Holiday greetings signal it’s December — We hope December cheer stays with you all next year. And joyous songs and art long linger in your heart. That every loved one’s hug keeps you warm and snug. And as the year turns new your wishes will come true. In a world where polarization and antagonism have left…

Five 10-word stories for Christmas — If you enjoy 10-word or 20-word stories, you’ve come to the right place! Personally, I have fun writing them to help celebrate holidays. For instance, you may fondly recall the 20-word stories I shared in October for Halloween. :) Well — now it’s December, and all the autumn ghosts and…

A small gathering of a sedoka, twittle, haiku & tanka Are you ready for 2022 to be over? With the year’s end approaching and chilly weather at the door, I wrote 4 little poems to share in honor of winter and Christmas.

With a nod to tight finances — A woman who donned a red suit slipped into some black leather boots. She exclaimed “hi-de-ho” as she slid through the snow and escaped with a bag of bank loot. Santa dashed to the scene with elation to see if she was a relation. He asked “why’d you steal it?” She had to…

Personal reflections and a writing prompt — What are the early, tell-tale signs of an aptitude for creative writing? Do they come from inside us— like a feeling of joy or becoming utterly engrossed as you write? Or are they external, like getting an “A” on a paper in school or winning a writing contest? I loved…

Anatomy of Her Acronym — WHO my acronym says I am: My name is Shereen, which tells you I’m a Scribbler Happily Exploring Random, Evolving, Eclectic Niches. For me, writing on Medium is about testing the waters, using my imagination, stretching my abilities, finding joy, and having fun. I am discovering and developing my interests, fortes, and purposes as writer. WHAT genres do I focus on? I…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Freestyle” — Left behind? Or all that’s left? The butcher had this meaty, bacon-wrapped hand on display for Halloween at Whole Foods. Imagine how grisly it will look when grilled or roasted! I wondered where the hand came from. Did its owner forfeit the hand and escape? …

A parody of Elizabeth Coatsworth’s poem, “Swift Things Are Beautiful” — Two events precipitated this poem: My 5th grade teacher asked the class to write sincere poems based on Elizabeth Coatsworth’s Swift things Are Beautiful. I found mine tucked away in a box. Laura Sheridan and Joe Váradi introduced me to the fun of rewriting well-known poems as a source of…

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections” — Empty containers, full of good intentions. For the past 3 years, I’ve been diligently collecting containers from the skincare products I use on my face. The company I buy them from partnered with a recycling program and invites customers to mail back their empties for free. The containers held moisturizers and other products that promise to…