Summer Solstice Writing

Writing prompts

This week I’m sharing prompts inspired by hot weather and the summer, so I thought I’d share some to celebrate today’s Summer Solstice. Today is the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere, the height of summer here – and the shortest day and the middle of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The solstice isn’t really a ‘one day only’ thing – that’s a modern invention. The midsummer atmosphere hangs around for a few days, so it doesn’t matter if you actually do these exercises today.

Want to try some Summer Solstice Writing? Read on! By the way, you might want to take a look at my post on Live Writing first if you’ve never written ‘on location’ before.

Summer Solstice Writing Prompts

Here are some prompts to use:

  1. Wake up early or stay up late and go outside to write.
  2. Go on a mindful walk and notice the plants and flowers and the sheer abundance of growth.
  3. Sit somewhere in nature to write – somewhere you find relaxing.
  4. Observe the world through a door or window at different times during the day and write about what you see – use all of the senses you have available to you.
  5. If you like, do the same at various points during the evening. If you’re really keen, do the same at 10pm and at midnight.
  6. Write about a character who changes somehow on the summer solstice.
  7. Write a story set on the solstice and only refer to what happens on that day. No going forward or backwards in time. (This is hard, so check you haven’t broken the rules!)
  8. If you’re lucky enough to live near the seaside, take someone with you and go for a walk on the beach or sit and watch the sunset over the sea and write ‘live’.
  9. Write a poem called ‘The Longest Day.’
  10. Simply stop and observe the world around you and, in a notebook, make lists of words based on your senses. Use these words when you want to write about the summer at another time of the year. You can add other sensory lists to your notebook at during the other seasons, and you’ll end up with a very useful resource.

Download the prompts as a PDF here: Summer Solstice Writing Prompts

More soon. Until then, happy writing,

Lou xx

P.S. If you’d like more exercises like these, take a look at the Small Steps Writing Guides.

 

 

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