Cole Matthews

Maybe summer has just begun, according to the summer solstice. But, we get to treat the month of July as the middle point of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Midsummer is a fantastic time of picnics, parades, hanging out at the lake or the ocean or the pool, and letting the sun and fun wash over you. Let's play with our characters at a bright and cheery midsummer setting or even in a dark and spooky midsummer's night. #61 - You're at a cookout and there is an attractive young man standing by himself. You venture over and introduce yourself. He says, "Nice to meet you, my name is Robin Goodfellow." What is your story? #62 - Use the following words in a story. Strawberry pie, eyeball, changeling, hot dogs, tennis bracelet, and beach towel.

The warm, long days of summer are just beginning. In fact, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs in just two weeks. We celebrate Father's Day, Flag Day, and the beginning of the summer break for students. And, it's Gay Pride Month!! There is so much to write about. First, let's do a random word one. Prompt #55 - Use all the following words in a story. It can be about anything, of any length, but it must include these words: Bug, frigid, oozes, sidecar, bandana, and corndog. Prompt #56 - Write a story about the longest day a character ever had. Why is it long? Who else is there? Let's get to know the person intimately. HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!!

Fascinating beginning. Very evocative. Great job!

I do know and I'm planning your punishment carefully!!!

Thanks so much. We will see what Jerry encounters next. 😎

I will consider, and you’ve encouraged me, to think about Jerry and his past, and future.

Isn’t it crazy how sonnets change over time, with our view of what they mean? I thought of something different years ago, but now this strikes me so powerfully. Thanks so much! Art is powerfully subjective.

Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er! Thanks darling. Some typos and errors, but getting better.

Thanks Addy. I need to think about this. He is a good character. 😘

Thank you! This is one of my favorite sonnets. It’s very real because life is positive and negative. It was fun to do. 😘

Cottonwood By Cole Matthews Inspired by Sonnet #44 Jerry bagged the item, carefully sliding the delicate ends of the fairy castle from damage. It was a sweet little thing, porcelain with delicate flags flying from the towers of the structure. It was a music box of sorts, and it opened up into a jewelry box. It would make some little girl very happy, he supposed. The man looked up and smiled at the customer, who was a middle-aged woman with grayish black locks and a

A place to put prompts

Here is the link to my response. Thanks for the suggestion!!! It was great fun. https://gayauthors.org/story/cole-matthews/this-and-that-prompt/1

I was going to slay Aditus, but I like Astone2292 idea better. I will do so!

I love murder mysteries, but I love other kinds of writing as well. Whether it's Tolkien or Asimov, I can really enjoy a good sci fi series or a great book of fantasy. So, I'll offer up a couple of prompts in those genres. Please simply take the kernel of the idea and play with it. You don't need it to follow the prompt exactly. It's the concept that's fun. Try something different!!! Prompt #49 - The Lycan Hunter - A werewolf hunter hears about a pack on the other side of the county. He drives to the glade in the dark of night, finds the wolves have surrounded a victim. Chasing them away, he discovers his boyfriend was bitten and will turn. What does he do? Prompt #50 - You are receiving emails, and they predict various things. You will win a pulltab if you play. Then you do. Don't eat at the new Indian restaurant, you'll get sick. You end up throwing up. You get an email that warns you, "Don't wait. Run for your life." Since we've reached 50 prompts, we wanted to do something special and here's the tie-in with the below challenge. Thanks for all the fun!!!!

Okay, as promised, a sonnet that will make Shakespeare roll over in his grave. [clears throat] The footballer Hearing the beat, of manly Feet He comes afield, a Player Watching the dirt fly from a Cleat Opposing team, he’s the slayer His brow furls, and shows Trouble The muscles contort, contract as a vice Spit slides from his mouth as a bubble He intimidates others like mice Ready is he, the enemy to assail Across the glen, he comes at a trot Breath puffs as a blustery gale Scores and yards to win the Pot Then lost, his mighty figure slumps The footballer has taken his lumps

Prompt 39 April 23rd is Shakespeare's birthday. Since April is Poetry Month and I'm absolutely horrible at writing poetry, I'm at a disadvantage, to say the least. However, I'm always game to try something new, so I challenge our faithful readers and writers to a duel, you know, Tudor style. In honor of the Bard of Avon's birthday, let's do sonnets. I found an explanation, which I still don't really understand, but I think I get the gist of it. A sonnet is a 14 line poem. It has four sets of four lines that rhyme thusly: a, b, a, b c, d, c, d e, f, e, f g, h, g, h And then, the last two lines rhyme with each other. I guess the last two lines either sum up the subject, or surprise the reader with a twist. The subject of the sonnet should be a unifying theme, like a summer's day, or a fresh blueberry pie, or what you found at the bottom of the sink drain after you cleaned it out. You decide! Therefore, I submit my terrible attempt and you must do better than me, or you lose. If you don't try, you lose and then Henry the VIII will get to marry you and chop off your head or Elizabeth will defeat you at sea, or something equally as embarrassing. So, pull out your quill and ink, grab a piece of vellum, and get to work, wenches!!! Prompt 40 Write a poem about one of Shakespeare's characters. It can be a love poem to the hunky Romeo. It may be a dirge about MacBeth. It could be a limerick about Puck, and how he like to pluck, flowers from the garden.

Aaaaahhhh...The Vernal Equinox approaches. "The March equinox – also called the vernal equinox – marks the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. The March 2022 equinox will arrive on March 20 at 15:33 UTC. That’s 10:33 a.m. Central Daylight Time." - EarthSky website [https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-vernal-or-spring-equinox/] Oh, and it's Randy's birthday too! But enough about personal matters. Spring is a time of rebirth, new growth, the sprouting of seeds, and yes, even the burst of creative ideas to get your fertile mind growing again. Here are a couple of ideas for Spring cleaning your mind and getting your characters to grow. #31 - List of words; rhubarb, raindrops, baby bunny, polliwog, and snowdrop #32 - Situation; Two old high school friends reunite every spring, but this year is something very special. What is different?

Who doesn't love a fairy tale? They are the stuff of childhood, memories of the distant past, lessons for the present, and fodder for the future. This coming weekend is Tell a Fairy Tale Day. So, I proposed we tell each other some fairy tales, based on the tropes and ideals of the genre. Hopefully these prompts will get you conjuring up your own scenarios of a child eating someone else's porridge or a lonely orphan girl who meets her prince, only to flee at midnight. #25 - Story beginning with, "Once upon a time, in a forest..." #26 - Gender Bender - Take a traditional fairy tale and reverse the roles. For example, instead of Rapunzel letting down her hair for the prince to climb up and fall in love with her. Instead a boy, let's call him Campanulo, does so and a warrior princess comes to save him.

St. Valentine's Day is drawing near. While many people don't enjoy the holiday, others revel in the blooming of new love, the sprouting of true love, and the enduring promise of "ever after." I happen to love the celebration. When I was a teen, I never knew what the poets meant when they'd write about the earth moving and the heavens exploding. I never really understood how a kiss was that special. For me it was just a kiss, kinda fun, but not really that big of a deal. [Mind you, I was kissing girls at that point] Then, I met someone special, and I understood. Later on after getting to know Randy, he talked about how love was something that made your socks go up and down. I think love is when the thunder and lightning jolt your night. It's when you see that special someone, and your heart flutters. For me, it's touching a hand that makes it all seem okay. So, give us your interpretations of love, and the celebration of all that it means. #19 Prompt Idea Cupid is a fickle creature. You ask for a Valentine, but his arrow hits someone you never expected. What is the story? #20 Prompt First Line. "You'll never believe how we first met."

January is named for the Roman god Janus, who was the patron of beginnings, endings, and the nature of a doorway or threshold. The Janus Society was an early homophile organization out of Philadelphia in the 1960s and was one of the earliest organizations of gays, lesbians, and gender non-conforming people of the era. Prompt #13 The Janus Society's president had a magazine called, "Drum" and in 1965, it was the first U.S. magazine to show a nude male from the front. What is his story? Where did he come from and how was he chosen? Prompt #14 Or, this coin depicting Janus was found on an archeological dig in southern France. Tell us a story about how it was found.

Such a lovely story and a beautiful way to get help. It felt very real and vital, like it was happening and poignant. Great job!

Knowing you, it will be! Have a very Merry Christmas!

That is so special! I’m so happy I could connect like this. What a wonderful memory, and how interesting. Have a very Merry Christmas and a terrific holiday season!

Thanks so much Kitt! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas and hope you have a blessed holiday season!