Past Prompts

Freud told us our nightly dreams represent our unconscious desires and thoughts. Disney's Cinderella sang "A dream is a wish your heart makes." Eleanor Roosevelt told us, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” But not all dreams are beautiful. Everyone has had anxiety dreams, those repetitive dreams about being naked in public or showing up for an exam in a course you never took. And nightmares, so frightening that you wake up in a sweat or in tears, thankful when you realize it was only a dream. Think back … What were the dreams that were memorable to you, either for good or for bad? Share your dreams stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Spring brings many celebrations, the biggest of which are Passover and Easter, but there are lots of others, including Purim, St. Patrick’s Day, May Day, and even Major League Baseball opening day. Think back . . . what spring celebrations were the most memorable ones in your childhood? What have you celebrated with your children or grandchildren? Share your spring celebrations stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

We’ve all had close calls, those “Whew!” moments. Maybe you narrowly avoided or survived an accident, an armed robbery, a fire, cancer, a heart attack. Perhaps you had a near death experience, or saved someone else’s life. Or maybe it was a seemingly simple matter of making, or not making, a certain flight or, as Bonnie Raitt sang, “finding love in the nick of time.” Some people describe these types of events as life changing and even feel a deeper sense of purpose in being alive. Think back … to a close call you or someone you know experienced. What happened, and if it changed you, how so? Share your close calls stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Nicknames can be a shortened form of your formal name, or have nothing to do with it. They can describe your personality or a physical characteristic, or - ironically - exactly the opposite (an “antiphrasis”). Think back … Whether a term of affection or something else, did you have a childhood nickname that stuck even when you’d outgrown it? If you still have a nickname, or have acquired a more recent one, do you embrace it or wish it would just go away? Share your nicknames stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Bad trip, or coping with COVID? This impromptu prompt gives Retrospecters the option of writing about a traumatic past vacation or the current COVID-19 pandemic. Your story might be one of a travel disaster or an up-to-the minute account of how your community and activities are being shut down. Think back … to past bad vacations or to past epidemics such as polio, AIDS, SARS. Or just talk about how you are dealing with the current crisis and its mandated staycation. Share your hellacious vacation or staycation stories forward.  Start Writing Read Stories