The February Project

63 people received The February Project in May, up from 43 in February.

For late June and early July, we're doing a limited-release pilot project. More details to come!

In the sunny month of May, we'll receive one prompt each week. Here's to a productive and fun month! If you have feedback, reach me here or at the gmail address.

Over the weekend, an urban fairy tale was posted. That makes 4-5 prose pieces, a poem, several photos, and a graphic designed CD cover that have been contributed to The February Project.

Anything you make can be sent in or posted to the Facebook group throughout March! Consider this The February-and-Beyond Project :-).

I'm at februaryproject AT gmail dot dot dot com. There's really only one "dot" in that address, but I'm trying to throw off the evil folk who send spam...

Here's an article of mine about how to feel that creative zip on a regular basis. It includes information on The February Project, as well as several other projects that provide ideas and inspiration.

http://biznik.com/learn/articles/professional-development/get-ideas-from-creative-deadlines-increase-marketing-ideas

www.zefrank.com/theshow -- Ze Frank's archived Web log, which is all about encouraging creativity

www.learningtoloveyoumore.com -- ideas for creative and interesting projects

www.thingaday.com -- a project for February 2008, in which folks post what they've created each day

Week 3 Prompts:

1. Craft a work about or inspired by one of your grandparents, at any age in their life.

2. Craft a piece based on a place in which you've lived. Was there a certain feel to the place? Icy; humid; location of the world's largest landfill? Could any of these qualities personify the people there too, at least for imagination's sake? One example of works based on place was Sufjan Stevens' musical CDs, "Illinois" and "Michigan". He talked of doing all 50 states, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTZxIWu6hU

Week 2 Prompts:

1. Craft a work about being totally committed to the idea of Bigfoot, Nessie, or another mythical creature. Or about a group of people who are committed to the idea. They may work at a museum, out in the field tracking footprints, or in a lab of some kind.

2. Or, see the CD cover-creation prompt below, submitted by Sandra Olson. Scroll halfway down the page.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/cdcovermeme/

Week 1 Prompts:

Craft an urban (or suburban) fairy tale using the people in your building, neighborhood, family, or office. Who is the witch? Who is the troll, and who is the princess?

Choose a city or country that you love, and place yourself there – whether you've been there or not. What would a day there be like? How do the birds sound? Is there gum on the sidewalks? Who is the most interesting person that you meet there?

Aural/visual prompt: Go to a bowling alley and listen to the sounds there: people chatting and calling out as they play, the racket of balls, etc. Make your own representation of this.

Prompts will generally arrive on Tuesdays.

49 people -- and counting -- are participating in the February Project so far. So, what is it?

February, the shortest month...The other day I was anticipating more of the dark Seattle winter, and a friend suggested that I make a project of February: I do nothing but produce work and, er, drink. In boring, liver-saving fashion, I'll probably do a lot less drinking than working (but no guarantees), but I did think that setting deadlines for myself throughout the month would work.

So. If you'd like to set more deadlines yourself or just have a bit of fun, this project may be for you. Each week, I will e-mail one story/creative prompt. These ideas will work for visual, audio, and writing work. Have a productive February!

Who I am: journalist, fiction writer, editor. Who are you?