A Writing Exercise

Resource: Some Seeds to start YOUR Fiction by John Dufresne (article appeared in The Writer magazine.)

Start with a character.

Many stories begin with a character.

Here's one from the unfortunate news of the day: Your character is a polish priest who hears the confession of his colleague and fellow curate at St Paul's Church and learns that his trusted companion has molested a child.

Here's another: a mother whose child has been abducted.

Thirteen Writing Prompts by Dan Wiencek gives us a couple of other examples you can choose from.

Write a scene showing a man and a woman arguing over the man's friendship with a former girlfriend. Do not mention the girlfriend, the man, the womann, or the argument.

Browse the personals section in your local newspaper on online. Pick a person and based on the details provided, create an expanded profile on him/her. Then create a character sketch.

Write for approximately 20 minutes and then let's see what you've written. Post them here if you'd like. Or keep them to yourself. Maybe they'll be the spark of a short story or something longer.

Good luck!

Image credit: grublee / 123RF Stock Photo

Friday Five Minute Exercise - Value of the Writing

1. Set your clocks/timers for Five (5) Minutes.

2. Write about Value of the Writing. Do you believe that your writing has significance and that it can change a life? Do you see the value in sharing your writing with others? Do you see it as an incredible experience that you can allow others to participate in?

Get into as much detail as you can for the next five minutes.

3. Ready?

4. Go.

5. Finished? Review and be amazed.

I hope you had fun. Come back next Friday for a new writing prompt.

Was this exercise helpful?

Did you succeed with this writing exercise? Was it helpful? Were you able to find the value of your writing? Did you find the significance in your writing? Do you believe it can change a life? Do you believe in sharing your writing with others? Do you see it as an incredible experience to allow others to participate in? Was this exercise helpful? Did you enjoy it?

Why or Why Not?

Get the Picture - A Tip from Robert Newton Peck

I've had the pleasure of hearing Robert Newton Peck speak not once, but twice. And each time, was a treat. The man is a one person entertainment extravaganza. But, all of that aside. He knows how to write and he does it very well.

He's written a book titled "Secrets of Successful Fiction - A fun-to-read, easy-to-master toolkit for writers of all ages." And that's exactly what it is. I'm going to reference it from time to time, as it's full of genuine nuggets of writing information that I want to share with you.

Today's piece is "Get the Picture" and it's about Showing not Telling.

He uses a wonderful example about how millions of Americans used to "watch" their radios every evening before television was invented. Why did they do this? Because they wanted a picture. Not just the voices. Readers do the same thing, he wrote. They want the pictures, not just the words.

Mr. Peck tells us that an amateur writer would tell us a story while a pro shows the story. For example, he went on to use the following:

An amateur would write: "Bill was nervous."

The pro would write: "Bill sat in a dentist's waiting room, peeling the skin at the edge of his thumb, until the raw, red flesh began to show. Biting the torn cuticle, he rubbed it away, and sucked at the warm sweetness of his own blood."

You can see the obvious difference can't you?

Don't bore your reader with a lot of telling. Paint pictures for your reader to see the action, the emotion, the pictures.

As Robert Newton Peck would say, "Do this, and you are a pro. Writing is not listing emotions. Writing is physics. Moving parts. Things. Writing is show business. Get the picture?"

Christian Writing Prompts for Easter Week

Since it’s Easter, I’d like to offer some Christian writing prompts for you to use and create some exciting pieces of wordplay.

Take your pick.

1   1.  Pick a character in the Bible and describe his/her day. What are his/her struggles, joys, frustrations, etc. Write at least 500 words. Can you make a story out of this?
 
2.     Describe how a Pharisee saw Jesus standing on the steps of the temple. What did he see and hear? Use all the senses.
 
3.     You get to meet your hero from the Bible. What happens?
 
4.     Take the first line of a Psalm and write a story revolving around it.
 
5.     Write a story that revolves around “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
 
6.     Flesh out the woman from the well who met Jesus and gave Him some water. Who is she? Why did she divorce all her husbands and lived with her boyfriend? Why did the other women not like her? What was her name?
 
7.     King David meets Daniel. What happens?
 
8.     Someone gives the pastor a note while he’s preaching, what does it say?
 
9.     What is your first memory regarding Sunday School?
 
10. Write a Sunday School sermon for 5 year olds.
 
11. How did Saul feel before David played his harp and drove out the demons?
 
12. Write a short story regarding a person whom Jesus healed. What happened to them after the healing?
 
13. A bird is sitting on the wall as Jesus walks by carrying his cross. What does the bird see, hear, smell? What does he think?
 
14. Describe God’s love, but you can’t use grace, mercy, or love.
 
15. God has given you a new spiritual gift. What is it and what do you do with it?

I hope you enjoyed your choices. Have a blessed day.

Friday Five Minute Exercise - Gratitude

1. Set your clocks/timers for Five (5) Minutes.

2. Write about Gratitude. Write about the feeling of thankfulness you experience occasionally when you write. As you write, be thankful for your intuitive gift that allows you to hear your inner voice.

Get into as much detail as you can for the next five minutes.

3. Ready?

4. Go.

5. Finished? Review and be amazed.

I hope you had fun. Come back next Friday for a new writing prompt.

Was this exercise helpful?

Did you succeed with this writing exercise? Was it helpful? Were you able to write and be thankful? Did you thank the gift that allows you to hear your inner voice? Do you have feelings of gratitude for your gift? Was this exercise helpful? Did you enjoy it?

Why or Why Not?