WRITE FROM THE HEART
a community writing project
November 1, 2021-February 1, 2022
Be still my beating heart!
On February 13, 2022, art + soul is hosting HEARTS DESIRE, an in-person and virtual celebration, art show and fundraising auction to warm the cockles of our heart and raise funds to support the essential work of art + soul. We want to open our hearts to share the love far and wide...and are inviting YOU to be a part of this event by gifting us with a something written from the bottom of your heart.
Kind of makes your heart melt, doesn't it?
Between now and February 1, 2022, tell us a (heartwarming?) (heartbreaking?) story close to your heart. Use one of the 70 heart-centered prompts below to inspire you, and find it in your heart to pour your heart out in prose, poetry, short story, longer story, whatever your heart desires. You do not have to be a "writer," just follow your heart. Cross my heart, it will do your heart good.
Selected pieces will be read at the February 13 event, both in person and virtually. You'll find instructions for submitting your work below.
- a big heart: said of someone kind and loving
- after my own heart: said of someone with similar preferences or values
- a heart of gold: see “a big heart”
5. all heart: see “a big heart”; sometimes used sarcastically to mean the opposite
6. at heart: basically
7. bare (one’s) heart: share one’s feelings or thoughts
8. bleeding heart: said of someone who is conspicuously or excessively generous
9. break (one’s) heart: cause someone emotional distress
10. by heart: from memory
11–13. capture/steal/win (one’s) heart: make someone fall in love with one
14–16. close/dear/near to (one’s) heart: loved or valued by someone
17. cross my heart: said as an oath to assert one’s honesty
18. didn’t have the heart: said when one cannot summon the will to do something hurtful
19. do (one’s) heart good: said about something that will be beneficial to someone
20. eat your heart out: said mockingly to someone expressing the desire for them to suffer; usually facetious
21. faint of heart: lacking courage
22–23. find a way into/to (one’s) heart: cause someone to fall in love with one
24. find it in (one’s) heart: have the compassion or courage to do something
25. follow (one’s) heart: do what one loves rather than what is expected of one
26. from the heart: with sincerity
27–28. gladden the/(one’s) heart: make someone happy or gratified
29. harden (one’s) heart: become callous
30. have (one’s) heart set on: be obsessed with obtaining
31. have (one’s) (best) interests at heart: be doing something for someone else’s benefit
32. heart goes out to: said in regard to feeling sympathy for someone
33. heart in (one’s) mouth: said of someone who has strong emotions about someone or something
34. heart is in the right place: said of someone well intentioned
35. heart of the matter: essence
36. hearts and minds: said in reference to persuading rather than compelling
37. heart’s desire: what one wishes deeply for
38. heart skips a beat: said of someone excited, frightened, or surprised
39. heavy heart: sadness
40–41. from the bottom/depths of (one’s) heart: profoundly
42. in (one’s) heart of hearts: if one’s true feelings or thoughts were known
43. know (one’s) heart: be aware of one’s true feelings
44. lose heart: become discouraged
45–46. matters/affairs of the heart: said of something pertaining to a love affair
47. melt (one’s) heart: cause someone to experience uncontrollable emotions
48. nearly gave (one) a heart attack: caused someone to feel anxiety or fear
49. (one’s) heart bleeds for: one is sympathetic
50. (one’s) heart is knocking: said of someone excited or nervous
51. (one’s) heart is not in: one does not feel a commitment to or an interest in
52. (one’s) heart leaps: one is excited
53. (one’s) heart melts: see “melt someone’s heart”
54. (one’s) heart sinks: one becomes discouraged
55. open (one’s) heart: show generosity or kindness
56–57. out of the goodness/kindness of (one’s) heart: because of generosity or goodwill
58. pour (one’s) heart/soul out: see “bare (one’s) heart”
59. put (one’s) heart into: do something with conviction or enthusiasm
60. sick at heart: discouraged
61–62. strike fear into (one’s) heart/into the heart of (one): cause someone to be afraid
63. take heart: be encouraged
64. take (something) to heart: be affected by something
65. to (one’s) heart’s content: to the extent one desires
66. warm (one’s)/the cockles of (one’s) heart: cause someone to feel positive emotion
67. wear (one’s) heart on (one’s) sleeve: openly show one’s emotions
68. with a sinking heart: said of someone who becomes discouraged or hopeless
69. with all (one’s) heart: with great enthusiasm
70. young at heart: youthful
How to Submit Your Writing:
1. Choose a phrase from the list of heart phrases.
2. Write about it: a real or imagined story, poetry, prose, a love letter. There is no limit on length; however, some shorter pieces will be chosen to be read as part of the Heart's Desire event for art + soul on February 13, 2022. One submission per person please. Keep it clean "enough"; no explicit imagery, please.
3. Send your piece electronically as a .doc or .pdf to artandsoul.wm@gmail.com. This project is open from November 1, 2021 until February 1, 2022. If you can't send your submission electronically for some reason, let me know.
4. In your email subject line, please write the phrase you choose to write on. For example: Subject: YOUNG AT HEART
5. Please let your friends, family, writing circles, groups, etc. know about this project so they,, too, can write from their hearts!
1. Choose a phrase from the list of heart phrases.
2. Write about it: a real or imagined story, poetry, prose, a love letter. There is no limit on length; however, some shorter pieces will be chosen to be read as part of the Heart's Desire event for art + soul on February 13, 2022. One submission per person please. Keep it clean "enough"; no explicit imagery, please.
3. Send your piece electronically as a .doc or .pdf to artandsoul.wm@gmail.com. This project is open from November 1, 2021 until February 1, 2022. If you can't send your submission electronically for some reason, let me know.
4. In your email subject line, please write the phrase you choose to write on. For example: Subject: YOUNG AT HEART
5. Please let your friends, family, writing circles, groups, etc. know about this project so they,, too, can write from their hearts!