Today’s photo was taken in Jersey, at the Chapel of Notre Dame de la Clarte. Visitors place pieces of paper in the chapel asking or guidance, help and blessings. There were a few very sad ones, but also some really heart warming ones.
See what you can come up with for this…..
Will post what I’ve written on Tuesday.
It reminded me a little of Post Secret and that got me thinking…. Is it wrong to use stuff like the note above and Post Secret to inspire our writing? And come to think of it, why am I always attracted to dark stuff? Lol
The View Outside 
I’ve been using the daily prompts from the Writer’s book of Days, and no matter how innocuous the prompt sounds, I always end up writing something sinister. Lord knows what I’d make of that one!
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Wow Zoe, I didn’t know you “wrote” you’ve kept that quiet 😉 And Judy Reeves book (which I adore!) to boot….excellent 🙂
Yeah, I don’t tend to do “happily ever after” lol 😉
Perhaps next weeks photo should be a happy one lol
Xx
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Well you can be forgiven as I haven’t exactly been shouting about it, but I seem to have outed myself today. I’ve been attending a monthly creative writing class since March and come away each time inspired and determined to write and write and write before the next meeting, but somehow life always gets in the way. Someone suggested the daily prompt idea and I don’t manage it every day, but am at least putting pen to paper more than once a month now!
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Ha ha ha, yes, you kinda did 😉
Good for you honey!!!!! 🙂
I LOVE Judy Reeves stuff!
Looking forward to seeing your WordPress blog soon Zoe 😉 *snigger*
xx
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Heartbreaking. The word choice I think is key. He/she uses torment when they could have used a host of other words: sad, troubled, depressed. Torment suggests intensely felt emotions; the kind that debilitate a person from functioning normally. Lifting this one up in prayer now.
Blessings,
~ Cara
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Well it could be heartbreaking and I’m probably being too facetious here but:
“Tell her the chocolate is hidden under the kitchen sink”.
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Ouch! Lol 😉
Xx
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Vikki, I don’t think you ever know where a prompt is going to take you until you just begin writing. Aren’t you always surprised when you take said prompt and you believe it’s going to go one way and then it ends up entirely different that what you began with? Nothing wrong with being “attracted to the dark stuff” those are oftentimes the things that prove to be some of the stories that touch your readers.
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Thanks Brigitte 🙂
That’s a good point. I think as writers, sometimes, we have to write about the tough stuff, as there are probably a lot of people out there who can relate to it 🙂
Xx
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Why are some writers attracted to dark stuff? Is it to crawl through dark caves so we can discover the meaning behind the problem? Are we emotionally disturbed creatures, too? I’m convinced writers are all together different creations. I don’t think it’s bad to be attracted to the dark. I’ve been attracted to a lot of dark writing for the past year, and I’ve recently began writing lighter. It is because of what I see, know, read and experience. The economy upsets me, so I find myself writing a story inspired by friend’s real situation. It is normal. How do we balance it with light?
I am still trying to recoop from a dark book I just read. Great book; just dark. I’ve realized I have read a lot of books where little boys or baby boys die at some point or are dead at birth. It is male and female authors. I am deeply attached to my son, so as a reader I have to step away.
Are you also influence by some of the darker books you read?
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Thanks Becca 🙂
It’s hard isn’t it, when we read stuff that touches a nerve 😦
I’m not sure that I actually read dark stuff, so it’s kind of weird that I end up writing it. I read a lot of what I call “real life stuff” so perhaps, in a way, I am influenced to write about the real things that can happen to people. I’m fascinated by throwing awful problems at characters and seeing how they cope.
Xx
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I say she has an eating disorder and cuts herself. Can’t get much more tormented than that, poor soul.
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I thought along the same lines too Robin 😦
I just hope whoever she is, wherever she is, she’s ok.
Xx
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They say pain and agony lies at the heart of good fiction. 😉
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That is true CB 🙂
Xx
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I’d be more than happy to pray for her/him… It looks like a girls writing. However, I would not use it as a prompt. It just seems ethically wrong, but that could just be me. Is this Jersey in the UK?
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Thank you Jennifer, that is exactly what I was trying to decide in my mind. I have done a prompt that was influenced by this note, but, I won’t be doing any others.
Yes, Jersey, Channel Islands.
Xx
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There’s also SixBillionSecrets.com.
But, if they knew, I imagine they’d be upset, so maybe it is. But as writers, we have to write from a real place. And if we don’t relate to our characters as much, we have to find a way to see from their perspective. Public secrets help with that.
Besides, publishing a secret like that, especially online, they should be aware of how others might receive their secrets, and accept that. Otherwise, they shouldn’t publicise it in the first place.
The letter is different, if only regarding motive. I think it depends on how likely it is that the OP would disapprove using their life as fiction, how wrong it is.
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Thanks hon, I’ve not heard of that one.
It’s a toughie isn’t it? 😦
Is a secret that someone has listed on line for the world to see any different to say an article in a magazine where someone has agreed to talk about their (let’s say) eating disorder. Or, a FaceBook status update, or piece of poetry posted on a wall (I’ve seen a few of those that were heartbreaking!).
I think I will definitely be more aware now, of what I’m using to inspire my writing.
Thanks for your comments honey, much appreciated 🙂
Xx
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2nd July
Heard from my sister today. I was about to go shopping, so couldn’t talk, but she sounded upset, so I said I’d pray for her.
3rd July
My sister left a message on my answer phone. I must call her back when I have time. I said a special prayer for her tonight.
4th July
Got some fabulous bargains today. My shoe collection is doing well. Sister called again – said she’s in trouble. I told her I was praying for her. I do wish she wouldn’t call when Eastenders is on.
5th July
Just heard – my sister’s in hospital. She took an overdose. What a shock – I had no idea things were that bad.
Sorry, guess the dark bug got to me… I hope the prayers and thoughts are backed up by practical help.
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That’s an unusual idea hon, diary format. I like things that re unusual 🙂
I will try to do a happy one next week lol
Xx
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I wanted to get across that each time the sister asked for help her response was to offer prayers while never giving up her precious time, and diary seemed best. Why happy? It’s more fun the other way lol
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Yeah, it’s a good structure 🙂
I’m trying to write a romance with a happy ending at the moment, so I should start doing a bit of practice lol 🙂
Xx
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