Before we get started, a preview of a new podcast episode:
Michelle Terrill Heath
Michelle and I met by coincidence at a writer’s conference. Her story and presence touched me so much that I had to get her on Writer Pilgrim Sounds to let her talk about her experience, knowledge and share how she and her family navigate this life as her partner Andy lives with Parkinson’s disease and Michelle is his caregiver.
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.
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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.
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Tillie’s presentation to the funding board was well rehearsed.
“We have food deserts. Right here in London. And not just the unhoused. Whole neighborhoods with no proper grocery stores. This barge will offer them fruit. Vegetables. Fresh produce. They only need to find their way to the shore.”
The matter passed resoundingly.
Afterwards, she was buttonholed by the Chair.
“Wonderful job. No notes.” Then with a smile. “Though you do need to work on that ‘desert’ metaphor.”
Oh Those Vikings!
“It looks like an old viking funeral boat only moderned up to represent present day values,” said Janine with a smile on her face.
“What?” said Sandra, a little more sharply than she intended.
“There is a story about viking funerals where they would put the deceased in a boat, fill it with some of their possessions, light it on fire and send it off to sea.”
“And this boat has flowers rather than a fire.”
“Exactly!”
Sandra looked at the boat as it pulled into the dock. “I wonder how they can see to pilot it?”
“Periscope?” asked Janine with a little laugh.
They walked over to where a man was mooring the boat.
“Ahoy,” called Sandra. “That’s a lot of flowers.”
The man finished his knot and looked up. “We are heading down river to a Viking wedding.”
“Vikings!” goggled Janine with some interest. “There is such a thing as a Viking wedding?
The man smiled. “Yes there is. It takes place on a traditional longship. My niece and her husband are wearing traditional costumes.”
“Horn helmets and,”
He laughed. “No, just more regular day to day costumes from that era.”
“That sounds quite interesting," reflected Sandra.
“Apparently it involves a sword exchange, handfasting and a mead toast.” He smiled as a couple approached. “Excuse me,” he said as he walked toward them and began chatting as he escorted them onto the ship.
“It sounds so romantic,” gushed Sandra.
“Quite original,” enthused Janine. “It’s something to keep in mind,” she reflected as they thought about the possibilities in their future.