Guest Blogger Laura Zinn Fromm writes: A few days ago, one of my students emailed. She had read an essay I’d just published about my father—dead now 19 years but still giving me plenty of juice to write about. The essay was about how volatile my Dad had been, and how loving—a love I rediscovered in letters he’d written to my mother at the end of their marriage. My mother had given me the letters during the pandemic, while she was cleaning out her house. I knew my parents had once loved each other fiercely and unambiguously, but the memory was an ancient one that predated my birth, and by the time I started to pay attention to how they treated each other, it was clear that love had been undone by disappointment and grief. They’d had a stressful marriage, and eventually moved on to other people—my father remarried, adopted…
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.
Writer’s Digest 2024 Poetry Contest
Calling all poets! Writer’s Digest magazine is on the lookout for poems of all styles–rhyming, free verse, haiku, and more–for the 19th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards! Scroll down for 2024 info. This is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively for poets. Enter any poem 32 lines or fewer for your chance to win $1,000 in cash. Someone has to win. It might be you! EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1, 2024 Let your words flow like water. #justwrite
More than “Just the facts”
Balancing Facts With Narrative “Fact-packed prose might feed the mind, but stories stir the soul. This is where structuring your narrative to build interest comes into play. The goal is to weave your facts into a story arc that escalates the wonder, making each page a gateway to the next surprise. By balancing detailed factual content with engaging narrative structures and vivid scene-setting, you transform your nonfiction into a compelling story. This isn’t just information, it’s an experience, a journey through the phenomenal world of your subject that educates and enchants.” — “From Ordinary to Extraordinary,” Ryan G. Van Cleave, Writer’s Digest Sept/Oct 2024
Create Original Phrases
Rather than using a tired cliché, create your own phrases that might become popular and memorable. Like this one: “ . . Maureen Seaton wrote beautiful poems the way some people eat potato chips.” — Mario Alejandro Ariza, “Writers on Writing,” Writer’s Digest, July/August, 2024 Have fun with clichés. #justwrite #amwriting #iamawriter
Concise Poetic Forms
“While excess can be fun when writing nature poems, many poets find minimalism is preferable. Emily Dickinson wrote several nature poems — often in fewer than 10 lines — including ‘Who robbed the woods’ and ‘My river runs to thee.’ One of the most concise poetic forms is also a nature poem: the haiku! Many poets debate the number of lines and syllables (not everyone believes in the 5-7-5), but every haiku poet agrees haiku should focus on a brief moment, provide a sense of enlightenment, and offer a cutting and season word.” Excerpt from “Poetic Asides” by Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest, July/August 2024. More about haiku and nature writing: Nature Journaling Crystallize a Moment Why I Love Writing Ekphrastic Poetry #justwrite #amwriting #iamawriter
Nature Journaling
“With nothing more than a pen and a notebook, nature journaling can help you slow down and create a reference you can call upon to bring your reader into the worlds you build on the page.” Excerpted from “How Nature Journaling Can Help Your Writing,” by Maria Bengtson. Writer’s Digest, July/August 2024. Go outside with pen and notebook, get settled, observe, use sensory detail to enhance your writing. Bengtson suggests using these prompts I notice . . . I wonder . . . It reminds me of . . . “Your observations will create a reference that will help you transport your reader from their cozy chair to the world on your pages. Sketch a tree or flower or a critter you see. The work of creating a rough map, schematic, or stick-figure diagram forces you to think about how things are related to one another, and how the environment…
Do Not Be Afraid to Write What You Know
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Do Not Be Afraid to Write What You Know By Mashaw McGuinnis An acquaintance of mine texted after reading some of my novel-in-progress. “Don’t try so hard with stereotypical language and trailer park folks . . . I don’t buy it.” I wanted to disappear into the furniture, but instead I texted back a bumbling explanation that I wasn’t trying too hard, that the people in my stories are the people that I know, and I know them well. I always dread sharing my work because my middle-class friends never believe me when I say my characters, experiences, and vernacular come directly from my own dysfunctional, lower-class upbringing. By “lower class,” I mean more than low income or under-educated. I was raised by Dust Bowl migrant grandparents. Two generations back, only one had more than a…
At Least . . . Prompt #804
Before writing: Stretch. Get comfortable in your chair. Take some deep breaths in and release. When you are ready: Prompt #1 Making lists List 3 things you don’t want to write about. Just a list. List 3 things that happened a long time ago that you are still angry, resentful or hold a grudge about. Just a list. List 3 things that happened this past week that made you mad. Just a list. Prompt #2 Write: Choose one of those experiences. Write about it. Be as detailed and as explicit as you can. When did it happen? Day of week? Time of day? Where did it happen? Who was involved? What were you wearing? Remember to look up and breathe if the writing is difficult. Write for 15-20 minutes. When you are finished with this writing, shake out your hands. Breathe. Intro to Prompt #3 You can use writing…
It’s more than okay to ask for help.
Regrets . . . Prompt #803
Regrets: We all have them. There are four parts to this writing prompt. You can do all four at once. Or, take breaks. Write on one prompt at a time. Take care of yourself while writing: Look up. Walk around. Look out a window. Take some deep breaths. Part 1: Write about a regret you have. Something you did or something happened that you wish hadn’t happened. Write what happened as if you were a journalist. This happened. Then that happened. Write for 20 minutes. Part 2: Write about the emotions surrounding that experience. Remember: Take care while writing. Part 3. What are you resisting writing about? Take a deep breath. Capture whatever you can about what happened. Put your thoughts and feelings into words. Part 4. Let go. Notice what you are feeling. Allow your feelings to be. Deep breath in. Let it out. Release. Turn your attention to…