Today's Writing Prompt: Random

Write about a random act of kindness that you performed or received.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Graciegreen

Our family drives across a toll bridge, the Mackinac, that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan quite often. The toll is $3.50 per vehicle and we always pay for the car behind us. We have received waves, high fives, smiles and cheers from the people in the cars as they pass us...small act of kindness...great return!

Congratulations on another win, Graciegreen! I love this--what a great idea!

Today's Writing Prompt: Music

Write about a memorable musical performance you've seen/heard.

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

A couple weeks ago, I visited a friend I hadn't seen in some years and was pleased to meet his son, who was just just learning to master speech. I was astounded (and moved almost to tears) to walk past the kid's bedroom and hear him singing himself to sleep: "All we are saying, is give peace a chance..."

Congratulations on another win, Ron.! I love this story.

Today's Writing Prompt: Profession

What would you want your profession to be if you lived in the 1800s?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Ms. B

I'd have been a long hunter called Grizzly Smith. I'd have cut a road west before DAniel Boone. I'd have paddled the rivers of the NW before Lewis and Clark. Grand Canyon would have been my discovery. And when they laid me to rest, the undertaker would have taken a surprised look, scratched his head and said, "By damn, he's a woman."

Congratulations on the win, Ms. B! This response brought a smile to my face. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Friday Fiction: See/Sea/Sí

Write a brief bit of fiction using the words "See," "Sea," and/or "Sí" (Spanish for "Yes.")

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: Mike Trippiedi

"Si, I see the sea," recited the Spanish boy in English class.

"No," said the teacher. "It's yes, I see the sea."

"Sentimos," muttered the embarassed child.

"In English," the teacher shot back.

The little boy, unsure of the right word looked her in the eye and with a loud whisper said "Sorry?"

"Very good," replied the teacher.

Congratulations on another win, Mike! Your short scene says so much about both characters. It's a lovely bit of writing.

Today's Writing Prompt: Nickname

Write about a nickname you have (or had.)

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Melinda

My mom use to call me "Eenie Weenie Chili Beanie." I'm so glad that didn't stick.

Congratulations on another win, Melinda! I'm glad you shared your giggle-worthy nickname with us!

One-Minute Writing of the Week: June Calender

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 2/6-2/12.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: June Calender (Sunday's winner)

Prompt: Sunday. Write a brief poem about Sunday. (Or, if you prefer, write about ice cream sundaes.)

On Sunday

The dogs take their people for long walks,
showing them how to use the freedom of being out, off-leash.
Dogs always rejoice at freedom;
their people more often will not cavort and dance and skip.
People have taught dog "sit, stay."
People refuse to learn from dog
"Leap. Laugh. Wag your tail."

Congratulations on another weekly win, June Calender!

Today's Writing Prompt: Ain't

Forgive the grammar, but there's a saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Make your own saying, filling in the blanks (and explaining if you wish):

"If it ain't _______, don't _______ it."

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Nyar Anyiko

If it ain't clear, don't judge it.

Congratulations on the win, Nyar Anyiko! That's a lot of wisdom in seven words. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Meeting

Write about your first time meeting someone who is now important to you.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: sweety

The first time i met my friend Valli. I sat in the last bench while she sat in the first bench. She grinned. through her braces i could see her sparkling smile. She introduced herself to me. I Thought "She is weird" Now we're best friends.

Congratulations on another win, sweety! I can just picture her smiling with her teeth covered in braces!

Today's Writing Prompt: Talent

You find out that you are going to perform in a talent show...in ten minutes. What will your act be?

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

The only real talent I have is this ability to say tongue twisters at a lighting fast pace over and over again without slurring a word. I am particularly good with the words "toy boat" and "Irish wristwatch."

That's me at my best. Bring on the tomatoes.

Congratulations on another win, Mike! I'm pretty good at "toy boat" but "Irish wristwatch" gets the better of me. One of my favorites as a kid was "unique New York."

Today's Writing Prompt: Contagious

What do you wish was contagious (instead of germs)?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Raejean

I wish being thin was contagious. I could hang around my thin friends; if I was really lucky, I could even spend time with thin foods like spaghetti or carrots and wake up the next morning slender!

Congratulations on another win, Raejean! I like the idea of picking up qualities from your foods. But I think I may have spent too much time around spaghetti. I need to think of a voluptuous food I can spend time with....

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: Graciegreen

Exciting awesome snowy extreme slalom raceday! (from my skiing granddaughter)

Congratulations to your granddaughter on the win, Graciegreen! I love her enthusiasm!

Friday Fiction: Strings

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

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: Donna

Strings

When I think of strings my heart sings, just a little bit. I hear the sound of music coming from the living room, late at night, waking me in my nursery.

We had new floors installed in Mama and Daddy's bedroom following Hurricane Donna. A worker left a little hole somewhere in their bedroom closet. That's how the mouse got into our house. She was ready to be a mama. We didn't know. But we found out. We found out when we heard the music. She gave birth in the antique upright piano that backed up against my bedroom wall. Her babies ran all over the strings making beautiful harp like sounds. They also ate the felts.

My grandmother said "when children are little they pull at your heart strings. When children grow up, they walk all over them". She always had a ball of sting somewhere close. She and my Mother crocheted. They turned string into beautiful pieces of lace. I was more interested in the piano.

Congratulations on another win, Donna! I just love the idea of those little mice making the piano strings sing.

One-Minute Writing of the Week: Heather

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 1/30-2/5.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: Heather (Sunday's winner)

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?

"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 weekly win, Heather!

Today's Writing Prompt: Crazy

What makes you crazy?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: quenntis

Going crazy makes me crazy because I give control over to that thing that makes me crazy in the first place and I hate losing control of myself unless it’s a good kind of crazy the kind of crazy my wife makes me or a good song makes me or an excellent movie or book or conversation makes me because I’m crazy about life in the best of senses and even in the worst of times and especially when my muse hits me over the head with her word-mallet until I see poems where stars are supposed to be.

Congratulations on another win, quenntis! I love the ending, "when my muse hits me over the head with her word-mallet until I see poems where stars are supposed to be." Beautiful!!

Today's Writing Prompt: Upgrade

It's 2011. Cell phone networks are 4G; razors have five blades; and Starbucks is introducing a 31-ounce drink. What will be "upgraded" next?

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

I'm waiting for the next upgrades to be downgrades: sippy sized drinks [say four ounces], slider size whoppers [again, no more than four ounces], mini Mack trucks using almost no fuel, cute cabin suburban developments instead of more McMansions. It worked with skirts. Considering the state of the ecology and the American diet, why not try it on much else?

Congratulations on another win, June! I love your "upgrade" ideas.

Today's Writing Prompt: Devil's advocate

Think of an issue about which you feel strongly. Without sarcasm or satire, argue the other side of the issue.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Kathy

This will be hard not to be sarcastic, but...

Be sure that the end of the roll is always on the back side. The hand she be cupped upward to roll the paper off, never pointed downward, slapping toward the floor as though it were a cat's toy. Leaving the dangling edge of toilet paper out front for all to see is rude. It should always go to the rear.

Congratulations on the win, Kathy! You did a great job arguing the case without sarcasm! Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Refrigerator

What (if anything) is hanging on the front of your refrigerator?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Billy Jorgensen

Generally one or another of my kids can be found hanging off the refrigerator door. I swear one day they are going to rip it off its hinges.

Congratulations on the win, Billy! What is it about kids and the lure of a refrigerator door?! Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Haiku

Write a haiku.

(Usually in English a haiku is a poem written in three lines with 5, 7, & 5 syllables, respectively. Feel free to click on the link above if you want to read more about what a traditional haiku really is.)

This is an encore prompt. Hope it's as fun as it was the first time!

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Marc

Laundry needs doing,
Alarm clock blares each morning -
Honeymoon's over.

(We got back from two weeks in Jamaica yesterday - I'm having a little trouble adjusting)

Congratulations on another win, Marc--and a big congrats on your marriage! (Great haiku!)

Today's Writing Prompt: Spy

If you became a spy and could pick anyone (living or dead, real or fictional) as your partner, who would it be?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: KelseyNT

Virginia Hall was a totally awesome real life American spy who worked for the British in occupied France during the most dangerous part of WWII. Did I mention she had a wooden leg and was never caught, even though she had the Gestapo knocking on her door more than once? She'd be an excellent partner.
Or Danny Ocean...

Congratulations on another win, KelseyNT! Your response makes me want to look up Virginia Hall's story.

Friday Fiction: Scent

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

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: Heather

Dew lay thick on the rough blades of grass under the fresh morning sun that sprayed through the clouds and slanted into the windows of the Volvo. Carefully, I unfolded myself. I didn't wish to wake up my fellow travelers. It was still early and last night had lasted far too long. Looking out the car windows, I could see corn cobs, dented tin cans, and empty plastic bags strewn across the ground. The scent of an easy hunt had attracted a bear... or maybe two.

Congratulations on another win, Heather! I'm left wanting to know more about your scenario.

Today's Writing Prompt: Live

Write about a place where you could not happily live.

One-Minute Writings of the Day:
Writers: Graciegreen and Lorraina

Graciegreen:
I am a Yooper... so I live in a small town in a very rural area. Life is easy here. Not much traffic, no lines to wait in and safe. People are friendly and help each other out. I could not live happily in any big city, I have tried it, not for me.

Lorraina:
i could never again live in a small town. I love the metropolis of being in the suburbs of a big city, the sights, sounds and easy availabiliy to medical aid, airports, everything. I like hearing the sirens at night and knowing theres lots of capable people nearby.

Congratulations on the win, Graciegreen and Lorraina! I enjoyed reading how two very different people feel about two very different places. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Sales pitch

Think of something you'd like to get rid of, and come up with a great pitch you'd use to sell it.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Carolyn Ward

Lonely, neglected upright bass seeks loving hands to caress its frame and to make sweet music together.

Congratulations on the win, Carolyn! Your description makes that instrument sound beautiful and valuable. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

One-Minute Writing of the Week: ~Sarah~

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 1/23-1/29.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: Sarah (Tuesday's winner)

Prompt: Pill. WWhat do you wish someone would invent a pill for? What would it be called?

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, ~Sarah~! 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: Advice

Imagine you're an advice columnist. In what area of life do you advise people, and what is your column called?

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

Sideways - the column that makes you look at life from a different view.

Congratulations on another win, Mike! I like your column title--very clever.

Today's Writing Prompt: Super bowl

What would need to be in a bowl to make it truly super?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: theBollywoodFan

Letters of the alphabet. We had this bowl with letters in assorted colors while in kindergarten. All these years later, it took a one-minute writing prompt to get me to appreciate that that might well be where my love for playing with words and poetry started. A super bowl, indeed.

Congratulations on another win, theBollywoodFan! That was indeed a super bowl!

Today's Writing Prompt: Sunday

Write a brief poem about Sunday. (Or, if you prefer, write about ice cream sundaes.)

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

On Sunday

The dogs take their people for long walks,
showing them how to use the freedom of being out, off-leash.
Dogs always rejoice at freedom;
their people more often will not cavort and dance and skip.
People have taught dog "sit, stay."
People refuse to learn from dog
"Leap. Laugh. Wag your tail."

Congratulations on another win, June Calender! This poem is charming and thought-provoking. I really like it!

Today's Writing Prompt: Letdown

Write about a movie you watched, book you read, or activity you tried that ended up being a letdown.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Mathilda-Anne

I breathed in, holding it for a moment in anticipation. I few rain drops hit my nose, my cheek, yet still there was nothing. Finally a low rumble fell out of the clouds; simple, quiet, nothing earth shattering or ear splitting. "PFFFT" I stuck my tongue out at the feeble storm. "Hurricane, my butt!"

Congratulations on another win, Mathilda-Anne! I love the way you built up tension in this response.

Friday Fiction: Mouse

Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt(s) "Mouse."

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

As a child, she had always wanted pet mice. Her mother always said no. But then again, her mother never enjoyed any of the great mouse stories. "The Mouse and The Motorcycle." "The Secret of Nihm." "Resucers." "Cinderella."
She had loved them all and felt mice would be the perfect pet.

Now, at 25, living on her own in a mouse-infested apartment, she could see why her mother had been so adamently against pet mice. They were filthy and loud and really not as nice as she had imagined.

And while she hated the death of any innocent creature (and while the mice were gross, they were innocent), she could no longer live with them. It was her or the mice. And she had nowhere else to go.

So the exterminator was called. The mice problem was "removed" and she began cleaning.

Once clean, the apartment was nice, though lonely. She started considering a hamster....

Congratulations on another win, Curly-T! This is a charming story.

One-Minute Writing of the Week: dumbricht

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 1/16-1/22.

One-Minute Writing of the Week:
Writer: dumbricht (Tuesday's winner)

Prompt: Make. Today I want to make....

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, dumbricht! 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: Too much

What is a good thing you can't have too much of?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Eryal

I would have to say books, I love books! The smell of a new book the fresh crisp feel to the pages as your opening it. Especially a hard backed book, those are prizes in and of themselves. Just to be surrounded by books new old, doesn't matter, that would be heaven.

Congratulations on the win, Eryal! I love your passion for books. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog.

Today's Writing Prompt: Storm

Write about a storm that affected you in some way.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Nofretiri

There's only one storm, that comes into my mind. A few years ago a devastating inner hurricane made all my emotional life go to pieces. It needed quite some time and a lot of effort to rebuild everything and come back to normal.

Congratulations on another win, Nofretiri! This was a creative take on the prompt.

Today's Writing Prompt: Early

Write about the last time you had to wake up extra-early. Why did you get up early? Was it worth it?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Call Me Cate

Early wake-ups always seem to involve airports or medical procedures. It would be a nice break to get up extra early for something really great. Like maybe a day at the circus! There would be free cotton candy and a behind-the-scenes tour to meet the entertainers and see the animals up-close. And then, to make it even MORE awesome? They'd schedule it around 6pm so I wouldn't have to wake up early.

Congratulations on another win, Call Me Cate! (In exchange for this, you'll share the cotton candy with me, right?)