Defrost a freezer
Change oil
Empty ashtrays in a car
Go to bars
Go to outdoor concerts
Look for a phone booth
Bake
Use a camera that is not in a phone
Golf, swim, play sports
Go to church
Use a paper calendar
Remember phone numbers
Tease or protect a sibling or cousin
Use Crisco
Sew
Crafts
Ride a bus
Ride a bicycle
Listen to or read the news
Write about games you played or things you did as a child.
Slinky
Silly putty
Rubik’s cube
Chatty Cathy
Barbie
GI Joe
Mr. Potato Head
Matchbox cars
Hot Wheels
Jump rope
Roller skate
Ping-pong
Spirograph
Etch a Sketch
Magic 8-ball
Jacks
Dodge Ball
Board games
Marbles
Write about:
Favorite food from childhood.
Party food when you were a teenager.
Menu from early adult dinner parties.
Animal crackers in a box with a string
Cracker jacks in a box with a prize
Jell-O mold salads
Candy apple
Green beans with mushroom soup
Tuna melt
Popsicles
Popcorn: Homemade or movie popcorn
Pink popcorn
Ice box cake
Chiffon cake
Cotton candy
TV dinners
Pigs in a blanket
Fondue
Salisbury steak
SOS: “Stuff” on a shingle
Who are you mad at? Why?
Do you want to stay mad?
Would you like to reconcile, even if it’s just in your mind and heart?
Or: Who are you no longer mad at? What did you do with that anger?
Or: Who are you disappointed with?
Just Write!
Write about a time you were late.
Write about something it’s too late for.
Something you wish you would have said, but now it’s too late.
Something you wish you would have done, but now it’s too late.
Or is it?
Kangaroo Words: A word that contains a synonym:
Use kangaroo words in your writing.
Find other kangaroo words.
Inspired from San Diego Writers, Inc Facebook post
Just Write!
On my next birthday, I will be (___) years old.
It’s a big deal, because . . .
It’s not a big deal, because . . .
If neither money nor health/mobility were issues, here’s how I would celebrate my birthday . . .
At my age, my parents . . . . or my grandparents . . .
Just Write!
Brief definition: A hero or heroine goes on an adventure, is victorious, and is transformed.
This can be fiction or memoir.
Examples: Dorothy in Wizard of Oz
Kerrin in Amoran, recently published by Debra Koehler
If you were to write a story of your life, or a real person’s life, or your fictional character life as a hero’s or heroine’s journey, what would the lowlights be?
Write a scene involving a conflict or overcoming an obstacle.
Prepare to write:
Get into the head of the character, real or fictional, that you want to write about. This could be a younger version of yourself.
Become that person, that character. It could be a younger you.
Walk around as if you are the person you are going to write about.
Pantomime an action, or activity, the character might do.
Fully embody that person.
Walk around for about 3 minutes.
As you walk, imagine you are the character you have in mind.
Feel that character in your body.
After walking, write about what you just experienced.
Then, write a conversation or an interaction from real life or imagination, with the character you just inhabited.
Possible sentence starts:
You always . . .
I hate it when you . . .
I love when you . . .
Why didn’t you . . .
Remember when . . .
I thought . . . and then I learned . . .
In my mind, the trouble started when . . .
This exercise was inspired by author and writing teacher B. Lynn Goodwin.
Use a situation from real life.
Or:
Make up something that could have happened with either a real person or a fictional character.
Write a December memory.