The exercise:
Merry Christmas! It's been a crazy year. I hope your holiday season has brought with it some peace and joy and a reminder that better days are coming.
Write four lines of prose about: there is a star that shines tonight.
Showing posts with label Christmas Prompt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Prompt. Show all posts
Thursday December 24th, 2020
The exercise:
Merry Christmas Eve! I finished work at 12:30 today and will be off until January 4th. Very much looking forward to this break.
Write about: we three kings.
Saturday December 19th, 2020
The exercise:
Hmm. A prompt that is both Christmassy and is suitable for the penultimate entry in Greg's yearlong poem. Let's see...
How about this. Write a four line poem about: it was on a starry night.
Friday December 18th, 2020
The exercise:
Only one week until Christmas? Hmm.
Write four lines of prose about: the jingling bells.
Monday December 6th, 2010
The exercise:
Today we write about: Christmas lights.
Too soon? Nah. Plus, this Coldplay song is stuck in my head something fierce.
Did some painting and kitchen sink work today. Oh, and we finally got the medicine cabinet off the floor and onto the bathroom wall (where it will hopefully be safer from harm). The sink just needs a few more parts and it'll be all hooked up - maybe tomorrow night.
I need to get on my Christmas writing. Dad, if you're reading this, send me your words already! :)
Mine:
His wife stood in the front yard being swallowed by her parka as she stared up at him on the roof. He gave her an encouraging wave which was not returned.
"You're sure this won't be a repeat of last year?" she called up to him. "And the five years before that?"
"Nope, I've got it all figured out this time around," he replied, adjusting the life-size Santa ornament so that it could be more easily seen from street level. "I promise!"
"But it looks like you have even more lights this year," she countered, eyeing the double string along the fence and the fir tree in the front yard that was struggling to remain upright under the weight of all its decorations. "Like, twice as many."
"That's why I have four backup generators going! Don't worry, sweetheart! It's going to be amazing!"
He climbed down the ladder and joined her in the front yard. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he produced a remote control from his pocket and aimed it at the house. With a wink at his wife, he pressed the button.
Friday December 25th, 2009
The exercise:
Mine:
I've written a lot of words throughout this year. Some here, some on Protagonize, far too many in November.
But today I'm going to keep it simple: I hope you all have a wonderfully happy holiday, be safe, and be good to each other.
And thank you so much for dropping by, whether it's once a day, once a week, or once a year, to share your writing and your thoughts - it means a lot to me.
Thursday December 24th, 2009
The exercise:
Mine:
Rudolph is stretching out his legs,
Elves are adding the final pegs,
Santa is dusting off his sled,
And kids can hardly stay in bed.
For one night every year,
Both young and old are filled with cheer;
All differences are set aside,
And peace and love gently collide.
I give thanks for this joyous night,
And though it is a warming sight -
I simply cannot help but wish
Every night was just like this.
Wednesday December 23rd, 2009
The exercise:
Two days to go!
And, at his urging, mine is a continuation of what I wrote on Sunday.
Kat and I are off to Osoyoos this morning, so I'll see you when we get back on Sunday. Hopefully the scheduled posts will go up properly and keep you company in my stead, should you have a chance to drop by during this very busy time of year.
Mine:
I wrapped my red scarf around my neck and struggled into my white winter jacket as the end of my shift drew near. The instant the clock’s electronic display changed from 7:59 to 8:00 I locked the front door, slung my purse over my right shoulder, and let the tension drain from my forehead. After checking to make sure the safe had been properly secured (the lock could be a bit tricky and I’d been called out by my boss for leaving it unlocked twice already, even though I thought I had) I switched off the main lights and moved to the back of the shop.
Placing my light pink toque over my short blonde hair and wriggling my fingers into my red wool mittens, I took a moment to ready myself for the cold outside. I could hear the wind howling on the other side of the door and struggled to stop myself from shivering before I even left the heat of the flower shop behind. On a sudden whim I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present and take a cab home instead of waiting around for the bus.
Sucking in a lungful of warm air, I pushed the door open and stepped out into the white night. Once I heard the door click shut behind me I lowered my head and forced my legs through the knee-high snow in the alley. As I reached the sidewalk I saw husbands and wives struggling under the burden of too many gifts in too few bags and couldn’t stop the sneer that sprung to my face.
Ah, the joys of being single and not being on speaking terms with your family – no need for all that nonsense.
Without much hope I looked up and down the street, searching for an unoccupied, on duty cab, and was surprised to find one heading my way on the heavily salted asphalt. I waved my arm and, to my even greater surprise, it actually pulled to a stop.
“Corner of Sage and Timber Avenue, please,” I said as I crawled into the back seat.
“Sure thing, honey,” the cabbie called over his shoulder before bringing us away from the curb.
Oh great, another man who thinks with the wrong head.
But, to my deep pleasure, that was the only comment he made as we wove through the crowded streets. He had his radio set to a jazz station and it was a sweet relief from all the Christmas carols I had been inundated with in recent weeks. When we came to my street I reached for my purse almost reluctantly.
“How much?” I asked as I fumbled for my wallet.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” he said with a warm smile that actually seemed genuine. “I was heading this way anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Have a merry Christmas.”
I nodded my thanks, too stunned to find the proper words, and stepped from the car hardly believing what had just happened. I stood in the blowing snow and watched him drive away until his tail lights faded into the night. Then I turned to walk down my street and, right in the middle of my bleakest winter, a real, honest to goodness smile came to my lips.
Tuesday December 22nd, 2009
The exercise:
Your Two Haiku Tuesday prompt, coming at you with just three short days until Christmas, is: oh Christmas tree.
Man, I used to love those Claymation specials.
Mine:
So many presents
Beneath my boughs... but I know
That none are for me.
* * *
The wooden angel
Atop the tree would not fly
Away if she could
Monday December 21st, 2009
The exercise:
Your prompt for this final Monday before Christmas: chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
Yes, I know the actual title is The Christmas Song. But I think the name pretty much everyone knows it by is a better prompt, so nyah.
Mine:
He is being swallowed
By his parka,
This man who roasts
And sells
Chestnuts in the park.
He is no king,
But he does
Use coal.
And he does
Want you to have
A merry, merry Christmas.
But he'd also
Really appreciate it
If you have
Exact change.
Sunday December 20th, 2009
The exercise:
Today's prompt is the classic: jingle bells.
I just discovered Sinatra's version of the song today and it's making me feel very mellow.
Mine:
The silver bells attached to the top of the front door jingled as yet another snow-encrusted customer entered, bringing a blast of cold air with him. I stood a little closer to the portable heater I had placed at the foot of the cash register and tucked my chin into my sweater.
"Hey there good looking," he said as he sauntered over, pulling off his black leather gloves. "Merry Christmas!"
You've got to be kidding me.
"Merry Christmas," I reply with a bright smile that swallows my pride.
"I'll get a dozen roses," he said as he leans an elbow on the table. "The exact shade of your hair, if you've got 'em."
And are these for the missus or the mistress?
"I'm sure I've got something close," I replied with a wink before disappearing into the back. I dug around until I found the bucket of roses nearest to death and bundled them up in white wrapping paper and a red ribbon. As I returned to the register I caught him admiring his reflection in the glass window. "How about these?"
"Just like your smile: perfect."
I think I just threw up in my mouth.
"That'll be thirty-five dollars," I told him, adding on an extra ten dollars that he'll never know about.
Saturday December 19th, 2009
The exercise:
Only two days of work left before my Christmas vacation. I'll be spending the holiday this year with Kat's family in Osoyoos and we're flying out on the 23rd, coming back on the 27th. I won't have internet access during that time so I'll have to get a few posts scheduled ahead of time.
But that will come later. Right now? Your four line poem prompt is: it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Mine:
Every day feels like it's Friday,
No one listens to what I say.
"No work is getting done!" I shriek.
Next year Christmas will be all week.
Friday December 18th, 2009
The exercise:
Just a week to go until Christmas!
I've decided that for the next seven days all writing prompts will be the title of various Christmas songs. Today, for Four Line Friday Prose, I'm starting with my personal favorite: silent night.
If you have a favorite song you'd like me to use, feel free to drop me a note.
Mine:
The stars are watching with sparkling eyes but the moon has gone to bed. The man slips down the chimney with a sack over his shoulder but leaves behind his sled. Then something goes terribly wrong and he lands right on his jolly old head.
The night is silent for now but that will end when the kids find Santa in the fireplace, quite definitely dead.
Note: mmm, holiday spirit. So inspiring!
Just a week to go until Christmas!
I've decided that for the next seven days all writing prompts will be the title of various Christmas songs. Today, for Four Line Friday Prose, I'm starting with my personal favorite: silent night.
If you have a favorite song you'd like me to use, feel free to drop me a note.
Mine:
The stars are watching with sparkling eyes but the moon has gone to bed. The man slips down the chimney with a sack over his shoulder but leaves behind his sled. Then something goes terribly wrong and he lands right on his jolly old head.
The night is silent for now but that will end when the kids find Santa in the fireplace, quite definitely dead.
Note: mmm, holiday spirit. So inspiring!
Saturday December 12th, 2009
The exercise:
Kat and I went to a Holiday Market this morning and did a whole bundle of gift buying so I'm feeling much, much more ready for the big day now. Only a couple of things left and I should be all set.
Your four line poem topic this week is: Christmas shopping.
If you've had a particularly unpleasant experience, I'll understand if you need more than four lines to vent.
Mine:
I think I'll get two of those...
Don't you just love how that glows?
Oh, that will look great on Shawn!
And... where's all my money gone?
Kat and I went to a Holiday Market this morning and did a whole bundle of gift buying so I'm feeling much, much more ready for the big day now. Only a couple of things left and I should be all set.
Your four line poem topic this week is: Christmas shopping.
If you've had a particularly unpleasant experience, I'll understand if you need more than four lines to vent.
Mine:
I think I'll get two of those...
Don't you just love how that glows?
Oh, that will look great on Shawn!
And... where's all my money gone?
Thursday December 25th, 2008
The exercise:
Merry Christmas to all, I hope the holiday season finds you in good health and in better company.
The countdown ends, on the 200th day in a row of writing practice, with the starter: a partridge in a pear tree.
Mine:
"What's that bird doing in our tree?" Tim asked Becky.
"I'm not sure but that is one lovely hymn," Becky told Tim.
"But it's eating all of the pears!" Tim said with an angry glare.
"Well maybe it doesn't eat meat," Becky replied without missing a beat.
"We need to get rid of it before it calls the rest of its flock," Tim muttered as he picked up a rock.
"If you do that I will tell mother," Becky warned her little brother.
"Oh fine, let's go play tag under the bluff," Tim said with a shrug, falling for her bluff.
Merry Christmas to all, I hope the holiday season finds you in good health and in better company.
The countdown ends, on the 200th day in a row of writing practice, with the starter: a partridge in a pear tree.
Mine:
"What's that bird doing in our tree?" Tim asked Becky.
"I'm not sure but that is one lovely hymn," Becky told Tim.
"But it's eating all of the pears!" Tim said with an angry glare.
"Well maybe it doesn't eat meat," Becky replied without missing a beat.
"We need to get rid of it before it calls the rest of its flock," Tim muttered as he picked up a rock.
"If you do that I will tell mother," Becky warned her little brother.
"Oh fine, let's go play tag under the bluff," Tim said with a shrug, falling for her bluff.
Wednesday December 24th, 2008
The exercise:
Twas the day before Christmas and all through the blog, not a post was written without this for a starter: two turtle doves.
Mine:
Um, how does that even work?
I don't mean to be a jerk,
But how did a flying dove
And a land turtle make love?
What is even more shocking
Is that their interlocking
Produced such lovely babies,
With not a sign of rabies!
I suppose it matters not
If I figure out this plot;
So leave the questions behind
And be thankful for their kind.
Twas the day before Christmas and all through the blog, not a post was written without this for a starter: two turtle doves.
Mine:
Um, how does that even work?
I don't mean to be a jerk,
But how did a flying dove
And a land turtle make love?
What is even more shocking
Is that their interlocking
Produced such lovely babies,
With not a sign of rabies!
I suppose it matters not
If I figure out this plot;
So leave the questions behind
And be thankful for their kind.
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