Nearly three years removed from days spent stumbling around a traditional southern university, Manny felt at home in the Brooks Brothers casual look and aspired to one day be ringmaster of the bible belt political circus. He had never been one to adapt quickly, hence his appreciation for the social similarities in throwing back shots …
Where You Wish You Were
Beth leans against the sterilized counter in the hospital room, arms folded. Her daughter Sam lies on the hospital bed picking at the IV in her arm. “Stop that!” Beth hisses. Sam looks at Beth, shakes her head and continues to pick. The pain in Sam’s side when she woke up this morning had been …
The Cleaning Lady
Maria cleans my bedroom and Maria doesn't judge. Maria watches Judge Joe Brown reruns while ironing, but if I want to watch something, Maria hands me the remote. I bet Maria would be the coolest mom. Maria puts Windex on an old cloth she pulled from the plastic basket she keeps in the trunk of her …
Make A Scene With A Charater Exhibiting Really Bad Behavior
For the first time in 16 months, Kaitlyn feels young. Back in Afghanistan, age didn’t matter. Strength did. Strength, and how quickly you could make the right decision under extreme pressure, extreme heat. That’s what kept you alive. That’s why Kaitlyn, at age 19, is home and at the bar tonight, while Fran, and everyone …
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Write A Children’s Story That Takes Place In The Woods
Early early in the morning, when the sun’s rays are just beginning to shine through the branches of the trees, Simon uses his big black nose to push open Kayla’s bedroom door. Kayla is still fast asleep, holding the little stuffed bear she’s had since she was born tightly in her arms. Simon pushes the …
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Going it alone
You wake up and know exactly what time it is. It’s your first thought. Your second thought is to turn off your alarm, which could mean actually turning it off or only turning it off for five to ten more minutes. If that’s the case, if you’re the snooze type, then the second time you …
An Unexpected Gift
Amy tugs on the back of Dad’s shirt. When he turns around, she reaches her hands up and squeezes her fingers open and shut. “Not now, sweetheart. I’m tired.” Amy disobeys and continues tugging on the back of Dad’s shirt. “What did Daddy just say?!” Mom says this without missing a beat between chopping vegetables …
Tenth Anniversary
The whole family shows up. The daughter with the curls, the son in the sweatpants, the wife with the thin hair and tired eyes, and his sister because she’s in town. They’re all there. The room smells like coffee and the air is thick and warm with a kind of love only those in the …
Pick a classic fairy tale, and set it in your modern-day hometown
Fifteen miles off the New Jersey coastline lives a beautiful mermaid. She has a turquoise tale that shimmers when the light catches it and long red hair that flows serenely through the water. She spends most of her days swimming around her father’s palace collecting treasures. Her name is Ariel and today is Ariel’s fifteenth …
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Set something on fire
“All I can see is fire. I can almost feel the heat, like it’s glowing off my cheeks. I’ve been there before. Like a place from my childhood, but it’s all on fire now. The flames keep growing in my eyes and it burns. It’s getting hotter and hotter and that’s when I wake up.” …
642 Things to Write About 