Category: Prompts

  • Your character has a surprise secret – Prompt #7

    Fleshing out your character. . . either fictional or someone from real life or a photo.

    Have your character do something unexpected .  . . something that surprises everyone.

    For example, put your conservative character in an improv situation where he/she has to  rap or belly dance.  Have your wild character volunteer to help with bingo in an assisted facility.

    You don’t have to include this in your novel,  memoir or biography. Just have fun with writing about a character.

    Prompt:  Write about your character’s surprise

    Marlene C

  • Interview character – Prompt #6

    Inspired from “Character Profile” by Patrick Scalisi in the November issue of The Writer magazine. Interview your main character or supporting characters.

    If you have a fictional character, you can work with that.

    If you are writing about something that really happened, you can use those people as your characters.

    If neither of those work, use a photo . . . develop a picture into flesh and blood characters.

    For your fictional character:  Interview him or her as a journalist would. . . but not at the age they are in your story.  If they are older . . . interview the younger version of your character.  If they are young. . . imagine what they might be like as an older person.

    For your real-life person:  Same thing. . . have an imaginary interview of him or her. . . you can pick the age. . . younger if you know them as an older person.  Older if you know them as a young person (someone from school no longer interact with, for example).

    Same with the photo . . . whatever age the person appears to be . .  .interview him or her as an older or younger person.

    Prompt:  Interview character. Main or supporting fictional character. Someone from real life. Or a photo.

    Arlene and Joey.1

    Arlene Mandell and Joey, “Scenes from My Life on Hemlock Street,” published by Wordrunner echapbooks

    Arlene L. Mandell is a retired English professor, formerly from New Jersey, now living in sunny Santa Rosa, CA

    Do you have a photo you would like to post?  Contact Marlene: mcullen – at – comcast.net

     

    Marlene C

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  • I don’t remember – Prompt #5

    This is the place to write freely, using the suggested prompts.  Write on the prompt for 12-15 minutes.

    Today’s Prompt:  I don’t remember . . .

    Marlene C

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  • Develop Character . . . Prompt #4

    I’ve been thinking about characters lately. If you are going to participate in NaNoWriMo, how about doing some freewrites now, set the stage for the “real” writing in November. And if you aren’t part of NaNoWriMo . . . today’s prompt will work for you, also. If you have a fictional character you work with, put your character in a setting he or she wouldn’t normally be in. For example, put your conservative character in an improv situation where he/she has to rap. Have your wild character volunteer to help with bingo in an assisted facility.

    Today’s prompt:  See what your character does in unusual situations.

    Marlene C

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  • The trouble started when . . . Prompt #3

    Like the Tina Turner song, we’ve been taking it nice and easy with the writing prompts.  Let’s speed it up . .  Today’s writing prompt:  The trouble started when . . . Write for 15 minutes . . . longer if you get on a roll. No worries about how long you write. Just write!

    Writing Prompt:  The trouble started when . . .

    Marlene C

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  • Jump In – Prompt #2

    Sorensen

    I have had this blog idea for a long time.  I’m very excited to see it finally happening.  I’ll write a few words and suggest a writing prompt. This is the place to jump in and test the waters.  Photo by the versatile Kent Sorensen.

    Today’s Prompt:  Jump in

    Marlene C

  • Welcome – first prompt

    Welcome! I’m so excited for you to be here. . . a place to learn about writing, use prompts to inspire your writing, and places to submit your writing. We’re all about writing.

    BookReady? Pen and paper nearby? Computer warming up? Flex hands, fingers poised . . .

    Today’s writing prompt: I remember. . .

    Go! Write!

    Marlene C

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