Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what better what to celebrate a holiday of romance then with writing. Often people communicate their love for each other during this holiday with poetry or lists of why they love each other. "How do I love you, let me count the ways." Sounds familiar, doesn't it.
Creative writing has many other benefits besides displaying affection for another human being. It helps to hone the skills of organizing thoughts, imagination and communication. It is important to build the ability of creative thought in our youth, which is a skill scientists, engineers, product developers and more will need. Here is a collection of writing prompts to help teens and adults explore Valentine's Day through written words. Ideas for locations to visit in the Omaha area for writing inspiration are also included.
Quotes about love:
- “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." ~Elbert Hubbard
- “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
- “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” ~André Gide, Autumn Leaves
- “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~Mother Teresa
- “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa
- “We accept the love we think we deserve.” ~Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Cliche prompts:
- A face only a mother could love.
- If you love something set it free, if it doesn't come back, it was never meant to be.
- Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved before.
- All's fair in love and war.
- Love is a many splendored thing.
- Love thy neighbor.
- Love is blind.
Prompts:
- How many definitions of love can you think of?
- Why is metaphor used in writing related to love so frequently?
- What other ways can you celebrate Valentine's Day besides in a romantic way?
- Tell a story about two teenagers falling in love on Valentine's Day.
- What is the perfect flower to give someone on Valentine's Day, and why?
- Write a letter to your parents or someone special telling them why you love them.
- Think of a time when you felt loved. Write about it.
- What does it mean to love thy neighbor?
- Create a list of all of the people you love and one reason why.
- Do you have a Valentine's Day tradition? Write about it.
Omaha area locations for writing inspiration:
- The Old Market. The brick streets, horse and carriage and the Gene Leahey Mall lit up with lights in the evening. This location is more than romantic, and you'll often see engaged couples getting their pictures taken, couples walking hand in hand, or an older couple sitting on a bench talking. It's definitely a place that is romantic in the terms of taking us back to the olden times.
- Wind Organ at Standing Bear Lake. Sometimes one of the best places to contemplate love, is while you are alone in nature. At Standing Bear Lake you can put another layer to that solitude by sitting near the Wind Organ as the wind blows through the pipes. The music of the wind may provide some more insight into the abstract concept of love.
- Rose Garden at Lauritzen Gardens. While it's wonderful to visit the gardens and appreciate all of the flowers, nothing seems to say love like a rose garden. Take some time to stroll through the rose garden, pay attention to the colors, the textures, and even the other people enjoying the sights and smells of the botanical gardens. There should be plenty of inspiration here.
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