Like many of you, the last six months have taken a significant toll on me physically, emotionally, and cognitively.  I have been a sporadic blogger at best, sharing more information about Indie Blu(e) Publishing and other writers’ work than my own.  It has been so hard to decide what actually matters when 2020 keeps throwing punch after punch.  The loss of Ruth Bader Ginsberg yesterday has simply gutted me and has me feeling like I am living in a prequel to The Handmaid’s Tale.

I am thinking that many of us could use a creative outlet this week as our social media feeds are full of photos of orange skies, vitriol filled political rants, and fear for the future.  In honor of Pentatonix’ powerful and haunting cover released earlier this week, I have decided to host a ‘Mad World’ Creativity Prompt Challenge.  Hopefully it will help us write out some of our anxiety, rage, and pain in these dark days.

The Guidelines

1. Write or create an original piece that embraces the song “Mad World”.  ‘Mad World’ can be the title of your submission or you can feel free to integrate ‘Mad World’ or phrases from the lyrics however you like within your work.
2. I will accept poetry, prose, flash fiction, essay, creative nonfiction or art
3. Pieces of writing should be 1,500 words or less
4. Your submission must be sent to me by email by midnight EST on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at her.red.pen.wordsmithing@gmail.com.  It should include:
   1. your prompt response
   2. a suggested image (if submitting writing)
   3. a brief biography
   4. a link where readers can see more of your writing/artwork
5. I ask that you do NOT publish your response on your own blog or social media pages until it has been published first on Brave and Reckless.

Mad World

(originally by Tears for Fears)

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world, mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world, mad world

Enlarging your world
Mad world

Writer(s): Roland Orzabal

Mad World lyrics © Songtrust Ave, BMG Rights Management