Request for Prompts

[qos]

I'm feeling stuck in a rut, and want to stretch my intellect and creativity, so I'm following in the excellent example of mam_adar and asking for writing prompts.

Assign me an essay, request some fiction, entreat an oracle, invite commentary --- start something with me. I will do my best to rise to the occasion.

Comments

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask you for help anyway, so it is very nice that you are prompting me to follow up on my thoughts!

I'm trying to get my ducks in a row to go to grad school. I think it is what I want to do - it seems to be revealed in numerous ways. However, I have a problem 'finishing'. Not so much as I used to, but things still haunt me because once I have invested emotional energy in them I don't like to let them flow away.

Such is the case with actually applying for my Bachelor's Degree. I never applied because I always thought that I wanted to go back for more undergraduate work in languages and wanted to have the ability to apply for undergrad level grants. I got kicked in the rear by my boss and possibly the revelation that I had not cleared this hurdle yet so I finished the requisite paperwork a quarter of a century later! The stress was really over overdue library fees, which, of course, had long ago disappeared through numerous computer program changes so I was in the clear there (but must make up for this by donating a book!)

The papers came back good to go EXCEPT that there is a requirement for all students to complete a writing proficiency course, which Western would kindly allow to do by correspondence. The choices, however, were not so much to my liking - Children and Culture, Literature of Ireland and the one I chose, Anthropology 330, Religion and Culture.

I've always liked Anthropology and my major was in Psychology, and religion itself is an area of fascination for me. It seemed natural so I coughed up the requisite fee of $600 or so and it turns out that I must produce some 60 pages of writing. My boss said is is penance for procrastination. I think he is right!

The professor for this class must be aged, as he has been emeritus for many years, and has no truck with new fangled gadgets like email, much less attachments. The bibliography in his packet is dated 1974. So maybe I am a bit of a relic like he is at this point.

So I am at the point of writing the first assignment which is somewhat open ended. Since I am a visual-spatial learner, I am struggling with understanding the whole before I can write about my assignment. I have so much to say about religion but yet don't know what my audience wants to hear, which is unsettling. He says in his writings "...a truly open mind appears to demand a kind of naivete which borders on outright credulity", which I really do believe. There is no emphasis on which style to write, what manner of citations to use, or even how personal the writing can be. I perceive that he would like to talk on a higher level, but how to know?

What do you think you would do? How do you start writing about religion and spiritual matters? How would you define both religion and magic?

[oakmouse]

Write about the descent of Inanna into the underworld.

[qos.livejournal.com]

What kind of writing?

[oakmouse]

Essay. Fiction. Personal account. Whatever. ;)

[msharmless.livejournal.com]

Hey QoS,
I was wondering if I could have your email again. I really want to ask you something...

[msharmless.livejournal.com]

P.S. me=msmostlyharmless@yahoo.com

[rocket-jockey.livejournal.com]

"Bronwyn hesitated, her hand hovering over the door latch. This was her last moment to choose: she could turn and leave as she had come or she could step through the door and commit herself to whatever followed."

Think you could continue given that first line?

[qos.livejournal.com]

Definitely!
(Although it may take a day or two.)

Thanks for asking for something creative!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Ping me here... I'm having fun asking questions of people, but would like to keep them all in the same place.