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Showing posts with label writing prompts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing prompts. Show all posts
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Valentine Prompts for the Truer than True Scrooge
I know you're out there; folks who don't quite "get" Valentine's Day. You might even be considered a Scrooge, though I'm well aware that the 'real' Scrooge had more of an affinity with Christmas.
Do any of these statements sound like you?
1. "I don't currently have a romantic interest" or "I'm just getting over a romantic interest and just don't want to think about Valentine's Day."
2. "I like to spoil my partner during the year and find it hard to dole out on Valentine's Day when it's 'expected.'"
3. "Valentine's Day is just a commercial set-up to get me to spend more money."
4. "I'm just not "gooshy." I show my love in different ways."
If you fit into any or all of the above categories, you may find yourself skipping out on the big day and filling it with something totally unrelated.
But what if I could pull you back, even just a little, with these Scrooge Valentine prompts?
1. Write a story about a romantic interest that has gone sour, and how better off one or both couples is. (See #4)
2. Write a story about a man who enjoys giving gifts to his significant Valentine, just not on Valentine's Day.
3. Do some research. Find out how Valentine's Day got started, and write a story reflecting this new found knowledge.
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Basically, have a bit of fun.
Here's the beginning of my story using prompt #2.
It wasn't fair, and he knew it. But what could he do?
His new girl stood before him all glowing and all he wanted to do was escape, sort of like those prisoners he'd read about in "Last Man Standing."
But how could he do it? Why couldn't he just be himself and scatter the love when he felt like it?
She smiled at him. Her lips were a dark red today and he could almost taste them without leaning in.
Oh, she would hate him!
It was Valentine's Day and what did he have for her? Nothing. Nothing.
"So?" she asked. The air was cool, but her arms looked warm underneath her heavy coat. The snow had not melted yet, probably wouldn't for another month or so, and all he could think about was warming his cold heart...
Let's see what you've got. Start your own story by responding to this post or see what I've got going here.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Kathryn
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Check 'Em Out...Those Library Books You've Meant to Read
With the new year comes new resolutions to do better in writing. I hope you've set a few goals.
One of the most important ones (especially if you're a beginner writer) is the accumulation of knowledge that will help you in the books you write. Yes, you'll also need to write to get better, but books help you to see what you can do now to improve.
Some of my favorites...
The Power of Little Words by John L. Beckley
Elements of the Writing Craft by Robert Olmstead
Writing With Style by John R. Trimble
The Writer's Handbook by John B. Karls and Ronald Szymanski
Writing from the Heart by Nancy Lonim Aronie
Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge (No, I don't write screenplays but this is an excellent resource if you want to improve your characters, plot and scenes).
What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter
And it's always a good idea to purchase a thesaurus and dictionary.
What writing books have you read that you would recommend?
One of the most important ones (especially if you're a beginner writer) is the accumulation of knowledge that will help you in the books you write. Yes, you'll also need to write to get better, but books help you to see what you can do now to improve.
Some of my favorites...
The Power of Little Words by John L. Beckley
Elements of the Writing Craft by Robert Olmstead
Writing With Style by John R. Trimble
The Writer's Handbook by John B. Karls and Ronald Szymanski
Writing from the Heart by Nancy Lonim Aronie
Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge (No, I don't write screenplays but this is an excellent resource if you want to improve your characters, plot and scenes).
What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter
And it's always a good idea to purchase a thesaurus and dictionary.
What writing books have you read that you would recommend?
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Year's Eve: Writing Prompts
It's been awhile since I've posted a few of my favorite writing prompts. And because it's New Year's Eve tonight, I wanted to share a few with you that I find especially helpful for the new year.
1. Write down your goals for the year, and then, using one of the goals as a writing prompt, write a short story or first book chapter based on the idea as if you've already accomplished it.
2. What have you done in the past year that has been great when it's comes to writing? Have you taken a new writing class, attended a conference, written and published your first book? Make a list and then choose your favorite experience. Write a poem.
3. Having a big party tonight at your place? Going out? Either way, pay special attention to the people you're around, you may just come up with the mustard seed of a new character. I like to keep a small notebook in my purse for just such occasions. I rarely remember what I thought at the moment if I don't write the experience down.
4. Spending time with your kids? Write a book together. When I speak at elementary schools in a class setting, I often speak about characters, setting, plot, etc. to the children and then help them develop their own book (stapled together).
5. Sitting in front of the television or reading a good book? Sometimes, just being by yourself is the best answer to an otherwise raucous night. Have some fun by beginning your new book or short story for the new year. One of my favorite ideas is turning to a random page in any book and starting with that sentence in my new work.
Whatever you do this New Year's Eve, I want to wish you a happy one!
I'm hoping for great things in 2014!
1. Write down your goals for the year, and then, using one of the goals as a writing prompt, write a short story or first book chapter based on the idea as if you've already accomplished it.
2. What have you done in the past year that has been great when it's comes to writing? Have you taken a new writing class, attended a conference, written and published your first book? Make a list and then choose your favorite experience. Write a poem.
3. Having a big party tonight at your place? Going out? Either way, pay special attention to the people you're around, you may just come up with the mustard seed of a new character. I like to keep a small notebook in my purse for just such occasions. I rarely remember what I thought at the moment if I don't write the experience down.
4. Spending time with your kids? Write a book together. When I speak at elementary schools in a class setting, I often speak about characters, setting, plot, etc. to the children and then help them develop their own book (stapled together).
5. Sitting in front of the television or reading a good book? Sometimes, just being by yourself is the best answer to an otherwise raucous night. Have some fun by beginning your new book or short story for the new year. One of my favorite ideas is turning to a random page in any book and starting with that sentence in my new work.
Whatever you do this New Year's Eve, I want to wish you a happy one!
I'm hoping for great things in 2014!
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| BOOK RELEASE: JANUARY 15 |
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Valentine Writing Ideas
Since most of us are going to be in the Valentine swing tomorrow, I thought it would be appropriate to share some fun writing prompts to get every heart pumping.
When it comes to writing romance, it's a skill every writer needs, yes, even if you're not writing a romance novel. Since romance is a part of most of our lives, don't you think it should be a part of most of our novels?
So here goes:
Create a Valentine's Day box. Decorate it accordingly today, with slips of paper and ideas written on them that can be drawn out during the day tomorrow. Keep the ideas simple, like write your first paragraph with the word 'love' in it, or write a poem with the word 'red' in it. Interestingly enough, you may not come up with the best Valentine poem, but you will have something, and that's the point. Keep the box and pull it out next year to write even more.
Rather than buying a ready-made Valentine, write a love letter to your significant other. Use the five senses; something cards do, and make your words literally breathe love.
Cook a Valentine's dinner instead of going out. In an envelope place some slips of paper with all of the words you can think of that explain your love for him/her. Share these words during your dinner.
Go ice skating and pay special attention to the couples. It's amazing what you can come up with when you watch others in their element (or not so much). Many romantic ideas can come from visiting places where couples are likely to frequent on Valentine's Day.
Valentine writing ideas are as available as your imagination. The deeper your imagination, the more ideas will come to you. Hopefully, these ideas will get you started.
When it comes to writing romance, it's a skill every writer needs, yes, even if you're not writing a romance novel. Since romance is a part of most of our lives, don't you think it should be a part of most of our novels?
 |
| Photo by: Mike Overall, courtesy of Flickr |
Create a Valentine's Day box. Decorate it accordingly today, with slips of paper and ideas written on them that can be drawn out during the day tomorrow. Keep the ideas simple, like write your first paragraph with the word 'love' in it, or write a poem with the word 'red' in it. Interestingly enough, you may not come up with the best Valentine poem, but you will have something, and that's the point. Keep the box and pull it out next year to write even more.
 |
| Photo by: Peter Hellberg, courtesy of Flickr |
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| Photo by: Ruth L, courtesy of Flickr |
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| Photo by Daniel Morris, courtesy of Flickr |
Go ice skating and pay special attention to the couples. It's amazing what you can come up with when you watch others in their element (or not so much). Many romantic ideas can come from visiting places where couples are likely to frequent on Valentine's Day.
Valentine writing ideas are as available as your imagination. The deeper your imagination, the more ideas will come to you. Hopefully, these ideas will get you started.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween Writing Prompts
Want to get... spooked? Experience writing like you may have never experienced it before?
Today I want to direct you to an article I did for Michael Haynes--A Writing Blog, on five Writing Prompts to Die For. On a spooky day like today, what could be more appropriate than visiting a cemetery, writing a creepy story, taking a walk?
If your writing ideas are as dead as a doornail, or you just need a little shot in the neck, you may just want to check out the link below!
Have a howling Halloween!
Kathryn
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| My grandson, Christian, as a ninja |
If your writing ideas are as dead as a doornail, or you just need a little shot in the neck, you may just want to check out the link below!
Have a howling Halloween!
Kathryn
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
3 Writing Prompts that Will get You Writing Again
Some days the words are just hard to get out. Like the lack of rain coming down on a hot day, we may find that we're more inclined to take a nap than to work on our project.
Projects often get heavy. If we're writing a novel, we may be weighed down by the plot or a particular character who is simply not working. We may find that we lack time to write. We work full-time and would rather get some shut eye. We may not want to work on our project at all. But in the end, we know we need to write--something--and that's why writers usually turn to a writing prompt when they get stuck.
I have shared writing prompts before. But today, I want to get you writing with no preparation. That means, no magazine ads to tear out, no book to grab to write about the first sentence you point to, no going for a walk and enjoying the beauties of nature. These all work, of course, but sometimes we just want to get started. Now. At our computer.
So here goes:
1. Start with the letter A. In the first sentence the first word you write needs to begin with A. The second sentence must begin with B and so on until the end of the alphabet. The clincher is that the sentences must connect. They can't be random sentences but must create something.
After you're creation, read over it. Discover the gems inside and write a poem, a short story or the beginning of your next novel.
2. Close your eyes. Take in the senses you experience with your eyes closed. Try to stay connected to your senses for at least 5 minutes. If someone is with you, have them tell you when your time is up. When you open your eyes, write about all of the things you experienced. Perhaps you heard traffic in the distance. Did you smell anything surprising? Was it hard to keep your eyes closed? Were you checking the clock? Describe your experience.
Many of us have a difficult time using our five senses when we write. Sight is easy, but taste? A lot harder to come by. When we scatter the five senses throughout our work the reader not only enjoys what they're reading, they tend to experience the scenes more vividly.
3. Play some music from your computer. Write the way the music makes you feel. Depending on the song you'll end up with something romantic, mysterious, or even funny. Be open to writing in a different genre. After the song is over, go through what you have written and see what you find.
While the first writing prompt is more thinking in nature than experiencing, I have included it because there are times when nothing comes unless we first have an outline. At other times, it's the freedom we experience outside of the box that brings in our next creation.
Something we all want.
Projects often get heavy. If we're writing a novel, we may be weighed down by the plot or a particular character who is simply not working. We may find that we lack time to write. We work full-time and would rather get some shut eye. We may not want to work on our project at all. But in the end, we know we need to write--something--and that's why writers usually turn to a writing prompt when they get stuck.
 |
| Photo by: Bright Meadow, courtesy of Flickr |
So here goes:
1. Start with the letter A. In the first sentence the first word you write needs to begin with A. The second sentence must begin with B and so on until the end of the alphabet. The clincher is that the sentences must connect. They can't be random sentences but must create something.
After you're creation, read over it. Discover the gems inside and write a poem, a short story or the beginning of your next novel.
 |
| Photo by: Kalexanderson, courtesy of Flickr |
2. Close your eyes. Take in the senses you experience with your eyes closed. Try to stay connected to your senses for at least 5 minutes. If someone is with you, have them tell you when your time is up. When you open your eyes, write about all of the things you experienced. Perhaps you heard traffic in the distance. Did you smell anything surprising? Was it hard to keep your eyes closed? Were you checking the clock? Describe your experience.
Many of us have a difficult time using our five senses when we write. Sight is easy, but taste? A lot harder to come by. When we scatter the five senses throughout our work the reader not only enjoys what they're reading, they tend to experience the scenes more vividly.
3. Play some music from your computer. Write the way the music makes you feel. Depending on the song you'll end up with something romantic, mysterious, or even funny. Be open to writing in a different genre. After the song is over, go through what you have written and see what you find.
While the first writing prompt is more thinking in nature than experiencing, I have included it because there are times when nothing comes unless we first have an outline. At other times, it's the freedom we experience outside of the box that brings in our next creation.
Something we all want.
Monday, November 28, 2011
5 Best Writing Prompts
As a writing mentor I have many opportunities to help writers not only find their voice but to create a living, breathing piece of work. Work that comes alive isn't just about the words you use and the subject matter you present, your best work comes when you travel beyond the words to the heart and guts of your piece.
Say you're writing a story about a boy who has been adopted by pretty good parents, but he still feels like a part of his heart is missing. What would you have the boy do, say to express these concerns, this lack in his life? How would you have him behave around other "true" families? What does it take for the boy to wake up and see the good in his life he already has? Does he need to meet his "true" parents first, or does something else happen to awaken him?
I love writing exercises, because thoughts like these can be visited. A writer can go deep into their soul and pull things out that they never knew existed. The writing prompts below are those I have used in my mentoring workshops. Even if you don't use everything written from a writing prompt, you will definitely find a gem worth using.
Write a spell for catching a fish. Make heavy use of your five senses--taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight. One client of mine used this writing prompt and created a beautiful short story about a fishing experience with her grandfather--her best work thus far.
Write about why you deserve to win a trip to some exotic location. There is something about writing about your dreams that elicits great ideas to win over any audience.
Write about what you think some inanimate object knows. Get into the "head" of the inanimate object, think and feel as the object thinks and feels.
Write in third person. Then write the same piece in first person. I often have clients do this exercise to discover if their novel or short story would be better in one form or another.
Open up any book, point to 10 words randomly, and use these 10 words in a 15 minute writing exercise. Often, our writing gets boring and sort of lifeless because we use the same words in the same way in the same combination of ways. Mix it up by doing this fun writing prompt.
Writing prompts will not only keep you writing, they will help bring your writing alive--something we all want and need.
Say you're writing a story about a boy who has been adopted by pretty good parents, but he still feels like a part of his heart is missing. What would you have the boy do, say to express these concerns, this lack in his life? How would you have him behave around other "true" families? What does it take for the boy to wake up and see the good in his life he already has? Does he need to meet his "true" parents first, or does something else happen to awaken him?
I love writing exercises, because thoughts like these can be visited. A writer can go deep into their soul and pull things out that they never knew existed. The writing prompts below are those I have used in my mentoring workshops. Even if you don't use everything written from a writing prompt, you will definitely find a gem worth using.
Write a spell for catching a fish. Make heavy use of your five senses--taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight. One client of mine used this writing prompt and created a beautiful short story about a fishing experience with her grandfather--her best work thus far.
Write about why you deserve to win a trip to some exotic location. There is something about writing about your dreams that elicits great ideas to win over any audience.
Write about what you think some inanimate object knows. Get into the "head" of the inanimate object, think and feel as the object thinks and feels.
Write in third person. Then write the same piece in first person. I often have clients do this exercise to discover if their novel or short story would be better in one form or another.
Open up any book, point to 10 words randomly, and use these 10 words in a 15 minute writing exercise. Often, our writing gets boring and sort of lifeless because we use the same words in the same way in the same combination of ways. Mix it up by doing this fun writing prompt.
Writing prompts will not only keep you writing, they will help bring your writing alive--something we all want and need.
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