Writers Group with Hildy Morgan

Writing Prompt 1

Missing our Writers Group? Hildy Morgan, one of the founding members of the group, provided an interesting writing prompt for you to try at home. Hildy says to write as many words and as in depth as you want - as short as 250 words, as long as a short story. Here's the prompt:

A group of friends are having an anniversary dinner together. The evening starts out well but as more food and alcohol are consumed the tension rises and becomes dangerously hostile. What is the problem? Who are these people? How long have they been friends? What is the anniersary? How will the event end? Violently? Peacefully? Will the friendships survive? Oh! And.. Are they men? Women? A mix? Same ages or a mix?

Note: Writers Group at the Dietrich is geared for ages 18 and up. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. All genres of writers are welcome. Look for the group to resume when the Dietrich reopens. Pictured above is Hildy's dog Charlie, one of her writing muses.

Writing Prompt 2

This week our writing prompt comes from the Dietrich's Readers Meeting Writers after school program taught by author Susan Campbell Bartoletti, who has written many middle school books including Hitler's Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow, which is a Newbery Award winner. Susan gave the kids a writing exercise which, she said, is actually suitable for any age group. I thought it was so good I was inspired to try it myself. So here is the prompt. In as many lines as you want, from one to however many it may be, write a poem. It can be sentimental or funny or sad or just an observation. You can rhyme it if you want, but poetry today is seldom rhymed, so don't let rhyming hang you up. Start with the words, "I remember and write one line, as long as you would like it, then then next line - I remember.... and so on. The sentence you write can be long or short, But every new sentence must start with "I remember."??For example : ?I remember the hot day in July when I was twelve and a day moon hung pale and sickly in the sky, it too sickened by the ferociousness of the sun.?I remember the heat as a creature unto itself, waving in the distance, coming for us like a monster hiding in my overcrowded closet.??So you see, the “I remember” comes with a new sentence. And when you?are done, you will have a memory piece and a poem. Cool, hmmm? Give it a try. Have fun. - Hildy Morgan
Note: Readers Meeting Writers was underwritten by M & T Bank

Writing Prompt 3

This week for our Writers group, Susan Campbell Bartoletti has provided A Poetry Prompt.
Hello, Readers & Writers,
Have you ever done something that you know you shouldn’t have done?
Have you ever apologized for something you did … but didn’t really mean it?
Take a moment to read this famous poem, “This Is Just to Say,” by William Carlos Williams.
You can conduct an internet search to find the poem or use this link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/…/56159/this-is-just-to-say

Let’s take a closer look at the poem. The first stanza tells us what Williams did – he ate the plums from the icebox. In the second stanza, Williams admits that he knows someone was saving the plums for breakfast. In the third stanza, he apologizes for eating them, and describes how delicious they were.
Do you think William Carlos Williams was truly sorry that he ate the plums?
I think not.
So let’s talk about you. Again, have you ever done something that you know you shouldn’t have done?
Or, have you ever apologized for something you did … but didn’t really mean it?

Step 1. ‘Fess up. What did you do? Spill your guts. Give us the details. (You don’t have to share the details, and please don’t if they’re embarrassing or hurtful to you or to someone else.)

Step 2. Write a real apology poem or a false apology poem. Your choice.

Step 3. Illustrate your poem.

You can read a whole book of false apology poems, written by Gail Carson Levine. Her books is called Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It.

Note: Sustan Campbell Bartoletti was the featured author for this year's Readers Meeting Writers for Tunkhannock Area's 6th grade. This program was underwritten by M & T Bank

Writing Prompt 4

Another Writing Prompt with Hildy Morgan:

Missing our Writers Group? Hildy Morgan, one of the founding members of the group, has provided yet another interesting writing prompt for you to try at home. Here's the prompt:
Trees are beginning to bud. Flowers are blooming.  In a poem or an essay, write about what the coming of spring means to you in the year of the pandemic. 

Writing Prompt 5

Another Writing Prompt with Hildy Morgan:

Missing our Writers Group? Hildy Morgan, one of the founding members of the group, has provided yet another interesting writing prompt for you to try at home. Here's the prompt:

Pretend you are a movie critic. Take your favorite movie and write why you love it. Is it a drama? A comedy? A romantic comedy? A superhero flick? Whatever it is, talk about the strong points and bad. Why would you recommend it to others. Conversely, if that seems a little boring to you, take a box office smash film, maybe an Oscar film, and write why you hated it.  Remember you can write whatever you want, but movie critics have to justify those feelings.  Have fun!