Moving Houses Free Writing Prompts for Writing Groups and Teachers
Ah, the "fun" of moving and related efforts such as garage sales, junk haulers, storage spaces, realtors, packing, and making decisions, with headaches trying to keep a clean house during the selling period. So, we just moved (which is why this post is late) without moving. That is, we moved upstairs in our house so our daughter could move in downstairs (to help us old folks out). We called 1800GOTJUNK three times and could call again. Our timeline was so fast, 21 days for all this to happen, for no other reason than we wanted to beat the Minnesota winter. No one wants to move during winter in Minnesota, so houses tend to sit and wait for more pleasant temperatures. Once the decision was made, we sprang into action. No garage sale! No time! Take things to Goodwill and CROSS. Call the junk people as they do try to re-home furniture and are as green as possible about what they collect. Charities wanted the furniture on the driveway, and once there, have the right of refusal. We could not carry it out ourselves. And then interior painting, rug cleaning, professional cleaning, insect company on the outside of the house, window washing . . . with everyone wanting to start at 8 AM. My headache hasn't quit. I anticipate a possible deep breath in the coming days.
Everything was ready, but the water main flooded. It was too late to cancel the movers so it was out of our hands. Our daughter had to unzip two dividers to get to her bedroom. At least the restoration company machines are gone. Some sheetrock has to be repaired and so on, so all three of her closets are not useable yet. "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry," as Robert Burns said.
Most people have moved at some point in their lives. So these writing prompts are for moving in general. As always, six have pictures and text to start the writing thinking, and six are picture only. A coloring page for any children who may be in attendance is included, unless you happen to have an empty moving box they could play with.
This prompt is: We had little idea we would be needing a moving van so soon. Everything happened so fast. Or, creative thinkers could use the picture-only page.
A deadline helped. How else could we be motivated to deal with everything like garage sales, cleaning, staging, and finding a realtor?
After traveling for months, we had little to begin our life in our new place. It was a little more minimal than minimalism.
Curb appeal? We have to add curb appeal at this point in time? Can’t the new owners take care of that?
Oh, there were a few boxes we forgot to label, such as one marked underwear. (Yes, this really happened.)
I had forgotten how much fun kids have playing in boxes. That helped provide some unpacking time for me!
Better days are coming! I hope for the whole world!
Links to the full list of past writing downloads, below.
The prompts are on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers and Readers Blog and post the 15th of each month.
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series.
Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide).
In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
It sounds like a whole lot of hassle!
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