My friend, Garry Conn and his wife Angie, are about to bring their 4^th child into the world. In honor of this occasion, I’m going to give you some writing prompts centered around new babies. These prompts, as with all prompts on this site, are free to use in anyway you see fit. If you do use our prompts, and are published, feel free to send us a link and we’ll be more than happy to show your work off to the rest of the world.

1.) Write a guide for new fathers. Discuss all the things that they’re about to go through, things to watch out for, and mention a few of the things that the Parenting magazines don’t tell you.

2.) Review a few of the websites out there that cater to new parents. Tell which ones offer the best information, have the best forums and message boards, and which ones hold the best product reviews.

3.) Write a report about the different parenting customs from around the world. Research various countries and tell your readers about the differences and similarities between their customs and those in your culture.

4.) Write an article about the different trends in naming children throughout the ages. What were inspirations for the chosen names, which names were popular in the past that are no longer in use, and which ones are making a comeback.

5.) Put together an educational guide for children about how to deal with a new baby in the house. Offer ways for parents to have older children help out with the new baby, without feeling left out.

Happy Writing!!!

Well, as we all know, it’s time once again to watch our children go off to school.  There are a lot of things to consider when trying to get the kids off to school, and there are many more ideas to write about going back to school.  The following are a few ideas you might use when writing about this annual event.

1.) Write a piece for parents who are getting ready to send their young ones off to school for the first time.  Explain a few of the things they might want to prepare themselves for, and how to handle them.  Discuss ways to make it easier for both the parent and the child, and maybe even some ideas on how teachers might help in the process.

2.) Review some of the latest clothing fashions coming out for the new school year.  Talk about the latest styles in shoes, name brand clothing, and where to find the best deals.  You might also write a report on how to find similar styles for a lesser cost.

3.) Write a report on the schools in your area.  Which ones are known for their academic achievements, or which ones have the best sportsmanship qualities from their athletes.  Discuss any private schools in your area and talk about the pros and cons of private schools.

4.) Write an article about why someone should or should not home school their children.  What are the good and bad points to the arguement, and what do the children get out of the equation?  Is it a good idea to home school a child and keep them apart from kids their own age?  Or, should a parent send their kids to a public school where they’re introduced to all the peer pressure and problems known to exist in our schools?

5.) Write an essay about your favorite teacher from your days in school.  Who was it that made your learning experience worth going back every day?  Did you have a certain counselor or teacher that you were sure was out to get you?  Give as much detail as possible and tell us about it.

August 2008

The August birthstone is the Peridot and the birth flower is the Gladiolus. The astrological signs for this month are Leo (July 23^rd-August 22^nd) and Virgo (August 23^rd-September 22^nd).

August is–

Immunization Month
Romance Awareness Month

The third week of August is–
Children’s Book Week (Australia)

Friday, August 1^st:
Sister’s Day (United States)
National Day (Benin, Switzerland)
Happy Birthday Dom DeLuise (1933)
Happy Birthday Herman Melville (1819)

Saturday, August 2^nd:
St. Elias Day (Macedonia)
Happy Birthday Carroll O’Connor (1924)
R.I.P. Shari Lewis (1933-1998)

Sunday, August 3^rd:
International Friendship Day
Kids Day (United States)
Independence Day (Niger)
Flag Day (Venezuela)
Happy Birthday Martin Sheen (1940)
Happy Birthday Martha Stewart (1941)

Monday, August 4^th:
Civic Holiday (Canada)
Constitution Day (Cook Islands)

Tuesday, August 5^th:
National Night Out (United States)
Thanksgiving Day (Croatia)
Independence Day (Burkina Faso)
Happy Birthday Neil Armstrong (1930)
R.I.P. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

Wednesday, August 6^th:
Peace Day
Independence Day (Bolivia, Jamaica)
Happy Birthday Lucille Ball (1911)
Happy Birthday Andy Warhol (1928)
R.I.P. Rick James (1948-2004)

Thursday, August 7^th:
Independence Day (Ivory Coast)
Labor Day (Samoa)
Happy Birthday Grandma Moses (1860)
R.I.P. Oliver Hardy (1892-1957)

Friday, August 8^th:
International Infinity Day
Father’s Day (Taiwan)
Independence Day (Bhutan)
Happy Birthday Dustin Hoffman (1937)

Saturday, August 9^th:
International Day of World’s Indigenous People
Women’s Day (South Africa)
Happy Birthday Sam Elliot (1944)
Happy Birthday Smokey The Bear

Sunday, August 10^th:
St. Lawrence Day (Spain)
Tisha B’Av (Israel)
Happy Birthday President Herbert Hoover (1874)

Monday, August 11^th:
Sons and Daughters Day (United States)
Heroes Day (Zimbabwe)
Independence Day (Chad)
Happy Birthday Alex Haley (1921)
Happy Birthday Hulk Hogan (1953)

Tuesday, August 12^th:
International Youth day
Happy Birthday Cecil B. DeMille (1881)

Wednesday, August 13^th:
International Left-Handers Day
Festival Of Souls (Japan)
Independence Day (Central African Republic)
Women’s Day (Tunisia)
Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock (1899)
R.I.P. Julia Child (1912-2004)

Thursday, August 14^th:
V.J. Day (United States)
Independence Day (Pakistan)
Flag Day (Paraguay)
Happy Birthday Danielle Steel (1947)
Happy Birthday Halle Berry (1969)
Happy Birthday Steve Martin (1945)

Friday, August 15^th:
Anniversary of Woodstock (1969)
Assumption Day (International)
Independence Day (Republic of Congo, India)
Day of the Virgin Mary (Ireland)
Mother’s Day (Costa Rica)
Happy Birthday Julia Child (1912)
Happy Birthday Napoleon Bonaparte (1769)
Happy Birthday Sir Walter Scott (1771)

Saturday, August 16^th:
Children’s Day (Paraguay)
Independence Day (Gabon)
Restoration Day (Dominican Republic)
Happy Birthday Madonna (1958)
R.I.P. Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
R.I.P. Babe Ruth (1895-1948)

Sunday, August 17^th:
National Day (Indonesia)
Happy Birthday Mae West (1892)
Happy Birthday AND R.I.P. Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.
(Born 8/17/14—Died 8/17/88)

Monday, August 18^th:
Homeless Animal Day (United States)
Victory Day (Japan)
Happy Birthday Roman Polanski (1933)
Happy Birthday Robert Redford (1937)
Happy Birthday Christian Slater (1969)

Tuesday, August 19^th:
Independence Day (Afghanistan)
Aviation Day (United States)
Happy Birthday President Bill Clinton (1946)
Happy Birthday Orville Wright (1871)

Wednesday, August 20^th:
National Radio Day (United States)
National Day (Hungary)
Happy Birthday Isaac Hayes (1942)
Happy Birthday Don King (1931)

Thursday, August 21^st:
Hawaiian Statehood Day
Happy Birthday Wilt Chamberlain (1936)
Happy Birthday Count Basie (1904)

Friday, August 22^nd:
Flag Day (Russia)
Happy Birthday Ray Bradbury (1920)
Happy Birthday General Norman Schwartzkopf (1934)

Saturday, August 23^rd:
International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and the Abolition
Flag Day (Ukraine)
Happy Birthday Keith Moon (1947)

Sunday, August 24^th:
Flag Day (Kazakhstan, Liberia)
Independence Day (Ukraine)

Monday, August 25^th:
Independence Day (Uruguay)
Liberation Day (Hong Kong)
Happy Birthday Sean Connery (1930)
Happy Birthday Regis Philbin (1934)

Tuesday, August 26^th:
Women’s Equality Day (United States)
Heroes Day (Namibia)
R.I.P. Truman Capote (1924-1984)
R.I.P. Lon Chaney (1883-1930)

Wednesday, August 27^th:
Independence Day (Moldova)
Happy Birthday President Lyndon Johnson (1908)
Happy Birthday Mother Teresa (1910)
R.I.P. Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990)
Happy Birthday AND R.I.P. Confucius
(Born 8/27/551 BC—Died 8/27/479 BC)

Thursday, August 28^th:
Anniversary of the discovery of St. Augustine Florida (1565)
Happy Birthday Leo Tolstoy (1828)

Friday, August 29^th:
National Uprising Day (Slovakia)
Happy Birthday Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809)
Happy Birthday AND R.I.P. Ingrid Bergman
(Born 8/29/15—Died 8/29/82)

Saturday, August 30^th:
Victory Day (Cyprus, Turkey)
Children’s Day (Afghanistan)
R.I.P. Charles Bronson (1921-2003)

Sunday, August 31^st:
Hero’s Day (Phillippines)
Independence Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
National Day (Malaysia)
R.I.P. Princess Diana (1961-1997)

Almost everyone has a pet, or has had a pet at some point in their lives. Some pets are as traditional as dogs and cats, while some are as exotic as snakes and iguanas. Pets can be entertaining, heroic, or just a friend in a time of need. The following writing prompts are all dedicated to our non-human friends.

1.) Write an article about a heroic animal in your area. It can be a dog who saved their owner, a cat living in a nursing home, or whatever else you can think of. Be sure to give as much detail as possible.

2.) Tell us about your first pet. Did you ever have a hamster or a bird? Maybe you were a farm kid who had your own horse. Write an essay about your pet and how that pet impacted your life.

3.) Do you or someone you know have a pet with a unique talent? Write a report about that animal and what their talent is. This can be anything from a dog who plays frisbee to a parrot that sings your favorite song.

4.) If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why do you want one? Have you always wanted a boa constrictor or maybe you’d like to have a monkey. Give us as much detail as you can about your desired pet.

5.) If you’ve ever rescued a pet from an animal shelter or some other type of organization, tell us about it. What did you have to go through to get your pet? What was it about that particular pet that made you want it? Would you ever do it again?

Saving the environment and wildlife conservation are both very hot topics.  Everyone, no matter what environment they live in, has had some contact with wild animals.  Be it animals you see out in the wild, or creatures that have made the city their homes.  Here are a few ideas to help with your wildlife writings.

1.) Write an article about the local fauna in your area.  Discuss topics such as migration patterns, conservation practices, and any newsworthy tidbits that your readers might find interesting.

2.) Choose any creature listed on the Endangered Species list and write a report about this animal.  Be sure to include any historical records, news items, and clinical facts that will round out your piece.

3.) Do you live in the city?  Write a report on the wildlife that dwells in your area.  What kinds of animals are living around you?  Is anything being done to keep them under control?  Give as much detail as possible.

4.) Write an essay about a fishing trip, or camping trip, you were a part of.  Talk about any wildlife you encountered.  For example, the skunk that got into your tent, or the big fish you caught, or even the variety of birds all around.

5.) Create an article about wildlife conservation organizations.  You can choose several to talk about, or just one.  Do a little research about these groups and give your readers as much detail as you can find.  Make this a fact-based article, as opposed to an opinion piece.

Each month has special events that writers can use as a source of inspiration. For instance, if you’re looking for ideas to write about during the month of December, you’ll have Christmas, but you might also think about ideas that have to do with keeping warm in the winter, or family games to play in the snow. It all depends on the month.

So, being that we’re in July, this post will cover topics and ideas you might use for writing projects based on the month. For those of us in the United States, we naturally have our Independence Day (July 4^th), however we are not the only nation celebrating Independence during this month. Countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Belgium, and Liberia all celebrate during the month, just to name a few. From this you could do articles on the following:

*Write a history about a specific nation’s fight for freedom.
*What caused certain countries, other than the United States, to claim their Independence.
*How do other countries celebrate their Independence Day?
*How did certain nations choose the colors and patterns for what has become their national flags?
*Write an article about the bloodiest, easiest, or longest fight for Independence in history.

July is also pretty much the middle of summer for most of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s almost like a turning point for the seasons. The summer solstice has come and gone, and from now until midwinter, the days get progressively shorter. From this you might write about the following ideas:

*How to throw a summer bash in your own backyard.
*Cheap and easy ways to keep cool this summer
*Keep your home cool on a budget
*Party themes for backyard barbeques
*Home remedies for sunburn, bug bites, and poison ivy

A lot of kids go off to camp during the month of July. Some kids go to Scout camp, some go to church camp, and others go to camps for specialized school activities. For some it’s a great experience, but for others, it’s the first time away from home. Here are a few ideas you might write about.

*Write a guide on things every kid should have at camp.
*Do a review of certain camps in your area.
*Write an article on how to help a child get over their fear of going to camp.
*Interview someone who is currently or has worked at a kids camp.
*Choosing the right camp for your child.

There are a lot of ideas you can write about for each month of the year. You can work on the more popular themes, or you can find other ideas that coincide with that particular time of year.

Well it’s high time I updated my prompts lists. It’s been over a year since I added the last ones, and now that I’ve got things up and running again, I’d better get that done.

So, here are the new listings for each of the prompt pages you’ll see in the sidebar. I’m going to try and update our prompts on a weekly basis, so that way you’ll always have new things to write about.

Each week, I’ll try to do each of the lists in a theme form. This week’s is going to be set to the theme of friendship. I love all my friends, and know how important it is to have friends. So, with this being the first updated list in such a long time, I dedicate it to all my friends; online and off.

ARTICLE STARTERS
Is it better to have a writing partner or to go it alone?

BEDTIME STORIES
Who is really your friend?

BIBLE VERSES
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
(Proverbs 17:17)

FROM THE MEMORY BOOKS
Were you friends with the cool kids, or the outcasts?

HIGH ADVENTURE
SUBJECT:
2 childhood friends set out to find each other after graduation.

IN THE BEGINNING
Though they had been friends for years, tonight would test their bonds.

IN THE NEWS
Pen pals create virtual sleepover

N.A.V.A.
N: Car, A: metallic, V: polishing, A: now

ON THE MARKET
Citrus Scented Gravy Mixes

ONE WORD PROMPTS
Amigos

POETIC VISIONS
A shoulder to lean on

SCENARIOS
A group of war veterans share a common secret

TELL ME ABOUT…
…a friend you haven’t heard from in a long time.

THE HORROR FLICK
A satin sheet, a torn envelope, a pile of ashes

THE LOVE STORY
A woman finds herself stranded in a small fishing village in Alaska

THE WESTERN HORIZON
A group of boys from different backgrounds, become life long friends

TIME AND PLACE
6:30 a.m.—A field in Texas

TITLES
Dying To Live

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF…
…the Roman Empire had never existed?

WHO DUNNIT?
THE CRIME:
5 female roommates are all found beaten in different locations
THE SUSPECTS:
A soft-spoken co-worker of one of the girls, a new tenant in their building, a college professor, a high profile activist from their neighborhood

Image by Adam Lyon

Strangely enough, I haven’t really felt the pains of writer’s block. Perhaps, I haven’t been writing long enough and still have quite a bit of material left in the old writing tank. For whatever the reason may be, it very well might be that my style of writing is what always saves the day for me.

While there are many different types of writers in this world, I am the type of writer who views the world in words. What I mean by that is in many ways I see writing in everything I see. I am a very visual person and allow my mind to open a channel, section or even a special notepad where I am able to take objects and elements I see visually and convert that into a form of writing.

Rules Limit Your Ability To Write

Image by David R Munson

Don’t get me wrong, rules are wonderful. Rules make our community a safe place to live. There are, however, some aspects in life where rules need not apply. I don’t place rules or limitations to what I write about. Anything I see I can write about. Earlier today I took note to my squeaky front door. I can write about that. What causes doors to squeak, how can you fix a door squeaking door and most importantly, how can you prevent it from happening again? An example like that is just one of hundreds of different things I can freely write about.

In this day in age, the Internet has given birth to a new age of writers called bloggers. In many ways I am a writer of this generation. I never realized that I was a writer until I started blogging. When I started blogging, I really didn’t even quite know what a blog was. At the time, all I knew is that I wanted one. Over the course of three years, somehow I have I discovered that I enjoy writing very much and also discovered that I am very good at it.

I write on blogs to earn money. I have been fortunate and amazingly I am able to actually make a full time job from blogging. In my business of blogging, it is very important that I am able to produce fresh and unique content on the Internet. If I fail to do that, then I don’t make money. The root to my success is being able to see the world in words. Anything and everything I see, I document onto what I call, digital paper.

Digital paper for me are all of my blogs and various social networks. When I listen to commercials, I hear various things that trigger my mind to write about. As I walk down to the park with my youngest daughter, I’ll see things around me that I can write about. To see the world in words, you have to open your mind up in a way to where you see things that are so obvious that most people overlook.

Writing Should Come As Easy As Checking The Mail

Image by Jose_

Could you write a 500 word article about a mailbox? Many people might find that difficult. But really, if you think about it, there is an endless amount of material in writing about a mailbox. Who invented the mailbox, when did the flag on the side become the adopted standard for indicating to the mail courier that you have outgoing mail, why did hitting mailboxes with baseball bats in the 1950’s become such a popular game among teens?

See what I mean? If you look at the obvious things in life — the things that many people commonly overlook — you will soon see that its very valuable material for you to write about. You might ask, “Well, who cares about a mailbox?” or,  “Who would read something like that?” The truth of the matter is that on the Internet, amazingly, things like this are very attractive to people. Internet users are very interested in strange and unique things.

Because the Internet is such a complex environment, people tend to admire the simple things found online, such as a glorified article written about an old rusty mailbox. Writing about a door that squeaks or writing about a mailbox, believe it or not, does indeed interest people. In fact people will be so entertained by the article, they will look for more of your writing.

Take a moment and look around you and find something that you can write about. It doesn’t matter what it is… write about your number #2 pencil, write about your stapler or even write about the computer chair you are sitting in. Think out of the box and most importantly, take off the blindfold and open your eyes to a new world of words.

If you want to see what I am doing right now, follow me on Twitter. If you want to see more of my writing, join me on my FriendFeed.

July 2008

The July Birthstone is the Ruby and the flower for the month is the Water Lily. The astrological signs for the month are Cancer (June 21-July 22) and Leo (July 23-August 22).

July is:

Firework Safety Month
Read An Almanac Month

The Third Week of July is:
National Hug Week

Tuesday, July 1^st:
Canada Day
Independence Day (Burundi)
International Joke Day
Happy Birthday Pamela Lee Anderson (1967)
Happy Birthday Princess Diana (1961)
R.I.P Luther Vandross (1951-2005)

Wednesday, July 2^nd:
Flag Day (Curacao)
Happy Birthday Thurgood Marshall (1908)
R.I.P. President James Garfield (1931-1881)

Thursday, July 3^rd:
Independence Day (Belarus)
Happy Birthday George M. Cohan (1878)

Friday, July 4^th:
Independence Day (United States)
King’s Day (Tonga)
Happy Birthday President Calvin Coolidge (1872)
Happy Birthday Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804)
Happy Birthday Neil Simon (1927)
Happy Birthday Dear Abby and Ann Lander (1918)
R.I.P President John Adams (1735-1826)
R.I.P. Barry White (1944-2003)

Saturday, July 5^th:
Independence Day (Venezuela)
Tynwald Day (Isle of Man)
Happy Birthday P. T. Barnum

Sunday, July 6^th:
Republic Day (Malawi)
Happy Birthday President George W. Bush (1946)
Happy Birthday John Paul Jones (1747)
R.I.P. Roy Rogers (1911-1998)

Monday, July 7^th:
Running of the Bulls (Spain)
Independence Day (Solomon Islands)
Happy Birthday Ringo Starr (1940)

Tuesday, July 8^th:
Gay Pride Day (Netherlands)

Wednesday, July 9^th:
Independence Day (Argentina)
Youth Day (Morocco)
Happy Birthday Dean Koontz (1945)

Thursday, July 10^th:
Independence Day (Bahamas)
Happy Birthday Jean Kerr (1923)
Happy Birthday David Brinkley (1920)

Friday, July 11^th:
St. Rosalia Day (Italy)
Happy Birthday President John Quincy Adams (1767)
R.I.P. George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Saturday, July 12:
Orangemen’s Day (U.K. and Canada)
Independence Day (Kiribati)
Happy Birthday Bill Cosby (1937)
Happy Birthday Henry David Thoreau (1817)

Sunday, July 13^th:
Festival of Souls (Japan)
Happy Birthday Harrison Ford (1946)

Monday, July 14^th:
Bastille Day (France)
National Day (Martinique)
Happy Birthday President Gerald Ford (1913)

Tuesday, July 15^th:
St. Swithin’s Day (U.K.)
Happy Birthday Rembrandt (1606)

Wednesday, July 16^th:
World Snake Day
Happy Birthday Orville Redenbacher (1907)
R.I.P. John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999) and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (1966-1999)

Thursday, July 17^th:
Disneyland opens (1955)
Happy Birthday Art Linkletter (1912)
Happy Birthday James Cagney (1899)
R.I.P. Billie Holiday (1915-1959)

Friday, July 18^th:
Constitution Day (Uruguay)
Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela (1918)
Happy Birthday Red Skelton (1910)

Saturday, July 19^th:
Liberation Day (Nicaragua)
Martyr’s Day (Myanmar)

Sunday, July 20^th:
Anniversary of the Moon Landing (1969)
Independence Day (Columbia)
St. Elijah’s Day (Bulgaria)
Happy Birthday Carlos Santana (1947)

Monday, July 21^st:
Independence Day (Belgium)
Liberation Day (Guam)
Happy Birthday Ernest Hemingway (1899)
Happy Birthday Robin Williams (1952)

Tuesday, July 22^nd:
Liberation Day (Poland)
National Tree Planting Day (Central African Republic)
Happy Birthday Oscar DeLaRenta (1932)
Happy Birthday Danny Glover (1947)

Wednesday, July 23^rd:
Martyr’s Day (Armenia)
Revolution Day (Egypt)
National Children’s Day (Indonesia)

Thursday, July 24^th:
Simon Bolivar Day (Ecuador and Venezuela)
Happy Birthday Amelia Earhart (1898)
R.I.P. Peter Sellers (1925-1980)

Friday, July 25^th:
Constitution Day (Puerto Rico)
St. James’ Day (Spain)
Guanacaste Day (Costa Rica)
R.I.P. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)

Saturday, July 26^th:
Independence Day (Liberia)
Independence Day (Maldives)
Happy Birthday Stanley Kubrick (1928)
Happy Birthday George Bernard Shaw (1856)
Happy Birthday Mick Jagger (1943)

Sunday, July 27^th:
Parent’s Day (United States)
Lu Pan Day (Hong Kong)
Happy Birthday Norman Lear (1922)
R.I.P. Bob Hope (1903-2003)

Monday, July 28^th:
Independence Day (Peru)
Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter (1866)
Happy Birthday Jackie Kennedy Onassis (1929)

Tuesday, July 29^th:
Father’s Day (Dominican Republic)
St. Olav’s Day (Norway)
Happy Birthday Henry Ford (1863)
Happy Birthday Peter Jennings (1938)

Wednesday, July 30^th:
Father-In-Law Day (United States)
Festival of St. Anne (Canada)
Independence Day (Vanuatu)
Happy Birthday Arnold Schwartzenegger (1947)

Thursday, July 31^st:
Hawaiian Flag Day (United States)

Well, I’ve finally managed to get all the old prompts uploaded to the site.  You’ll notice that there are a lot of pages in the sidebar, each with a different name.  Each one of those pages is one of the categories I had created when I first started TPW.  As the days and weeks roll by, I will be adding to those lists for the first time in almost a year.

I really have high hopes for this site.  My husband, who is has no idea what blogs, social networks, or stylesheets are, has even said the new site seems much better than the last.  Coming from him, that’s a huge compliment.  Now, I’ve got a lot of work to do in getting this site back to normal.  Thanks again for sticking by me and I’ll do all I can to keep the world writing.