December 2006 Writing Prompts

Writers Group invites visitors and members who were unable to attend the December 8 meeting to write seven minutes on one or both of the following prompts:

1.  Write a resume for a Santa Claus---or Mrs. Claus---job you are considering this Christmas season.

2. You are asked to be Jesus or Mary in a live nativity scene. Explain why you wuold or would not accept the role.

When done writing, edit your work and post it on this blog. For visitors to post, click on the title of this writing, scroll down and fill in the comment box.

Below are three responses to the prompts from the writers at their group meeting.

1.  A LOST OPPORTUNITY:  Several years ago I was offered the position of playing Santa Claus at
a local shopping mall. The manager of the mall had been inspired to ask
me to do so because of my resemblance to the jolly old elf. I pointed
out to her that I did not possess the appropriate physique. That would
be no problem, she argued; padding could be provided. I raised other
objections to no avail. She stopped being insistent when I finally pointed
out that my playing Santa Claus would place the mall in a precarious
position for a law suit. I would not be able to stand the strain of the
position and sooner or later I would probably end up killing one of the
little darlings, that is if I did not do in the parents first.  Joe

1. WIDOW WALK: On one birthday (a December 10) I was assigned by my newspaper editor to play one of Santa's elves at a local mall. It was four hours of fun, after which I wrote a newspaper column on the experience. I just had another birthday. I am increasingly qualified to play Mrs. Santa. However, after reading one of Cochran's submissions titled SANTA CLAUS IS DEAD! (click on Cochran's writings in this blog and scroll down to this piece), I wouldn't want to submit a resume' to play Mrs. Claus because I wouldn't want to pace the widow walk searching for my husband's return. Carolyn

2. AGEISM? I'd be honored to accept the role as Mary in a live nativity scene, but I doubt my qualifications meet the job requirements. That is, I am OLD. Too old. And I have no baby. Thus I'd leave this role for a younger woman who has a first-born cor other new-born child. I would, however, agree to play the part of a loving, substitute grandmother, a role I love in real life. Carolyn

We'd enjoy hearing from our visitors!

Carolyn