Happy “National Multiple Personality Day” (if you’re reading this on the 5th). With all of the characters writers keep playing around in their heads, this holiday seems custom made.
“Some people look at National Multiple Personality Day as a day to look at yourself and connect with who you are. Exploring your own personality traits and examining the roots of those traits. Each one of us shows a different side of our personalities at different times and in different places. Sometimes our personalities appear to be altered, depending on whom we are with and what we are doing. With these things in mind, National Multiple Personality Day is a day to focus your thoughts, on yourself and your own personality.”
If you’re hungry instead, we’re also in the middle of “British Pie Week,” which is right up my alley. There is a Pie Shoppe not too far away that makes great hand pies. I had their Corn-ish Pastry for lunch just yesterday and it was delicious. The make a mean apple-pecan crumble too. The shop–The Petaluma Pie Company–is running a Piku contest:
Pi Day is coming 3-14 ! It is time for our annual piku contest! Write a haiku about pi, the number, pie, the food or both. The format is three lines. 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. The deadline to enter is noon on Sunday March 14th. We will announce winners on Monday March 15th on Instagram, Facebook, and twitter and contact you directly if you are a winner. You could win prizes ranging from gift cards to t-shirts to coffee cups.
Here in “it’s rainy, no wait, it’s sunny” California, I’ll be celebrating “Still Digging in the Yard but now with Dangerous Tools” day. When attempting to plant a lavender bushes last week, I encountered a mass of roots in the ground that kept me from digging a proper-sized hole. After watching random guys on YouTube, it seemed that a reciprocating saw was the answer. We’ll see. I’ll either get my lavender successfully planted or end up in the emergency room.
Perhaps I should just read a book instead.
Before I get started in the yard I think I’ll grab my favorite notebook and give today’s writing prompt and random words a try.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope either today’s random words or writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
Prompt: Taking a risk
Feel free to interpret the prompt any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
dream machine drink contempt
bend downtown gum costume
salty lasso lights ceremonial
quick fire duck accessories
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future “what-if” prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
The first time I’ve revised a sprint! Because I found the joke only when I got to the end.
I’m so impressed by your gardening work, Elizabeth! If you run out of projects but still have a yen to dig, please come to my house. We have projects galore over here. Be careful with that saw! No emergency rooms, please.
The Fire
Clover Pemberton gazed through the downtown shop window at her dream machine and then entered the store. The emporium was bright with halogen lights, the better to see the merchandise.
“Can I help, ducks?” The clerk snapped her gum, her contempt palpable.
Who was she to criticize? Clover thought. Just because she was wearing her ceremonial costume didn’t mean she couldn’t afford the espresso maker. She’d thought she’d just be making a quick trip. Bitch hadn’t earned the right to be so salty. She hadn’t been promoted beyond kitchen accessories, had she now?
“I’d like to see the espresso maker,” she said. “The big one.”
Upon hearing the magic words the big one, the manager hustled over. Bending over the display, she lassoed the monster machine and hauled it up to the counter.
“Care to have a sample?” she asked. “We could make you a nice drink. A double.”
“Please,” Clover said. She might as well not hurry now. Where was the fire, after all? Just down the street. She could get there a lot quicker if she had a little caffeine going. “And leave room for cream.”
🙂 Good job, Kay. I loved the “she hadn’t been promoted beyond kitchen accessories, had she now?” line.