Writing Prompts

Stacey Loscalzo wants to write, tries to write and, at first, can’t write. Many of us can identify with the writer’s block out of which her essay, Writing Together, arises.

In this month’s Literary Reflection’s essay, Andrea Lani identifies some of the challenges of writing about motherhood while mothering. To write for the sake of self-reflection is one thing; to…

What book (or books) defined literature for you as a child?

What compels you to put the truth of your life on paper? What kind of dilemmas does that compulsion raise?

Marmee Through The Window by Elisabeth M. Priest is this month’s Literary Reflections essay. It’s an unusual love story, touching on both a mother’s love for her feverish daughter, and that…

This month’s Literary Reflections essay is a beautiful, lyrical piece of writing called Open to Revision by Lisa Ahn. Ahn paints a vivid picture of her efforts to be both…

In this month’s Literary Reflections essay, Minutes Are Just Seconds Aren’t Minutes, Wendy C. Ortiz writes an arresting account of the impact of motherhood on her writing time. She writes:…

Has having a child changed your reading habits? Do you mourn the loss of your pre-parenthood regular reading material, or have you – like Becki – found a new favorite…

In Exposed, Ellen Blum Barish describes how she felt when her daughter’s writing left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. The experience made Blum Barish more protective of her family, and keen…

Heidi Reimer is the author of this month’s essay, Prophecy. She writes about her unusual journey into motherhood, and lays bare her inner conflict around what it means to be…

Write a review of one book you’ve read based on your child’s recommendation or urging. Why does he/she like it? Why were you hesitant to read it? Did your initial…