1. January is the “make resolutions” or “get organized” month.
   1. What will be/have been your resolutions, will/did you succeed or fail?
   2. What needs to be organized in your life? Perhaps write an article of how to or how not to organize. Why do you hate or love to organize?
2. Write a something suggested by the holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
   1. A memory or a hope for the future.
   2. Whatever subject you choose, try writing it in different forms: poem, fictional story, blog.
3. Tell the world or your journal about your winter, whether symbolic or nature’s version.

1. January is the “make resolutions” or “get organized” month.
   1. What will be/have been your resolutions, will/did you succeed or fail?
   2. What needs to be organized in your life? Perhaps write an article of how to or how not to organize. Why do you hate or love to organize?
2. Write a something suggested by the holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
   1. A memory or a hope for the future.
   2. Whatever subject you choose, try writing it in different forms: poem, fictional story, blog.
3. Tell the world or your journal about your winter, whether symbolic or nature’s version.

For December, consider one of the following to spur your writing.

1. Write your own version of “Christmas Is….” For examples, see this month’s features Glass Rain and Through the Looking Glass.
2. If you are a musician, consider writing a song for the holiday season. For many years, the songwriter/poet Rod McKuen wrote something each Christmas to share with his family and friends.
3. Write a fictional story or a family memory.
4. Write a poem which might be used to send as a card to friends or family, perhaps go a step further and make the card.
5. Try writing a cinquain like that by Margaret Roxby in this month’s Glass Rain. Try one of these versions of this 5 line poem.
   5. Count stresses or beats within the meter, using 1 for first line, 2 for line 2; 3 for the next then 4, finishing with 1 stress for line 5. Pattern being 1-2-3-4-1.
   6. Syllable version. Line one has 2 syllables, for each succeeding line add two syllables, returning to 2 syllables for the last line. Pattern of 2-4-6-8-2.

 

For December, consider one of the following to spur your writing.

1. Write your own version of “Christmas Is….” For examples, see this month’s features Glass Rain and Through the Looking Glass.
2. If you are a musician, consider writing a song for the holiday season. For many years, the songwriter/poet Rod McKuen wrote something each Christmas to share with his family and friends.
3. Write a fictional story or a family memory.
4. Write a poem which might be used to send as a card to friends or family, perhaps go further and make the card.
5. Try writing a cinquain like that by Margaret Roxby in this month’s Glass Rain. Try one of these versions of this 5 line poem.
   5. Count stresses or beats within the meter, using 1 for first line, 2 for line 2; 3 for the next then 4, finishing with 1 stress for line 5. Pattern being 1-2-3-4-1.
   6. Syllable version. Line one has 2 syllables, for each succeeding line add two syllables, returning to 2 syllables for the last line. Pattern of 2-4-6-8-2.

 

1. Write your own elegy or tribute to service men and women.
2. Write about a time when a simple thank you meant a great deal to you.
3. November is Native American Heritage month, honoring the indigenous people of the continental US, including Alaska.
   1. Many United States place names were adopted from the local Indian tribes. Write a poem using one or more of these names.
   2. Is there a custom of these people which hold meaning for you?
      1. Create your own family totem in a poem.
      2. If the beliefs of these people have special meaning for you, write about why this is so, how they have affected your life.
   3. Perhaps their history is your greatest interest? What event would make a good poem, story or article?