Today, our writing prompt comes from John @ Phampants.

Also, just wanted to extend a Thank You to everyone who has been contributing writing prompt ideas. They are all so great, and will be used soon! We are always in need of more, so keep them coming! They can be sent to twentysomethingwriters[at]gmail[dot]com.

Onto this week’s prompt:

Who was your favorite cartoon charachter as a child? No holding back, admit it! Did you have a lot of collector’s items (stuffed animals, bed sheets, figurines, etc) of them? Are they worth any money currently?

Imagine you were able to meet your favorite cartoon character. How would you meet? (Maybe they came alive off of your bed-sheets!) What would you say? Write a brief (or extended) dialogue between the two of you.

*Remember: This is a Writing Prompt. Post your response on your blog. Then, come back here and leave your post URL in the comments so we can all come and read all about your Cartoon Encounter!

Hope you’re all having a great week. Just think, we’re halfway to the weekend. I will certainly be welcoming this weekend with open arms.

On Friday, we had a writing prompt to write a letter to your younger self. 34 of you took part, and I was in my glory reading all of your letters. I personally read each letter, and commented on as many as I was able to. I can’t even begin to express how much I loved reading the responses. I think I checked the site every 20 minutes to see if there were any new submissions.

I found this prompt to be an emotional trip. We all agree, surely that it would have been great to have some guidance back when we were younger. One of our participators e-mailed her letter to her younger sister, which I thought was fabulous.

As you hopefully remember, I tied a giveaway to this one. The winner is to receive a $25 Gift Card to my sweet home away from home, Barnes and Noble.

Thank goodness this wasn’t based on a vote for the best letter, because I just wouldn’t be able to vote. I assigned all of your entries a number, and went to Random.Org. The first number that came out was #1. That was me. No one would believe that I won. So, I wrote that off as an error.

The second number that came out was 11. Clearly, random.org likes the #1.

And that corresponds to….

Wait for it… Wait for it…

Julie @ Wearing Mascara.

Congratulations, Julie! Please send me an e-mail to dontcallmekathleen@gmail.com with your address so I can send off your gift card this week.

My favorite thing about Julie’s letter was that she ended it with ‘Be You’. That was a central theme in all of our letters; to just be ourselves despite what everyone else is doing, or trying to tell us to do.

Thanks again to everyone who participated! Here’s Julie’s letter, which can also be found here. Enjoy!

Dear Julie at 13,

Hello, this is you writing this letter only at the age of 24 and not 13.

This is going to be the most challenging year of your life: 8th grade. You just moved from Pennsylvania where you felt comfortable, at ease, and had the best of friends. Now you are in Ohio where the people are not the same and your friends aren’t there. Here are some tips that I’ve come up with to help you get through middle school. Hopefully your experiences will be different than mine:

- Provide no reaction to people when they tease you. When you feel the tears coming on stop and walk away.

- Don’t try to be friends with people who don’t have your best interests or who make fun of you. They are obviously not worth your time.

- Befriend the classmates who are worth your time instead of being afraid of them because you think they’re prettier or smarter than you. Don’t become friends with someone just because they are convenient.

- I know you don’t like the swim team because it’s so different than the one in PA but join it anyways. Give it a shot – I’m sure you’ll love it.

- Talk to your mother and tell her your honest feelings about school and friendships (or lack of). She will give you excellent advice if you give her the chance.

- Don’t call a boy you barely know and ask him out over the phone. Get to know him first.

- Be proud of your body and take care of yourself.

- Continue taking art classes when you get to high school. Choir is fun but you will gain more from art. The choir teacher is nothing special.

- Help your mom around the house more. She does so much for you and you don’t reciprocate enough.

- Right now you’re not too fond of your older sister who lives in PA. Give her a chance because sooner or later you two will call each other everyday. Maybe she’d love to hear from you.

- Know that middle school does not define you. Nor does high school really. Try to see the future and look beyond.

- You’re going to be excellent someday and living a great life in DC for graduate school. Guess what? You’re going to be a psych*logist!

Julie, you can take this or leave it. If you take it, always keep this letter with you as reminders. In a way, if you do not take it you won’t end up the way I am now. Either way is fine – just don’t take anything for granted. Be you.

Love,

Julie at 24