Diane Wordsworth: freelance writer ● novelist ● editor ● ghostwriter ● book reviewer ● member of the CWA ● world-famous nutter-magnet
8 August is International Cat Day (Image by Pexels from Pixabay) I missed last week, so here is a list of dates for the first half of the month for you to research and brainstorm for yourselves. Choose a topical date or an evergreen, and consider writing an article, a short story, or something longer. There’s time, after all. 1 August Evergreen: Lammastide Evergreen: Yorkshire Day Fifty years ago next year, on 1 August 1972, the first article exposing the […]
Read moreImage by Gerhard G. from Pixabay Up, up and away Here are two ideas that sort of come under the same umbrella. Forty years ago next year, on 2 July 1982, a chap by the name of Larry Walters apparently attached 42 helium balloons to a patio (lawn) chair and rose to 16,000 feet during a 45-minute (illegal) flight. Twenty years ago next year, also on 2 July, but this time in 2002, another chap, this one called Steve Fossett, […]
Read moreImage by lucatelles from Pixabay The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau Twenty-five years ago next year, on 25 June 1997, marine conservationist and legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau died at the age of 87. I remember watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau on the telly, and also I remember that he had something to do with the whales in the St Lawrence Seaway on the east coast of Canada. What I didn’t know was that he was a co-pioneer of the […]
Read moreImage by Terri Stalons from Pixabay The Falklands Conflict Forty years ago next year, on 14 June 1982, The Falklands War ended. I’m old enough to remember when the Falklands War broke out and when it ended. I personally believe that had it not been for this conflict, our then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, would have been overthrown a lot sooner than she was. I think it was the making of her and, regardless of my own personal opinions, I […]
Read moreImage by Flybynight from Pixabay Choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction, topical but no evergreens this time. Judy Garland One hundred years ago next year, on 10 June 1922, Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Her real name was Frances Gumm. She died only 47 years later in London. What can you find out about Judy Garland and her childhood? How did she come to be in movies? Where did she get her […]
Read moreImage by waldiwkl from Pixabay I’m a day late this week but, hey, better late than never. Choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. The Queen’s platinum jubilee Next year, on 2 June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrating her platinum jubilee. Although her coronation did not take place until 2 June 1953, she actually became queen the year before when her father, King George VI, died in February. Not only is […]
Read moreImage by Nicole Pankalla from Pixabay I skipped a week last week, so here’s a bumper crop for this week. With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. Oscar Wilde One hundred and twenty-five years ago next year, on 19 May 1897, Oscar Wilde was released after […]
Read moreImage by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. First wireless telegraph One hundred and twenty-five years ago next year, on 14 May 1897, Marconi sent the first ever communication by wireless telegraph. What do we know about Marconi? Where was he […]
Read moreImage by falco from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. These are all evergreens this week, and there are no November throwaways yet, as I haven’t had chance to examine November in detail. Liberation Day: Jersey & Guernsey Sunday 9 May is Liberation Day […]
Read moreImage by Dave Francis from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. May Day This coming Saturday is 1 May. Historically, that’s May Day, and more recently it’s become Labour Day. It’s also our wedding anniversary! What is it called where you live? Do you […]
Read moreImage by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. St George St George is the patron saint of England and it’s St George’s Day on 23 April every year. That makes it an evergreen. What do we know about St George? What […]
Read moreImage by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. This week’s prompts are all about space. Yuri Gagarin Sixty years ago next year, on 12 April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space. Write an article about this […]
Read moreImage by Peter H from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. Henry Ford Seventy-five years ago next year, on 7 April 1947, Henry Ford died. There are so many topics you can write about around this anniversary. What was Henry Ford known for? Where […]
Read moreImage by silviarita from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. Easter Here’s an evergreen, although the date does fluctuate from year to year, so do your research for next year. This Friday, 2 April, is Good Friday. Sunday is Easter Day. And Friday and […]
Read moreImage by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Oh, look! Another image by Gerd Altmann … he’s going to start charging me soon! With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. British Summer Time The clocks go forward in the UK this weekend. Or do they go back? I’m […]
Read moreImage by Please Don’t sell My Artwork AS IS from Pixabay With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. The Godfather Fifty years ago next year, on 15 March 1972, The Godfather premiered. Who starred in this iconic film*? What else have they appeared in? Did any of […]
Read morePhoenix, Arizona. Image by samuriah from Pixabay This week we have one story idea for next year and two evergreens. With the new regime, I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail, but I think you have the gist of things by now. Simply choose one of the topics, and then brainstorm. Fiction and non-fiction; topical and evergreen. The Phoenix Lights Twenty-five years ago next year, on 13 March 1997, some strange lights began to appear in the sky […]
Read moreImage by Carrie Z from Pixabay I couldn’t find anything very cheerful to write about this week, so here are two dark topics and an evergreen. Texas trial: Andrea Yates Twenty years ago next year, on 7 March 2002, the defence rested in the Andrea Yates trial in Texas. She was found guilty of capital murder, for drowning her five children in a bath. However, the jury refused her the death penalty. Four years later at her retrial, she was […]
Read moreYellowstone Park Image by David Mark from Pixabay Here’s another one for next year, so you have plenty of time to research it, pitch it, write it, and submit it. One hundred and fifty years ago next year, on 1 March 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established by President Ulysses S Grant. What can you find out about this park? What is it known for? What wildlife can be found there? What else is there of interest? Following a very […]
Read moreImage by Jörg Petersen from Pixabay Here’s one for next year, so you have plenty of time to research it, pitch it, write it, and submit it. Fifty years ago next year, on 17 February 1972, the VW Beetle overtook the Model T Ford as the world’s bestselling car. What was it about this little car that was so popular? After all, the boot (trunk) was under the bonnet (hood), the engine was in the boot (trunk), and it was […]
Read moreImage by PIRO4D from Pixabay Twenty-five years ago today, on 10 February 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov apparently lost the first game of a six-game chess match against an IBM computer called Deep Blue. Although it is too late to write this one up as an anniversary piece for this year, chess can still play a big part in both fiction and non-fiction. There’s even a play about it! And a TV film. And it doesn’t matter if it […]
Read moreImage by shedreamsinpink from Pixabay Okay, this one’s a good one … or I think it is at least. Fifty years ago next year, on 24 January 1972, a Second World War Japanese soldier was found hiding on Guam, an island in the North Pacific. There is so much information available about this event if you do your research and dig deep. Article and non-fiction book ideas include travel, history, military, etc. Short story and novel ideas are limitless. So, you […]
Read moreI set myself the goal of reading and reviewing 52 writing guides over the year. Here is book 38. Story Starters is a book of fiction writing prompts from Fiction Attic Press – or New York Times award winning author Michelle Richmond. Michelle has been teaching creative writing for a lot of years, and she’s a widely published author. Therefore I wasn’t surprised at how good this book is. It’s a book that does exactly what it says it does – […]
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