Brown Bag Lit

For today's #RandomWritingPrompt, take this line )or another one) that can be interpreted in various ways. Write 2-3 scenarios from that line.

2/2

Reading, "You are not alone" on a board filled with encouraging notes, I was struck by how the line could be interpreted as supportive or, remembering my life as a mom of a young child, exhausting. It could also be threatening in a horror movie.

1/2

Lots of great reading this weekend!

See you on Thurs., 12 - 1 pm EST (@brownbaglit.bsky.social) to hear @jocelynjanecox.bsky.social (@vineleavespress.bsky.social), @mfraterrigo.bsky.social (@univnebpress.bsky.social)
and @annajrollins.bsky.social (@eerdmansbooks.bsky.social)!

On Thursday, Dec. 11, from 12 – 1 pm EST, they will discuss Perfectionism, Performance, and the Beauty of Chaos in Publishing.

Open to writers of all genres. Register for the Zoom link here:
www.brownbaglit.com/events

We look forward to our final event of the year with memoirists @jocelynjanecox.bsky.social (@vineleavespress.bsky.social), @mfraterrigo.bsky.social (@univnebpress.bsky.social)
and @annajrollins.bsky.social (@eerdmansbooks.bsky.social)!

Shake and Tremor Check out Shake and Tremor - <p>Deborah Bacharach's very contemporary book of poetry uses references to biblical stories in order to illuminate the relationships between men and women, their difficult...

Check out @debbybach.bsky.social’s Shake & Tremor (Grayson Books)
bookshop.org/p/books/shak...

The New Testament Check out The New Testament - Jericho Brown ushers the body from political and religious battlegrounds, employing the rhythms of sexuality and spirituality to protest oppression. by Jericho Brown on B...

Check out Jericho Brown’s poetry collection The New Testament (@coppercanyonpress.bsky.social)
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Thank you to @debbybach.bsky.social for writing a Milk Journal review of Jericho Brown’s poetry collection The New Testament
www.brownbaglit.com/milkjournal

Did you know that Brown Bag Lit has a @bookshop.org
store with all of our presenters' books? Check it out today for free shipping and to help support our free programming!
bookshop.org/shop/BrownBa...

Using lines from elsewhere could turn into a cento, found or collage poem. Click through for more on these poetry forms:

Cento:
www.poetryfoundation.org/education/gl...

Found poem:
poets.org/glossary/fou...

Collage poem:
www.poetryfoundation.org/education/gl...

(Picture: Waffle made from leftover stuffing)

Look through your notebooks for those lines. Can you re-organize them, write the webbing or otherwise craft something new with those lines.

#RandomWritingPrompt:
Many of us are re-purposing our Thanksgiving Day leftovers into new meals. Can you do the same with your own cut lines (let those darlings live on!) from earlier pieces you've written?

#RandomWritingPrompt:
The eating season has arrived! Write the flavors and memories of a particular dish that transports you. Close your eyes to consider the food with your five senses and then look around the room of your memory. Who do you see? What happens?

Write and read poetry with co-founder @chloeyelenamiller.bsky.social this spring!

It can be hard to find your (poetry) people. We might just be those people.

Two (out of four) seats are open for my spring poetry writing workshop through @brownbaglit.bsky.social. I'd love to have you join us!

#RandomWritingPrompt:
Sometimes clarity emerges from the light. What do you see here? Do you need to blur your eyes or is it already blurry enough?

Congratulations to our co-founder! Can't wait to read it!

Thank you to E. Ethelbert Miller for his conversation with Charlotte Taylor Fryar (author of Potomac Fever) today over at Brown Bag Lit in partnership with @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social!
If you missed it, you can find a recording here: www.youtube.com/@brownbaglit...

See you on Monday for our Brown Bag Lit event:
Charlotte Taylor Fryar in conversation with E. Ethelbert Miller
co-sponsored by @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social
Register for your free ticket: www.brownbaglit.com/events

Join co-founder @chloeyelenamiller.bsky.social to write, workshop and read poetry this spring!

Paint Colors by Family - Sherwin-Williams Experience Sherwin-Williams paint and stain colors by family or collection to find your made-for-you shade. More than 1,700 paint colors to explore.

You might try clicking on Sherwin-Williams paint chips for color ideas ("Uncertain gray" or "Dry dock" stood out to me :-)

www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/c...

#RandomWritingPrompt from Brown Bag Lit:

Name the colors in your piece. Imagine you are standing in the scene / moment and name the colors you see. Come up with at least three names for each color.

I brought Charlotte Taylor Fryar's Potomac Fever down to Foundry Branch (a tributary of the Potomac River in Rock Creek Park)!
The author, in conversation with E. Ethelbert Miller, will join us over at @brownbaglit.bsky.social on Monday, November 17, 12 - 1 pm EST).
www.brownbaglit.com/events

Next up at Brown Bag Lit:
Charlotte Taylor Fryar in conversation with E. Ethelbert Miller
co-sponsored by @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social

Register:
www.brownbaglit.com/events

Join us virtually on November 17th to hear Charlotte Taylor Fryar in conversation with E. Ethelbert Miller discussing how she used historical research and environmental observation to reveal hidden histories within a specific place in Potomac Fever. Thank you to Brown Bag Lit for hosting this event!

Attention folks in the DC area - co-founder @chloeyelenamiller.bsky.social will be reading with the DC/MD chapter for Writers for Democratic Action. Hope you can stop by and say, "hi!"

We look forward to featuring @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social's November Author's Corner spotlight, Charlotte Taylor Fryar, author of Potomac Fever: Reflections on the Nation's River!

Charlotte Taylor Fryar in conversation with E. Ethelbert Miller
www.brownbaglit.com/events
Monday, November 17, 2025

We sent out our November Brown Bag Lit news! If you're not on our mailing list, DM me and I'll add you!
mailchi.mp/dbeaa6270997...

Recipes to die for: Rosie Grant catalogues recipes from gravestones in new cookbook Some people treasure family recipes so much that they've etched the recipes into their gravestones.

#RandomWritingPrompt:
Is there a recipe that defines your character or you? Would you go so far as to ask to have it placed on a gravestone? Write the recipe, describe the taste and write about the preparation of the dish and the celebration in which the dish is enjoyed!
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...