Prompt
“I make my best art when I’m in love . . . ” – Nick Reeves
On Writing
Breathe the sentence in. Exhale the sentence. Inhale and exhale each word. Now inhale and exhale the sentence. Then, go!
There is only one rule, keep your hand moving.
Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation. If you feel stuck, keep writing anyway. Try going back to the prompt and write it out until other words arise, then write those—or, repeat the last word you wrote again and again until new words appear—or, write, “I am stuck,” or “I can’t think of anything,” as long as you keep your hand moving. Writing is physical, the words will move through your body and come out of your hand—just keep it moving.
Now go – for five, ten, fifteen minutes . .
When you are done, feel free to share your work in the comments – or share on your own blog. Consider including a link to this post if you do.
https://holly-troy.com/2021/06/02/writing-prompt-69-crushing-it(opens in a new tab)
Also, be sure to visit Nick Reeves’ site – he is an incredible writer, my favorite in this world of blogs.
Happy creating!
June 2, 2021
Flagstaff, AZ
holly troy ~ sacred folly 
L. da Vinci is credited with saying that ‘art is never finished, only abandoned’. A painting I started back in April drifts around the flat. One week it is turned to the wall, the next it is by the bookshelf looking out, showing off its incomplete self, showing up my incompleteness, my lazy work: damn it! I see what it needs to push it forward. It needs the sky to be reworked (at least). Last night I put it in the studio again. My studio is a little space in the kitchen and today I went into town and bought some new brushes in an attempt to draw me back to it: my inspiration is low. I’m probably just lazy – I spent all day in bed yesterday, sleeping and doom scrolling YouTube. Damn it, I didn’t even read – though there are plenty of books by the bed. I didn’t even write yesterday – laziness again, uninspired again. Tired again.
I watched a film about Shane MacGowan and I felt better about my general health and my teeth and my self. I slept well last night, H. Troy. I guess I must’ve, though I still woke up alone again (naturally). But I woke up with a determination to push forward (thanks, S. MacGowan). I ate breakfast and paid bills owing, I recalled my dreams and I wrote them down. I wrote a list of things to do and I went into town and I did them (except ‘get haircut’ – partly because I realised that I was wearing a bandana and the barbers don’t like that, and partly because my last haircut was horrible – all they had to do was run a clipper over my head, but I was dowsed in cheap aftershave and squared off at the nape and this after asking for neither of these things).
I bought some new brushes. I’m so rubbish at cleaning them – and this pisses me off, too. I should be bothered. I remembered that to be in love, one has to give. Love is giving and of late it’s a one way street. I give to her but it’s in vain. I dreamt of a strange White Stripes record and though I can’t say for certain what this means it has left me with the notion to push forward and to love myself a little more and not neglect myself. I came home from the town and I filled the fridge and the cupboard and I looked on WP and I found this and it cheered me no end and I will have lunch and I will re work the sky. Feeling loved. Thank you, Holly, you are an ace in the pack.
Peas xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
you are very loved – and oh! I believe I have a long response for you, but I just spent three hours dealing with unemployment and now i must check some things off my to-do list, too!
how we beat ourselves up for being “lazy” – but – really? really? I think it boils down to love – or at least – reflection. Stimulation.
xo – H
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your commitment to Sparkle Motion is never in question, Holly Troy. Thank you! KOKOxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for sharing some of what you are going through. I relate! Boy, do I relate. And sometimes the giving, oh . . . feels endless. I am so glad you made the choice to love yourself a little more.
You know, I have so many of your posts in my inbox – waiting to be read – simply because I want to take the time to savor them, rather than do a quick peek and a “like”. They go months back now. Your writing reminds me to slow down, to take life in on a deeper level, a level I used to feel more equipped to do (I think before social media and too much news). And the reading brings me to so much, “oh wow” and “oh yeah” and, “hmmm, mmm” and, “oh, that’s good, that’s brilliant” and, “that’s beautiful, lovely, intense, delicate . . .” and, “I can feel the moisture in the air, I can smell it . . .” And there is much laughing out loud, stirring of memories – and the desire to write!
The small spaces and moments we carve for ourselves in this life – you describe those spaces with tenderness and vibrancy. Sometimes when I find myself frustrated with my surroundings or situation, I wonder – what detail would Nick Severe notice – and I take a breath and look around.
Your art is better than any self-help book, and I have read a lot of those!
Thank you for being in the world, Nick Nick Severe! You make it a better place – crusty paintbrushes and all.
xoxo – HT
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this, Holly. All love xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person