Writing Prompt #7

Get your creative juices flowing with a weekly short essay prompt:

Write from the perspective of a character who has just found out that he or she has six months to live. What are your next thoughts, feelings, and actions?

Email your 300 – 500 word short essay to me by 10: 00 a.m. on Monday, December 2 and I’ll post my favorite with the next writing prompt!

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Thank you for all the entries in last week’s Monday Writing Prompt! You can read last week’s favorite by Shannon Barrington below:

It did not turn out the way I thought it would.

Being single, in my late 30s and knowing that crazy statistic about lightening, I decided to try online dating. I thought for sure I’d find someone interesting. And, as a matter of a fact, I did.

We started sending emails back and forth and he seemed like such a great guy. He had a good job, was close to his family, no criminal record. All in all, a decent fella.

So, the emails led to texts which led to phone calls. He’d call and say all the things a lonely woman sitting at home wants to hear. He’d ooh and aah over the pictures I’d post and we’d spend hours talking about our interests. We really seemed to hit it off and I couldn’t wait to go to the next level.

An actual date.

So, the stage was set. He’d picked one of my favorite restaurants even though we’d never discussed it. Was it a sign that we were right for each other? I surely thought so. I began to plan the evening days before it happened. What would I wear, how should I do my hair, what perfume should I use? So many things to think of. I almost took a vacation day to plan.

It was finally time! We had agreed to meet at seven, at the bar. We’d seen enough photos of each other, talked enough and spent more hours online together than most married couples I knew. So, for me, I just knew he was the one.

I arrived at the bar a little early (yeah, I know I shouldn’t have, but I was so excited!). As I ordered my first drink, I nervously scanned the area. There were a few men at the bar by themselves, but they weren’t who I was looking for. As I ordered my second drink, I began to fret. And, by the time I’d finished my third, I was pissed.

He stood me up. How could that be? We were meant for each other. What about all the texts, emails, phone calls. How could he have done this? How could I have been so stupid? I was about to leave, dejected and embarrassed, when the bartender handed me a drink.

“I didn’t order that.”

“From the guy at the end.”

I glanced his way. Nice! I smiled and mouthed, thank you.

Coming over to me, he said, “Would you mind if I join you? My name’s Dave.”

So, like I said, it did not turn out the way I thought it would.

But then again, as Dave and I just celebrated our one year wedding anniversary, I can’t say I’m unhappy about it, either.

Kristy’s Magical Discovery

I just finished reading Waiting by Ha Jin which was beautifully written. I highly suggest it.  Now I’m working through The Best American Science Writing 2008 which reminds me how much I have to learn about the world. I kinda like that feeling of hopeful ignorance.

A lot of folks are using Goodreads.com to keep up with what friends are reading. I dig it a lot.

IBM presents WLT with Thinkpad computers

IBM is pleased to present to the Writers’ League of Texas a donation of two Thinkpad notebook computers, valued over $3,200.
For more than 85 years, a unique combination of IBM technology, resources and employee community involvement has set an unmatched standard for corporate citizenship. IBM calls this activity the On Demand Community. Through On Demand Community, IBM is able to contribute technology and expertise to build and sustain strong communities.
“Our research shows that as much as communities appreciate donations of money and equipment, local agencies and schools are most interested in receiving volunteers who can share their skills and intellectual capital,” said Stanley Litow, vice president of IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs.
To that end, IBM Web editor, Harrison Cheung, has been active as a new board member with a special interest in developing the WLT’s use of the Web.
WLT executive director Cyndi Hughes noted, “The Writers’ League of Texas is delighted to receive the generous gift of two ThinkPads from IBM. As a small nonprofit, we’re always counting pennies for our IT needs, and the two new laptops will allow us to better serve our members and the Texas writing community, both from our office and on-site at our events. Thank you, IBM!”

Guilty as Charged: Cyndi’s Writing Confession

Okay, remember how I SWORE I was committing to my writing practice in conjunction with National Novel Writing Month? Well, here’s my confession about the best intentions:

• Nov. 1 & 2: Texas Book Festival (for me, it’s nonstop from Friday through Sunday night)
• Nov. 3 & 4: Let’s see, what was happening on those two days? Oh, that’s right, our national obsession finally culminated! (Note: I did post a blog entry on my personal blog about waiting for the election results)
• Nov. 5-8: The nastiest bout of creeping crud took over and knocked me down big time! I even had a temperature of 100.5 the night I was supposed to host my first write-in.

So, gulp, I’m here to ‘fess up and admit I’ve blown the first week of NaNoWriMo. But here’s the beautiful thing about writing: You can always just sit down and WRITE again. Just take it one day at a time. Today, I worked on my query letter and wrote two blog entries.

Now that I’m back at it, I’d like to invite any of you Austin NaNoers and WLT members who could use an hour or two of writing time to join use this Thursday, Nov. 13, for these League-hosted write-ins:

• I’ll be at from at Genuine Joe Coffeehouse, 2001 Anderson Lane, with laptop fired up from 7 to 9 p.m.!
• Cliff Avery hosts from 1 to 3 p.m. at Blue Marble Java Coffeehouse, 1912 W. Pecan in Pflugerville.
  
• Diane Hernandez will be writing away at Thunderbird Coffeehouse, 1401 Koenig Lane, from 7 to 9 p.m.

For those of you who aren’t in Austin, write wherever you are during those times. And please let us know how it’s going!

Write on!