Tag Archives: writing exercises

500 Club (12/1)

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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!

500 Club (11/10)

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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)

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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)

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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.

500 Club (9/8)

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Hello, and welcome to today’s episode of The 500 Club!

Before we begin the literary somersaults, a quick recap of the How To’s:

  1. Write a 500-word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser to your story and a link to the rest in the comments below.
  4. Pat yourself on the back for your outstanding effort and literary acrobatics.

Note: If you don’t have a blog, you can still play along! Just paste your 500 words into the handy little widget over there in the right column and send it to us.

Ready for today’s prompts?

1. Things were not as they seemed at the Starbucks that morning.

or

2. Begin and end your story with the sentence, “The only thing [CHARACTER] knew for sure was [FILL IN THE BLANK]“.

Have fun!

500 Club (8/18)

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It’s Thursday! Time for another brain-cramping round of the 500 Club!

Before we get to the cramping of our brains, a quick recap of how this puppy runs:

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

OR… If you don’t have a blog, paste your entire story in the brilliant little widget over there on the sidebar and send it to us.

Clear as mud puppies? Ready to cramp your brain? Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a scene in a style/genre that is the opposite of what you typically read and/or write. Don’t write satire, but rather take the scene seriously. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.

…or…

2. Write a satire of the style/genre you typically read and/or write. Hone in on those tropes that typify your genre. Being aware of them will help you avoid cliché when you get back to your writing projects. Remember: just because you’re writing satire for this exercise doesn’t mean you should write sloppy. Take pride in your work.

Have fun!

500 Club (8/4)

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It’s Thursday! Time to write with the 500 Club!

Don’t know how to play? Here here are the rules:

  1. Write 500 words based on one of the prompts, or get crazy and find a way to incorporate both prompts.
  2. Post your newly written flash to your blog.
  3. Paste the opening line(s) of your story in the comments section below, and link back to your blog so we can read the rest. Boom!

If you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your flash in the boxamajigger over there on the right.

So, *dusts hands*…. prompts away!

1. The Do-over. Through magic or experimental science, your character gets a chance to rewrite a single hour of his/her life. What does he/she do-over? Why? Is the result what he/she hoped for?

…or…

2. Strangelove. Write about an unusual pairing. A boy and his armadillo. A girl and her teacup. A space ship and her planet.

Have Fun and Happy Writing!

500 Club (7/28)

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It’s Thursday! Time to play the 500 Club!

Before we begin, a quick recap of the rules:

  1. Write a 500 word story based on one of the prompts.
  2. Post the story to your blog.
  3. In the comments, paste a teaser to your story and a link where we can read the rest.

Or….If you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your entire story in the handy widgetybob over there on the right. See it? Good.
All set? Here we go. Prompts:

1. Write a scene involving a change of seasons, either literal or figurative. Go for subtlety. Say less but mean more.

…or…

2. Write a scene between two characters, and at a pivotal moment, add a third. Explore how the third character changes the dynamic of the scene. Don’t have your characters do or say the obvious. Go for subtlety, instead.

Have fun!

500 Club (6/30)

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

Before we get to today’s prompts, a quick recap of the How To’s.

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

If you don’t have a blog, you can still play along. Just copy and paste your entry into our widget over in the right column and send it to us.

Ready for the prompts? Here we go:

1. Write a scene involving the color blue. This can mean the literal color blue, a blue emotion, blue language or an object or symbolism involving the color blue. Be creative. Don’t write the obvious or the cliché.

Or…

2. Write a scene involving the color green. This can mean the literal color green, a green emotion, green ideology, or an object or symbolism involving the color green. Be creative. Don’t write the obvious or the cliché.

Remember, this is for fun and to get the words and ideas flowing. Relax and have fun!

500 Club (6/23)

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Time to bang the Thursday drum! Hey, it’s the 500 Club!

Rules.

Write 500 words in response to one (OR BOTH) of the prompts below.
Post your brand new shiny flash fiction on your blog.
Paste the opening lines in the comments below, and link back to where we can read the rest of your story.

If you don’t have a blog but still want to play along, paste the 500 words into the flibbertygibbet over there in the right-hand column. —>

Prompts:

Today’s prompts are inspired by Life in a Medieval City by Joseph and Frances Gies, which is chock full of fascinating stuff and is a must for any aspiring fantasist.

1. I feel fine. I think I’ll go for a walk.

In 1250 A.D., people at death’s door would give away all their money to receive extreme unction, better known today as Last Rites. Should a person recover after receiving his Last Rites, “he must fast perpetually, go barefoot, and never again have intercourse with his wife.” Write a story about a person who has received his Last Rites. Set it in any time you please, no need to stay medieval.

2. Trust Your Doctor.

A medieval medical text advises doctors, “If you unfortunately visit a patient and find him dead, and they ask you why you came, say you knew he would die that night, but want to know at what hour he died.” Write a story about a person with the precognitive ability to know the hour of a loved one’s death. Who is the doomed person? Can the doctor arrive in time to save them?