Seeds of Faith
Weekly Writing Prompt No. 68
Hello lovely people and thank you for a. opening this email and b. joining me for my weekly writing prompt. These are my attempts at exercising my creative muscles, and I hope they help you exercise yours too. There are no rules, there is no right or wrong way to do them, there is simply your way. Whatever works for you is good.
My new book The Music Master is finally available to buy, hurrah! It’s available in many of the usual online places and I’d love to know what you think of it (at least I think so!)
For those new to The Writing Shed, the weekly writing prompt is the core of my activity here on Substack. Paid members can also find an archive of courses I’ve created and access all past writing prompts, flash fiction, writing hints and tips, and essays in The Index.
So have fun, enjoy your writing, and create heaps.
I was in Church last Sunday listening to Margaret give her sermon about how people come to have and later nurture their faith. She used the parable of the mustard seeds to illustrate important points about how strong roots allow a plant to grow large enough to support wildlife.
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32, NIV
It got me thinking about how we writers have a similar faith in our creativity. We want it to grow and expand as we develop strong roots through practising the act of writing, whether we do it privately or publically. Eventually, we hope our words might support, help or entertain the people who need to hear them.
The Prompt
I realised I hadn’t made a word square for quite some time and decided this was the week to do so. If you know what to do, go ahead and get started. If you are new to word squares take one word from each column and use them to create a story, a sentence, or a poem.
The words: Seed, Root, Branch, Leaf; Faith, Grow, Develop, Learn; Water, Earth, Sun, Oxygen; Plant, Nurture, Support, Pick.
Please share your work in the comments below. Remember, you never know where today’s prompt may take you in the future!
Reflect
I include a reflection opportunity with every writing prompt because our writing always wells up from our inner landscape.
Which creative seed are you nurturing today?
As a coach, mentor, and counsellor I work with many people on different life paths. Some hope to write a best-selling book, while others want to be healthier and happier. Each person has a unique way of starting the inner work this requires. If you’re a writer who wants to manifest your writing hopes and dreams from the practical and pragmatic to the esoteric and spiritual, or who would like to clear any subconscious self-sabotage you may be experiencing, why not work with me? To find out more head over to my website by clicking the button below.
Missing in Action
This new section of the weekly newsletter is dedicated to all the words removed from dictionaries over the years. Words that define and describe our world, but which are deemed no longer necessary.
This edition is dedicated to the word Dandelion which is no longer included in Oxford Junior Dictionary.
The Weekly Soulshine
Something to listen to …
The Weekly Writing Competition
This week’s contest is the ALCS Educational Writers’ Award. The deadline is the 1st of July for any traditionally published, single volume of non-fiction work for the 11 to 18 age group. You can read more about the competition here: https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/other-prizes/alcs-educational-writers-award/
With love, light, and laughter
Linda
x
(Image by THỌ VƯƠNG HỒNG from Pixabay)
Here goes with a brief sci-fi flash:
We were too far from the Earth. This sun was not ours. The seeds we had brought with us would not develop. We had to learn new ways, keep the faith we could nurture and support our group, even though the plants rotted from root to leaf and the hoped for fruit would not form on the dried up branch.
There was only one type of seed remaining. We were fortunate it was one that would grow anywhere given enough water and oxygen.
And soon, there they were: bright gold turning their many heads to the new sun, ready and ripe for us to pick.
“Dandelion wine, anyone?”
Today’s the day! I said as I reached for the alarm clock; knocking my WATER over. I clambered out of bed. Opened the curtains to a blue sky and warm SUN. Opened the window to let in the new day’s OXYGEN. I thought I’d better take a LEAF out of Sal’s book and wear something appropriate. I’d ROOT around for a smart suit that would SUPPORT my attempt at looking the part for the next step up. I’d PICK an outfit that would PLANT the idea in their heads that they could have FAITH in me. That I would LEARN the ropes quick smart. That I knew I could GROW and DEVELOP given half a chance. I’d worked at this BRANCH for more than long enough now. I just knew that I would NURTURE this new SEED of responsibility if they’d only give it to me this time - instead of sending me crashing down to EARTH like the last two times… So. Best foot forward. Here goes everything.