If you could go absolutely anywhere that you haven’t been before, where would you go? Imagine that you’re being given this opportunity and that you have to leave tomorrow. You can only stay there for one week before you have to return. Answer the following questions:
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Archive for June, 2006
Going Traveling
Tuesday, June 20th, 2006Mixed Conversation–The Letter H
Monday, June 19th, 2006For this exercise you’re going to take three different characters from three different professions or walks of life. You’ll give them a location for their conversation as well as a topic of conversation and a conflict, and then you’ll write up a page (or more) of dialogue between them regarding your chosen topic. Try to have their professions and attitudes come through in the dialogue without ever having to state them outright, but try to make it natural and not forced. Allow their personalities to show.
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Observations–Writing Instrument
Sunday, June 18th, 2006Most writers seem to have a favorite writing instrument or type of writing instrument. Maybe it’s a ball point pen, a mechanical pencil, a fancy Cross pen, a blue crayon, a green marker, or who-knows-what. Perhaps it’s a calligraphy pen that takes ink cartridges, or an old cheap disposable pen that has long since run out of ink yet that has sentimental value to it.
Pick your own favorite writing instrument and set it on a table in front of you; simply stare at it for a few moments, taking in every physical detail about it. Pick it up and handle it, feeling its weight, balance and texture.
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How to Free-Write
Sunday, June 18th, 2006I believe most people who visit this blog for writers’ exercises, prompts, and warm-ups already know what free-writing is and how to do it. However, just in case, I thought it would be nice to put a brief post up for those few who might not.
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Word Jumble: Finding Your Bliss
Saturday, June 17th, 2006For the second time, it’s a word jumble. You take a couple of random words, set a timer for anywhere from five to 20 minutes, and free-write off of the combination, seeing what on earth emerges. (Alternatively, just try to use the words within the piece of writing–preferably in some way that’s central to the piece.) Use one of the following combinations of words:
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Call for Stories: Cup of Comfort
Wednesday, June 14th, 2006I was asked to pass along the following announcement by the editor of the Cup of Comfort series of books, so, here you go. It lists three separate books looking for story entries, one about writers, one about dogs, and one about single mothers. If you are interested, be sure to read the guidelines, submission deadlines, and submission instructions carefully! Doing otherwise is a quick way to not get published.
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Title Jumble–The Thrilling Science of Business
Wednesday, June 14th, 2006I’m going to give you three genres or sub-genres of book, and I want you to follow one of the two sets of instructions that follow.
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What Else?–Meteorite
Tuesday, June 13th, 2006There’s a book called “Fanning the Creative Spirit” by Maria and Charlie Girsch that makes the point that “What else?” is just as important a question to ask as “What if?” So, in that spirit, free-write on the following question:
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