Writing Opportunity #14 – Selected Audiences Only

My new goal is to make sure I get two writing opportunities out each month. One for the first half and another for the second. With the busy of life — writing, submitting, work, family — I’m excited to announce I made my deadline (during birthday week, no less)!

So number 14 offers another brief prompt: “Whispering. 200 words.” I wanted to write something witty, but with the littles home this Saturday, I just pulled from the obvious, what I and others mutter in the midst of breathing. Some of these whispers have escaped from my lips while others would be considered a foreign language (“three, two, one” – I never count down especially with my children; “I don’t love you anymore” – I’ve only loved one and haven’t stopped; “Don’t every embarrass me like that again” – kids are kids, sorry not sorry). I don’t know why I added hushed sayings that are 100% attributed to me at the end, but my husband says that I’m not the most humble. I tend to include pieces of me in much of my work, I guess. As you read each whisper, think of how the gravity increases when the words are lower, softer, and for a very select individual or audience.

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(couple skirmishes)
It wasn’t that funny.
Okay, if that’s what you say…
I would have done it differently.
It’s fine, really.

(the impromptu therapy sessions)
Let’s just breathe…
Tell me one more time.
Do you need a break?
Three, two, one.

(young love)
I was just, uh, wondering if you felt the same way.
I thought of you when I saw it.
It’s just–are we moving too fast?
I love you.

(the serious)
Can I make an appointment?
Our household income is…
I think they’re getting a divorce.
I don’t love you anymore.

(dealing with the kids)
Don’t tell her–it’s a surprise.
The candy is hidden here; don’t let them know.
Don’t ever embarrass me like that again.
You just wait until we get home.

(the drama queens)
You didn’t hear it from me, but…
That’s not what he said.
Did you see what she’s wearing?
Look! Watch! Here they come!

(very Desiree)
Please stop talking.
Okay, you’re being kind of a jerk.
I can’t see anything.
Oops, dat da curb.
The thing but still.
Random pieces of Romans 8 that I have memorized.

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As always, I would enjoy reading your writing for this prompt! Send it via my Contact page or as a comment below. I love discovering the different ways our minds stretch and feel motivated by inspiration. (I just rolled my eyes at that last sentence, but it sounds encouraging so I’ll keep it.)

In other news, I was working on my lead magnet “Creating Your Own Personal Liturgy Guide & Worksheet” that I was planning on releasing on my birthday, but after attending a webinar on promotion as a writer (where I was then offered lifetime access to an online tutorial for ONLY $997), I’m now going back to the drawing board in regard to providing a lead magnet that fits better with my writing style and relates more to the book I want to publish. I just have a lot more to flesh out. I’m not really excited about the upkeep of an email list and pumping out constant content because it leads me away from journal submissions and memoir writing (my “real” writing). BUT how do I show publishers I can self-promote if I’m not growing my email list with downloadables and newsletters? Email is still king even over social media (read: algorithms).

My head hurts now.

In good news, I got an acceptance from Heart of Flesh Literary Journal. I will be featured in Issue Five online and in print come May. In oddly better news, I got a rejection from The Windhover. With our tiny house (currently thinking of names for it) getting closer to completion, I have a depressing-for-some but encouraging-to-me project which consists of my rejections. I’ll post pictures when it’s done, and my new writing space is occupied.