Tag Archives: winter

Writing Prompt #13: A Polar Bear Walks on Ice

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Welcome 2012! Time to get back to work. Okay, you can have one more butter cookie with red and green frosting, but that’s it!

I’m so curious to hear about what you did as a writer to start your new year. Did you make a point of reconnecting with an old project? Is this the year you start and FINISH something brand new? Did you set aside a project that wasn’t quite working for you? Letting go can be a beautiful thing.

And lastly, did you write “January 1, 2012″ in a brand new notebook? I usually do, but this year, I bought one that I loved so much that I had to start using it in December. (I’m such a kid.) Old or new, spiral or bound, make sure you have it handy because we are going to write.

Please take a deep breath. Imagine the white space around these words is a sheet of ice. Not just any kind of ice, but polar ice. On that polar ice, animals have learned to adapt. They don’t complain about the bitter chill, the long and dark days, or view time spent in hibernation as wasted. What animal comes to mind for you?  Write down the first image that appears in your mind.

Maybe, you do not see an animal at all, but a man or woman who is so strong and adaptable that they must be from mythology. One such goddess is called Sedna, from the Inuit tradition. Sedna is a sea goddess. She gave her people fish and sea mammals and is a very important woman. But like most important women, she led a difficult life. After much great sacrifice, she learned not to play the role of victim. You can’t be a powerful leader, writer, character, or human unless you let that role go away.

Now, imagine an animal or person is visiting you from a very icy place. How did he or she get there? What message did they bring?

Oh, they brought their pet____________. (the animal that first came into your mind)

PROMPT:

  • Write about an encounter with a winter animal or mythological creature.
  • Follow the story of Sedna and change the details.
  • Create a character that is named after a winter polar animal. Why are they such a victim? If they are going to stop being a victim, make their problem worse first.

WHEN YOU FINISH WRITING: