The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

Category: Prompts

  • 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

    Pen, gold background

     

    Whatever methods you use . . . Just Write!

  • What’s under your bed? Prompt #202

    frog2-150x150Today’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?

  • Hope . . . Prompt #201

    HopeToday’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.

  • 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 SalisburyRon 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?

    Charlie BrownIf 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?

     

     

  • Spooktacular or . . . ??? Prompt #199

    Halloween blog hop

    Smallest ghostJoin 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 ???

    Halloween GhostYou 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.

     

     

  • Scary movie . . . Prompt #198

    Count DraculaToday’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!

  • 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.

    I'm sorry red heartPrompt: Write a note of apology.

     

     

  • Something borrowed or loaned. Prompt #196

    Write about something you have borrowed or loaned.

                        bicycle wooden mallet                        Scrabble Dictionary

    Photos of bicycle and mallet by Jeff Cullen. (Click on Jeff Cullen to see his Fotolio photos)

  • Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner. Prompt #195

    AwardWriting Prompt: Tell about an award or a prize you won.

    You can write about what really happened, or write as if your fictional character won a prize.