Lawless Letters

Mountains, like gods, reign forever, but These will collapse when winter ends Imperious ivory slopes and indigo shadows Topple, thwarted by the springtime sun. Poetry style: Haynaku (1-2-3 word stanzas)

At the risk of sounding like a Grinch… I never make New Year’s resolutions. It just seems so arbitrary to pick January 1 to make major changes in one’s life. If something is worth doing—indeed, if it’s worthy enough to merit a pledge—then surely it’s worth doing on April 25, July 19, or whatever date you make your decision. Plus, does anyone really keep their New Year’s resolutions? Does anybody heroically turn over a new leaf on 1/1 and make it permanent? Or do we declare resolutions just to make ourselves feel good? The internet is full of well-intentioned New Year’s resolution templates and tracker apps. However, the meme-generating wizards appear to share my cynicism: I do enjoy the holiday season. I celebrate Christmas in a secular sort of way, with emphasis on generosity, goodwill, the marking of the solstice with a tree covered in bling, and the eating of delicious fattening treats. So every year I make about seventeen thousand cookies and then drive around ...

Oh, Time. Why must you be so aggravatingly finite? I would have loved to do the entire NaNoDoMore list  this year. But the usual things ate up my waking hours (can I move to a shack somewhere, and ditch this mortgage and the day job to boot? then there's that darn eating thing...). I managed five, though! Submit to a paying market. In November, I submitted stuff to Ninth Letter and Newfound (Virtual Realities Themed Issue). Neither of them has yet responded, so it remains to be seen whether I’ll ever be able to call myself a “professional” creative writer. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Write a complete story in under 100 words. Of course I did, because I can’t quit the YeahWrite microfiction challenges. The prompts are delightful, and the length is an exact match for how much free time I have (very little).  Start a conversation in the Coffeehouse about anything writing related. I asked about in-person writing groups vs. online groups. Everyone seemed to agree t...

The wildfire had raged remorselessly toward Paradise. He’d barely escaped through the burning pines. Afterward, people searched for heirlooms in charred debris. Nobody noticed the yard’s freshly turned earth under its light layer of ash. Snow drifts covered the ruins now. He grinned. San Quentin wouldn’t have him this time. Writing Prompt: Write a 50-word story containing the words burn, cover, drift, light, and pine

A small face is pressed against the window, watching for the blue car that should have been home by now.

Wake up with a head full of busy-mom thoughts. Need to pay bills. Better get those leaves raked and bagged before it rains this afternoon. Got to do laundry and pack for our trip. The kids need baths. 7yo got up at 5 a.m.; she’s gonna be in a terrible mood. How am I going to keep them off their devices all day? Skip your usual head-clearing, treasured-time-to-yourself morning walk, because the kids are home on fall break and your husband left early for work. Log on to your work laptop. Answer emails, attend conference calls, fight fires, fix problems. Try to keep up with the deluge of instant messages from co-workers who are about to go away for Thanksgiving and want you to do just one thing for them first. Spend the morning juggling the kids’ needs and your employer’s needs. Do a mediocre job at both. Feel your sanity stretching thin. Feed your picky 7yo Campbell’s soup for lunch. Microwave leftovers and eat them at your desk. When your 10yo asks you to go outside with her and j...

The beguiling call came again. Lucky sniffed the air. He whined, pacing at the end of his tether. With a sudden surge of power, he sprang, and heard a loud crack. The broken collar tumbled to the dirt. Lucky bounded over the ridge to meet his lady. Writing Prompt: Create a 47-word micro story that contains an object the main character is happier without.