“It doesn’t matter whether the story is set in the present day, 100 years ago hence, or in a place that has never and could never exist outside the pages of a book: The writer’s job is to present an utterly convincing and wholly seamless world,” Simon Morden, author of fantasy novel Arcanum. — The Writer Magazine, July 2014 Photo by Jim C. March
Month: July 2014
Three-part prompt . . . Prompt #87
Today’s prompt is three parts. Take about 20 minutes, or as much time as you need, for each section. Part One: Write a list of events from this past month: What aggravated you? What frustrated you? What made you laugh or cry? What made you lose your temper? What was the worst thing that happened? The best? The most disturbing or weird? Part Two: Choose one thing from your list and write about it. Write whatever comes to mind. Write what you would really like to say to the other people involved. Take your time with this. Write until you have no more to say on the subject. Write what happened from your point of view. Part Three: Only do this after you have done Part Two — If another person was involved, step into his or her shoes. Write what happened from the other person’s point of view. …
“I just want to stay authentic and keep dreaming my dreams.” — Katy Perry
“A lot of times I write these songs because I need to reinspire myself,” Katy Perry, in the July14, 2014 issue of People magazine. “I need to find my voice again. I need to be heard.” How about you? Are you writing to be heard? Is anyone paying attention? We are. . . here at The Write Spot Blog. Choose a prompt and then write. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog. Maybe the person who most needs to hear what you have to say will be reading. “I just want to stay authentic and keep dreaming my dreams.” — Katy Perry Me too, Katy, me too~! Let’s gather ’round the table, put pen to paper or fingers on keyboard and Just Write!
What should you throw away but just can’t? Prompt #86
Write about something you should throw away but just can’t.
Reject A Hit. . . Have you seen this?
Reject A Hit . . . Writer’s Digest Magazine, Rejection Letter column is a hit with local writers. Sonoma County Writer Amy Marincik’s spoof rejection on Great Expectations was selected for the March/April 2013 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine. Writers Forum presenter, Daniel Ari, wrote a pithy rejection letter to e.e. cummings, published in the July/August 2014 issue of the magazine. You, too, can be featured on the last page of Writer’s Digest magazine’s, Reject A Hit column. 300 words or fewer. Submit via email to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com with “Reject a hit” in the subject line. Go for it! Here is a list of books that have been spoofed rejected. 2012 September The Godfather by Mario Puzo October Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote Nov/Dec How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss 2013 January Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl March/April Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, spoofed by…
Guest Blogger Marjorie Richardson corrals the chatter and invites creativity.
Guest Blogger Marjorie Richardson writes about waking our consciousness through gentle yoga. Want to calm your nerves, quiet your mind, decrease anxiety and heighten immunity? How about having more comfort and ease in your body? Developing a feeling of fluidity in your body? Accessing your creativity? All these things can and do take place through slow and gentle movement accompanied by focused rhythmic breathing. Gentle yoga enhances our ability to hear ourselves, to listen to the inner cues we are constantly being given. In deeply concentrated states of mind, restlessness calms down. Synchronizing breath and movement train the mind to sense the subtle layers of well-being below all the surface chatter. Hatha Yoga is a tool discovered thousands of years ago to be used to awaken consciousness and unite with all the levels of our being. When attention is directed inward, your body receives messages that you are safe and…
Follow your heart and intuition . . . Steve Jobs
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” — Steve Jobs Click here for more Steve Jobs quotes. Map of “Steve’s Places” by Romain Moisescot, Webmaster, all about Steve Jobs.com I love what Romain has done with his blog, especially the January 26, 2013 post, since I love catching movie gaffes. And being a writer, of course I love stories. Here’s the story behind all about Steve Jobs.com: “My name is Romain Moisescot and I am the webmaster of all about Steve Jobs.com. By webmaster I mean the owner, designer, developer and editor of the website, which is a one-man operation. I started it on…
Your intangible treasure. Prompt #85
What is the one intangible thing you treasure above all else? Intangible, meaning: you can’t touch it, feel it, smell it, hold it, see it . . . it may be a character trait, a personality trait, a quirk. . . a feeling. . . . Prompt: Write about something intangible that you treasure. Photo by Jane Person
The Kathy Myers “Book in a Box” Method (patent pending)
Guest Blogger Kathy Myers writes: Computers are great and all— without them, this blog wouldn’t exist and then what would I do? But when I was younger, my image of a writing life was less technical and more romantic: Jo in Little Women, writing her books in a drafty attic wearing fingerless gloves against the winter chill, or Jane Austen dipping her nib and contemplating her next chapter, while her parents plan a ball where she can meet eligible bachelors. Ah, the good old days. At a Jumpstart Writing Workshop in May, I wrote a fictional scene on the prompt “It happened because . . . ” Marlene Cullen, always benevolent and encouraging to writers said, “That would be a good beginning for a romance novel.” Jumpstart was on hiatus for the month of June, and this coincided with a flirtation I’d been having about trying the fabled “sit-your-ass-in-a-chair-and-write-a–thousand-words-a-day” method…
Fourth of July . . . Prompt #84
July 4th is coming up. . . . what does this mean to you? Do you consider yourself patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you? Which reminds me of one of my all-time favorite “brain teasers.” Do they have fourth of July in England? Yes. . .and third of July and fifth of July. Writing Prompt: What does July Fourth mean to you?