In our college creative writing classes, our beloved professor often reminded us: the best fiction we can write is our own truths and observations disguised in the guise of a fictional story. That wisdom has stayed with me. This week’s inspiration prompt was born from that idea—and from nearly twenty years of caretaking in some capacity since graduating, layered on top of my normal work.
✍️ Inspiration Prompt: Caretakers and the Unseen
As lifespans stretch and support systems shrink, more people are stepping into the role of caretaker—often quietly, often without recognition. Whether tending to aging parents, disabled siblings, or chronically ill partners, these caretakers navigate a world of advocacy, sacrifice, and emotional labor. Their work is rarely glamorous, but it is deeply human.
This week, we invite you to explore the lives of those who care for others—not just professionally, but personally, intimately, and imperfectly.
Consider:
- What does it mean to carry someone else’s needs while suppressing your own?
- What invisible burdens do caretakers shoulder?
- What moments of grace, resentment, humor, or heartbreak emerge in the daily grind of care?
Your Challenge:
Tell the story of someone who tends to others—quietly, invisibly, or imperfectly.
Paint the unseen. Reveal the emotional terrain.
Let your work honor the complexity of care.
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