer to 5 minutes. If you feel like writing more after the 5 minutes have passed carry on.
This is a 5 minute exercise in writing in long hand and letting your pen lead your words on the page. No judging, no editing, just a stream of words coming out.
These prompts started for the participants of writing workshoppers and have continued to include everyone. You may choose to write to the prompt and keep it private on your notepad. If you decide to post your writing in comments, you may get a comment or like from someone other than me! Can you handle it? This page is online, so only share what you are comfortable with.
I appreciate you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for those of you who post your work and those of you who read, comment and support. Always check back and comment on other participants’ work too.
While you’re here, subscribe please and join in Thursday’s SPAWN session, a Substack social hangout. If you have subscribed, many thanks for supporting independent writing and writers.
The support of paid subscribers keeps the prompts and the Writer Pilgrim page going. If you can, please consider going paid. Thank you! If you find you are too tight with money, share, leave comments and restack Writer Pilgrim stories, poems and prompts. Thank you for being here.
Prompt Station is one of the features of Writer Pilgrim that gets the most views along with SPAWN on Thursdays and Song Title Poetry on the first Friday of the month. For those who want to support me keeping this publication alive, go for one of the paid options and you get the podcast Writer Pilgrim Sounds included.
A Change of View
Adam stood on the deck of the boat gazing down the Thames River.
“It is hard to believe that this is where most of the famous British explorers started their journeys.”
Beth closed her eyes. “I can picture it now. All those little ships being laden with enough supplies for a 6 month journey. They must have been masters at doling out just the right amount of food so that they had enough for a return trip.”
“It must have been a magical time,” added Adam.
“Not really,” explained the Captain. “We have grown to see the world in rich colours but it was anything but that back then. Dirty and grimy with things looking less than clean. It was a different world.” He regarded Adam and Beth closely. “Where you are going is much better than those times. At least in prison you will have 3 square meals a day, some heat in the winter. Some cooling in the summer. All nice and comfortable instead of being beheaded for your crimes.”
“Thank God for that,” Beth stated quietly.
Trust Your Gut
Edward was tired of his fellow master builders. The architects who built sleek monuments to clean, sharp angles. Row after row of rectilinear glass monoliths with washboard abs. Mirroring themselves, who generally were tall, trim, square-jawed, patrician. Clothed in stylish bespoke pinstripes. Edward was an everyman. Portly. Crinkled and rumpled, sprinkled with crumbs. Edward wanted the cityscape to reflect folks like him. Like us. He built a less exclusionary tribute to his imperfect archetype. To stand out from the lean, sterile, perfectly proportioned perpendicular superstructures. Finally, the skyline could boast a high-rise with a bit of a belly!