Today's Writing Prompt: Extreme

Write about something some people think is fun, but you think is extreme/crazy.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Graciegreen

Cross country skiing...not so extreme you say? Well, try it in Michigan's Upper Penninsula! Also, you must be (as is my case) totally uncoordinated. Hills, trees, bends in the trail, hibernating bears, wolves and deer who jump out in a very extreme way.
The last time I went with friends, whom I did not see the whole time (Iam slow) I cried really loud (to scare animals) the entire trail...

Congratulations on another win, Graciegreen! I have this tragicomic picture in my head of you skiing and loudly crying.

Today's Writing Prompt: Theme song

The theme song for the American TV show Cops is "Bad Boys." If a TV show was made about your profession, what would the theme song be?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Heather

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC

I know what you're thinking. It's not that kind of profession. I'm a stay at home mom for Godsake!

Congratulations on another win, Heather. I LOVE your answer, and the rest of us SAHMs might need to adopt the same song!

Today's Writing Prompt: Host

Write about a gathering you hosted.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Ron.

The Ex and I usta host some hellacious Halloween parties. We woke up once on November 1st to find we had broken the living room, cause a floor-to-ceiling crack in the plaster. We were on our way out of that place anyway. Fortunately the landlord didn't sue us. Bonus: he returned our security deposit. I think he was glad to see us go.

Congratulations on another win, Ron.! The idea of breaking a room makes me giggle.

Friday Fiction: (W)hole

Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt(s) "Whole" and/or "Hole."

Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.

Click on the "Friday Fiction" tag beneath the post to see more examples of Friday Fiction writings.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: theBollywoodFan

"It's tricky business," she said. Having spent the entire afternoon working on refining what she thought was a decent script, she slammed her pen onto the desk in frustration. "Too many a plot hole. We can't expect the audience to buy something that's not more whole."

Congratulations on the win, theBollywoodFan! Your use of both words is very believable. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Anticipation

What are you anticipating?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Mike Trippiedi

I am anticipating the Washington DC Independent Film Festival, which will run March 3 - 13th, because my movie AMBER ROSE that I wrote and directed will have its world premiere there.

Anyone reading this in the DC area, please come and see the film. I will be there and I'd love to meet you.

Congratulations, Mike, on the win and ESPECIALLY on the movie! I hope the premiere goes wonderfully well!

Today's Writing Prompt: Movie

Write about a movie you loved watching as a kid.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Vicki

When I was a kid my favorite movie was "Yours, Mine, Ours". (Now you know how old I am!) My favorite scene is the Christmas scene where all 20 stockings are hung at the fireplace. Now that I'm an adult, every Christmas you will find 11 stockings hung at my fireplace... that's how many are in our family now. I love it!

Congratulations on another win, Vicki! That's such a wonderful connection between your childhood dream and your present reality!

Today's Writing Prompt: Pill

What do you wish someone would invent a pill for? What would it be called?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: ~Sarah~

The person behind the counter handed me the bottle. The one pill inside wasn't buffered with cotton. I shook it slowly, side to side. Click, click. Phorget could take this lump in my throat away. Phorget would also take his smiles from me. My choice. Click, click.

Congratulations on the win, ~Sarah~! Your idea for a pill is intriguing. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Adventure

Is there an adventure or exploration you'd be willing to risk your life to pursue?

Remembering the crew of the NASA space shuttle Challenger. 1/28 will be the 25th anniversary of that disaster.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: KelseyNT

If I ever got to be part of a resistance effort, such as the French Resistance during World War II, I would absolutely do it! I mean, I'll try everything twice (the first time could always be a fluke), but if we're taking about risking our lives, than I'd want it to be for something that benefited more than just myself. A resistance effort would be an adventure for me, but it would also be something where I could do a lot of good.

Congratulations on another win, KelseyNT! I like your reasoning a lot.

One-Minute Writing of the Week: April

I choose one of the daily winning response from each week and feature it as the One-Minute Writing of the Week. This is for the week of 1/9-1/15.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: April (Friday's winner)

Prompt: Saw. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Saw."

Ah, that girl of mine! Always a-looking, her eyes darting here and there, searching for something to strike her fancy. And what do you think she saw this time? A lean, suntanned boy in jeans tighter than her tennis grip, leaning causally against the court fence, beckoning with smoldering eyes. A hundred girls have probably been laid to waste by those wolfish eyes, and I told her so. But that girl is as stubborn as rust, and what she saw was a chance to escape her rigid existence and have some fun. All I saw was a wild rose about to be plucked.


Congratulations, April! You're welcome to put a One-Minute Writing of the Week Winner button on your blog. Click here if you'd like to snag it.

Today's Writing Prompt: Around

Write about something you want or need to do...but you just haven't gotten around to it.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Krista

My library is crying out for help. It's become a lonely dumping ground of papers, books, and dog hair. Every time I walk by what used to be my favourite room my stomach clenches. Then I close to door and try not to think about it.

Congratulations on the win, Krista! You somehow made a messy library seem so tragic. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Video game

Write about the first video game you remember playing. (If you've never played one, write about that!)

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Graciegreen

Twenty or so years ago I had back surgery and had a gruelling recovery. My children had an Atari game console that I had never learned to use. One day, alone in the house, I played an Atari game. I was hooked! For the next several weeks I waited until my family was out of the house and I played Space Invaders to pass the hours...

Congratulations on another win, Graciegreen! I love the thought of you secretly playing Atari when your kids left the house!

Friday Fiction: Doctor

Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Doctor."

Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.

Click on the "Friday Fiction" tag beneath the post to see more examples of Friday Fiction writings.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Curly-T

When told the doctor was slightly curmudgeonly, yet ridiculously brilliant, she thought of someone like House. She could handle a Hugh Laurie look alike doctor, even if he was old enough to be her dad.
Except, the lady that walked in the door, well, for one, was a woman, and young and pretty.
Killed all the day dreams right then and there.

The doctor started routinely enough, listened to lungs, heart, felt around her neck and throat, asked a few common questions.
And then said “So what’s wrong with you?”

She blinked. She hadn’t expected that question. “What do you mean what’s wrong with me? I’ve told you all my symptoms, now you’re the doctor, tell me what’s wrong.”

The doctor shook her head. “Nope. Can’t do it. Nothing adds up, nothing comes to mind. I think it’s all in your head.”

She was starting to get angry. This is not what she expected when her regular family doctor recommended her to this “expert.” She wanted answers, explanations, surgeries, pills, whatever it took to feel right again. To feel like things weren’t falling apart, to feel like she would live to see her nieces and nephews grow up, and possibly be married and have a few kids of her own. And now the DOCTOR was asking what was wrong?

She opened her mouth to give the young, pretty (they had seriously used the word curmudgeonly!) doctor a piece of her mind, when, quite unexpectedly, the doctor smiled. “You’re bored. Life is boring, work is boring, and so you have too much time to sit and think. And it creates problems you don’t really have. Do you have any vacation time?”

Mutely, she nodded.

“Take it. Blow your savings and your vacation time on something you’ve always dreamed of doing but never thought you would. Take friends and family if you want, but do something fun. Don’t wait until the right moment, do it now. And I bet you’ll feel a million times better when it is done.”

She left the doctor’s office feeling slightly let down. Pills would’ve been easier. But at the same time, there was a glimmer of hope in her. A friend from college was going on a tour of England and Scotland in two weeks. She had a valid passport and the time and money. Smiling a bit now, she nodded. Yeah, she would go do something fun.

The souvenir she brought back made it totally worth it, even with the name and address change that soon followed.

Congratulations on another win, Curly-T! This story is so fun and sweet!

Today's Writing Prompt: Judge

You are judging a reality talent show. What do you say to an untalented contestant?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Drew Benn

Unfortunately it appears that you’re not quite what we’re looking for. Perhaps your ‘talents’ would be best suited to a dark room in a remote location where it can’t be inflicted upon the eyes, ears and general senses of others... How do you think it went?

Congratulations on the win, Drew! Maybe you should have taken over Simon Cowell's job.... Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Morning

What is the first thing you thought or did when you got up this morning?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: sweety

The first thing i did when i got up this morning was i gave a sweet smile to my Mom. Like everyday, she hugged me tight. She said your smile is beautiful and i smiled even wide.

I played with her bindi* on her forehead. I put it on her nose and pressed it as if it were a horn of a lorry or truck.

Bindi - the round red sticker Indian women put on their forehead

Congratulations on the win, sweety! I could picture this scene with your mom. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Make

Complete this thought:

Today I want to make....

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: dumbricht

Lemons out of lemonade, orangutans out of oranges, stardust out of cobwebs, snakes out of toilet paper. I want to create, and it doesn’t matter how silly it can be.

Congratulations on the win, dumbricht! Your response warms my creative heart. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Decade

Think back to the years 2001 through 2010. Give that decade a name ("The ______ Decade.")

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Xandersmom78

The "growing up can really suck sometimes, but sometimes it's really cool, too 'cause now I get to be someone's mom" decade.

Congratulations on another win, Xandersmom78! It may be a long title...but I like it!

One-Minute Writing of the Week: Curly-T

I choose one of the daily winning response from each week and feature it as the One-Minute Writing of the Week. This is for the week of 1/2-1/8.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: Curly-T (Friday's winner)

Prompt: Sword. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Sword."
She knew she shouldn't take it, she really did know. But with Father gone and her land being threatened, it was the only thing she knew to do. She grabbed her brother's sword off the wall, where it had hung in honor since his death, and ran, as silently as possible, out of the house.

Marauders had taken much from her before, it wouldn't happen again.

As she reached their camp, breath shallow, limbs shaking, she wondered if maybe she should've stopped for help. But there wasn't time. Sitting up as straight as possibly, the sword clutched tightly in her hand, she urged her horse into the camp.

The men stopped their carousing, surprised to see such a young girl in their midst. "And what do you want, lassie?"

She took a deep breath. "I want you to leave. We have nothing of value here for you, and we are a peaceful folk." She was glad her voice didn't shake.

A few men chuckled as the one who spoke first nodded at the sword and said "Aye, you look it."

"Leave now." It was the only thing she could think to say.

The maruaders moved in closer and her horse danced in nervousness. She pulled the reins with her free hand, determined to stand her ground. Her mother did not need to face this, not again. As a man reached for her horse, she readied herself to swing the sword into his head, but suddenly, an arrow pierced his hand.

More arrows followed. As soon as she could, she ducked low and rode the horse away from the attack. She turned at the edge of the camp to see her savior. A smile lit her face. She knew him, knew his men, his people, his family. Taking a brief moment from the fight, he nodded and pointed towards home.
She nodded back. He would see her later, she could pay her respects then.

For now, she needed to get that, thankfully, unused sword back to the wall, before anyone noticed it missing.

Congratulations, Curly-T! You're welcome to put a One-Minute Writing of the Week Winner button on your blog. Click here if you'd like to snag it.

Today's Writing Prompt: Hero

What fictional hero would you hope would come to your defense if you were in trouble?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: KelseyNT

He doesn't even have to be a real hero as long as he's good-looking, straight and single.
Can you tell I'm getting desperate?
Real heroes would have pretty hectic schedules, anyway, and I'd have too much competition.

Congratulations on another win, KelseyNT! Your response made me smile.

Today's Writing Prompt: Six Word Saturday

Describe your life in six words.

Six Word Saturdays is a weekly series over at Call Me Cate's funny blog, Show My Face. We do Six Word Saturdays monthly(ish) at The One-Minute Writer, but feel free to participate on your own every week--click the button below for more info! Have fun!

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Anita

Constantly moving forward, tripping over occasionally.

Congratulations on another win, Anita! I think many of us relate to your six words!

Friday Fiction: Saw

Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Saw."

Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.

Click on the "Friday Fiction" tag beneath the post to see more examples of Friday Fiction writings.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: April

Ah, that girl of mine! Always a-looking, her eyes darting here and there, searching for something to strike her fancy. And what do you think she saw this time? A lean, suntanned boy in jeans tighter than her tennis grip, leaning causally against the court fence, beckoning with smoldering eyes. A hundred girls have probably been laid to waste by those wolfish eyes, and I told her so. But that girl is as stubborn as rust, and what she saw was a chance to escape her rigid existence and have some fun. All I saw was a wild rose about to be plucked.

Congratulations on another win, April! I love the imagery in your response!

Today's Writing Prompt: Fame

What is the most likely reason you might become famous?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: June Calender

Undoubtedly the biography of a traveler to Tibet that I have been researching for 15 years and so far have only a first chapter written will be published, become a best seller, win the Pulitzer Prize, be made into a movie and earn me a ton of money as well as make my name a household word. [I dream big.]

Congratulations on another win, June! I'm excited about your book and look forward to saying, "I knew her when...."

Today's Writing Prompt: Healthy

In what way would you like to be healthier on December 31 than you are today?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Ron.

I'd like to alter my behavior, change the way I behave, learn to behave differently. Case in point: I'd like to stop repeating myself, saying the same thing over and over; would like to learn to say something only once, then not say it again two or three times. I'm sure you get my meaning, certain you understand what I'm saying. It's really a hard thing to overcome, this repeating thing; very difficult indeed; almost impossible in fact.

Congratulations on another win, Ron., and good job accomplishing this again. Your goal is a worthy one, and it's one that it would be good to pursue. I think if you try hard you'll meet it, and you'll reach your goal when you put in a lot of effort and really work towards it. I'm glad I don't share your problem with repetition; I am simple without ever saying the same thing twice.

Today's Writing Prompt: Like

Complete this thought:

It's hard to believe that I used to like...

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Mike Trippiedi

It's hard to believe that I used to like Baking Soda. As a kid I would eat it by the spoonful.

Congratulations on another win, Mike. And...wow...that is just bizarre. Baking soda by the spoonful?!

Today's Writing Prompt: Number

Write about a number that's important to you, and why.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Gigi Sehgal

This year, 1000 is my #1
I want to be able to sign up at least 1000 potential committed marrow donors to the AADP this year. I volunteer with them.
The need is great, and I've a personal connection to this cause due to the fact that I lost a brother to cancer. The number may not seem large but I've found out it is not easy at all to reach those numbers in specific ethnic communities like Indians and others from SE Asia, African American, Pacific Islanders and mixed ethnicities. In the meanwhile, every day I hear of more cases (typically Leukemia patients) that require a marrow donor urgently.

Gigi, this is such a great cause. I've been signed up as a donor for over a year, and I was surprised how easy it was! All by mail, with easy cheek swabbing (no blood draw required!) Anyone who is interested can visit Be The Match. There are often specials that allow free registration too--keep your eyes open.

And Gigi, congrats on another win!

Todays Writing Prompt: Surprise

Write about a time you surprised yourself with what you could--or couldn't--do.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: kvsmm

On a truly horrible day, in a horrible situation, I felt rage. Not anger, but rage. I felt a blanket of darkness cover me, and then a dear friends hands stopping me. I had just watched my child admitted to the hospital near death from a preventable auto accident, and had seen the driver without a scratch. Most frightening feeling I have ever had and never want it again.

Congratulations on another win, kvsmm! I appreciate your honest response.

Today's Writing Prompt: Wish

Complete this thought:

Now that the winter holidays are over, I wish...

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Laura

I wish for spring and warmth and light and sun and flipflops. I wish to shake off winter sadness, the same way I take off the wintercoat as soon as the sun melts.

Congratulations on the win, Laura! What a nice wish! Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Friday Fiction: Sword

Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Sword."

Friday Fiction is your opportunity to write a short (short, short, short) story. Many participants use more than one minute for Friday Fiction prompts, and I open up the One-Minute Writing of the Day contest to entries of various lengths.

Click on the "Friday Fiction" tag beneath the post to see more examples of Friday Fiction writings.

Note from C. Beth: I am so sorry, but I'm just not going to get caught up on naming daily and weekly winners. I want to...but I just have so much else going on right now, and I can't seem to get on top of it. I decided it would be best to start fresh with the New Year. So there will be no December winners, but I will begin with naming January winners today. Keep in mind that winners won't ever be named sooner than several days after the original post, to give more writers time to respond. I hope you all understand, and I do apologize. Thanks for writing!

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Curly-T

She knew she shouldn't take it, she really did know. But with Father gone and her land being threatened, it was the only thing she knew to do. She grabbed her brother's sword off the wall, where it had hung in honor since his death, and ran, as silently as possible, out of the house.

Marauders had taken much from her before, it wouldn't happen again.

As she reached their camp, breath shallow, limbs shaking, she wondered if maybe she should've stopped for help. But there wasn't time. Sitting up as straight as possibly, the sword clutched tightly in her hand, she urged her horse into the camp.

The men stopped their carousing, surprised to see such a young girl in their midst. "And what do you want, lassie?"

She took a deep breath. "I want you to leave. We have nothing of value here for you, and we are a peaceful folk." She was glad her voice didn't shake.

A few men chuckled as the one who spoke first nodded at the sword and said "Aye, you look it."

"Leave now." It was the only thing she could think to say.

The maruaders moved in closer and her horse danced in nervousness. She pulled the reins with her free hand, determined to stand her ground. Her mother did not need to face this, not again. As a man reached for her horse, she readied herself to swing the sword into his head, but suddenly, an arrow pierced his hand.

More arrows followed. As soon as she could, she ducked low and rode the horse away from the attack. She turned at the edge of the camp to see her savior. A smile lit her face. She knew him, knew his men, his people, his family. Taking a brief moment from the fight, he nodded and pointed towards home.
She nodded back. He would see her later, she could pay her respects then.

For now, she needed to get that, thankfully, unused sword back to the wall, before anyone noticed it missing.

Congratulations on the win, Curly-T! I could picture this whole scene, and it's a thrilling story! Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Intro

Fill in the blanks (and explain, if you'd like):
"My name is _____, and I'm a(n) _____-holic."

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Ron.

My name is unimportant; I'm an anonymityholic.

Congratulations on another win...Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is.

Today's Writing Prompt: Project

Write about a project you did for school when you were a kid.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: Nofretiri

There was that one project, where we had to design some architecture. Mine was a house in futuristic style. For the practical part I used Styrofoam ... I remember my hands, my body, everything was covered in white little Styrofoam pellets, looking like fresh snow! It's kind of sad, that I don't have a picture of my house, but I still can feel the fluffy pellets gluing on me!

congratulations on another win, Nofretiri! I think most of us can relate to the feeling of Styrofoam pellets sticking stubbornly to us!

Today's Writing Prompt: Party

You're going to create a new political party. Name it, and come up with a slogan to describe what the party stands for.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: KelseyNT

The PZA12 Party! Or, Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse of 2012, which is pretty much self explanatory.

Congratulations on another win, KelseyNT! I like your priorities!

Today's Writing Prompt: Resolution

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Why or why not?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Donna

New Year's resolutions remind me of coloring as a child. I begn with a perfectly blank piece of paper. I draw and color. Then I add more color as I work to make it a little better. After I've spent a bit of time trying to improve on my paper I find that I have scribbled everywhere. Then I try to fix it with an eraser only to rip holes in the paper. I wad it up, and throw it into the trash.Then I begin again. Yes, I always make resolutions. I love to color.

Congratulations on another win, Donna! What a fun way to look at (changing) resolutions!

Today's Writing Prompt: Jet

You have a private, supersonic jet that you can take anywhere for a quick dinner out. Where will you go?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Geeta

It should come as no surprise,
surely you must know
If I were to own a private jet
to the other side I'd go

- of the world, that is

India's got something
that once was mine
A heart that's beating
since I were there the last time

If I were to own a private jet
that's certainly where I'd go
to chai and samosa,
smiles and warm dosa

& a heart that's been waiting
for me to come closer

<3 incenseandanklebells.com

Congratulations on another win, Geeta! I'm sure this took more than a minute to write, but it was just so charming; I had to choose it!

One-Minute Writing of the Week: Raejean

I choose one of the daily winning response from each week and feature it as the One-Minute Writing of the Week. This is for the week of 11/21-11/27.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: Raejean (Monday's winner)

Prompt: Paycheck. What do you love doing that you wish you could get paid for?

I would love to get paid to read or eat. Better yet, I could get paid to eat while I read!

Congratulations on another One-Minute Writing of the Week win, Raejean!

Today's Writing Prompt: '11

In eleven words, describe what you hope 2011 will be for you.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: John

A year to chase lions, and not sitting still too long

Congratulations on the win, John! Your response intrigued me...lions, huh? Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.