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What challenged you as a . . . Prompt #203
Today’s writing prompt: What challenged you as a fifteen-year-old?
When the prompt is a number or an age, you can adjust to whatever calls to you. For example, with this prompt you can write about what was challenging when you were thirteen, or fourteen, or sixteen. The exact age doesn’t matter. I chose fifteen because that is a pivotal year for some people.Marlene, Tonga Room, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, Junior Prom, 1965.
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How to be a better writer
Many of us want to learn how to be better writers. The answer is very simple:
WRITE. Write some more. Keep writing.
It’s true! The more you write, the better writer you will become.
Here are some things you can do to improve your writing.
READ. Read whatever you like to read. Read the genre you are writing in. Read other genres.
BE SPECIFIC. ’57 Bel Air Chevy, not car. Sycamore, not tree. Foxtrot, not dance.
USE STRONG VERBS. Keep a list of strong verbs in your writer’s toolbox for easy reference.
Resources for strong verbs
Thesaurus in any format: Paper, on your computer, internet.
Books:
Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch: Let Verbs Power Your Writing by Constance Hale.
Strong Verbs Strong Voice by Ann Everett
Websites: Tip Sheet Using Strong Verbs and Writing Tips: Use Active, Precise Verbs
WRITING MAGAZINES often have article to improve writing: Writer’s Digest, The Writer, Poets & Writers.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES: Internet search on “writing” will yield a variety of results for writing workshops: Day-long, weekend, conferences, writing teachers online. If you add your city or county to your search, results focus on writing activities in your area. Consider UCLA Extension online classes.
The Sonoma County Literary Update is an amazing compendium of writing resources.
Summary, how to be a better writer
- Write.
- Read.
- Be specific.
- Employ strong verbs.
- Peruse writing magazines.
- Attend workshops and classes
Whatever methods you use . . . Just Write!
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What’s under your bed? Prompt #202
Today’s prompt: Write about the monsters under your bed.Oh, you don’t have any monsters under your bed?
Well then, what’s in your closet?
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Hope . . . Prompt #201
Today’s writing prompt is inspired by Ron Salisbury’s poem “The Ride Southbound.” When the writing prompt is a poem, you can write about the title, a line or a word. You can also write about Hope. Just write whatever comes up for you.The Ride Southbound by Ron Salisbury
When I jerked open the cab door, Hope was sitting in the back seat,
Prada dark glasses and lip gloss. This is mine, she said,
but we can share until 34th street. What’s at 34th street? I asked.
Just a sale at Macys. The driver put my two-suiter in the trunk
and the extra bag on the front seat, I climbed in with my briefcase
and umbrella. Is it gonna rain? she asked. You never know,
I answered. What’s with all the bags? It’s been a long trip.
You need all that stuff? Most of it, at least I thought I did.
The traffic on 7th Avenue slowed then didn’t, other cabs
cut us off, it was noisy, complicated, but we were there
in no time at all. Haven’t we met before? I asked. Probably,
she said. I meet a lot of people. Did we like each other?
Hard to say, she answered. She leaned over and tapped
on the window behind the cabbie. This is where I get off.
Good luck wherever you’re going. Standing on the sidewalk,
holding the door open, she said, Look at this, and hiked
her skirt to show me a small purple birth mark on her thigh.
I can’t always be perfect.
Ron Salisbury is the author of the recently published Miss Desert Inn. He writes and studies in San Diego State University’s Master of Fine Arts program, Creative Writing.
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Suicide Doors . . . Prompt #200
Today’s writing prompt is a poem by Ron Salisbury. You can write on the theme of the poem or the mood. You can use a line or a word for the writing prompt. Ready? Read and write. Just write, without worrying how your writing will sound.
Suicide Doors
Don’t put that in a poem, she said.
What? Don’t put what I said in a poem.
We talk and a week later I find what I said
in one of your poems. What’s the matter
with that? He’ll find out. He doesn’t read
poems. His friends will tell him. His friends
don’t read poems. Just don’t put me in your poems.
How about I make it in the 1960’s
and it happens in my 1951 Merc with suicide
doors, I got a D.A. haircut, smell of Bay Rum
and your angora sweater comes off on my sport coat.
Then what happens. Well, we could be in love.
We already are. I mean the crazy 60’s love
before birth control pills and we both smoke
and sneak bourbon from your father’s liquor cabinet
and try to figure out how to get some Trojans
because they’re not in every grocery store
and you have to ask the druggist for them
because they’re kept behind the counter
like cigarettes are now and because
he knows everyone in town, it’ll get around
so we drive all the way to Dexter on Saturday
night and I’ll try to be cool and see if
I can buy some and if I can’t we’ll take
our chances anyways. Do we do it in the
back seat? Yeah, the Merc had a giant
back seat. And you won’t use any thing
I said in the poem. Sure. Ok, but
bring a blanket and you have to go slow
and give me time to hang my sweater
over the seat so it won’t get ruined.
Ron Salisbury, author of Miss Desert Inn, (Main Street Rag Publications) lives in San Diego, CA, where he continues to publish, write and study in San Diego State University’s Master of Fine Arts program, Creative writing. Publications and awards include: Eclipse, The Cape Reader, Serving House Journal, Alaska Quarterly Review, Spitball, Soundings East, The Briar Cliff Review, Hiram Poetry Review, A Year in Ink, etc; Semi Finalist for the Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize – 2012, Finalist for the ABZ First Book Contest – 2014, First Runner-up for the Brittingham and Pollak Prize in Poetry – 2014, Winner of Main Street Rag’s 2015 Poetry Prize. -
What is a good life? . . . Prompt #199
What makes up a good life?
What are the ingredients for a good life? If you could combine essential ingredients to produce a good life, what would those ingredients be? Is there a secret ingredient?
If there was a recipe for a good life, would people embrace it? Would they conform or rebel or ???
If you were going to stitch qualities for a good life into a quilt, what bits and pieces would you need? What would the final piece look like?
Is this even a fair or answerable question? Are there too many variables to consider?
If you could create, cajole, conjure, form, shape a good life, would you? What would it look like. . . that good life many people strive for.Today’s writing prompt: What do you think a good life is all about?
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Spooktacular or . . . ??? Prompt #199
Join the festivities. Click on Halloween Blog Hop. Scroll down, click on a blogger’s name and you will be transported into a new dimension.WRITING PROMPT:
Spooktacular or Spectacular or Meh . . . What was Halloween like for you as a child? Did you go trick-or-treating? Costumes: Homemade or store bought? Bag to hold goodies: Pillowcase, plastic bag, plastic pumpkin, or ???
You can also write from your fictional character’s point of view.Writing Prompt: Describe your childhood Halloween.
OR: Describe a perfect All Hallow’s Eve.
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Scary movie . . . Prompt #198
Today’s Write Spot Blog prompt: Write about a movie that scared the bejeebers out of you. If you are writing fiction, what movie frightened your fictional character?There are lots of writing prompts on The Write Spot Blog, 198 to be exact. Choose one and just write!
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An apology. . . Prompt #197
Who do you want — or need — to apologize to?
Or maybe it’s a “thing” you need — or want — to apologize about.
Write an apology note, something you never need to send nor give to anyone.
Write it for yourself, to cleanse your palate, to lift the burden from your shoulders, to start from a new beginning.
Prompt: Write a note of apology.
