5 Friction Fixers
5 Friction Fixers from Friction Strikes a Light Within
When I wrote Friction Strikes a Light Within, I wasn’t just writing poems. I was writing survival notes. I was writing sparks for anyone who has ever sat in heartbreak, uncertainty, or the quiet ache of becoming.
The truth is, friction doesn’t just break us — it shapes us. It strikes something alive inside us. And sometimes, all we need is a little reminder of how to find our way back to that fire.
Here are five friction fixers from the book that I hope will help you whenever life feels heavy:
1. Use your struggles as sparks.
Instead of seeing tension as something to avoid, ask what it might be creating in you. Pressure shapes stars, and it can shape you, too.
2. Let yourself be quiet.
Healing doesn’t have to look like productivity. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is rest, write a few lines, or sit still long enough to hear your own heart again.
3. See darkness differently.
What if the hard moments aren’t setbacks, but sacred turning points? Every ending carries the seed of a beginning.
4. Hold onto your people.
We all need someone who sees us when we forget our own light. Celebrate the friends who walk with you in every season — they’re part of your fire, too.
5. Remember your fire is still there.
Even when you feel burned out, that inner spark is waiting. It doesn’t disappear — it just waits for you to strike it alive again.
✨ If any of these friction fixers spoke to you, I hope Friction Strikes a Light Within will be a companion on your journey. It’s not just a poetry collection — it’s a reminder that you are already carrying the light you’re looking for.
In Light N Love,
Alice McMurtry
Writing Prompts-The Friction Project
Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creativity — Inspired by Friction Strikes a Light Within.
Welcome to the Friction Strikes a Light Within creative corner! Whether you’re a poet, a writer, or simply someone who loves to explore emotions through words, these poetry writing prompts are designed to spark your imagination and help you dive deeper into the themes of tension, transformation, and light that pulse through this collection.
Why Writing Prompts?
Poetry is often born from the spark of emotion — the friction between opposing forces inside us, like pain and hope, darkness and light, conflict and healing. These prompts invite you to explore those spaces and create your own moments of beauty and insight.
Try These Poetry Prompts
Write a poem about the tension between pain and hope — how they coexist within a single moment.
Explore the metaphor of fire or friction as a source of both destruction and creation.
Capture a fleeting moment of light breaking through darkness in your poem.
Reflect on the silent struggles that burn beneath everyday life’s surface.
Use the physical sensations of friction — heat, pressure, resistance — as metaphors for emotional experience.
Create contrast in your poem through imagery like shadow and light, cold and heat to express inner conflict.
Write about transformation sparked by tension or conflict.
Describe a relationship through the imagery of friction — the push and pull, the sparks, the wear.
Celebrate resilience — the light that survives even when rubbed raw by hardship.
Use “striking a light” as a metaphor for inspiration or awakening.
Give voice to a secret or unspoken emotion simmering just beneath the surface.
Reflect on healing after conflict or emotional friction — what does that look like?
Consider how some things only reveal their brilliance after enduring pressure or friction.
Capture the tension between vulnerability and strength.
Write about a moment when inner fire nearly burned out — and what saved it.
How to Use These Prompts
Use one prompt at a time to spark a new poem or piece of writing.
Let the prompt guide you, but don’t feel bound by it — let your emotions and memories flow freely.
Share your poems with others or keep them private as part of your personal creative journey.
Share Your Work!
If you’re inspired to write a poem using these prompts, I’d love to hear about it! Tag me on social media or send your poem to [your contact email or website link]. Together, we can build a community that celebrates the power of words to heal, ignite, and transform.
Thank you for visiting the Friction Strikes a Light Within creative space. Keep striking those sparks — your light is waiting to shine.