fiction – Camellia's Cottage

Posted on October 2, 2026October 2, 2026 by Camellia's Cottage · 5 Comments

The Faithful, Funeral Food and No Devils Allowed…

The Faithful, the Funeral Food and No Devils Allowed!

It’s astonishing how quickly, word gets out that Circle has been Broken. A loved one has passed from this Life to the Next. Before a tear forms, usually before the arrangements have even been made- the Faithful Food Bearers start polishing silver, bringing out the Pyrex dishes labeled with masking tape, all the serve ware, plates, cups and utensils, box graters and cake knives are lined up, even the table layout has been decided. It’s been said that, ‘when words fail us, we bring food.’

The Etiquette of Deep South Bereavement Buffet has it’s own solemn rules. Unspoken codes of conduct. Those who arrange these buffets consider it a sacred duty and it is.

Someone, somewhere is pulling out the best starched cloths for the tables. These faithful servants are the backbone of the community. They know the traditions, the foods, the rules for these solemn occasions. It’s a magnificent display of servanthood. A service for the bereaved family, friends, the community. It’s what they do. It’s the southern way. Live. Die, get Fed.

The Faithful tend to have two factions, the upper end types, who use heirloom silver, footed buffet holders for the casserole dishes, chafing dishes, candelabras, floral displays with tasteful flowers. Then, there’s the down-to-earth types, they use plainer serve ware, the best paper plates and napkins, even cups. The food for the Faithful doesn’t change much regardless of which group. Sometimes both are involved. It’s a beautiful custom. Piney Grove’s facilities often host bereavement buffets, though sometimes the bereavement buffets are ‘At-Homes’, the home of the bereaved. Someone will know which is preferred.

The Faithful are also Food Bearers and Servers. Some work mostly in the kitchen, others serve at the buffet- there’s usually a Matriarch or two watching with an eagle eye. I hate to say it, because their work is so important, but ‘don’t mess with these ladies’. Just do what you’re told, wear something decent and keep your composure.

There are rules for Food Delivery. The Delivery is done by the Food Bearers. They should Never ring the front doorbell and demand to see the family with their offering. No, discreetly deliver the food at the back door or side porch, quietly handing it to the coordinator or a neighbor. Quiet is the operative word. The Food Bearers know to enter quietly. The food should be prepared in advance, in reasonable portions. That includes the meats, the sides and breads.

There are a few Rules here: Examples include-Ham Biscuits, with thinly sliced ham, and tiny biscuits, must be prepared and covered in foil. The Pound Cakes should not be pre-sliced. Some sides may be served individually. And, for heaven’s sake! The Food Servers do not make clattering noises with ice or tongs. Also, Do not try to pile everything on the tables at once- it’s tacky. Servers are supposed to quietly refresh the platters and remove serving dishes that are almost empty. It’s always risky with the choice of Food Servers. We cannot have Mistie Mac wielding a silver cake knife, even if she’s making a valid point. We cannot have Food Servers who hold up the line with too much conversation. Remember the dearly departed, and have compassion on the bereaved family. Grief is often a silent companion. Let’s comport ourselves with compassion and courtesy.

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Funeral Food Rules

There are many rules concerning Funeral Food. Some of it depends on whether the family is faithful to Piney Grove Church and Cemetery or attend Lone Wolf Lake Church. *Piney Grove tends to be on the upper end of things and Lone Wolf, well.. they have regular dinner on the grounds. I think you get the idea. The main thing is to respect the wishes of the bereaved family. It is a good idea to check in with a family member, so the Food Bearers and Food Servers know what to expect from the facility or the home. One group will want a more formal service and buffet. The others are quaint hometown gatherings. There are usually ‘Martha’ types who know these things, and the right things to do.

No matter where the bereavement buffet is held, there are Rules that should be followed. *You may want to save this portion.

Grief steals the energy of the bereaved. Funeral Food should feature foods that are delicious served hot, cold or at room temperature. This rule alone ensures that the kitchen remains a quiet sanctuary by eliminating the exhausting clatter of pots, the steam of heating food, the physical safety hazard is removed from reheating hot casseroles. Try to remain discreet, as quiet as possible and refrain from outbursts of any kind, in the kitchen or pantry. Yes, it’s a celebration of a life well lived; yet, it is definitely not comedy hour.

When in immediate mourning, throats are tightened, the appetite disappears. Food must be soft and effortless to eat. Dishes requiring knives should be avoided. Everything on the bereavement buffet should be easy to pick up or softly scooped with a serving spoon, even picked up gracefully with a fork or fingers. A funeral repast should be designed around physical preservation, deep reverence, and ease. Please make note of the word ‘preservation’. The Bereavement Buffet could easily go off the rails, just by using the word ‘pickled’ instead of ‘preserves’. There is an etiquette concerning the words we use, especially when it comes to the appropriate bereavement foods.

The Food is where ‘No Devils are Allowed’ This is very important! Please make note of these Food Rules. It is totally inappropriate to serve Pit Barbeque, Chargrilled or Smoked anything, foods that even hint at ‘darkness’ or are overly spicy. This is a short list:

Devilled Eggs- exchange those for Stuffed Eggs. (I know there is practically no difference- still avoid the term.) Devil’s Food Cake. I don’t care is Mary Louise’s mother-in-law made the best Devil’s Food Cake in the county, substitute- Sue Pie’s Chocolate Fudge Cake. *or get permissions from the mother-in-law to rename her famous cake, be prepared to be told ‘no’. A reminder here: No ‘Dirt Cake’ or Mississippi Mud Cake either. Keep away from anything that might suggest a Dark Grave. Stomachs weakened by grief, don’t need Anything that could cause indigestion or curdling, from the mere mention of darkness. It’s just not fitting.

Pickled Peaches. Avoid ‘pickled’ anything. Please substitute with the nicer term- Preserves. If someone wants to provide the Ham? Remind them, it must be Baked Ham, not smoked. Roasted Turkey is nice as well. Definitely not Smoked or Deep Fried. It isn’t the right fit. And there’s this: Highly seasoned dishes are considered a social offense for funeral food. Remember, Funeral Food is meant to signify a peaceful, heavenly journey- a literal heavenly repast.

These rules are to avoid a crisis of ettiquette. Remember do not use any word or ingredient that carries even a hint of the underworld. There will be absolutely nothing with a hint of H-e-double L, insinuated in the food line. There should also be a ban on heavy hickory smoke, fried garlic, heavy onions or strong vinegar marinades. These scents can linger, filling a heavy atmosphere with suffocating kitchen odors. *I don’t care if these foods were ‘his favorites’ or her ‘flavor palette’.. be aware of strong spices or odors filtrating the space of the bereaved.

It might be 95 degrees outside and as hot as the devil’s back doorknob, but there will be only heavenly glory permitted on the bereavement buffet line.

So, what is allowed? Food will be served with quiet reverence. The buffet line can have sweet tea sandwiches as shown above. I know they look festive, the point here is that even the bereaved need to have their spirits lifted, even in the heaviness of grief. Foods need to be soft, easy to digest, not intimidating to eat, instead, the food should be as effortless as possible.

Let’s start with the Dessert Table. Angel Food Cake, Pound Cake, Fruit pies or cobblers, Lemon Bars or a delicate dessert featuring Citrus, like the Southern Lemon Cheese Cake- a rare white layer cake filled with lemon curd.. these desserts act like a healing balm. It’s uplifting. It cuts right through the emotional fog of the day, offering a gentle sunny spark of refreshment to someone who has forgotten what a smile looks like or an Unclouded Day. Speaking of refreshment, make sure to keep any beverages– simple and easy to pour and consume.

But remember: Absolutely no dark connotations. Make sure the Pound Cake isn’t sliced ahead of time, and make sure the cake server is a calm discreet person while wielding a serrated knife for the pound cake and angel food cakes.

The Buffet Line. Pickup Foods first. The key word here is tiny. Tiny Tea Sandwiches, Tiny Angel Rolls, Tiny Ham Biscuits. Heavy mounds of Bread are downright tacky, not to mention it looks overwhelming to someone whose stomach is tied in knots of grief. Tiny portions look manageable, elegant and dignified. Relish Trays. Offer a bit of freshness and crunch. Again, preserves are allowed- nothing pickled or spicy.

The Comfort Foods. These are usually kept warm in chafing dishes. Let there be, Macaroni and Cheese, light as a feather, made with lots of eggs, Softly Mashed Potatoes, if kept warm and smooth. Potato Salad might be going over to the dark side. Summer Squash Frittata Squares are easy to serve, even kept at room temperature. Green Bean Bundles. A bowl of Pink Fluff, a rich cranberry congealed salad, Heavenly Hash and an absolute must, is Mimi’s Apricot Casserole. *Fried Chicken is often served. I find this to be in the iffy category. The pieces of chicken should be small enough to be considered finger foods and should definitely Not be Spicy. Make sure there are spirit lifting foods throughout the Buffet Line.

The Bereavement Buffet table is done with Honor, Comfort, Grace and should be a safe, soothing buffer against life’s harsh realities. A True Work of Heart.

Love y’all, Camellia

*Piney Grove and Lone Wolf churches are fictional. Please note: This is Southern Humor post, mostly from bygone eras.

Camellia has written about many of the foods listed here. Mimi’s Apricot Casserole is a perennial favorite, Green Bean Bundles, Mimi’s Award Winning Pimento Cheese (which frankly is too spicy for a bereavement buffet- though cut the spices down a bit and they’re still wonderful for the Tea Sandwiches shown in the opening photo) Pink Fluff is an odd combination- though it is beloved, Summer Squash Frittatas, Mary Sue’s Lemon Cheese Cake *this is Not a cheesecake, it’s a white layer cake, filled and iced with Lemon Curd.

Posted on August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 by Camellia's Cottage · 4 Comments

Funeral Flowers or Floral Foibles?

Southern Funeral Series Part 1 Funeral Flowers or Floral Foibles?

As soon as the faintest whisper goes out into the community, that a loved one has passed- there is usually a group of ladies who will spring into action. It might be the local garden club, master gardeners, the altar guild or church ladies who gladly serve as marauders or advisors. The marauders scour neighborhoods for flowers and fillers. A word about the Advisors. Please don’t think that word ‘advisor’ is taken lightly. She’s knows what’s Tacky or Tasteful, doesn’t hesitate to let folks know and has given the last word, more times than anyone can count!

Here’s the thing: For any major event in small towns or communities- There are Rules. There are Strong Suggestions and there are folks who definitely aren’t apprised of the Rules or.. well, I hate to say it- either have no taste or aren’t from here. I’m here to let you in on the rules, so you can avoid as many Floral Foibles as possible, with a tip on how to deal with the offensive, if it happens. What you need to know is:

Southern Grief is often expressed with Flowers, especially those meant for the viewing room at the funeral home. In many ways, the size of the arrangements, the floral choices are the Ultimate Expression of Love for the deceased. *Let’s be honest here, sometimes it’s just who wants to get noticed, or feels the most obligated! *Tip: the square footage of the funeral parlor should be taken into account- though it rarely is. Local Florists in small towns can easily be overwhelmed with orders and will gladly accept and work with, the marauders– the Yard and Roadside Flowers, as the Master Gardeners and Garden Club members mobilize almost immediately. Still.

Here’s the first Rule:

The Floral Blanket for the Casket, should Only be Decided by the immediate family. And, these should follow the religious guidelines. Some faiths say that ‘All White’ is Liturgically Correct.

My Mimi was a florist, she wasn’t exactly rigid, though I wouldn’t override her opinions on such delicate matters as the Funeral Flowers or Floral Foibles. Let’s keep the service as respectable as possible or the whole town will be talking about it for years! The Piney Grove Gasette may even include it in the Gossip Column! You definitely don’t want the mourners to be whispering gossip, behind their church fans!

Soo..perhaps, it’s best to start with the Don’t’s:

No oversized Chrysanthemums. If it’s big enough for a Homecoming Dance, with a pipe cleaner monogram, masses of ribbons in school colors attached? Let’s give those a hard pass.

No Gladioli. They’re too spiky and too high and mighty, not to mention- impersonal. Love those on your own time.

No ‘Hot’ colors, for anything- especially those dyed to match Carnations in neon colors. Add to that – No Tropical..anything. It’s just not fitting for such a solemn occasion. Hot or Loud Colors could literally wake the dead.

And leave off the Glitter and Sparkles, Spray Paint or that Cheap Ribbon which always makes a crunchy sound.

While I’m at it- Do Not have Glittered Names or RIP on that Cheap Ribbon. Honestly, is there No Taste left among us?

Stay away from Styrofoam forms of Anything. Guitars, Horseshoes, Anchors come to mind. Those might be sentimental to some , yet, can absolutely ruin the solemn effect we are trying to create here.

*A word here: Let’s leave off the SEC anything. Helmets, Big School Letters, Footballs. Why? the Deceased may have been the world’s biggest fan, but the visitors’ views may differ, and why get an argument started? It completely ruins the dignified occasion.

Finally: No plastic or silk floral displays. Those might be acceptable for the final resting place, but really? We all know, those are going to fade in the heat and humidity of the South. I say, finally with tongue in cheek. Nothin’ is Evah the Final Word here, see below, if you don’t believe me.

I need to insert a Word here: Be careful with highly scented anything. Those loud Lilies and Climbing Jasmine, suffocating. Gardenias can be overdone. The Scents. Here’s rare tip- the Scents should depend on the square footage of the viewing room, it rarely is. Our Southern Mothers, talk about the Loud Scents for Years.

*Folks should be crying over a loved one’s passing, NOT because their sinuses have been overwhelmed! I would suggest you print this whole list out. It’s easy to forget things, when someone dear has left us, as in dearly departed.

I think we are ready for the Do’s of Funeral Flowers: You may recall that the Garden Clubs, even Master Gardeners fan out like a military operation of marauders to collect Yard Flowers, even Roadside Floral Treasures. *We will make note, if there are some exceptions made for the Dearly Departed if appropriate.

Let’s talk about the most prevalent funeral flower- Roses. Yes, the florists will have Roses, however, the Garden brigades will scour for Old, Antique or Heirloom Roses. The most highly prized are Soft, Muted Colors, these will blend well with carefully chosen Florist Roses.

Larkspur and Delphiniums are wonderful-tall, stately. (If you need some height- use these, instead of those tacky glads.)

Yard Flowers are wonderful- for instance, Camellia is the South’s Winter Rose. *remember, the foliage of Camellia is evergreen, as is the foliage of Gardenias. *don’t forget to go easy with the gardenia blooms, they can get loud. Evergreen is the emotion we are going for here. You know, Evergreen, just speaks softly to eternal life.

There are wonderful seasonal flowers- Calla Lilies, Peonies, Tulips and Daffodils. Hyacinths, maybe– the scent of hyacinths can get loud in a small funeral parlor.

What the Master Gardeners excel at, is with the Fillers and the Roadside gatherings. We are talking Queen Anne’s Lace, Ivy, Flowering Branches, Muscadine Vines woven in, Hypericum Berries, Southern Beauty Berries. A little bit of jasmine vine can be woven in, again with discretion for the heavy scent.

Then, there are Herbs. Thyme, Mint and Lavender– be careful with that Rosemary- you wouldn’t want folks thinking of Roast Chicken, while they’re standing in the viewing line! For heaven’s sake!

I’m gonna add a bit for the menfolks here:

Magnolia Leaves are wonderful, they are large, evergreen and the brown undersides give a masculine touch to Funeral Flowers. The flowers could be used, though, don’t forget how large they are! Big ol’ Magnolia Blooms can veer over into Tacky quickly, just a word of warning.

Also, the Roadside Selection Committee has said that, ‘If you’re careful, you could take some heavy clippers and find some Common Thistle, especially nice if Bagpipes will be played, and are blessed with a family plaid.’ All of these suggestions will be welcomed, with slight variations for the menfolks. *Let’s add wild muscadine vines, if available. Not that big fat kind, just the thinner, lightly curled vines.

Let’s return to the unavoidable- Floral Foibles. It’s bound to happen, someone won’t get the memo- they will send a highly glittered floral display wrapped in neon purple net. Or, the inevitable Styrofoam Forms will appear, a horseshoe, a even SEC helmet, an electric guitar shape in loud colors or metallic painted horseshoe. The highly glittered, and Tacky ribbon that’s wide enough for the local realtor’s Open House, even the ‘glowing neon from chemicals’ Carnations wrapped with cellophane- will inevitably Arrive. *I am literally getting a little Shiver of Angst here, not quite a sinking spell, but close.

I settle down when, I realize that: The Altar Guild, the Garden Club President or someone with an imposing title or statuary height and weight- will take over.

They will discreetly push these floral offenses all the way to the back to hug the baseboards of the Piney Grove Funeral Home and Mortuary, the Floral Foibles will never see the light of day. We simply cannot allow these offenses to settle upon the living or the deceased.

The nicest folks will glance at the Floral Foibles-Sigh and say, ‘Well, it’s Interesting.. if you like that sort of thing.’ IF being the operative word.

Funeral Flowers or Floral Foibles? There’s a fine line between Tacky or Tasteful. Please remember this- The Southern Mothers are watching.

They see it in Graveyard Maintenance. Pristine, Dignified – Appropriately Adorned. Approved. Graves that are Overly decorated with Plastic, Styrofoam, Faded Silks and Twinkling Lights or Glaring Sequins- can send the wrong signals and have a whole community gossiping about it for decades! We wouldn’t want that sort of Disapproval would we?

Oh my, like all Southern Rules, these are So Helpful. Again, you may want to print it out for future reference! Keywords to remember- Loud Scents, Tacky, Styrofoam, Glittered Anything, Wide Ribbon with glittered lettering and Square Footage of the Funeral Parlor. Oh me.

Next up in the Southern Funeral Series is Funeral Food. Surely that one will be softer, sweeter, more savory! Who knows, when the Southern Mothers are watching! *be sure to read the special message below!

Love y’all, Brenda aka Camellia

Camellia’s Cottage has been coming to your inbox for 10 Years! Thank you for being here. After all this time-

We have a Writing Experience for you! It’s for Creatives like you! It’s an Experience- A Writing Community with a Course.

I don’t believe that course creators should just Take your money, Toss you the blueprint and walk away. No, the best online courses, offer Access to the Creator.

You get that. I, Brenda Wyatt, am with you, Weekly in a Private Writing Group, called the Writing Sanctuary.

So! You join a Community of other Creatives, who need to write copy for their creative businesses, or for their blogs, their newsletters, even Substack! And, for those of you who are planning to write Memoirs? Learn ways to vary your writing, with things like humor.. I’ve got that too!

Here’s the Link for the to the Writing Experience. It’s a one time investment of $97 USD for the whole experience. Lifetime Access. Go at your own pace. *Most say the Writing Sanctuary is worth the price of the whole course! I hope you’ll check it out!

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Posted on January 25, 2026January 26, 2026 by Camellia's Cottage · 1 Comment

In the Age of AI, Your Voice is Your Legacy

Hi, I'm Brenda Wyatt Writer, Author, Blogger and Course Creator

To my Incredible community of writers and bloggers:

Thank you for being here. After over 500 posts, over a decade now- You have read my stories. I’m So grateful for the space you have given me, here. Today, I want to talk about the future of Words. We are living through a time, when a machine can generate content in mere seconds. The silent question we all share is:

Does my human voice still matter? Is pen to paper a Lost Art? The resounding answer is Yes. More than ever! Your unique human perspective is your greatest Asset in 2026. An interesting fact: Stationary Shops are having a big moment. Paper, Pens, Notebooks, Journals! Here’s Why your Voice, your genuine Words matter.

Human generated Words are Words written with a Purpose. AI is a Prompt that a Human has written.

My Journey:

I have always believed the my work should speak for itself. I focused on the craft of writing, words on a page. *Literally writing with a pen on paper before typing it here or as I wrote my book. I believed in the Integrity of the Stories. Even the humorous posts, came from ‘lived experiences’. The awards along the way were wonderful confirmations for me.

I need to clarify here: I wasn’t new to Marketing; I was new to Writing in a Public format. I had spent 30+ years in high end retail and also with visual display and branding. That experience is why I created my first online course: Be Unforgettable! A Guide to Visual Marketing.

Before that course, I had written a book, published in 2014, and struggled to Learn How to write a Blog in 2016. A few years ago, I realized something: It’s not enough to write a beautiful message if that message can’t find it’s readers. I had taken a wonderful Online Course for social media. I struggled with Social Media. I kept going. I had joined a few Challenges. I was building a community there.

The popular advice for writers was far too generic. The focus was rushed, focused on algorithm hacks over Authenticity. My motto became: ‘Become a Trusted Resource.’ Which I will always Believe. Now, we have been told the focus in 2026 is Authentic, Trustworthy, Real. That’s a Good Thing. Since Bots are showing up faster than even the best algorithms can keep up with or eradicate.

I decided we needed a better way for Writers, with Purpose. Apply Image Driven Words. We needed a place focused on legacy, not quick fixes or hacks. I created my second online course- ‘Writing Content with Confidence’. Born out of Years of Work and Writing. I knew I had Tools to Offer.

It’s a guided experience- more than a dozen ways to craft a message, plus Images drive the Written Content and Color starts Writing the Story before a word is written. It’s a blend of Writing and Marketing, authentically, in a Trustworthy way.

Writing now, as unsettling as it is, in the current environment of lots of noise, lots of hacks, lots of bots, lots of AI- our Perspective Shifts. Often, we are looking back with Nostalgia or adopting a forward-looking Mindset. We need both. We need Writers like you!

Perspective. Looking back? or Forward facing?

My Writing Course was soft launched in the Fall of 2025. I have had several beta testers going through along with some students. I realized something. Yes, it’s ‘go at your own pace, lifetime access’ and that’s great. And the introductory price is low at $47. Yet my intuition was telling me that Writers need a Sanctuary.

Are you asking: Why tell Bloggers, who are Writers about this? Well, even seasoned writers who have had a first look say, ‘Man, this has a Lot of Stuff in here!’ or that they never imagined it would also have Marketing Advice along with the Writing Content. *There is even a section on ‘Product Shots’ Yes, writers need solitude, yet they also need a safe space, with a community of other writers, who may also be artists and creatives too!

So, I am adding the Writing Sanctuary for the official relaunch February 10, 2026. I added a Private Chat Group for my first online course and most have told me that Private Group is worth the price of the course! With the new Writing Course, this private group will be called, the Writing Sanctuary, a quiet private space right inside Instagram. Find me @brendawyatt_

I plan to be in the Writing Sanctuary at least weekly, to have ‘Ask Me Anything’ or Encourage Writers to Write also offer prompts and more. In my other group, members follow each other and encourage one another, become friends, their most ardent cheerleaders.

I am opening the Doors to the Writing Sanctury:

The Doors are Open for the Writing Sanctuary

There will be a price adjustment from introductory $47 to $97 to reflect the added benefit on February 9. (There is Lifetime Access, the Course is completely open, no waiting for another lesson to drop, Go at your own pace. No zoom meetings.)

Founding Members will enjoy all of the benefits, including the Private Group at the Introductory Price. *of course, that also means extra support while it’s new.

The Doors are Open now, until February 10,2026. *To take advantage of the additional benefit of the Writing Sanctuary- Join us now, before the Rate Changes.

I am here to help you feel confident enough to share your Legacy. You’re writing one, you know you are.

Your Stories need to be Written. They need to be Shared. Even your Recipes! Those Stories may not even be in the genre you’re writing now! All the best in 2026!

Love y’all, Brenda aka ‘Camellia’ and yes, I still make cornbread!

REMINDER: Founding Rate: $47 USD *rate adjustment deadline is February 9. $97 USD. I hope You will join us! If you would like to receive my Newsletter: send me an email! brenda@brenda-wyatt.com

Find out more about the course here: Write Content with Confidence

And, if you’re on Instagram Find More @brendawyatt_

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Camellia's Cottage · 4 Comments

Writing Prompts! Pumpkins this Time..

Let’s Write About Pumpkins!

Hello! it’s been a while!

Well.. it’s October!

And Pumpkins are all over the place!

Worldwide, folks have a love affair with pumpkins and their warty cousins, the gourds!

Pumpkin everything, it seems!

I recently shared a post on Instagram- @brendawyatt_ a fun post called – Pick a Pumpkin! There were 7 images of Pumpkins- numbered. I asked them to pick their favorite pumpkin! Then I had instructions for the Writing Challenge with Pumpkin Prompts!

So, now I’m challenging All of you Writers, to give this a try? Why? it’s fun and really, sometimes we just need to Write for the Fun of it.

Most of us, including the Writers here, need Ideas! This one is Fun! And who knows? It may inspire you for your own post or more than one!

A few Tips!

1. The Texture- add details- not just ‘smooth and taunt’, the pumpkin also has a stem- what does that stem feel like? or the Inside of the Pumpkin? a totally different texture! right?

2. Sound. This is a good writing exercise. Why? Describe the ‘Thump’ as a baritone, or give it an adjective- The Thump was solid and strong. Or, I was expecting the Thump to sound hollow.. *finish the sentence.

3. With descriptive writing- What a pumpkin feels like inside? You decide? Will it be? Mushy. ‘I didn’t like the mess!’ or ‘I think the pumpkin didn’t like it that I was disturbing her insides!’ (that’s human characteristics) Which brings me to

4. Give your Pumpkin human characteristics– this is where the Fun really begins! ‘They always said, I’d be a Beauty when I grew up.’ or ‘I’ve always had a problem with my weight, now they tell me that my weight is my biggest asset!’ *I could go on and on… let’s get to

5. Describe the Color of the Pumpkin. Pumpkins come in various colors, especially now. You’ll see everything, from a ghostly white pumpkins, to a pale green, to dark, medium or pale orange. Describe the Color. Imagine your audience doesn’t have an Image to go by. Or, use color psychology! *I teach this, so I can tell you, Orange is almost always a ‘good hostess’.. off you go! Look up the other colors and when you describe your pumpkin, help me see it!

6. This is Emotion. It’s always good to practice Emotional Storytelling. Is the Pumpkin feeling anxious about leaving the Pumpkin Patch? or the Pumpkin excited to find a new home? You know how to do this!

7. Tell us Why you chose your Pumpkin. This one is getting close to home! You should write the emotions you felt choosing that particular pumpkin. What you are dreaming of using it for- decor? carving? toasting fresh pumpkin seeds? or you felt ‘the children would like it?

I don’t know about you, when I’m stuck? or have Writer’s Block– Sometimes, it’s just better to do something New! and Remember why we enjoy Writing in the first place! Drumroll please… I haven’t had writer’s block, I’ve been writing big Time!

BIG NEWS! I’ve been creating a New Online Course! It’s called ‘Writing Content with Confidence’ check it out, if you’d like to know more. It’s affordable, I promise!

The course starts out with a Challenge, it’s called the Writer’s Toolkit. And it has 3 Ways to Shake Loose Some Words! Another way of saying- If you’ve been Stuck or you feel your Writing could use an upgrade- I think they call it a ‘glow-up’ these days! And.. it’s a full blown course, not just a video and one measly download.

*If you’re signed up for my newsletter list? You received a bonus- October Prompts! November Prompts will be coming along soon! I hope to do the same to finish out December!

If you think you’d like to be on the newsletter list here’s the Form for my Newsletter! https://app.kit.com/forms/designers/5528529/edit!

I hope you’ll sign up! So many places to Write these days! Thank you, in advance for signing up!

Love y’all, Brenda

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