Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Writing Prompt - Nightmares

Here we are, it's Friday again and time for the Friday Writing Prompt. Today we are going to write about Nightmares. Use the following "Nightmares" prompt to stimulate those writing juices and maybe even come up with a possibility for a short story or essay.

"What was our scariest nightmare ever? Talk about who is in it with you and why it was so frightening. Then, write an account of you going into your dream to battle the scariness of it all."

Did this prompt help you? Why or why not? Were you able come up with a response for the prompt? Did you find it easy or hard to come up with your scariest nightmare ever? Have you ever had a scary nightmare? Do you remember your dreams?
Why or why not? Did you find this exercise easy or hard? Were you able to expand upon it into a short story or essay? Why or why not?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Writing!



Friday, November 21, 2014

Friday Writing Prompt - Success

Here we are, it's Friday again and time for the Friday Writing Prompt. Today we are going to write about Success. Use the following "Success" prompt to stimulate those writing juices and maybe even come up with a possibility for a short story or essay.

"What is your number one goal in life? If you do not yet have one, no time like now to choose it! :-) How do you plan on reaching this goal? What would happen if you achieved it? What would be the next step?"

Did this prompt help you? Why or why not? Were you able come up with a response for the prompt? Did you find it easy or hard to come up with your number one goal? Did you already have a goal in your life? Why or why not? Did you find this exercise easy or hard? Were you able to expand upon it into a short story or essay? Why or why not?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Writing!



Friday, November 14, 2014

Friday Writing Prompt - Greek Mythology

Here we are, it's Friday again and time for the Friday Writing Prompt. Today we are going to write about Greek Mythology. Use the following "Greek Mythology" prompt to stimulate those writing juices and maybe even come up with a possibility for a short story or essay.

"Discuss your favorite character from Greek Mythology. Be sure to include details and elements from the myth as you describe this character."

Did this prompt help you? Why or why not? Were you able come up with a response for the prompt? Did you use a favorite character from your favorite Greek mythology? Do you have a favorite Greek mythology? Why or why not? Did you find this exercise easy or hard? Were you able to expand upon it into a short story or essay? Why or why not?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Writing!


Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday Writing Prompt - The First Time

Here we are, it's Friday again and time for the Friday Writing Prompt. Today we are going to write your First Time. Use the following "First Time" prompt to stimulate those writing juices and maybe even come up with a possibility for a short story or essay.

"The first time we try something new can be exiting, frightening, and enlightening. Tell about and important "first" in your life and what you learned from the experience."

Did this prompt help you? Why or why not? Were you able come up with a response for the prompt? Did you use something from your own life as inspiration for your first time? Did you remember a moment in your life when you experience a "first"? Did you find this exercise easy or hard? Were you able to expand upon it into a short story or essay? Why or why not?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Writing!



Monday, November 3, 2014

Books on How to Write Novels

If you're a beginning writer, there are a number of books all written by competent authors, helping you find the best way to write a novel. For those of you who are well into your writing career, there are many books on the writing craft from Point of View to Conflict to Character Development.  I'm going to list a few ways that you can find writing books. Then, at the end, I'll give you a list of my favorites.

So, how do you find these books?

There are a number of ways and I'm going to give you information about them below:


Internet Search
You can do a Google Internet Search using Keywords such as the words I listed above:

Point of View, Writing, Book

When I put those keywords into Google, I received 280,000,000 responses. I think you would definitely be able to find something to work with from a Google keyword search.

Internet Bookstore Search
You can also go out on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other online bookstore and do a search for (similar to a keyword search) for the type of book you are looking for in their search box. Usually, they'll also have recommended books listed as well, which is very helpful if you're a beginner and not exactly sure what you're looking for or what you really want to add to your writing  book collection.

Brick & Mortar Bookstore Search
You're always welcome at your local bookstore. The customer service personnel know their store and usually are willing to help you find what books you are looking for or will order the book for you. The store will usually have a well-established writing / reference section that is stocked with the most current "how to" writing books. Take a stroll through your local bookstore and get to know your bookstore manager. Who knows. You may be talking to this exact person later about hosting a book signing event!

Ask Other Writers
Every writer has their favorite "go to" writing reference books. Most of them will share that information with you. If you ask nice. And, bring chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Just kidding, sorta. You can find writers online, at writers' groups, at conferences, and at book signings. Ask. Don't be shy. Writers love to talk about writing.

Writer's Blogs and Websites
I added this separately from "Ask Other Writers", because there may be information on a writer's blog or their website about their favorite craft of writing books. If not, they may have a "contact me" option on their website. Use it. Writers love to get questions, especially about writing and would love to answer yours.

Okay, we've reached the end, and I did promise you a list of my favorites. Many are dog-eared, extremely high-lighted, and the spines are cracking. Some, the covers are falling off, I've opened and closed them so many times. But, I love them dearly and will continue to use them forever.

Here they are, in no order of importance, just as I'm reading them off my shelf:


  • The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
  • Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon
  • Don't Sabotage Your Submission by Chris Roerden
  • But ... You Know What I Mean by Robert Fulton, Jr.
  • Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook
  • 30 Steps to Becoming a Writer by Scott Edelstein
  • On Writing by Stephen King
  • The Deer on a Bicycle by Patrick McManus
  • How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey
  • The Creative Writing Coursebook Edited by Julia Bell & Paul Magrs
  • The Art of Character by David Corbett
  • Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland
  • Now Write! Edited by Sherry Ellis
  • Writing 21st Century Fiction by Donal Maass
  • Words'Worth A Fiction Writer's Guide to Serious Editing by Jane Riddell
  • The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
  • The Elements of Editing by Aurthur Plotnik
  • The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer 
  • Chapter by Chapter by Heather Sellers
  • Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
  • How Writers Work by Ralph Fletcher
  • Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress
  • The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
  • How I Write by Janet Evanovich
  • The Writer's Block by Jason Rekulak
  • Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande
  • 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost
  • The Essential Writer's Companion 
  • Dialogue by Gloria Kempton
  • The Least You Should Know About English by Teresa Ferster Glazier
  • The Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing
  • Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland
  • Writing to Sell by Scott Meredith
  • You've Got a Book in You by Elizabeth Sims
  • A Writer's Notebook by Caroline Sharp
  • Secrets of Successful Fiction by Robert Newton Peck
  • Writing Fiction by Gotham Writers' Workshop
  • Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark
  • The Writer's Portable Mentor by Priscilla Long

So, that's pretty much my list. How about you? What is your favorite writing "go to" book? Why don't you list it in the comments.