Author Archives: first50

About first50

Writer and teacher who benefits from following the principles of writing practice set forth by Natalie Goldberg.

Dinner

Posted on February 27, 2015

Four years of college, four years of two packages of Ramen for dinner, four years of swearing that food would be rich, meaty and fresh in the future. Now that the future was here, now that a job was here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, Food, Writing prompt | 5 Comments

Lunch

Posted on February 26, 2015

The lunch of my childhood was a study in what not to eat. Fried bologna. (Fried in bacon grease left over from breakfast.) White bread slathered with mayonnaise. A huge stack of salt-laden potato chips. A glass of whole milk. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood memory, Children's Writing Prompts, Essay, Food, Writing prompt | 5 Comments

Breakfast

Posted on February 25, 2015

I used to wake up starving when I was a kid. Now I wake up wanting coffee. Okay. Needing coffee. I own up to the addiction. Breakfast can wait. Breakfast is mainly something I eat so the coffee and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood memory, Children's Writing Prompts, Essay, Food, Writing prompt | 7 Comments

Hallelujah

Posted on February 24, 2015

She smiled at the class. “Hallelujah, brethern,” she said. “You just finished a working web site.” A couple of the class members smiled back at her joke. She went on to detail everything they had accomplished in the last few … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, Essay, Writing prompt | 3 Comments

Glory

Posted on February 23, 2015

For my photography book “Glory” I went to the poorest places in America. I took photos of people and places that reflected the glory of the human spirit not matter how squalid the circumstances of life. It is my favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, music, Writing prompt | 2 Comments

Sing

Posted on February 20, 2015

Sing of retreating darkness, Sing of light, Sing of buds Bursting yellow. Sing of birds Singing themselves home. Sing of blue air and warm sun, Sing of life. Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, Children's Writing Prompts, Photo Writing Prompt, Poems, Writing prompt | 3 Comments

Start

Posted on February 19, 2015

Writing is like playing. You’re slouched on the couch, bored. You can’t figure out what to do next. Get up, go where your writing tools are, pick a word and start. Make a choice, pick a color. Just start. Write … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, Photo Writing Prompt, Writing prompt | 4 Comments

Funny

Posted on February 18, 2015

So I went to this: Wisdom Sharing. Gloria Steinem told a story about Alice Walker being at her apartment for the weekend. Gloria wondered what her cat would be like if it was as big as Gloria herself. Alice answered, … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, Photo Writing Prompt, Writing prompt | 5 Comments

Saddest

Posted on February 17, 2015

Once she learned how to use those sad eyes on her mom, she ruled the house. It was the saddest parenting situation I’d ever seen. A baby having her way with an immature young mother, neither of them capable of … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, Photo Writing Prompt, Writing prompt | 4 Comments

Happiest

Posted on February 16, 2015

He was social and smiling as a child, but as he grew older he was happiest when he was alone. He didn’t like being touched and was hesitant to hug his aunts and uncles. It used to hurt me. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Writing Prompts, fiction, Photo Writing Prompt, Writing prompt | 5 Comments