September Themes

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace - Name of Piece")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

The Writer's Terrace and The Poet's Corner

The story takes place five years into the future. During the story, there is a sudden windfall of money and a character becomes antisocial at some point.

Back to School!

Summer has drawn to a close in the northern hemisphere and many are preparing to go back to school. For some this involves elementary through to college. For others - the whole concept is just a memory.

Write a story or poem about SCHOOL MEMORIES - past or present.

Below are two Alan Ayers paintings. Write a poem or story inspired by either of them, or both!

The Literary Lounge

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "Love is..."

The Phrase Phase

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

The Phrase Phase

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ~Edwin Way Teale

The Phrase Phase

"To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid"

The Phrase Phase

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance. - Yoko Ono

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "It seemed like a good idea last night, but in the light of day...."

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Fall

Literally Lyrical

How did we get so mean?
How do we just move on?
How do you feel in the morning when it comes
And everythings undone?
Is it 'cause we wanna be free?
Well that's not me.
Normally I'm so strong
I just can't wake up on the floor
Like a thousand times before
knowing that forever wont be

("Mean" by Pink)

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

View #1

What things in life sustain you emotionally?

View #2

Do you feel you’re too old to pursue your dreams?

The Word Alcove

skulk \SKUHLK\, intransitive verb:
1. To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lurk.
2. To move about in a stealthy way.
3. To avoid responsibilities and duties.
4. One who skulks.
5. A group of foxes.

bestow \bih-STOH\, transitive verb:
1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer.
2. To apply; use.

gauche \GOHSH\, adjective:
Lacking social polish; tactless; awkward; clumsy.

ineffable \in-EF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Incapable of being expressed in words; unspeakable; unutterable; indescribable.
2. Not to be uttered; taboo.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

August Challenge Themes

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace - Name of Piece")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

The Writer's Terrace and The Poet's Corner

Fan-fiction

This is a popular form of writing where you take an already existing story and characters and write your own story using those characters and even introducing new ones into your own story.

It's SummerTime!

It's summer in the northern hemisphere and many are enjoying summer vacations, days at the beach and the glorious summer sunshine.

Write a story or poem about SUNSHINE

A Picture Tellss a Thousand Words

Below are two Alan Ayers paintings. Write a poem or story inspired by either of them, or both!

The Literary Lounge

Imagination Prompt

Write about the association of fragrance and memory

The Phrase Phase

"To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid"

"Recipe" Challenge

Write a poem in the form of a recipe by gathering the ingredients and then the "baking" method

Imagination/Number Challenge

Write using the number TWO in whatever way inspires you

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "I feel depressed because..."

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence - "It seemed like a good idea last night, but in the light of day...."

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Age

Literally Lyrical

How did we get so mean?

How do we just move on?

How do you feel in the morning when it comes

And everythings undone?

Is it 'cause we wanna be free?

Well that's not me.

Normally I'm so strong

I just can't wake up on the floor

Like a thousand times before

knowing that forever wont be

("Mean" by Pink)

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

View #1

Will there ever be world peace? Explain.

View #2

Do you feel you’re too old to pursue your dreams?

The Word Alcove

skulk \SKUHLK\, intransitive verb:

1. To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lurk.

2. To move about in a stealthy way.

3. To avoid responsibilities and duties.

4. One who skulks.

5. A group of foxes.

bestow \bih-STOH\, transitive verb:

1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer.

2. To apply; use.

gauche \GOHSH\, adjective:
Lacking social polish; tactless; awkward; clumsy.

ineffable \in-EF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Incapable of being expressed in words; unspeakable; unutterable; indescribable.
2. Not to be uttered; taboo.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

July Challenge Themes

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

The Writer's Terrace and The Poet's Corner

Twilight - New Moon - Eclipse - Breaking Dawn

....these are the titles of each book in the Twilight series.

Write a poem or story using all of these words in whatever way they inspire you.

Christmas in July

Here in Australia many places have such an event as this is our winter but what if the northern hemisphere celebrated in their summer? What if we "traded places" so to speak and Christmas was in winter for us and summer for others?

Write a poem or story inspired by the following picture:

The Literary Lounge

Imagination Prompt

If chocolate was a vegetable

"Recipe" Challenge

Bake a Friendship Cake in the form of a poem

ABC Challenge

Write an ABC poem - like an Acrostic where each line begins with the next letter of the alphabet. Can be as short or as long as you like.

Imagination/Number Challenge

Write using the number SEVEN in whatever way inspires you

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Hope

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

Who would you trust most with your life? Why?

The Word Alcove

affray \uh-FRAY\, noun:
A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl.

ebullient \ih-BUL-yuhnt\, adjective:

1. Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; high-spirited.

2. Boiling up or over.

prescience \PREE-shuns; PREE-shee-uns; PRESH-uns; PRESH-ee-uns; PREE-see-uns; PRES-ee-uns\, noun:

Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight.

--prescientadjective

verdant \VUR-dnt\, adjective:

1. Green with vegetation; covered with green growth.

2. Green.

3. Lacking experience or sophistication; naive.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

June Challenges

The Writer's Terrace  and  The Poet's Corner

 

You or your main character awakens at night and hears an unfamiliar noise. Throughout the course of the story or poem, describe the noise, investigate its source, and surprise us with what is going on. Make your story or poem have an unexpected twist at the end.

 

What if....today's most commonplace technology was mind control? 

 

Envision....A fusion of the story of Jesus and the Legend of Robin Hood

 

Write a story or poem inspired by the following picture:  

 

The Literary Lounge

(used to prompt any form of writing that inspires you - poem, stories, articles, letters etc.)

 

Literally Lyrical

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

If today was your last day

(Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day)

 

Literally Lyrical

When it's good, then it's good, it's so good till it goes bad 

Till you're trying to find the you that you once had 

I have heard myself cry, never again 

Broken down in agony just tryna find a fit 

(Pink ~ Sober)

 

The Phrase Phase

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.  ~ Unknown

 

Imagination Prompt

Searching for an identity

 

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Madness

Monologue Challenge (a story from your single perspective with no dialogue whatsoever)

Describe a view from a window - what do you see, how does it make you feel etc.

 

 

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

 

When someone asks for your opinion, are you always honest? Why or why not?

 

 

The Word Alcove

nettlesome \NET-l-suhm\, adjective:

Causing irritation, vexation, or distress.

dissolute \DIS-uh-loot\, adjective:

Loose in morals and conduct; marked by indulgence in sensual pleasures or vices.

disheveled \dih-SHEV-uhld\, adjective;

(also dishevelled): 

In loose disorder; disarranged; unkempt; as, "disheveled hair."

drown   \droun\, verb;

v.   drowned, drown·ing, drowns

To kill or destroy by water or other liquid

To flood or inundate.

Synonyms: deluge, engulf, submerge, drench, soak

taciturn \TAS-uh-turn\, adjective:

Habitually silent; not inclined to talk.

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

May Challenges

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Retreat - TITLE OF YOUR PIECE")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

 

 

The Writer's Retreat

 

Write a mother's day story with a bittersweet twist

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Theme: Life-after-death relationship

Main character: burnt-out writer

Setting: History meets Modern Day

Begins with: A letter

Ends with: Reconciliation

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

What if....today's most commonplace technology was mind control?

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Envision....A fusion of the story of Jesus and the Legend of Robin Hood

 

 

The Poet's Corner

 

Write a tribute to motherhood

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Write a poem inspired by the following picture: 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Write a poem that describes a view - from a window, a rooftop, a desk, and a satellite, whatever.

 

 

The Literary Lounge

 

I AM Challenge

Write a poem describing yourself with the words I AM

 

Imagination Prompt/Fill in the Blanks

I wish I had a million_________, then I would___________

 

Imagination Prompt

Finish this sentence and then keep on going: "I knew instantly........."

 

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Silence

Picture Prompt

  

Room with a View

(these can be shared through poetry, article, letter or just a friendly banter and conversation)

 

Are (all) writer's procrastinators? Share with us your thoughts.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

When someone asks for your opinion, are you always honest? Why or why not?

 

 

The Word Alcove

 senescent \si-NES-uhnt\, adjective:
Growing old; aging.

somnolent \SOM-nuh-luhnt\, adjective:

1. Sleepy; drowsy; inclined to sleep.

2. Tending to cause sleepiness or drowsiness.

ephemeral \ih-FEM-er-ul\, adjective:

1. Beginning and ending in a day; existing only, or no longer than, a day; as, an ephemeral flower.

2. Short-lived; existing or continuing for a short time only.

irascible \ih-RASS-uh-buhl\, adjective:

Prone to anger; easily provoked to anger; hot-tempered.

sanguine \SANG-gwin\, adjective, noun;

1. cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident

2. reddish; ruddy

3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc.

4. blood-red; red

5. Heraldry. a reddish-purple tincture.

6. a red iron-oxide crayon used in making drawings

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

Thank you Selina for your contribution to the Nook last month!

April Challenges

Here are your challenges for the Month. You may do as many or as few as you choose.

All compositions MUST be written by you.

The following are prompts to help inspire you - you are free to share other writings as well. If you participate in these challenges just be sure to Identify the Room you are writing in (ie "The Writer's Terrace")

PLEASE NOTE: the new room - "Room with a View" for group discussions and also writings inspired by the topic. For the writer who writes "from a particular view".

Remember...be creative and have fun!

 

 

The Writer's Retreat

 

You wake on April Fools morning and look out the window with a sense of deja vu. The scene before you plays out as it had done yesterday - everything is the same. Even the song on the radio. And you wonder -what is this? A Groundhog version of April Fools Day?

 

Regale us with your adventures when you find yourself locked within a Chocolatier's heaven at Easter

 

 

The Poet's Corner

 

Write a poem about Blessings or being Blessed

 

Regale us with your adventures when you find yourself locked within a Chocolatier's heaven at Easter

 

Write a poem that describes a view - from a window, a rooftop, a desk, and a satellite, whatever.

 

 

The Literary Lounge

 

Alliteration Challenge

Write a poem using alliteration called "Hippity Hoppity"

 

April Fools Challenge

Entertain us with an April Fools prank played either on or by you. Something from your childhood maybe? Your teen years? Or even recent. It doesn't matter. Tell it from your perspective (in the first person) - poem or story

 

Imagination Prompt

Write a poem or story beginning with "When I'm surrounded by negativity I...."

 

Word Association

Take the following word, associate it with another and use that as the theme for your poem or story - Taboo

 

 

Room with a View

 

Are (all) writer's procrastinators? Share with us your thoughts.

 

 

The Word Alcove

 

jape \JAYP\, noun, verb:

1. A joke or jest.

2. A trick or prank.

3. To joke; to jest.

4. To make fun of; to mock.

 

feckless \FEK-lis\, adjective:

1. Ineffective; having no real worth or purpose.

2. Worthless; irresponsible; generally incompetent and ineffectual.

equine \EE-kwahyn, EK-wahyn\, adjective:

of, pertaining to, or resembling a horse: a bold, equine face.

acute \uh-KYOOT\, adjective:

1. acting keenly on the senses; sharp

2. quick in discernment; drawing fine distinctions

3. of an angle, less than 90 degrees

4. happening quickly, briefly, and severely

sanguine \SANG-gwin\, adjective, noun;

1. cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident

2. reddish; ruddy

3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc.

4. blood-red; red

5. Heraldry. a reddish-purple tincture.

6. a red iron-oxide crayon used in making drawings

The Book Nook

Share with us a Book you have read recently. Review it and tell us what you think of it. Don't forget to include Title, author and ISBN (google it, if in doubt)

March Challenge

The Taboo Challenge

I have but one challenge for you all to try.  I set this out in another group and it has proved to be both fun and a success.

It is what I call The Taboo Challenge

 

Choose a cartoon character and a famous/infamous person from history (either living or dead)

 

THEN

 

You are to write a poem about YOUR CARTOON CHARACTER and YOUR FAMOUS/INFAMOUS PERSON FROM HISTORY - meeting, on an adventure together, whatever - WITHOUT mentioning their names within your poem.  The reader is not to know WHO you are writing about - yet.  You can do this in any way you choose. Describing them (nothing too obvious of course...just little clues) and what they may get up to in your poem.  When you are done, send it back through the list.  Your title also must NOT have anything in it that gives away who your characters or names are.

February Challenges

Write a poem on "For the love of Chocolate" -

Share with us your loves and likes that knows no bounds....and take us on a chocoholic's journey through Cadbury hills and the Lindt Alps.

Challenge words (all beginning with C) you MUST include are:

captivate

calories

coax

choice

consummate

conspicuous

Come on, you chocoholics - I know you're out there.  Come out, come out, where ever you are.....lol

 

 

Word Association/Prompt

Think of a word (any word) you associate with PASSION and then use that word as the basis of your poem or story

(Don't forget to include the word you "associated")

 

 

First Person Challenge

You wake up on the golden sands of a seemingly deserted beach with no memory of how you got there. With the pristine waters lapping at your feet you try to collect your thoughts....but before you are able to make any sense of them you hear a noise behind you.

 

 

Sunday Sunday

Write about your typical Sunday afternoon

January Challenges

"Promise for the New Year"

Think of a word that holds "promise" - just ONE WORD - write about what that word, and its promise, mean to you and why you think it is important for 2009. In poetry, prose or article...or any form you wish.

 

"A Day in the Life of your pet"

Write about a day in the life of your pet. This would be especially effective in "dear diary" form.

 

"A Paradoxial Parody"

paradox (noun) - a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

Write a parody to a song or ditty in paradoxial form.

 

"An Archaic Acrostic"

archaic (adjective) - marked by the characteristics of an earlier period; antiquated: an archaic manner; an archaic notion.

Write an acrostic which takes on the form of the word archaic or any other word with the same or similar meaning. ie: antiquated or nostalgic.

 

"I Had a Dream..."

Write a poem or story beginning with the line "I had a dream..."

 

The Word Alcove

hapless \HAP-lis\, adjective:
unlucky; unfortunate

 

fastidious \fa-STID-ee-uhs\, adjective:
hard to please; extremely refined or critical

 

daunt \dawnt, dahnt\, verb:

1. to frighten; overcome with fear
2. to discourage; lesson the courage of

 

candor \KAN-der\, noun:

1. honesty in giving one's view or opinion; frankness and sincerity
2. fairness; impartiality

 

cached \kasht\, adjective:

1. stored; hidden
2. in computing, stored in a part of memory used as a cache

hackneyed \HAK-need\, adjective:
1. used too often; commonplace
2. habituated; experienced

relegate \REL-uh-gayt\, transitive verb:
1. To assign to an inferior position, place, or condition.
2. To assign to an appropriate category or class.
3. To assign or refer (a matter or task, for example) to another for appropriate action.
4. To send into exile; to banish.

irascible \ih-RASS-uh-buhl\, adjective:
Prone to anger; easily provoked to anger; hot-tempered.

indelible \in-DEL-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. That cannot be removed, erased, or washed away.
2. Making marks that cannot easily be removed or erased.
3. Incapable of being forgotten; memorable.