Last year my son and his girlfriend bought me a very thick book titled 500 Writing Prompts. Whew. Not daunting at all…
image source: Barnes & Noble
Well, I did delve in and the trick to not being overwhelmed was to start in the middle. It has worked for me so far. I don’t go in order of page numbers. Also, I added some images to the front and inside covers to make it ‘mine’. The other trick to it is treating it like a journal. So instead of writing in my brain dump, I pick up this book and try to answer a prompt as creatively as possible. It’s good practice. Also, I have added some of my own prompts. For example, “What bothers you but shouldn’t?” LOL. I won’t share that today.
Anyway, you get the idea.
So I chose a writing prompt to share with you:
“Do you still believe in anything old-fashioned?(Example writing letters)”
Hm. Very nice of them, they gave an example. One of the few prompts that does.
My answer:
Yes, I definitely believe in many old-fashioned things:
One of my handmade journals
My own Grandma’s tea cups
Oh, and the markers the kids gave me to go with the book are the best! Markers and pens make it more fun!
Do you still believe in anything old-fashioned? Share in the comments.
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eMarketedu
December 14, 2023 at 9:19 amHi Lisa
Here are a few:
1. A gold-tipped fountain pen
2. A shiny old hukkah
3. Granny’s homemade Drumstick soup
lisa
December 14, 2023 at 4:04 pmgreat choices!
Kevin
December 3, 2023 at 1:37 pmHi Lisa – lists are fun!! – yours and your readers. Sticker books!! Lol love it! And anything cooked or baked from scratch – Yes!! Here’s mine:
A real cracking fire
Vegetable gardens
Making coffee
Old time radio detective shows
Classic Cocktails
Exchanging letters
The Great American Songbook
Knowing your neighbours
Making soup stock from scraps
lisa
December 5, 2023 at 7:44 amHi Kevin, great list! Old time radio detective shows-this one sounds like fun. Would pair well with a crackling fire.
Making coffee will never go out of style IMHO.
classic cocktails make one feel as though they are in old time New York.
🙂
Marie Kléber
December 1, 2023 at 8:46 amHello Lisa, I love this writing prompts book.
As for my old-fashioned musts, handwritting cards and letters, homemade cards too, everything homemade in general!!
Paper books and paper notebooks too.
Sending love and have a nice Christmas season (loving christmas carolls as well! )
lisa
December 3, 2023 at 7:37 amHi Marie, you also have this book! It is very handy for when I feel like writing but not sure what about- lol. I like your old-fashioned musts! “Everything homemade in general” YES. Not everyone appreciates it but I love the imperfection of hand made things.
Thank you, Marie, and I send back to you love and Christmas wishes! Enjoy the Christmas carols. You’ve reminded me to play my Noel playlist on Spotify 🙂
DGKaye
November 29, 2023 at 4:44 pmI love your list! And thanks for reminding me that I too have that book! Wow, great reminder for when the well runs dry for blog ideas! <3
lisa
November 30, 2023 at 8:03 amThanks, Deb! You have that XL book, too? It’s a bit daunting isn’t it? I found working in it on random pages helps. Once I have two pages done in a spread, it is quite satisfying, seeing the different ink color and small drawings (I sometimes add a drawing to an answer).
Mabel Kwong
November 29, 2023 at 4:01 amIt is lovely to hear you found something useful out of the writing prompts. And you added your own prompts.
That is a good question on believing in things old fashioned. Like you, I like writing by hand. I find that I organise my thoughts better just by writing everything out on paper, no matter how messy it might be. Sometimes I find I write out more meaningful ideas by hand than when I do sitting and typing away at the laptop…or maybe not typing at all! Another thing old-fashioned I like are sticker and stamp books. Over the last year I started getting into sticker books again, as I do tend to get given stickers here and there – so why not stick them all into a sticker book 😊
lisa
November 30, 2023 at 8:00 amHi Mabel, there are so many writing prompts and many are excellent but a few I really dislike. I need to try my hand at those ones. 🙂
Yes, hand-writing does tap into a more intuitive space. Have you tried automatic writing or morning pages?
Stickers! I love stickers in and on my journals! I saw one that said (with a cute animal on it) “Don’t disturb me I’m playing with stickers” LOL Do share a photo of your sticker book on your next blog, Mabel. I would love to see it.
LA CONTESSA
November 28, 2023 at 7:23 amI THINK I AM THE OLD-FASHIONED GAL!
CLOTH NAPKINS FOR SURE!
SILVER NAPKIN RINGS TO HOLD YOUR NAPKIN FOR THE WEEK!
PICKING UP THE LAND LINE TO CALL SO WE BOTH CAN HEAR EACH OTHER BETTER!
NO PAPER PLATES< CUPS ETC………….
THE LIST IS ENDLESS WITH ME AND WHAT BUGS ME MOST IS THE LACK OF COMMON SENSE NO ONE HAS TODAY!
WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING NICE TO PEOPLE YOU DONOT KNOW?
HUGS,XX
lisa
November 28, 2023 at 8:26 amHi LA CONTESSA, I try to use cloth napkins daily too because I think it’s better for the environment but then I have to launder them. Ha. Does anyone still have a land line? WE haven’t for years and I do miss it. No buzzing, no cutting out. Remember call waiting? Lack of common sense may have something to do with people glued to their phones while out even crossing hte street–not even looking to see if a car is coming. This leads to people being in their own worlds and unaware of others. 😛 Very annoying. I would add hats to your list, Elizabeth. They look wonderful on you and add an air of old world charm.
Darlene Foster
November 27, 2023 at 10:10 amI believe in old-fashioned things. Here is my partial list:
handwritten letters
sending postcards
sitting down to a set table with placemats, napkins and matching dinnerwear
making tea in a teapot
baking cakes and pies
A great prompt. I may use it tomorrow at my writer’s group. Thanks!
lisa
November 27, 2023 at 12:45 pmHi Darlene, I love your list! Baking is something I was going to add to my list then I wondered if it was old-fashioned…I’d say yes to that! So great you’re going to use the prompt in your writer’s group!
Jeff
November 27, 2023 at 9:54 amDefinitely a crackling fire in a fireplace/stove… And perked coffee… And homemade tomato soup and I could go on.
lisa
November 27, 2023 at 12:44 pmPerked coffee! Yes. I can smell it. Any kind of homemade soup is the best.
Ellen Shook
November 27, 2023 at 7:54 amI definitely believe in old-fashioned things. I use a lot of them everyday, like old hand-made table linens and my mother’s dishes.
I suppose I have a few old-fashioned ideas, too, even though I am quite a modern and progressive person, (I think), such as: I cannot stand to see bare legs with a dressy dress or suit! I don’t know when it became popular not to wear them exactly, but I think it somehow seems a bit smarmy.
lisa
November 27, 2023 at 12:43 pmI love the sounds of your old-fashioned things, Ellen. Age makes them more special!
Oh, I know I have some old fashioned ideas, too which makes me realize how old I am. Well I agree about the bare legs with the exception of summer heat. But I love to wear tights or sheer nylons with dresses. They’re flattering. How about the dresses that look like you have no pants on? LOL. I think those were popular long ago and have been back in for a while. Dare we say they are classic now?