What are these water-kelpies that haunt the Scottish fords? Well-known in Scottish folklore, the kelpies are malevolent shape-shifting water creatures that can take the form of magnificent horses with enormous strength.

You know the pain — standing in the longest line at Universal Studios or Disneyland or any popular theme park, waiting to shuffle forward, watching the clock tick away one, two or even three hours towards a ride that will give you a couple of minutes of excitement.

This morning, as I drove between stores getting the weekly grocery shop, film director Denis Villeneuve was on the radio talking about his career with Tom Power.

I bought a new book the other day. Actually, I bought two. It never seems possible to buy just the one. I don't know why but books are very expensive here in Canada, far more than in the UK. 

The other day, I recounted a tale to my kids from when I was very young. I'm guessing I'm 3 years old and I'm fairly certain I'm the only child in the car. Any older and my next sister down would be in there too.

My youngest daughter has always loved words. As a tiny toddler, I would find her lying in her bed, tucked up, turning the pages of novels plucked from our bookshelf, books without pictures, books not for tiny toddlers.

Something different for this week's writing prompt — a video! I know you're excited. When I watch this soft, lazy steam climbing through the morning air, I think of many things:

Dolly was my best friend. She had long brown hair tied into two plaits, wide eyes and a big smile. She often wore a blue dress, a simple A-line shape with a round neck and long sleeves.

Somebody once told me that the people who make the best classical guitars in the world, leave a small imperfection somewhere in their masterpiece, unseen unless you look closely.

Have you ever been in an environment that is unfamiliar to you, almost alien? A desert, a rainforest, open plains, a lake, the ocean, a mountain, a cliff-top.

Jellyfish are strange, alien-looking creatures, ethereal as they swim in the water, their tentacles possibly dangerous depending on the species. They have no brain, no blood, no heart.

Looking out of the kitchen window from the house where we used to live, we enjoyed a breathtaking view across the bay towards Vancouver. Some days, clouds would billow and puff across the skyline, covering the sun, stealing its warmth and casting a chill over the landscape.

Welcome to my latest curated selection of writing prompts. Inspired by the timeless theme of 'still-life', I've gathered a variety of thought-provoking prompts, already published here at tanyajclarke.com, for your creative exploration.

Last week's writing prompt features a photograph of dappled sunlight shining through open foliage, a wide aperture defocusing all but the sharpest branches in the middle of the hedge.

Last Tuesday morning I woke up scratching at my hands. Thinking nothing of it, I drank some water, went to the loo and suddenly became aware of strange lumps on the backs of my thighs. I ran upstairs to show my husband — I needed further diagnosis. The lumps itched like nothing else. I scratched at my hands again.

Many years ago, back before time began, at least back before smartphones and the internet, I shared a flat with a friend from art school where we were both studying Fine Art Photography.

The other night as we sat watching some boring show on the telly, a young man wandered into our back garden. I pulled back the blind to see him walk across our patio, squinting in the bright outside light, looking a bit lost. He did not look like someone trying to find a way into our house.

One of my favourite 'I need to get my writing unstuck' exercises is by Lynda Barry in her wonderful book for the imagination What It Is. Bursting with her unique illustrative style and poignant, often funny stories, Barry shares with a generous heart the exercises and processes she teaches in her classroom. 

Last night, my husband told me a 'fact' he'd found on TikTok from an account called - Things I Wish I Didn't Know About - or something like that. Apparently, if an octopus were to climb into your mouth, it would be able to make its way through your body and out via 'your butthole' with no trouble at all.

It’s been a strange week of weather here. A few days ago the most incredible double rainbow formed over the neighbourhood where I live, the sunlight fighting for space through cloud and drizzle.