I’m sure you know the writing adage “show don’t tell,” and to boot, I’ve issued several creative writing prompts asking we do just that, in spades. But today a twist: Write a paragraph (or more if you’re a supahstah) describing where you are right now this very minute. Look out the window if there is one. Detail any sounds you hear, what you see, even what you feel. Are your surroundings a mirror for your thoughts? Are they in opposition (are you in a quiet house, but feeling decidedly unquiet?). It’s best to rely on all your senses here: what’s below your fingertips and what does it feel like (hard, soft, squishy?), where are you sitting or laying, are there birds chirping, or a coffee maker beeping? Is where you are empty? Or full of noise. What noise? And who’s with you?
I’m sure you get it.
The re-repost I published yesterday is a loose translation of what I mean here.
Meanwhile, post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments.
First time to PROMPTuesday? Read a bit about it here. Want to see what’s been written in the past? Catch up on the PROMPTuesdays archive here.
Here’s mine, over at the blog: http://onthebuswithlaurie.blogspot.com/2012/01/calm-before-storm.html
We seem to be on the same page. I wrote about the senses a few days ago. In my case it was writing with all my senses but sound. Since I’m late deafened I do have a virtual storehouse of sounds I can recall from memory.
I was surprised in my recent revisions to discover I’d actually written without any sound put at all, which isn’t surprising since I don’t hear. Easy enough to fix, after all they call it revisions for a reason. ;)
(Hugs)Indigo
Me and my surroundings in this very minute: A grumbling tummy, a nagging to-do list, ambient background noise coming from the scribbling of crayons, my five year old’s hacking cough, and a singing pirate named Jake, a blue sky outside reminding me that I need to do sit-ups and a messy kitchen summoning to clean it up, make lunch and then clean it up again.
My response: http://theknitgeeksblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-promptuesday-then-real-life.html
(Thank you for doing this for us!)
It’s moonlit outside, but I wouldn’t know. Our curtains are closed, the TV is on, and the glow of my lap top is (ever) here, too.
The kids and the puppy are asleep. Their breaths a back drop to my quiet time.
Clean, quiet, relaxed, unneeded- that’s me.
{Love this, love you!}
As I sit cross-legged on my bedroom floor, I can see my oldest daughter reading the second Hunger Games book on her Kindle Fire, sprawled across my bed. I hear the sound of updates from twitter as I click on the keyboard. My second oldest daughter has taken her dishes to the kitchen while I’ve been writing, and is making noises getting ready for bed. The apartment is mostly quiet. And I’m cozy in my pajamas, and content in my heart.
No you aren’t seeing things Deb – I actually did a PROMPTuesday for the first time in who knows how long!! :) Thank you for stirring up my desire to write again.
http://butterfly80.blogspot.com/2012/02/promptuesday-179-senses.html
Definitely more than a paragraph but here’s mine:
http://peaks-valleys.blogspot.com/2012/02/senses.html
Thanks for the idea!