Tag Archives: Writers Resources

500 Club (2/23)

Posted on by
2

Happy Thursday! It’s time for the 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, here’s a quick recap of the rules.

  1. Choose one of the prompts below.
  2. On your blog, write a 500-word story or scene based on the prompt.
  3. Post a teaser to your story in the comments below with a link to where we can read the rest.

Easy, right?

Here are today’s prompts:

1. Create a character who is the opposite of you and write a scene from his or her point of view. Be sincere. Honest. Don’t judge your character.

…or…

2. Write a flash fiction story with the opening: “The day the sun went dark…”

Happy writing!

500 Club (1/19)

Posted on by
2

Happy Thursday, y’all! It’s time to write some flash with the 500 Club!

How do you play? Here’s the rules.

  1. Choose one of the prompts below. (or get crazy and do both)
  2. On your blog, write a 500-word story or scene based on the prompt.
  3. Post the first line or two of your story in the comments below with a link to the rest.

Here are today’s prompts:

1. Alien Invasion. They’re here, and they’re not what you would think. Twins? Cats? Cars? Only our narrator knows the truth (or does (s)he)?

…or…

2. Go pull one of your favorite books off the shelf. Flip around and blindly pluck out five lines at random. Write a flash fiction inspired by at least one of the lines.

Here are my lines, chosen at random from The Graveyard Book

Bod had never walked anywhere as a sightseer before.

He was going to have to fall straight down, he decided, onto the steps, and he would just hope that the ghouls wouldn’t notice that he was making a break for it in their desperation to be home and safe.

Mrs. Owens said simply, “I cannot. My bones are here. And so are Owen’s. I’m never leaving.”

“I wanted to go to Acadia Avenue.”

“First we put you somewhere safe. Then we deal with them.”

 

Happy writing!

500 Club (1/12)

Posted on by
7

It’s Thursday! You know what that means. It’s time for the 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, here’s a quick recap of the rules.

  1. Choose one of the prompts below.
  2. On your blog, write a 500-word story or scene based on the prompt.
  3. Post a teaser to your story in the comments below with a link to where we can read the rest.

Easy, right?

Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a scene where an outsider is revealed to be an insider.

…or…

2. Write the scene the comes after the character receives the life-changing news.

Happy writing!

500 Club (12/22)

Posted on by
2

Most of you are probably running around doing holiday things, but maybe there are some out there who are taking a little time today to write. Well, here are some 500 Club writing prompts to help you out. Our little gift to you.

Before we begin, here’s a recap of how to drive this snowmobile:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Good. Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a story about the shortest day of the year.

…OR…

2. Describe a winter scene without using the words winter, cold, snow, ice or frozen.

Remember, no pressure. This is for fun.

Happy writing. And Happy Holidays!

500 Club (12/1)

Posted on by
2

Happy Thursday! Happy December! Are you ready to play the 500 Club, holiday-style? Let’s get this season started.

But quick—before we begin—here’s a recap of the rules:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Good. Here are today’s December-inspired prompts:

1. Write a story that somehow incorporates shopping on Black Friday.

…OR…

2. Write a story about a gift gone wrong.

Remember, no pressure. Writing should be fun.

Happy writing!

Free Gifts To Give Your Writer This Christmas

Posted on by
1

Black Friday’s history. Cyber Monday’s deals ended last night at midnight. You’re broke. Spent all your dosh on custom-designed Snuggies for everyone in your extended family. 40% off was too good a deal to pass. And Great-Granny Myrtle’s such a huge Bieber fan.

But…look. Over there. To the corner where your writer slaves away, fingers tapping away at the keyboard, head full of voices and heart full of dreams.

What can you get your writer (whether brother, sister, mother, father, lover, partner, friend) for Christmas when you’ve got little to no money?

1. Time

Not the magazine, though he/she might appreciate that as well. No, what every writer needs is time. Time to write, to stare out the window, to doodle and daydream. Give your writer uninterrupted time and he or she just might break out in tears of joy. Seriously. It’s that big a deal.

2. Eyes

I don’t mean eyes in, say, a bucket or the egg drawer of the fridge. I mean reading his or her work. Writers may be bold on the page, but often, they’re quite timid when it comes to having others read what’s written there. Having a first reader he or she can trust is HUGE. For many writers, it’s the first step to sending out work into the world. Even if you don’t like what you read, the mere fact you’ve read it will be massive to your writer. Massive.

3. Encouragement

Even though it’s free, this one’s got the most bang for its buck. Writing can be a lonely, disheartening and weary journey. Lots of time working in solitude, carrying on in the face of rejection. Many writers find themselves asking if this gig is worth it. What every writer needs now and again is a booster shot of encouragement. A kind word or nod to help him or her keep going. A simple acknowledgement that you see his or her effort. A little validation goes a long, long way.

Try these gifts out this Christmas. Give your writer your time, your eyes and your encouragement, and watch what happens. Listen to the frenzied typing from the corner crescendo. These gifts will swell your writer’s heart and set a fire under his or her seat. You could even end up with your name in a book dedication. And that’s better than a Snuggie any day. Even with Bieber on it.

Confessional Classic: That Is The Question

Posted on by
Reply

This week we’re reaching back into the archives. I originally wrote this post in January of last year. Coming up on January of a new year, I find it’s still true. I hope you do as well. Wishing our American readers a wonderful Thanksgiving!

That Is The Question

This week our subject is kick starting your writing. I planned to write about my favorite writing prompt and talk about how I get my stories off the ground. But I just read a chapter from Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod — chapter 13, “If you accept the pain, it can’t hurt you” — and it kind of hit me like a two-by-four.

Here’s the gist:

Any creative endeavor is going to require you making necessary sacrifices. Making sacrifices is painful. If you succeed in your creative endeavor, the sacrifices were worth it. If you don’t succeed, you’ve still gained valuable experience from trying.

But not trying? Not trying brings a pain worse than failure.

MacLeod suggests it’s best to undertake any creative endeavor with the idea you won’t receive any recognition for your work, and that it won’t be worth the time or effort or sacrifice. If you take on a project with this mindset, you strip away any frivolous or secondary motivations (e.g., money, fame, movie options, awards), and you’re left face-to-face with a simple question.

“Do you make this damn thing exist or not?”

When I read that question, I set the book down and took a mini existential trip. I analyzed my motives. Why am I a writer? Why do I sacrifice time with my family and friends to write? What if my work amounts to nothing? Do I still sit my butt in the chair? Do I still stare at that blinking cursor and wait for my characters to whisper in my ear?

Is holding a completed manuscript in my hands worth the effort, even if I’m the only person who ever reads it or even know it exists?

MacLeod then says, “Once  you can answer that honestly for yourself, the rest is easy.”

He’s right. After I thought about my answer, I felt liberated. All that other stuff fell by the wayside and it was just me and my story. It was simple. And I couldn’t wait to get back to work.

I guess that’s one way to kickstart your writing. Or, I guess depending on your answer, kill it completely.

500 Club (11/10)

Posted on by
2

It’s Thursday! Ready to play the 500 Club?

Before we begin, here’s a recap of the rules:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Good. Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a story in which one character is selling something to one or more other characters. Use your imagination.

…OR…

2. Write a scene in which two characters carry on a conversation but neither understands what the other is truly saying. Subtext and subtlety are key.

Remember, no pressure. This is for fun.

Happy writing!

The 500 Club (10/20)

Posted on by
Reply

Welcome to Thursday. Welcome to The 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, a quick recap of how to play:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Now for the prompts.

1.  Keeping in mind that much of good storytelling is based on reader expectation and surprise, write a story about a perfect day.

-OR-

2. Keeping in mind that much of good storytelling is based on reader expectation and surprise, write a story about a disastrous day.

Remember, no pressure. Just have fun writing.

500 Club (9/29)

Posted on by
Reply

It’s Thursday! You know what that means, don’t you?

This week’s edition of The 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, a quick recap of how to ride this bicycle:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Easy! You got this. Now for the prompts.

Today’s prompts are brought to you by the four elements.

1.  Write a story involving water and fire. You can interpret these elements literally, figuratively, metaphorically, anthropomorphically… However you choose to use the elements, you must use specific, telling details.

-OR-

2. Write a story involving air and earth. You can interpret these elements literally, figuratively, metaphorically, anthropomorphically… However you choose to use the elements, you must use specific, telling details.

Remember, no pressure. Just have fun indulging your wordsmitheryness.