Post #18 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Written by: Promptly Portland
Today’s weather forecast is: “Rain early, remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Thunder possible.” Rain. Rain. And more rain. The forecasts begin to sound like a variation on Chicago’s famous “vote early and often.” As is obvious, I’m slowly adjusting to my first fall season in Portland. Everyone knows that it rains here. Mentally I was ready for it. Now I ask myself, “How can anybody be ready for the constant rain?”
I’m starting to realize that the single word rain doesn’t really describe Portland in late October. There is the gray rain, the warm rain, the thick rain, the drizzle, the mist. There is the look of rain on the deck or on the street, or on my dog. I’m learning that in Portland you are supposed to accept the rain — no dashing for shelter. Just keep going about your business.
As I found myself driving in the rain, once again, I began to think about my life story through the perspective of rain. Sometimes events seem to flood my life, soaking me in a torrential downpour complete with lightning and thunder. Other times, life is more like intermittent showers with bits of sunshine to dry me off and lift my spirits. Secretly, I’m waiting for the big rainbow to offer me encouragement and show me the way.
I’d like to offer you a life-as-rain challenge.
500 Words (or More): Memoir Writing Prompt #7
1. Think about one time in your life that you’d like to write about. Be as specific as possible — starting a new job, getting divorced, your 12th birthday party, the death of your mother.
2. Now think of the events of the day or the time as if they were rain. What kind of rain? It could be a warm, welcoming rain. It could be a cold, stormy rain. How do you cope with the rain? How do you feel at the beginning when the rain is just starting? What about at the end?
3. Now write 500 words (or more). Perhaps you’ll find your own internal weather signs.
Until next time,
-Promptly Portland
