It was 2:50pm when the group walked through the wrought iron gate marking the entrance to Coldessi Park. Two small spotlights illuminated the metal sign arching over the gate that bore the park’s name. They followed the bending sand and gravel path through the tangled hedges that separated the park from the city.

It’s been a long week for me. I’m too mentally exhausted to come up with a witty intro. Here’s your first Idea to Steal for this month. Enjoy.

Everyone, I need to apologize. July is always a busy month for my family. But I didn’t prepare enough of a backlog to cover this week. I suppose my posting streak ends today.

Even though I don’t have anything lined up for you this week, I didn’t want to leave you without content. Thankfully, one of my favorite YouTubers recently released a video that I think all of you might enjoy.

Happy July 4th, America! Here’s some writing prompts to spark your imagination.

“Arrived at Coldessi Boulevard,” the recorded woman announced.

The six passengers stepped off the train and onto the concrete platform. They walked up the painted white line then up a ramp, following the exit signs on the tile pillars and walls.

Around a bend, they came to a set of stainless-steel doors – the bank of elevators that would carry them up to street level. Rianne raced forward to press the elevators’ call button. Nothing happened. “Huh? Something’s wrong with the elevator.”

School’s out. People are eager to leave town and begin their vacations. Here’s a story idea to chew on wherever you’re relaxing this June.

While looking back over the original LegendFire discussion thread in preparation for May’s post, I realized that a point got lost in the shuffle – a point Scintilla wanted to discuss. I’ve strung together bits from her follow-up and initial posts that highlight this glossed over detail.

I more meant to discuss consciously using our personal lives in our writing… I’ve often felt like I “should” write something that consciously expresses the feelings I have at the time, but in practice, I don’t think I ever have, except a little bit as a teenager, badly. Maybe I’ve figured out some level that it’s not that easy to go directly from how I feel to a decent piece of writing.

Got any exciting summer plans? None for me, right now. Regardless of how much (or how little) you’ll be doing this season, here are some prompts you can chew on in between.

I’m taking a brief hiatus from Reclaiming the City to catch up on other projects. For now, enjoy this flash piece I wrote in February.

Madame Carmine consulted the astrological charts spread out on the desk in front of her as she scribbled some kind of arcane math on a notepad. Avery nervously tapped his heel against the leg of his chair. If his superiors knew how he was spending his lunch break…

My town is in the middle of a heat wave. Summer is definitely around the bend. Here’s a story idea to keep you occupied when the weather in your town gets unbearable.