For our first challenge, we’re going to start with something
simple. A good, old fashioned writing prompt. Now, before I give you the
prompt, there's a rule that I would like you to try and follow. Try to write at
least four hundred words in response. Or, if you would like to do a poem, try
to do a minimum of three stanzas (or the equivalent).
Why am I asking you to do this? Well, as I've mentioned
before, one of the main points of this blog is for both my readers and I to
challenge ourselves; both in how we think about writing, and how we actually
write. By having goals to reach, we’re redeveloping new skills. Many
of you – especially those of who would like to go into journalism – will have a
word limit that you will have to deal with, so getting into the mind set of
reaching a certain amount of words will be good practice.
But enough of my blabbering, on to the prompt! And the
prompt for this week will be:
Why do you write?
Now, as simple as this question may seem, I think that this
is a chance for you and I to think about why we do what we do. So, why do you
write? And how did you start writing? Is it some kind of emotional, or even
physical, release for you? Or is writing the way you try to bring some new kind
of truth into the world?
With these questions in mind, you and I now have seven days
to complete this challenge! So get ready, get set and get writing!
This is called "Pens and Swords" and it goes like this. (clears throat)...
ReplyDeleteThere are multiple reasons for picking up the pen
And putting away the sword and bringing the battle to an end
Money is always the easiest reason
Even if those jobs are far out of season
The urge to create is like a feeding frenzy
That doesn’t stop even after writing the ending
Staying relevant in a town with no scene
Is always a goal regardless of the pipe dream
Speaking my mind in these treacherous waters
Keeps these elections and debates from becoming slaughters
Maybe I just write because it’s a ton of fun
It’d be my only hobby if I could only choose one
Maybe I was never meant to jockey a cashbox
Or sweep the floors or peddle crack rock
Or couch surf my way to the top of the mountain
Or siphon from the rich like a financial fountain
Maybe all I want is a bright future ahead
A swimming pool out back and a woman in my bed
A personal driver to take me to Mickey D’s
A cruise ship to take me to the adventurous seas
I actually thought the American Dream
Would come true as easily as it always seemed
Just pick up a pen and translate my thoughts
But it just may be all for naught
Studying literature and the ways of ink
Have nothing on text messages and internet links
Now I know why they call it a dream
Because being asleep is the only way to believe