Lily Lawson's Blog: Lily's log

I can do that when all is said and done

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – horseback

The Mosley players were having an interesting time auditioning for King Lear on horseback. There were down to one light, no microphone and the stage was covered in manure.

The line prompt is – I can do that.

I can do that

I can stroke a cat

Give a dog a pat

I can wear a hat

Stand on a mat

I can have a chat

I can use a bat

I can trim the fat

But catch a rat?

I can’t do that!

Today’s track is – When all is said and done – Abba.

Chiquita does your mother know

You’re a dancing queen?

The day before you came

we were at Waterloo station

and one of us met Fernando.

He’s a real super trouper.

As my mama said it’s a crazy world.

When you danced with me

it felt like summer night city.

but when all is said and done

She is your mamma mia.

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Cyndi Lauper and the cashier

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – absurd

Tell me have you read a word that you find absurd?

Do you struggle as you muddle as if you were in a puddle

trying to see the meaning, where the sentence must be leaning

as if your brain is dust or suffering from rust

and sometimes ask you must and then perhaps adjust

whatever you were thinking, before you started blinking

because you found the word you read absurd?

The line prompt is – Thank you for your purchase.

The cashier repeated the words day after day so many times she lost count.

‘Thank you for your purchase.’

The well worn phrase stuck in her throat some days and she wasn’t able to give it the enthusiasm the manager expected.

It was there that she met him. A scruffy looking oaf counting out pennies to pay for bread. The smile on his face and in his voice was genuine.

‘Good morning!’

‘Have a lovely day!’

Stella had to admit her day was made brighter by his presence.

She was curious how he was able to be so cheerful.

‘How do you do that coming in every day being so happy?’

‘Does it cheer you up?’

‘Yes, I have to admit it does.’

‘Then it’s working. I was miserable and someone challenged me to go around smiling for a day and see what happened. People smiled back and every smile made me happier, and it felt like it made others happier too. So, I decided if I could do it one day, I could do it every day.’

‘Wow I never thought of it like that.’

‘Maybe give it a go see if it works for you.’

Stella tried for a day to smile when she said, ‘Thank you for your purchase.’ and see how people reacted. It was hard at first but as the day went on it got easier.

People smiled back.

If the store wasn’t busy they even shared a few words.

She started to feel like she was making a difference and that made her happier which meant she didn’t have to fake it anymore.

Today’s track is – Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Dear John, what’s going on?

Someone like me needs to see your true colours

When you were mine I thought we had unconditional love

Did you have a change of heart?

I don’t want to be your friend

But time after time money changes everything

So I’m leaving your lies behind

Because girls just wanna have fun.

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Blank pages and Blue Jeans

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – captivated.

Words dripped onto the page

captivated my mind

and would not release it

till it was over.

The line prompt is – The blank page

The blank page gave it’s morning greeting,

Asking for words before days end.

It’s hunger was insatiable.

I wonder what would happen

If I stopped feeding it?

Today’s track is – Forever in Blue Jeans – Neil Diamond.

She’s bought me a tux! A tux I tell you! What on earth possessed her? I am hardly the person for a tux!

Doesn’t she know or understand that I meant it when I said this is who I am? Take me or leave me I’m me and I will live forever in blue jeans.

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Chaos, memory and orange

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Chaos

Life was chaos …

Life

Interesting

Fascinating

Experiences

Waiting

Acting

Studying

Celebrations

Holidays

Adventures

Ordinary

Special

The line prompt is – Paths of memory

Paths of memory

Lead me to unexpected places

Long forgotten conversations

With people whose names slip my mind

And I am thankful for yesterday

Without it I would not have today.

Today’s track is – Zach Bryan - Something In The Orange

There once was an orange called Jaffa

Who went into work with a zapper

When he shot the boss

It turned him into squash

And Jaffa into quite the quaffer

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Writing prompts with examples

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Words

… and the words tapped her on the shoulder -

‘We are still here, we are still waiting

Where will you send us?

Where will we go?’

The line prompt is – I would know you anywhere.

I was summoned to the foyer as was the protocol for people without ID wishing to enter the building.

Twenty feet and twenty years stood between us. He took my breath away just like the first time we met.

The concierge was talking but I had no idea what the words were.

He appeared in front of me blocking the view I couldn’t bear to tear my eyes from.

‘Ma’am? Ma’am are you ok?’

I fixed my eyes on my shoes a reminder of who I was and where I was.

‘Yes Carlson.’

‘Can the gentleman enter the building?’

‘Yes Carlson, I can vouch for him.’

Then the voice that haunted my dreams spoke.

‘Thank you Valentina, I didn’t know if you’d remember me.’

Long absent shivers occupied my spine.

‘Barret, I would know you anywhere.’

He turned right and headed to the conference room.

I turned around and made for the lift back to my office.

Today’s track is – I’m on Fire – Bruce Springsteen.

He drove all night

in his pink Cadillac

on the streets of Philadelphia

because he was

born to run by the river.

When I think about it

I’m on fire.

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Bonfire night

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Bonfire

The bonfire petered out.
We raked the ashes,
it was time to walk away,
everything was gone.

Obliterating history,
in just a single act.
We rescued things of value
and ourselves.

The people we once were
died within those flames.
The future had no map,
no plan, no safety net.

The line prompt is – Penny for the Guy

Penny for the guy.

Penny was walking down main street when she saw a busker. She enjoyed the music and tossed some coins in his hat.

He was there every day and over the week they started talking.

‘I like this song’

‘I do requests.’

‘Hey, are you going to keep playing in this rain?’

‘It cheers people up.’

‘You don’t look like a busker.’

‘I’m a music teacher. This is a challenge I’m doing with my students we find a pitch and play for a week see who makes the most money. It’s for charity. I’m breaking the rules telling you.’

‘I won’t tell your students.’

‘I don’t even know your name.’

‘It’s Guy, what’s yours?’

‘I’m Penny’

The last day of the challenge they went for coffee.

‘If I was one of my students I would do some doodle or something for you and ask for your number.’

‘If I was one of your students I think I’d do this’

She handed him a napkin with ‘Penny 4 Guy’ on it and her number.

‘Well as I am a grown up perhaps I’ll call and invite you to dinner.’

‘Perhaps as I am too I’ll come.’

Today’s track is – Katy Perry - Firework

The firework display was often well attended but this year there were so many people they ran out of food early in the night. Luke seized the chance to offer his services to the organisers – curry and nachos was on the menu.

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Writing prompts with examples

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Break

I know you need a break

but please check your brake

so you don’t break

something or someone

on that bike.

The line prompt is – We may own the same shoes

We may own the same shoes

from the same store

but we don’t have the same feet.

Today’s track is – The Twist – Chubby Checker

Blake typed furiously at the keyboard. Jesse tried to peek.

‘Just tell me already I need to know now.’

Blake turned the screen away.

Jesse paced the floor.

‘No I’m not telling you the twist.’

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Writing prompts with examples

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Spare

Not sure if you’re aware

I seem to have some spare

I am happy to share

But you should beware

They were taken from a bear

Just in case you care

It was kind of a dare

I know that you weren’t there

You were riding your mare

I do not know where

You were seen by a hare

It is excellent fare

The line prompt is – ‘Who would do such a thing as to scuttle the Nancy Jane?’

The bosun charged into the pub wringing his hands, his hat threatening to leave his head with the action.

‘It’s been scuttled; the Nancy Jane’s been scuttled!’ who would do such a thing as to scuttle the Nancy Jane?’

The captain leant back in his chair and swigged his rum.

‘Who indeed?’ he muttered ‘Who indeed?’

Today’s track is – Bed of Roses – Bon Jovi

In these arms you said

We would always

Lie down in a bed of roses

These days I wonder if I misunderstood

Maybe that’s the story of love

I thought that we were legendary

I’m still shot through the heart with love for you

And I will never runaway

Thank you for loving me

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Writing prompts with examples.

Greetings randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Light

It was an odd looking light. Rumours were it came from a ship that had sunk off the coast many years ago which I suppose accounted for its indefinable appearance.

It lit the shop for decades then one day it was gone.

Not long afterwards the shop closed.

Folks said it was because Mrs Darnell sold the light. They believed it bewitched customers into buying the trinkets and paraphernalia that were crammed into the tiny space. When the light left the shop so did the magic.

A variety of owners have tried to make use of the building but it never lasts long.

Mrs Darnell seemed to vanish without trace. The police did all they could when her neighbour reported her missing.

Last week the salvors raised a ship from he seabed. In it was the body of a woman identified by her neighbour as Mrs Darnell.

The line prompt is – A sword of truth (first two lines of poem from a prompt on Instagram).

You expect a poem?

In this economy?

When words twist

finding their way into mouths

mingling with unsaid expressions

spitting false accusations

at the originator

to hide the truth.

The volley demands attention.

Yet neither participant

wields a sword of truth

strong enough to sway

the crowd who is entertained

not educated, inspired or motivated.

When boredom strikes

they move on.

Today’s track is Be my number two – Joe Jackson.

‘Alright number two?’ Ethan ruffled his son’s hair.

Natalie glared at him as she put the tray on the table.

‘I wish you’d stop calling him that.’

Ethan sipped his coffee.

‘What’s wrong with it?’

Natalie folded her arms and kicked his foot.

‘He needs a name. I know we agreed you could name him, but I expected an actual name. Number two is not a name.’

Ethan took another sip of coffee.

‘Don’t rush me. I’m thinking. It hasn’t been that long.’

Natalie took hold of his shoulders.

‘Ethan, he’s seven!’

Happy Writing

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

November Writing Prompts

Greetings Randomers

For writing month I am sending daily prompt newsletters to hopefully inspire you to get some words down.

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The single word prompt is – Door.

The line prompt is – Under the orange sky.

Today’s track is Simply Red – Something Got Me Started.

Happy Writing!

Lily x

Life with Lily - One sentence at a time is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.