Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Guess Who is Turning 55?

Remember when ...

The 1961 Favorite TV shows

  • Hazel
  • Perry Mason
  • Candid Camera



In 1961 Sports News

  • World Series Champion - New York Yankees
  • US Open Golf - Gene Littler
  • Pro Football Champions - Houston Oilers & Green Bay Packers
  • Indianapolis 500 Winner - A.J. Foyt / 139.130 mph
  • Stanley Cup Winner - Chicago Blackhawks
  • NCAA Basketball Champion - Cincinnati
  • College Football Champions - Alabama & Ohio St
  • Heisman Trophy Winner - Ernie Davis from Syracuse




1961 Interesting Facts
President of United States - John F Kennedy
Vice President - Lyndon Johnson

Pulitzer Prize Winner - Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird

Miss America - Nancy Fleming from Montague, MI




A chimp named Enos became the first non-human primate sent into orbit by the US



1961 Cost of Living

New House ..... $12,550.00
Average Income ..... $5,315.00
New Car ..... $2,849.00
Average Rent ..... $110.00 / month
Harvard University Tuition ..... $1,250.00 / year
Movie Ticket ..... $1.00
Gasoline ..... $0.27 / gallon
US Postage Stamp ..... $0.04




Food

Granulated Sugar ..... $0.89 / 10 pounds
Vitamin D Milk ..... $1.05 / gallon
Ground Coffee ..... $0.85 / pound
Bacon ..... $0.67 / pound
Eggs ..... $0.30 / dozen
Fresh Ground Hamburger ..... $0.40 / pound
Fresh Baked Bread ..... $0.21 / loaf


1961 Favorite Music & Movies

Music

Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
Blue Moon - The Marcels
Runaround Sue - Dion
Runaway - Del Shannon
Mother-in-Law - Ernie K-Doe
Please Mr Postman - The Marvelettes
Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
 Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson



Movies

West Side Story
Breakfast at Tiffany's
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
The Parent Trap
The Hustler
The Guns of Navarone



Uh, if you haven't figured it out by now, IT IS MY 55TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Coming Soon - New Chat Opportunity to Learn from Your Writing Coach

 Carrot.fm, a new connection application, is going to be launching an app soon that enables clients to get advice via video chat with qualified, carefully selected Authors.  I am signing up so that you can have the opportunity to chat LIVE with me and ask me questions about writing tips or specific writing issues you may be experiencing.

Carrot's goals:

Enjoy a seamless experience

We built Carrot to get people video-chatting in 10 seconds
  • Sign-up quickly and with no hassle.
  • Browse experts on Carrot or invite anyone to easily join.
  • Pay per minute, simply and transparently.
  • Video chat anyone in your social networks.

Experts and influencers
  • Set your rate easily and withdraw funds at ease.
  • Direct people to video chat you on Carrot by word of mouth.
  • Get targeted traffic courtesy of Carrot.

The video link gives a quick overview of the purpose of Carrot.fm and how you can join. You can also join by clicking my link "join me" below.

As soon as the application launches, we can be chatting "just like that!"


Join me at Carrot.fm

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

First Drafts - You Have to Start Somewhere

 We all want to write a book, that's why we feed the passion inside of us. But, how many of you have started writing a book, then put it away and started another and then another? Many writers have a "stop, start, stop, start" mentality about their writing. Every time an idea about another book comes into their head, they stop the book they are currently writing and start on the new idea. Then, another idea sweeps into their mind, so they stop their current book again, and start on another new book, again.

That type of writing can be exhausting and infuriating. I can tell you how I handle the numerous ideas that flit in and out of my head every day. Whether they be dreams, articles, words, newspaper articles, overhead conversations (yes, we all do it) or that "must write" book of your passion.

I keep binders with plastic inserts so I can put the things that inspire me about a topic or idea. I write a few words or a sentence or two to help me remember why I was so inspired and put that in with the other items. Then, I close the binder and go back to the current book I'm writing. 

How many binders do I currently have on my shelf? Four 4-inch binders. Packed so full, they are overflowing. 

I know. 

I get a lot of ideas. 

So, now that I went off on that little tangent, let's get back to first drafts. Be truthful, how many first drafts of articles, blog posts, or books do you have cluttering up your desk, computer, head?


Bernard Malamud gives us a great quote about the purpose of first drafts. 

Do you consider this true about your first drafts?

Do you treat your first draft as something that must be written and finished, editing comes later?

Why or why not?

If you edit as you write, will you ever truly finish your book?






For some writers, editing can take a lot of time. Why? For a variety of reasons:

  1. They expect their editing to make their writing perfect.
  2. They think they are the only writers who can truly appreciate their words and the only ones who can edit appropriately.
  3. Editing is "rewriting" and for some writers that could mean a whole "new" book!

BuzzFeed posted a great article of 27 famous writers giving writing/editing advice.

27 Pieces Of Advice For Writers From Famous Authors

Celebrated authors, editors and illustrators write advice to young writers on their hands for “Shared Worlds,” a two-week creative writing summer camp at Wofford College. 

The article is unusual because each author wrote their advice on their hand. 

Another blog post I found extremely helpful comes from YA Science Fiction author, Beth Revis.


I like her website and blog so much, I'm adding it to my Recommended Links.


This button image gives you the greatest advice about First Drafts.

Don't you think? 

Important tip to know: A book cannot be properly edited until the first draft is written. I know that there are a lot of authors/writers out there who will disagree with me, as they write and edit as they go. But, honestly, can you really focus on the story you are writing and making sure there is consistent continuity if you are always changing something?


Don't let this happen to you.

Writing and editing is a slippery slope. Your characters are already trying to write the story the way they think it should be written. If you aren't paying attention, they will run off and either change the outline of the book, or disappear all together. They may even band together and attempt to fight you.




Yes, I do believe my characters have life. My characters talk to me all the time. While I'm writing, after I've written, and before I've started the next book. Get to know your characters. Inside and out. Once you know them intimately, you'll be able to write their story.



Once you've discovered all of your characters' stories, only then than you let go of the control you hold over them and they will be able to tell their own story.















In conclusion, I'll let Nora Roberts have the last word.

Happy Writing,



Tuesday, August 30, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 30 - My Sincerest Apologies

I had full intentions to complete this challenge, unfortunately I was challenged as well, physically and emotionally. I ended up with a Fibromyalgia flare up, migraine headaches, and some household chores that required my attention. I don't remember if I told you or not, but we moved in our new home at the end of March, 2016. We moved to Spring Hill from Tampa. There are still boxes to be emptied all around the house. Window treatments to be hung. We have windows with arches above them. Very difficult to measure and find something that works.

I do have the guest room finished, or as close to finished as I'm going to get right now. I'm also working on the backyard, creating flower beds and gardens. My favorite garden I'm working on is the Fairy Garden, which will provide me with a Spiritual Space, calming space, and a place to meditate. You can see more at Vicki's Fairy Garden and Spiritual Space

Soon, I'll provide pictures of what I have finished now. As of the moment, I'm unable to move as I worked to hard over the weekend and today to get all the plants potted in the ground that were becoming an emergency.

I've also been collecting things around the house and outdoors to create accessories for the Fairy Garden, including Fairy Houses.

It's a fun diversion. My husband thinks it's an obsession.

And, to top it off, it was my dog's 13th birthday on the 28th. We go all out on our pets' birthdays - carrot cake slice for Jack, new toys for Bailey, toys, party hats, the whole she-bang!

So, what I'm going I'm going to do, is give you a list of books that will provide you with challenges, writing prompts, exercises and overall help with your writing.

If you require help or have a question, please don't hesitate to contact me.

And for the heck of it, a friend sent this image I used at the top, and I thought it would bring a smile to your face.

Books that can help you increase your writing skills with exercises and writing prompts:

(Some are embedded and available as a download straight from their cover image)







Write Starts
Hal Zina Bennett
Paperback















The Writer's Little Helper
James V. Smith Jr.
paperback





Writing Tools
Roy Peter Clark
paperback




Now Write!
Edited by: Sherry Ellis
paperback





A Writer's Workbook
Caroline Sharp
paperback





101 Creative Writing Exercises
Melissa Donovan
paperback























Take Ten for Writers
Bonnie Neubauer
paperback






















712 More Things to Write About
San Francisco Writers' Grotto
paperback




1,000 Writing Prompts
Bryan Cohen
paperback























501 Writing Prompts
Learning Express
paperback






60 Creative Writing Prompts and and Plots
Ganga Bharani Vasudevan




510 Creative Writing Prompts
Jonathan Wright




A Year of Creative Writing Prompts
The Love in Ink Team





Writing Prompts: 150 Ideas to Help
James Maschia



Creative Exercises to Inspire
Heidi Angell




Fiction Writing Prompts
Patti Stafford





Four Seasons of Creative Writing
Bryan Cohen


I've given you some great resources to help you get started with creative writing prompts.

If you have any other questions, please let me know. If you'd like to suggest a book to add to the list, I'd appreciate that very much.









Wednesday, August 24, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 24 - Depression & Doppelgänger

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twenty-fourth challenge we're going to discuss your goals to success.

Here is your challenge:
You are a depressed person. You are tired with life, you are tired of the disappointment and loneliness. One night, you contemplate suicide. Before you can pull the trigger of your firearm, you are confronted by your doppelganger. The doppelganger says, “We need to talk. It is urgent.”


This is a very interesting prompt. For those who have ever been this depressed, they will understand the emotional and mental effects on their mind and be able to write a thoroughly expressive piece.

For others, you may have to do some research about depression and suicide to get the right attitudes and background to help you write.

I hope that if anyone has ever been this depressed, they seek help immediately. Go to your nearest ER and let them know what you are feeling.

If this prompt is too much and you experience triggers that cause anxiety, depressive, or panic episodes, please do not complete this writing exercise.

Proceed slowly.













Wright, Jonathan (2015-06-17). 510 Creative Writing Prompts: For Aspiring and Experienced Writers (Bundle) (p. 49).  . Kindle Edition. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 23 - Embarrassing Secret

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twenty-third challenge we're going to discuss your goals to success.

Here is your challenge:
You have an embarrassing secret: you can't swallow pills. Therefore, you prefer a liquid medicine. When you visit the doctor due to illness, he hands you a cup full of pills. You asks if he has it in liquid form and he sternly says, “No. Swallow the pills.” Sweat starts spurting from your face like a garden sprinkler, especially when the cute nurse enters the room... What do you do?

This is not an uncommon issue. Many people cannot swallow pills at all, while others can take a handful and toss them in their mouth, drink a swallow of water, and easy peasy, done.

My husband used to be unable to swallow pills. At all. We got liquid medicines when we could. However, I resorted to purchasing a throat spray that helped the pills slide down. My husband even found that a problem.

So, we talked about the mental and emotional issues tied to the inability to swallow pills. Once he opened up, eventually, with some guidance, he can now take pills, even more than one at a time, by tossing them to the back of his throat and drink a good amount of water.

So, if this is an embarrassing secret you've been hiding, or you know someone who is, know that it can be overcome.

Let's get writing.









Wright, Jonathan (2015-06-17). 510 Creative Writing Prompts: For Aspiring and Experienced Writers (Bundle) (p. 21).  . Kindle Edition.


Monday, August 22, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 22 - Gardening

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twenty-second challenge we're going to discuss gardening and how it relates to other aspects of our life.

Recently, we moved to a new community with an acre of property. I'm planting various flowers, shrubs, vines, and herbs as well as creating a fairy garden. Each flower bed will be connected to the other by paths of pine mulch. The central garden is my Zen garden. It has a "round-a-bout" made out of the pine mulch breaking off to different plant beds.

I thought today's challenge would be an interesting twist on gardening.

Here is your challenge:
Certain plants like yarrow flowers, Russian sage, and frostweed, thrive with low amounts of water and might actually die with too much. What does it mean to have too much of a good thing? Has that ever happened to you? If so, explain what occurred, and if not, what might you overindulge in and why?


How can you connect plants that die if they have too much water to over-indulging with something in your life?

Write as much as you can for about fifteen minutes. Don't edit, don't think, just write.

I wonder what you found out about yourself?












Excerpt From: Bryan Cohen. “Four Seasons of Creative Writing.” iBooks.




Sunday, August 21, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 21 - Writing a Critique

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twenty-first challenge we're going to turn the tables and you are going to write a critique.

Critiques are similar to reviews except they address a writer rather than a potential audience; a critique explains what's working and not working to the author in an effort to help a fellow writer improve his/her work.

In a critique, you start by listing what you liked about the piece. Then, you list the areas that could be strengthened. Don't try to change the piece into what you would have done as a writer; take it for what it is.

Finally a proper critique discusses the work, not the person who created it. Your objective is to use positive, supportive language framed in the context of how the piece could be improved.

Here is your challenge:
Choose a piece of writing and compose a critique. You can use a book, short story, poem, article, or blog post. You will address the critique to the author, but you will not send it to the author. Also, your critique will discuss the work, not the person who created it. The length of your critique will depend on how long the piece of writing is and how deeply you evaluate it.

TIPS: While the focus of this exercise is to evaluate and analyze the overall content of a piece of writing, you should also look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes as well as typographical errors.

As a change of variety, you could also do this exercise using a TV show or movie, or any kind of story or art medium.

This exercise teaches you to look at a piece of writing objectively and assess it thoughtfully in an effort to consider how it might be improved. Writing critiques helps you build skills that benefit your own writing projects.

Enjoy!


Saturday, August 20, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 20 - Moral Dilemmas

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twentith challenge we're going to dig into moral dilemmas.

It's not enough for your characters to have simple opinions. Each of us also has deeper philosophical ideals and values. Our values come from our families, religions, and cultures. They shape our morals and the decisions we make.

People are complex. What we believe is right or wrong changes when we find ourselves in real situations. Consider an honorable character who believes that one's highest loyalty is to his or her family. Then, that character learns his/her brother is a serial killer. Does he/she turn him in? Testify against him? Stories get interesting when characters' morals are put to the test.

We all know the knight in shining armor should risk his life to save the damsel in distress. If he doesn't, then he loses his status as hero and becomes a coward. What if the knight is forced to make a more difficult decision? What if his true love and his beloved sister are both in distress but he only has time to save one of them?

Here is your challenge:
For this exercise, you will put a character's morals to the test. Below, you'll find a short list of moral dilemmas. Write a scene in which a character faces one of these moral dilemmas and has to make an agonizing decision.


  • In the novel Sophie's Choice, a young Jewish mother and her two children are taken to a concentration camp. Upon arrival, she is forced to choose one child to live and one to die. If she doesn't choose, they both die. Write a scene in which your character must choose between the lives of two loved ones.
  • A single woman is close friends with the couple next door and has secret romantic feelings for the husband. She discovers that his wife is having an affair. Normally, this woman minds her own business but now she sees an opportunity to get closer to the man she wants.
  • Some countries have strict laws regarding drug possession. A family has traveled to one such country for vacation. Upon arrive (or departure), one of the teenager's bags is sniffed out by a dog. The bag is opened, the drugs are identified, and the guard asks who bag it is. Both parents are considering claiming ownership. Everyone in the family knows the sentence would be death.
  • Your character gets to travel through time and face this classic moral dilemma: The character find himself or herself holding a loaded gun, alone in a room, with a two-year-old baby Hitler.
  • A plane crashes into the sea. Most of the passengers escape with inflatable lifeboats but they do not board them correctly. Your character ends up on a lifeboat that holds eight people but there are twelve people on it, and it's sinking. Your character can either throw four people overboard and eight will survive or they will all die expect your character, who will get rescued after the others drown.




Remember, during the scene, the character should agonize over the decision and reveal his or her reasons for the choice that he or she makes.

TIPS: Search online for "lists of moral dilemmas" to get more scenarios.

If you don't want to write a scene, you can come up with more moral dilemmas of your own.

The moral dilemmas force you to put your characters in situations that are deeply distressing, thus creating conflict and tension.

Good Luck!



Friday, August 19, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 19 - Success

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the nineteenth challenge we're going to discuss your goals to success.

Here is your challenge:
What is your number one goal in life? If you do not yet have one, there’s no time like now to think about choosing one.  

TIP: Give this some thought. Try not to think of something that can be achieved immediately. Choose a goal that takes time, effort, and thought.

  • How do you plan on reaching this goal? 
  • What would happen if you achieved it? 
  • What would be the next step?

Write about your goal, why you chose it, what you are going to do to reach it, and once you do, what goal will you set next?

I hope this makes you think about setting goals and achieving them.


Thursday, August 18, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 18 - Superhero to the Rescue!

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the eighteenth challenge we're going to turn you into a Superhero!

Here is your challenge:
You are a Superhero. Your special power is the ability to walk through walls, pass through solid objects, and hid inside solid materials. What is your backstory, and how did you get this special power?

Right up Avengers alley, or are you an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Maybe you joined the Justice League? If you need to do research on Superheroes, go ahead. Then get as detailed as you can about your backstory, using character, plot, theme, and more to build it.

Have FUN!!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

August Writing Challenges : Day 17 - What Happens Next?

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the seventeenth challenge we're going to find out what happens next...

Here is your challenge:
You are driving home in blinding rain from a hiking trip in a southern region of Texas. It's very late, and there is no one for miles on the dark country road. Suddenly your car dips into a very deep puddle, stalls, and then stops. You have no way of calling anyone. After a while, you see headlights approaching. An old pickup pulls up right behind you and stops. 

But, no one gets out. 

What happens next?

I give you full rein to have as much fun with this as you want. Aliens, body snatchers, invisible creatures, whatever your imagination can dream up. Just be as detailed as possible using all your senses.



Tuesday, August 16, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 16 - That Was Then

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the sixteenth challenge we're going to travel back in time and have some fun with a history writing challenge.

Here is your challenge:
What is the period of history that you identify with most? The flappers of the American 1920's? The royal family during the War of the Roses? Choose one of these or your own particular period of time and write about a day you lived during that time.

TIP: History is defined as a time that that takes place in past times (usually more than fifty years ago.)

If you want to expand this challenge, you can also do research on the time in history you've chosen and delve deep into the what/who/when/how/why of the events at that time and how they affected your character.

I hope you enjoy this challenge.

Monday, August 15, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 15 - Dialogue Without Words

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the fifteenth challenge we're going to attempt to write a scene using no words to convey dialogue:

Here is your challenge:

First, write a sentence or two describing the tension you intend to explore between your characters: What does each one want?

Using NO dialogue, in less than three hundred words, let the reader discover something about the relationship between two characters by where we find them, what they are doing, and how they interact with each other.

Use this basic formula:
Reveal character A in a place (setting) doing something (activity). Character B might already be in the scene, or B might enter. Either way, B has a strong need or want - an ISSUE he/she wants to address. B interrupts or engages A, who also has an objective - something he/she is trying to get done, and / or something he/she does or does not want to talk about. This clash of objectives is an important element in the scene.

TIPS:
Focus on selecting and utilizing setting and activity so that your readers discover - because you show them, rather than tell them - something essential about at least one, if not both, of your characters.

DO NOT USE DIALOGUE.

This challenge requires you to have setting and action, not something your characters say, communicate to the reader.

This might be frustrating, and give you all kinds of ideas about what you WILL have them say to each other when you have a chance.

IMPORTANT: 
Do not tell us what they would be saying. Part of the challenge is to explore how we communicate without words.

I hope you find this challenge enjoyable.





Sunday, August 14, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 14 - Your Life by the Numbers

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?



I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the fourteenth challenge we're going to dig into your past:

Here is your challenge:

Start your sentence with "It was a ..."

Now, pick a number between 1 and 10 and write it down so you don't forget it.

Look below at the list and find your number. This is the time of your life through which you will  dig to find a story.

  1. While you were still in the womb (based on what family members have told you.)
  2. After your birth, but before your own memories kicked in (as told to you by family)
  3. When you were four years old.
  4. When you were five years old.
  5. When you were six years old.
  6. When you were seven years old.
  7. When you were eight years old.
  8. When you were nine years old.
  9. When you were ten years old.
  10. When you were eleven years old.

Now, write for ten minutes.

Try to find a story that sparks your interest and excitement.


TIP: Tell your story exactly as it happened, or use it as the basis for a piece of semi-autobiographical fiction. 

Have fun with this challenge. It might even start some memory walks among other members of your family.




Saturday, August 13, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 13 - Drama

August. The summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the thirteenth challenge we're going to see how well you can describe drama:

Here is your challenge:



Drama: Write about a time when you got stuck in between two parties fighting with each other. You can use your own experiences if you'd like to help give more personality to each character.

Next, write a letter, addressed to yourself, from the other person's perspective. In this letter, take on the voice of your adversary, as your adversary explains his/her perspective on why he/she was right and you were certainly in the wrong.


NOTE: This exercise is designed to give the writer practice at creating two characters that are coming to the battle with equal ammunition. It draws from the writer's personal history with conflict and tries to place the writer in the mind of the opponent.

This exercise is a great way to practice writing from perspectives other than your own. It's also a good way to humanize antagonists.


Enjoy!

Friday, August 12, 2016

August Writing Challenges: Day 12 - Senses and Color

AugustThe summer is nearly over. Kids are going back to school. You now have some time on your hands.  Okay, you still have a list of chores a mile long, but let's put writing at the top of the priority list, okay?

I am going to challenge you with a writing prompt every day this month. Are you up for it? I hope so.

The writing challenges will be about a variety of topics and hopefully cause you to dig into your writing toolbox to complete with emotional skill.

Watch out, I just might throw in a fun one, well, just for fun!

For the twelfth challenge we're going to discover how our senses and color affect our writing.

Here is your challenge:
On your paper, draw a circle with five lines coming from it. Label each line with one of the five senses:
   Sight
   Hearing
   Touch
   Taste
   Smell

Close your eyes and imagine what color is prominent in your mind. Let the color wash over you as you think about it in terms of each sense. 

Fill the next ten minutes by writing down what comes to mind by this color, sense by sense. Some of the senses are more difficult than others, but making the extra effort will help you with being more specific in your future writing. 

Once you've written for ten minutes, adding to each sense, pick a number between one and ten. Write it on your paper. 

Check below and find your number. 

1. Yellow
2. Black
3. White
4. Gold
5. Blue
6. Green
7. Brown
8. Pink
9. Purple
10. Orange

Now, go back and use the color that matched your number and write for another ten minutes how that color affects your senses. 

THINK ABOUT THIS:  Imagine the colorful people you have met in your life. Jot down notes about the way these people look, dress, act, talk, walk, and smell. This is a great way to work on character development and perhaps flesh out a character in need of a little more personality. It's fun to pick and choose from all the choices offered by people you know as you invent characters of your own. 



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