Journaling...Loss

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Loss--Have you ever grieved the loss of someone you had never met in person? If so, write about that. If not, write about, well...anything else!


When he came on the movie scene, I fell instantly in love.  It wasn't just looks; it was his personality and the promise of what would come.  Who am I talking about?  Heath Ledger.  When he died, it was one of the saddest days of my life.  He was my favorite actor.  I felt like I had a connection with him.  It's hard to explain.  In the film, "The Patriot", his character's name was Gabriel.  I so admired that character and his portrayal that I named my older son Gabriel.  Kind of a legacy, so to speak.  I miss a person that I never knew, but I did know that he had great promise.  It was acknowledged with an OSCAR. So sad that it had to be awarded posthumously.  I do a tribute post to Heath on my blog every year on the anniversary of his death.  He deserves to be remembered.


You are greatly missed, Heathcliff Ledger.

Journaling...Peace

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Peace--For you to consider your environment a peaceful one, what is the most important element it must include?


I absolutely must have complete silence.  By this, I mean no yelling and bickering boy noises constantly in the background.  I love my boys, I really do, but sometimes I really need a Calgon tidal wave to take me away!

Journaling...Layers

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Layers--Respond to the prompt, "multiple layers."


The multiple "emotional" layers of being a writer:

• determination
• exhilaration
• despair
• mania
• pride
• excitement

Did I miss any?

ROW80 Check-In 7/10/11 and Journaling...Love/Hate

I didn't check in on Wednesday because it was only two days from the starting date and I didn't accomplish anything anyway.  Yeah, the Camp NaNoWriMo thing is not going so well so far.  I have my novel pretty well fleshed out in my head, but I'm having issues with actually putting words on paper.  I'm also realizing that I may have to throw in the towel on it, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  I have not made that decision yet.  I'm going to give myself a little more time to commit.  So, revamped goals:

• I need to write about 2400 words a day now if I'm going to meet the 50,000 word goal.
• daily journaling (see below for today's entry)
• work on flash fiction story (haven't decided 100% if I'm going to enter this month or not)

I have to keep telling myself...keep on keeping on.  All is not lost until you let it be.

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Love/hate:  With whom (or with what) do you have a love/hate relationship?


I love books and I love reading.  I hate how slow I read, how backlogged I am on review books, and I really hate how I let myself get distracted from reading...TV and internet being the culprits.  So that could also be a love/hate relationship with TV and the internet! That's a whole other story....

Journaling...Friday Fiction: Straw

Today is Friday Fiction at The One-Minute Writer.  The prompt is Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Straw."  From C. Beth...Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.


The straw in the abandoned barn smelled musty and damp.  He didn't care though.  Any place was good enough for him as long as he could hide safely.  He looked down at the iron shackle still hooked on his ankle.  The master had kept him chained because he knew he was a runner.  Somehow the chain had been weak and he was able to break it with a hatchet easily.  He had been on the run for days before finding the barn.  He climbed into the loft and settled down behind some bales of hay.  He could hear the baying of the dogs in the distance.  He could only pray they would not search the barn.  As it turned out, a futile prayer.


Inspired by my current read, Roots by Alex Haley.

Journaling...Houseguest and One-Minute Writing of the Day 6/24/11

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Houseguest--Write about a houseguest you've had, or a time you were a houseguest.


My Mom and I were just talking about this the other day.  When she still lived in Michigan, she would come down and visit me at least twice a year.  I had a nice little guest room for her (before I had kids).  It was so nice to wake up with her there.  Sometimes she would be up first, making coffee.  Sometimes I would get up first and go in and wake her up.  Although it's wonderful having her living in the same town now, sometimes we miss the special feeling of those visits.

Since joining in on The One-Minute Writer daily writing prompts on May 18, 2011, I have won the One-Minute Writing of the Day three times and the One-Minute Writer of the Week once! My latest win for One-Minute Writer of the Day (that I didn't even know I had won...duh!) was for the Friday Fiction prompt of "Watch" which I wrote on June 24, 2011.  Here is what I wrote which warranted me a win:

Richard had worked on the night watch in the Tower for years. He patrolled the required areas silently. He didn't like working in the Tower. Too many souls had passed through its doors to the scaffold. It was a dismal place. As he was passing the quarters which housed the prisoners of high status, he heard a woman's voice. He looked through the small window in the door and saw a slight, pretty woman on her knees, praying fervently. She had a courageous air about her and there was a strange heavenly light surrounding her head. He was astounded by the apparent strength emanating from her...she who was destined for the executioner's sword on the morrow. He hung his head, his spirit much afflicted, and continued down the corridor.

Journaling...Trip

Today's One-Minute Writer prompt is:  Trip--Write about a memorable trip you took before the age of 18.


When I was ten, my family went on a two week vacation tour of the New England states (some of them).  We visited Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.  We visited the Carnegie Institute, a marble quarry, a castle (Wilson Castle) that a man built for the woman he loved, and much more.  It was one of our best vacations! I so loved Vermont that I used to say I was going to move there when I grew up.  There's still time! ;O)