Random words (plucked from a poem) as a writing prompt. Tell a story, truth or not, with these words: heavy linger delicate footprints flat maroon foam hard perfume Or use the photo as a writing prompt. Set your timer for 15-20 minutes. Write. Polish. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog. Photo by Karen Bobier
The Bitter Oleander is ready for your submission.
The Bitter Oleander Press: Home of Fine Poetry Collections and The Bitter Oleander: A Journal of Contemporary International Poetry & Short Fiction The Bitter Oleander Press publishes works that contain imagery revealing a “world we thought we knew but were mistaken.” We believe in bringing our readers and writers face to face with each other, with the reality of our uncommon world, like the one that exists in grape seeds blown by hurricanes into hidden corners doors form when closed. The Bitter Oleander prefers “poetry devoid of clichés and predictable twists of well-worn or entrenched truths. We prefer a heightened music driven by a profound linguistic rhythm.” “Because we are open to submissions from all cultures, people and languages, we regard their investment of time spent submitting and creating to be very critical. We pride ourselves on answering every request, every order, every submission, every letter of gratitude and annoyance…
First Lines Make Great Prompts . . . Prompt #243
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
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!