Meg Sefton's Blog, page 23

Inktober: Muddy

Composite made from a bust of a statue and a stained-glass texture that was doubled and transformed. “Lost (in one’s thoughts)” by Wayne S. Grazio, flickr

She had vowed she would do it, end her life today. But she had planned Timmy’s birthday party. She stood in the midst of a party store aisle, her face sweating under her mask. Maybe after her son’s birthday? Tears blurred the colors of the garish decorations. She couldn’t decide.

Inktober: Expensive

Manikin by Katie Osgood, flickr

When Tony took me to a bar on Lake Jessup, I felt expensive. Truth was, I was bald from cancer treatment and sweating under my wig. Truth was, he was still married. Truth was, there are so many alligators in the lake, boaters are found dead there all the time.

Aretha Franklin

I love this album.

Dopesick

Cindy Shebley, flickr

I am watching Dopesick on Hulu, a drama exploring the rise of the opioid crisis. I highly recommend it. It has me remembering the old days of trying to wean myself off Klonopin and the initial cold turkey approach fallout. When I decided to do a search of its relative addictiveness compared to opioids, I found it right up there with the top 9. At one time, I had a blog under a pseudonym where I wrote about my experience. I wish you well on this Thursday, ten days until the eve of All Hallows.

Inktober: Thunder

Palatka, Florida 1983). From my film archives, digitized. Wayne S. Grazio, flickr

The trees have planned their revolt against a country using them to string up men by the neck until they are dead, the burning cross somewhere nearby or else deep in the heart. It doesn’t take a hurricane to uproot the trees and send them thundering down. It takes injustice.

Inktober: Drained

Image from page 108 of “Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States” (1979), flickr

There was a time before the draining of Florida swampland when giant cypress towered over one hundred feet tall. In the late 19th century, cypress were felled for shingles. Daily I drive over a bridge spanning the headwaters of the Everglades: Shingle Creek. I hear cypress cousins bemoaning lost histories.

NYC Midnight

Nursery School, National Library of Medicine, flickr

I submitted my 250-word fiction to NYC Midnight, roughly 12 hours ahead of the deadline. I have been assigned to a group of writers who have been given the same parameters of genre, action, and word. Submissions are anonymous. This is all most mysterious. But fun.

 #MicrofictionChallenge250 #writers #flashfiction #writingcompetition #nycmidnight

NYC Midnight

In four hours, I will receive a prompt that will begin my 24-hour journey in a 250-word writing contest. I am providing the link because there’s still time to register if you are interested. I’ve heard good things and participants get to meet other participants and receive feedback. There are three rounds (ding-ding). Enjoy your Friday.

https://www.nycmidnight.com/

“Come Ye Sinners”

This really got to me today. I don’t cry to love songs anymore, but anytime I hear a deeply spiritual song, I can’t help it. And this one is so powerful, and the soloist’s delivery incredible.

From what I understand, this group is out of Southern Seminary, which is Baptist. I don’t yet know of their theological leanings, but I have to say, their music does it for me. I went to a conservative Baptist seminary, one that was in the city where I lived with my then-husband. I grew up a conservative Presbyterian minister’s daughter and I wanted to study Christianity and the Bible for myself. I had thought I might teach or work in some capacity in the church but decided not to pursue this. I think the writing was more or less on the wall for me.

I felt a little like Yentl when I was at the seminary, especially as I got further into my courses. I was often the only female student and there was only one female professor in the theology and Biblical studies courses. My own theological biases did not always mesh with the courses and I remember refusing to answer one particular essay question on a final. I passed the course by a hair. I tested them, and they schooled me. I learned so much.

Inktober 2021

This is an image I have posted a couple of times this October, a list I found of some awesome Inktober prompts on DeviantArt by Lineke-Lijn. I post this once more mid-October in case it inspired some spooky writing, or other types of writing, leading into Halloween.

What I am finding this year is I am inspired to write not simply dark and Halloween-related posts—though I do write dark at times— but also lighter or just neutral posts related to interests, memories, and things happening in my life. I am posting this list again as a reminder and an invitation. I am around to prompt 21, but I have not always taken these in order and I have added in a few of my own, writing something super short I wanted to cover and providing my own title. I think it’s ok to repeat prompts in trying new pieces, exploring different aspects of a theme. Furthermore, I enjoy writing some nonfiction as well as fiction, using whatever research I can pour into tiny writing.

I want to say something that applies to creating in general, but here, for the sake of the tiny piece, relates especially to tiny writing. Take it easy in writing tiny, especially in creating goals like this. Some pieces will feel inspired, and some, well, just what was possible for the energy of that particular day. What is good in tiny writing is being able to look back and lift out the strong moments and add them to a growing body. And maybe there will be moments to recast other not so strong pieces. Forgiveness is huge. Forgive yourself, laugh, say “I tried. I knew what I wanted to say but, well, I can’t tell this reflects my desire.”

Writing something new every day, or several new somethings, requires specific energy, awareness, openness. Sometimes for me, it requires a certain mood. Trying to make a complete 50-word gem can at times be difficult. There is definitely a great deal to be left out. I would say “mystery” plays a large part in all writing but especially so in 50-word writing. If there is something intriguing about creating mysteries, you may enjoy trying your hand, or continuing to do so.

If you have read this post before, what follows will be familiar….

These are prompts for visual artists but I think this particular list is also stellar for writers and here’s why: the nouns are specific and concrete; the verbs are action verbs; the verbal adjectives are equally expressive and action-oriented; the nominal adjectives are precise, concrete. One-word prompts that are abstractions and nonspecific are non-starters.

The kind of prompts listed above translate into powerful sketches and drawings. And I think these give writers that mental picture we need to begin translating an interior vision into the written word. You may think you’re not a screenwriter, but if you want to write powerful fiction, you will think in scenes and images.

If you are interested in an exploration, even if you’re an experienced writer, start jotting down small pieces in a notebook or document. It is highly likely first drafts will go over the fifty-word count that is set in flash fiction writing for Inktober. Over time, as pieces are refined to meet the word count, a wonderful miniature will emerge, conveying the heart of something distinct. The word prompt may be included as a word in the piece or it can simply serve as the inspiration.

Even if you don’t want to write fiction or publish, exercises like this sharpens verbal ability; broadens thinking; enhances problem-solving; and develops voice and self-knowledge. Yours —Margaret