First lines from books can be sparks for freewrites. Read the sentence and then write whatever pops into your mind. Don’t over think it. Go with the flow and just write. Here are a few for you to play around with. “Some time ago, when I was 6 or 7 or 8 years old, it would occasionally happen that I’d walk into a room and certain people would begin to cry.” The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn “The phone rang.” Booked by Die by John Dunning “Footsteps on the forest floor made a noise like paper crumpling in a child’s fist.” The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond
Author: mcullen
Marlene Cullen is enthusiastic about encouraging people to write, even those who think they can’t write. Her series of books, The Write Spot anthologies, features writing that entertains as well as inspires writing. Every story, vignette, and poem in The Write Spot books include writing prompts motivating readers to become writers.
Marlene hosts The Write Spot Blog, a treasure chest of inspirational gems for writers.
Fulfilling her passion for writing and sharing with others, Marlene has created unique writing environments such as Jumpstart Writing Workshops, where participants often experience transformational changes. Her workshops provide essential elements for successful writing.
Marlene is the founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma, a monthly literary event featuring presenters talking about the craft and business of writing.
Marlene's awarding winning short stories and essays have been published in literary journals, anthologies, and newspapers, including Tiny Lights, Building Bridges, More Bridges, Redwood Writers anthologies, and The Write Spot anthologies.
She is a member of the California Writer's Club.
Jane Dystel: How long should it take to write a novel?
Today’s Guest Blogger is Jane Dystel, president of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management: Over the weekend, I finished a remarkable first novel. The author had taken many years to complete this work and, in the end, I think the time it took her to do so has paid off (of course, only the marketplace will tell). Thinking about this – the time it takes a writer to finish a book – brought to mind how different each writer’s process is. I found this very interesting piece on the subject in the Huffington Post. I have clients who take many years to finish their novels, much like the writer whose work I read this weekend. Then, there are those who actually ask for deadlines (from me) by when they should have their next manuscript completed. And then, of course, there are those who can conceptualize their stories and write them down…
Pranks . . . Prompt #242
What pranks have you pulled off? Were you successful? Did you get caught? Have you been pranked? What happened? What do you think about playing tricks on people? Is it funny? Rude? Cruel? Does it depend on the circumstances? Writing Prompt: Pranks
Well, that was an Interesting Experience . . . Prompt #241
Write about something interesting that happened. It could be a little blip, just a passing thing that happened. Or, it could be big. . . earth shattering. It could be about something that really happened or something imagined. The page is a big, wide-open place for you to play and experiment (what a funny word – ex-peer-ih-ment). Try a word here, toss a word there. Mix ’em up. Shuffle. Dance your words around. Write about an Interesting Experience.
New England Review
The March/April 2016 issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine is bursting with excellent information for writers. For example: Details about submitting to New England Review. New England Review: “Offers readers poems, stories and essays that are formally inventive and traditional.” There is a $2 fee for poetry submissions and $3 fee for prose. About NER: “By publishing new fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that is both challenging and inviting, New England Review encourages artistic exchange and thought-provoking innovation, providing publishing opportunities for writers at all stages in their careers. ” Payment: Payment for work published in the journal is $20 per page (with thanks to a grant from the NEA), $100 for cover art, plus two copies of the issue in which the work appears and a one-year subscription. For online publication in NER Digital, payment is $50 and a one-year subscription to the print magazine.
Music lyrics as prompts . . . Prompt #240
You may already do this . . . Use musical lyrics as prompts. Here are a couple for you: “She lost him. But she found herself and that was everything.” Taylor Swift “I used to drive out to John’s house,” says Paul McCartney. “He lived out in the country, and I lived in London. I remember asking the chauffeur once if he was having a good week. He said, “I’m very busy at the moment. I’ve been working eight days a week.” And I thought, “Eight days a week! Now there’s a title.” Have a go. Just start writing. Be open. Be surprised. Let the ink flow. Let your fingers fly across the keyboard. Then share. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.
When we remember . . . ” Prompt #239
Today’s writing prompt is a quote by Mark Twain. The best way to use this quote as a prompt for your writing is to have everything ready: paper, pen, timer. If you are using computer: warm it up, open a word.doc. Give it a name. Save it. Whatever method you use for your writing, have everything ready, including yourself. Stretch if you need to. Loosen the muscles in your neck by rolling your head in a gentle circle. Roll in the opposite direction. Rotate your shoulders back in a circular motion. Then forward. Squirm, wiggle, adjust. Then . . . just write. Read the quote and write whatever comes up for you. “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” — Mark Twain
Bateau
Bateau Literary Magazine is open for submissions: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, b/w illustrations, playlets, flash, & comics. Bateau: “The time has come to relaunch Bateau….CUZ YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD THING DOWN!!!! We are accepting submissions for Bateau Vol 6.1 Jan-May 1st 2016.” Submission for Boom Chapbook will begin in August 2016. Do you have snippets of writing? Flesh them out and Submit! We’re still hopping from blog to blog. Visits one of these blogs, get some ideas, and write! And submit! And, Good Luck!
I was so scared . . . Prompt #238
Today’s writing prompt . . . I was so scared. I look forward to reading your writing on this one! St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop, organized by author and blogger Francis H. Powell. It’s still St. Paddy’s Day here in Northern California. We are partying tomorrow! But first, let’s check in with the other blog hoppers. Check out the St. Patrick’s Blog Hop. You will be swiftly transported to a landing page that Francis created for this blog hop. Scroll down. Click on a blogger’s name and quicker than a leprechaun can jump over that pot of gold, you can explore the gems in these blogs. Bloggers: Contact Marlene or Francis to join us in our next Blog Hop. It’s really easy! And a fun way to get to know other bloggers and writers.
Guest Bloggers Wanted
Thursdays are Guest Bloggers days on The Write Spot Blog. If you have tips about the craft or the business of writing, you could be a guest blogger. Email your idea to Marlene. Perhaps you have tips about: ~How to find time to write ~ Ways to develop characters ~How to incorporate location in writing ~Writing Resources ~Helpful writing websites ~How to research ~How to write realistic action during a dialogue scene Being a guest blogger is a great way to share what you know about writing. Think of it like writing an article for a writing magazine. What is your special writing tip? BLOG HOP – Before participating as a Blog Hopper, I wondered what that meant. I could not picture it. Right now, I’m part of a St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop, organized by author and blogger Francis H. Powell. Here’s how it works: Click on Blog Hop….