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Topically Distracted
When WordPress put us out to dry,
turning a deaf ear to our cry
not to suspend the Daily Post,
I think it disillusioned most.
Yet, so many rose to hear our plight
that now I labor day and night
to fulfill the prompts they host.
I fear offending if I don’t post.
So though outside the air’s a balm,
the flowers lush, the scene all calm,
I feel my obligation’s rush.
I feel each lined-up prompting’s crush.
Each jostles to be first in line
like a regular at opening time.
So though outside it’s tropical,
and therefore very topical,
I cannot feel the scene before me.
Sun, trees, water only bore me.
Even the palm trees do not sway.
No wind rustles them today.
And though the prompt is “tropical,”
my mind is stuck on “topical.”
I must admit that I’m distracted.
With prompts, I fear, I’m over-facted!
Here are seven prompt sites that have grown up in answer to WordPress’s abandonment, plus two I’ve been posting on for some time:
https://fivedotoh.com/ Fandango’s prompt today is tropical. This is a well-set-up daily prompt site that is easy to post on. It needs followers. Give it a try. I’d like to see it succeed. It is posted daily, just past midnight Pacific time, so if you like an early start, this is a good prompt site for you.
https://weeklyprompts.com/ This site publishes a weekly prompt.
https://flakback.wordpress.com/ Alan Grace has set up a site recycling WP prompts from two years ago. This should work out well for beginning bloggers who haven’t already done these prompts.
https://onewomansquest.org/2018/06/04/v-j-s-weekly-challenge-1-shift/ This is a once a week prompt that I used for the first time yesterday. It was an intriguing prompt that was very unusual and fun to write to and I look forward to getting into the habit of posting there once a week.
https://dailyaddictions542855004.wordpress.com/ Daily Addictions is another reliable and easy-to-use site that makes use of Mr. Linky.
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/ This is a very good daily prompt site run by seven bloggers who were part of the WordPress Daily Prompt community and who wanted to see the daily prompts continue. You’ll recognize many of the names who post there, now.
https://dversepoets.com/ This is another poetry prompt site I love that predated WordPress’s retirement.They post two prompts a week and make use of a Mr. Linky site to link your poems to.
https://ceenphotography.com/ Cee posts a number of prompts, many of them photo prompts, but some that include prompts to be written as well. Hers are the prompts I’ve followed the longest. They are thought-provoking and she has a large following and an easy-to-use linkup page.
If you know of other prompt sites I’ve forgotten or have not yet come across, please list links to them in the comments below.
I know there are a lot of new prompts and probably all worthy, but I’ve reached my personal limit on any given day! I’m afraid to even LOOK at another prompt lest I be tempted. Two are going to have to suffice.
And right now, something tropical sound so lovely!
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oops.. left my comment in the wrong place before I saw this comment. In it I said I considered dedicating this poem to you. I knew you’d been having similar levels of distress. Like being at a wedding with too many choices of wedding cake. Should you have one of each?
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Thanks for sharing the links, Judy. I think I’ll try the Fandango’s challenge. It seems to be more open in expectations and I can still share my photography with words or not. 🙂
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Goodie. I’m hoping I’ll find a number of old friends on these sites. If not, there is always the Reader.
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Thanks Judy for the write up of my blog. I’m honored and we’ve certainly had a lot of fun over the years and I assume we will continue for a few more. 😀 Wonderful poem. 😀
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You’ve been a big part of why a lot of us kept blogging, so you deserve all the notice and applause you have received.
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It’s a crowded field, isn’t it? Thanks again for you post.
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My pleasure. You did all the sweat labor. We just get to enjoy the rewards..and I for one appreciate your gift.
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Thank you for the links!
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Judy, I cannot believe that wordpress has deprived so many people of so much fun and amusement. Especially as it is fun and amusement for many, many people who have loneliness surrounding them, depression hounding them or – as in my case – serious illness limiting what they can do and where they can do it. OK I still write, it is an addiction, but the loss of contact through comments is genuinely hard to take. I do hope they change their mind. POTUS hasn’t bought them, has he?
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So try these prompts, Anton, and see which ones work for you.
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Some of these prompts seem to already have a number of followers, Anton. Have a look and see which ones suit you. See you there!
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Seems we all jumped in to save our favourite part of the day. Oh well…now we have choices.
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If you have a prompt I’ve neglected to add to the list, let me know. My mind is sorta swimming. I can’t remember what I’ve seen and added and what I haven’t.
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No problem. Mine is a weekly challenge, and I am not offended if you decide not to jump in. https://onewomansquest.org/2018/06/04/v-j-s-weekly-challenge-1-shift/
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I have to jump in. It’s your prompt!!!! I was going to do it right now. Even opened the post, then decided I’d shift priorities, swim first (It is 9:20 at night) and then write the poem. See? You have had an effect already.
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Ha ha – love it!
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Judy, this is the link to the new Ragtag site. https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com Follow this, and you should get your post with less confusion. I also imagine we will stop cross posting in the next few days as people come up to speed. Currently its a little crazy and if you are following, its overwhelming, i agree. Once again, the site link: https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com
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It worked beautifully, Steph. I found the prompt and posted without a hitch. Good effort!!!
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Yay!
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Thanks Judy! I’m so thankful to our Ragtag group, particularly Ping, who helped us become user friendly! I love this list you have posted! So many good things happening in the blogging community.
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Yes.. another illustration of the truth of “It’s not only what happens to you but also how you handle it that determines the happiness of your life.”
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Absolutely!
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Thanks Judy. I love the idea that we can connect and inspire one another.
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My goodness that is quite a lot. We won’t be offended, Judy, if you don’t post regularly. Why not take it turns? We’ve had a little mix up with timing at our end today. I hope people do retain a sense of humour about this.
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Looks like you have a good following. You’ll do fine. I know. I’m thinking I’m doing so much blogging that I’m not doing any work on the book. I need to take a vacation from the blog, but I’m obsessed. Perhaps I need an exorcism!
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Now exorcism would make a fine prompt word. 🙂
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I agree. And I’ve never seen it as a prompt word in the 5 years I’ve been blogging.
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Reblogged this on lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown and commented:
I’m reblogging this blog because in it I list ten new prompt sites. Since some have altered their process and URL to pingback to, I’m reprinting it . I believe it is all current information, plus I’ve added a few new sites to the list. Let me know if any of the information doesn’t work for you. Please check them all out and support some of the ones that haven’t gained a lot of followers yet. Ironically, some of the easiest to post on have the fewest people contributing to them. These folks have gone to a lot of work to furnish us with what WordPress has taken away, so support them if you have the time. I’ve included the poem that I wrote two weeks ago because I imagine a number of you are having the same experiences in trying to adapt to the new prompt sites. Glad to see you all here!!! Judy
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There is another one (just to add to the confusion!) https://meetthebloggersblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/14/welcome-to-word-of-the-day-word-of-the-day-challenge/ It is a closed site at the moment but easy to sign up. I will be checking out all of them. One day here, one day there, one day busy doing something else! 😉 Thanks for the information.
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Like a little bee.. I guess a spelling bee to be literal!
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Reblogged this on Serendipity – Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth and commented:
I’m reblogging this because today, I got a post sent from one of these at 11pm tonight, nearly 24 hours after it was sent. I don’t know what’s going on with WordPress’s mail, but comments are not showing up and their mail is very slow. Sometimes several days slow. I hope they get their act together because they are becoming a serious frustration in my life and probably yours, too.
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Thanks for reblogging, Marilyn. Sorry for your pain..
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You’ve discovered a lot! I presume you’re looking at one-word prompts, otherwise The Write Practice has an ongoing “write for fifteen minutes” prompt in response to a given topic or suggestion designed to improve your writing skills.
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