Attention, creative writers! Every month, Creative Corner hosts a contest for the highlighted writer of the month! Submit your writing to Creative Corner and you will be immediately entered to win a journal. Congratulations to October's winner, Mary Ann!
This month: An excerpt from the book Down Love by JJ Norton and a poem by Mary Ann.
Below is a set of prompts for different styles of writing beyond journalism. The idea is that you can create some kind of creative writing piece inspired by one of the prompts, but it doesn't have to be. You can submit any piece of writing you would like to share! All submissions should be school-appropriate. You can also suggest prompts to be featured in the next issue.
October is the month of pumpkin spice lattes and spooky stories. I would love to hear some prompts about this time of year.
You might choose to write about:
Tell a funny Thanksgiving story.
What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Do you enjoy fall?
What music do you listen to in fall?
If I were a star, would you look at me differently? With those eyes that seem to never leave mine. Would you hold me gently and whisper words of love? Yet, I am far-- just like a star. Out of reach and yet so close. I want to shower all my love down to you. Show you all my flaws and scars. I want to know every part of you, good or bad. You are mine and I am yours.
The cold water seems to bite my legs as I dip them into the river. So warm, yet it feels cold on this hot summer day. I want to draw back but also go deeper into the river, the sun beating down on my back. Laughter from my friends makes me lift my head. They are already waist in and smiling, pushing each other in. Even though I am having so much fun, so much is still on my mind at the moment.
“Kate!” I hear a giggle come from one of my friends.
I smile and wave, pulling my dress higher. Mother will be rather mad if I come back to the village in a soaking dress. “I can’t risk Mother getting mad!” I shout and my friends smile.
“Well, isn’t Mrs. Woodlock always like that? This and that?” Rocky, a small baker boy, says.
I nod but stay firm in place. “I think I should head back. It's getting late.” My friends wave goodbye and continue splashing each other.
The pathway in the forest is long, yet easy. The shadows coming upon the trees make them interesting to look at. I hurry my walk since I told my mother I was studying with Mary. Mary was down in the river still. I'll tell my mom she wasn't feeling the best, so she went home. A snap makes me jump and whirl around and my breath is taken away. Standing before me, looking like a dream, is a beautiful horse. The horse neighs and I jump, knowing this horse is not tamed. It stares at me with its long white neck. A white Friesian, one of the rarest colors of the breed.
“You are beautiful...” I whisper and the Friesian gruffs. I realize it's a stallion as he moves with grace and confidence. Suddenly, he stands up straight and slowly walks towards me, head high. I freeze, barely breathing. He stops a few feet from me and lowers his head, sniffing. I slowly raise my hand. He flinches. I wait for a second and then pet his head as he leans into me.
The butterfly effect,
It's a fascinating concept.
When you really think about it,
the simple action of checking your phone,
or even simply saying hi.
That one person you don't talk to anymore
can change your week, your day,
maybe even your life.
One lie can also change everything, even the smallest thing.
Sometimes there's no reason to lie, but you do anyway.
And maybe that could lead to nothing,
Or not.
Anything could change everything;
that's the risk you take
by simply talking.
If one person dislikes you or disagrees,
maybe one person hates you.
Or maybe more than one.
Maybe you do something small
you don't even realize.
And maybe--
someone just
hates your guts for it.
And you wonder to yourself,
“Why do they hate me?”
