Cheryl Burman's Blog: Blog posts for readers and writers, page 41

Writing prompt: Envy Bookcase Pipe

Today’s writing prompt and my response.

Use these three words: Envy, Bookcase, Pipe

Today is one of those rare days we are required to go into the Learning Centre, physically. Mother tells me that when she was a child they used to go often. She thinks at least twice a month, and how it was hugely exciting to see her fellow learners  and talk in groups, away from the Knowledge Givers.

It’s hugely exciting for me also. I’m old enough to be allowed to ride the transit train by myself, trusted ...

Writing prompt: She was going back

Today’s writing prompt and my response.

She was going back to a place she’d hoped she would never see again

When he suggested it, he’d been full of enthusiasm, thrilled with his treat.

‘We haven’t been back for so long, it’ll be fantastic to visit our old haunts.’

She had smiled. ‘Where?’

‘Such a magical place. We can see if anything’s changed, or if everything is as it was.’ He had leaned towards her in the restaurant, the train tickets slipped from their envelope to be displayed on the tabl...

Writing prompt: Amongst his mother’s possessions

Today’s writing prompt and my response.

Amongst his mother’s possessions, he found

He had avoided the big clean up for months, but now he was forced to it. The family home was sold, the newly retired couple keen to move in, redecorate, pull out the walk-in bath (he wondered, a tad nastily, how long it would be before they regretted that), install a fancy new kitchen with room for the air fryer, paint and put new flooring throughout. He hoped the house’s bones would stand the shock. Nothing...

Writing prompt: You have found …

Today’s writing prompt and my response.

You have found something that will mean you’ll never be poor again – but there’s a catch

The woods aren’t normally a place to find treasure. Not of the material kind in any case. There is of course much natural treasure there, in all seasons. Spring with carpets of bluebells and budding pale green beech leaves translucent against black, rain-drenched trunks. Summer’s lushness and autumn’s red and gold glory. Even winter can have its charms when snow ...

Writing prompt: Without meaning to …

Today’s writing prompt and my response.

Without meaning to, she’d arranged two dates for the same evening. Of course, her mind being in a constant anxious whirr of things to do, she hadn’t thought about it until the second ring of the doorbell.

She was in the kitchen pouring a glass of wine for the cute new guy from the office. Since his arrival there two weeks ago, he’d made sure he was in the same meetings, sat next to her, praised her insightful comments and generally let her know he’d like...

Writing prompt: Picture prompt

Today’s writing prompt is a picture. Here’s my response.

What is she looking at in the sepia evening light?

I imagine the narrow paved lane outside her window. Small cars purr around smart young men and women on growling scooters, well-fed children shout in play, black-clad nonnas hobble their way to evening mass, and harassed mothers rush homewards with baskets of end-of-day market bargains. The air is arid, dusty, bearing scents of gasoline, a blocked drain under the rusted downpipe, a fa...

Writing prompt: More and more people

Join in my daily writing prompt! I don’t promise to respond to them all myself, but will try my best! Here is my response to the latest prompt.

More and more people were refusing to obey the rules of the land.  

The little king paced the throne room, hands clasped behind his back, like he’d seen his father do so often.

‘Why are they disobeying me?’ He pouted.

The courtiers shook their heads and murmured that they had no idea, of course their king was upset, he had every right to be.

‘I’m ...

The dreaded ‘lay’ vs ‘lie’

I use a piece of software to produce images for this site, social media, my newsletter and other things. I love it, and smile at the short straplines it comes up with each time you download an image. That is, except for the strapline which talks about ‘laying’ on a couch. No no no! What is this person laying? An egg?

When even the professionals get it wrong, what are us mere mortals to do? In looking at this, I had a light bulb moment – it helps a lot to understand the difference in meaning betwe...

Writing prompt: There was a legend …

Join in my daily writing prompt! I don’t promise to respond to them all myself, but will try my best! Here is my response to the latest prompt.

There was a legend about the well in the garden …  

There was a legend about the well in the garden, Mrs Leary next door told Kate and Max the first day they moved in. The removalists were unloading beds and mattresses, ‘So at least we’ll have something to sleep on tonight,’ Mum said, fussing about in her usual way.  Kate and Max were helping w...

Writing prompt: She had to find …

Join in my daily writing prompt! I don’t promise to respond to them all myself, but will try my best! Here is my response to the latest prompt.

She had to find the necklace, before …  

She had to find the necklace, before Moira discovered it missing. What on earth had Elle been thinking? To simply take it like that! And then … Disaster!

She had tried to ease her nerves. It might take Moira a while to find it gone. After all, that jumble of chains, lockets, pearls and beads hid dozens of...