The Book Collection and Other Writing Prompts

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." ~Stephen King 

Where is “she” in prompt number one: a massive library, or in a room with just a few books? And who’s she talking to: an adult or a child? All the details are up to you if you tackle prompt #1, but you can also browse the other prompts. Try them all, if you’re feeling bibliophilic.

1. "How many books do you own?" she asked...

2. Describe three books that have influenced you greatly.

3. "I found your little black book," said...

4. Combine a book, a loaf of bread, and a cactus in a story or poem.

Pick a prompt and get to work! Leave a comment to tell me about the results.

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Photo courtesy of Tom Mascardo at flickr

Tattoos and Other Writing Prompts

Body art is the theme of today’s batch of writing prompts. We’ll start our potential reflections on personal ornamentation with a glimpse into that all-important moment of decision: who is that guy in the first prompt, and why does he want something put on his body permanently?

• He decided to get a tattoo because….
• Have you had anything pierced?
• “Your hair looks like….”
• What’s your favorite article of clothing? Where did you get it? 

Personally, I’d love to get a tattoo. Do you have one? 

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Photo courtesy of by Micael Tattoo Faccio at flickr

The Desert in Spring & Other Writing Prompts

The desert can be spectacular in spring... but what are those flowers hiding, there in the first prompt?

• The patch of yellow desert flowers covered...
• Have you ever had an unpleasant encounter with a cactus thorn(s)?
• The dirt road led into the Joshua Tree forest...
• What's your favorite thing about the Mojave Desert?

For bonus ideas: 
Are you familiar with the story of the Mojave Phone Booth?

Photo courtesy of Michael Dorausch at flickr.

New Writing Group at Derfelt Senior Center

A new writing group is starting up in Las Vegas at Derfelt Senior Center! The group is open to writers of all genres. Come prepared to write something and contribute to a writing-related discussion.

Details:
Group meets every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. 
Derfelt Senior Center
3343 W. Washington Ave.
(In Lorenzi Park)

If you have questions or need more info, just leave a comment below.

Introversion vs. Extroversion & Other Writing Prompts

Did you know “introvert” is not synonymous with “shy”? Generalizations and stereotypes abound about both extroverts and introverts. Today’s writing prompts will lead you to consider the differences between the party animals and wall flowers among us:

--Would you describe yourself as an extrovert or an introvert? Why?  

--Jennifer hated going to parties because….

--After Ben volunteered to deliver the eulogy, he remembered that….

--What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever done in a public place?

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On the subject of introverts, I recommend: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. (Yes, I’m introverted.)

Picture by Eddy Van 3000

5 Reasons to Write Every Day

“I made a startling discovery. Time spent writing = output of work. Amazing.” – Ann Pachett

One of the most common pieces of writing advice is simple:  Write every day.

Like many simple things, it’s not easy.

Life is full of distractions. Errands. Dinner. Chores. Pinterest.

I’d always regarded the advice to write every day as an ideal, something that only saintly writers did. I tried to corral my writing neatly, while still leaving time for all of the distractions I like so much. I wrote schedules and created plans for certain days of the week to be set aside for specific projects. Invariably, something came up in those time slots. I had to work late, or I had a sick pet, or unexpected visitors showed up.

I decided the least complicated solution was to write daily, and in the process I discovered five important reasons to write every day:

1.) Writing is mental exercise. Think of it as crunches for the brain. Whether you’re writing in a journal or working on a novel, the act of writing will make you use your noggin. This is a good thing.

2.) Small bits add up to big things. Books are written one word at a time, and if you write every day—even just a few words, if that’s all you can manage—you’re creating a word change jar. Over time, it adds up to something.

3.) You can take chances. Take this as an opportunity to test drive new styles, formats, genres. I vowed to write every day, but I placed no limits or constraints on my writing. I consider any number of words, any style acceptable. On days when I really don't want to write much, I can manage a poem.

4.) Writing every day keeps the passion alive. Have you ever been caught up in the passion of a new story? You can’t wait to find time to work on your project. Writing every day feeds the fire. Otherwise, lack of contact can cause you to fall out of love with a story (in much the way as you do with people).

5.) You get a great sense of accomplishment. When you strive to do something positive every day, whether it’s writing or running or doing actual crunches, you feel like you’ve done something good. I’m all for more things that feel good, aren’t you?

What about you? Do you write every day?

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Picture, "Miss A Writes a Song," courtesy of Denise Krebs/mrsdkrebs at flickr

Lola the Lost Lizard & Other Writing Prompts

“Not all those who wander are lost.”   --J. R. R. Tolkien

Have you ever been lost—literally or figuratively? Today’s writing prompts have two things in common: each has something to do with the word “lost,” and each prompt is a picture.

We’ll start with the story of Lola, the lost lizard:

 Photo by squant at flickr

Who lost this bear?

Photo by By Kevin Saff at flickr 

Emotionally lost can feel even worse than physically so, don’t you think?

Photo by By S.³ at flickr  

What happened when the man arrived at his vehicle… without these?

Photo by paul-simpson.org at flickr

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The opening quote comes from Tolkien's poem that begins with, “All that is gold does not glitter,” which could inspire several writing prompts itself. 

Climbing Mount Everest & Other Writing Prompts

What’s your favorite form of exercise?  This batch of writing prompts uses physical activity to inspire a mental workout. Get at the starting line and see where one of these takes you:

~Ellen decided to climb Mount Everest because….
~He watched Willy throw the golf clubs, one by one, into….
~“I think we should play tennis,” she said, inspiring him to reply….
~He told his wife the bowling league met on Thursdays, but the truth was….

What’s the most challenging physical thing you’ve ever done? Marathon, back packing, sky diving?

Photo courtesy of PeterGene

The Lessons of a Writer’s Journal

“To gain your own voice, you have to forget about having it heard.”
—Allen Ginsberg

For a long time, I journaled like my life depended on it. And when I say “a long time,” I mean over ten years. (Prior to my years of excessive journaling, I was merely a frequent journal writer. I’ve kept a diary/journal of some sort since I was nine.)

I never regarded journal writing as important. I thought of it as free therapy. Writing helped me sort through my thoughts. It gave me a place to vent without getting fired or arrested. Bad fiction and sappy poetry lived in my journals, right next to the written temper tantrums and to-do lists. It was word gumbo.

At some point, perhaps after the point at which I was buying my favorite style of journal in bulk, I started reading my old journals.

The first thing I noticed was that the sheer volume of writing practice had sharpened my voice and style. Practice may not make you perfect, but it will make you better.

The second thing I noticed was that I complained a lot. I had journal upon journal filled with ranting, anger, and a core set of constantly repeated gripes (let’s call them Standard Operating Gripes—just because SOG is such a great acronym for what I found). This discovery was enlightening and disturbing.

The last thing I discovered was that there was some good stuff in there. I read descriptions of taking my son to the beach when he was a toddler, of caring for my mother when she died, of lazy afternoons under the plum tree in my beloved old backyard—all of it unedited, honest, and deeply personal. It was like panning for gold. I sorted through the dirt of complaints, marveling when I uncovered the nuggets.

It took me days to read through my old journals, and at the end I realized I had a priceless resource. I had a record of my life, a clear picture of my improvements and failings (as both a writer and a person), and some inspired pieces of work.

Keeping a journal gives you a place for unrestrained, raw writing not intended for an audience. It's where you build the foundation for the article, or the novel, or the breakthrough that will come later.

What have you learned from journal writing?

For more great writing quotes, visit Writer's Digest.

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Photo courtesy of TheCreativePen

Gold Hunting & Other Writing Prompts

I was cruising around Outside’swebsite when several headlines caught my eye, inspiring me to post another installment of Prompts with Links. Certainly, one of these headlines (or articles) will inspire you to take an adventure of the written kind (a ten minute adventure, in which you write without stopping or crossing out or questioning the direction you’re going—judge your results after the buzzer goes off).

--Woman Twice Rescued Hunting for Gold 

--Super Mosquitoes to Invade Florida

--Man Says Bear Stopped Lion Attack

--Four Confirmed Dead in Two Days on Everest

Which prompt inspires you?

Photo courtesy of D'oh Boy (Mark Holloway)

The Wardrobe Malfunction & Other Writing Prompts

Have you ever had an article of clothing rip open, fall off, or otherwise fail you? I’ve had to find creative solutions to the unexpected failure of everything from shoes to bikini tops. Those embarrassing sartorial moments are the inspiration for this week’s writing prompts. Try on one of these prompts, and see if you can stitch together a story:

~Sam heard the fabric rip and realized....  

“~Give me your shirt,” she demanded, “because….”

~The elastic wasn’t strong enough to withstand….

~Have you ever used duct tape, paper clips, or staples for an emergency clothing repair?

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What's your most memorable wardrobe malfunction?

My picture of a pair of jeans that failed my hubby at a most inopportune time.

The Traveling Companions and Other Writing Prompts

Over dinner with friends last weekend, I wound up talking (too much) about vacations I’ve taken—in particular, some of my trips that went awry (to use that term loosely). Those trips inspired this week’s writing prompts. Grab a prompt and jet away, figuratively, into a story… 

• Hawaii was beautiful, but her traveling companions were….
• “I’m going to Boston with or without you,” he said, “so you can stay at home or….”
• I found the graveyard charming, until….
• The night before her flight home, she found out she was allergic to….

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What about you? Do you have a trip-gone-awry story?

Photo Info:

My photo of  Ka Lae/South Point (the southernmost point in the United States), on the Big Island of Hawaii, 1995.

You’re a Writer if You Write

“A writer is a person who produces and composes fictional or nonfictional writing or literary art such as novels, short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays, or essays—especially someone who writes professionally.” ~Wikipedia

Notice that Wikipedia’s definition of “writer” did not say, “A writer is… only someone who writes professionally.”

If you write, you’re a writer.

Don't put a bunch of conditions on being a writer. Own the label without restrictions.

You don’t have to have a book on the shelf (or the cyber-shelf) to be a writer. You don’t have to have your by-line in a big magazine (or even a little magazine). You don’t have to have your by-line appear publicly anywhere, actually, to be a writer. 

If you put words together in written form to tell a story, you’re a writer.

Have you heard that it only “counts” if you’re published? If you’re acclaimed? If you’re paid?

All of that is nice, but in the end, if you write, you’re a writer—no matter why you write, how you write, or where your words appear.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

What’s your definition of “writer”?

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Photo courtesy of Tnarik

Message in a Bottle & Other Writing Prompts

Here’s a twist on my usual writing prompts: actual headlines, linked to their respective articles. I’d bet that if the headline itself doesn’t spark a story (any kind of story, in any form, by the way), then something in the article will. Pick one and dig in for ten minutes to see what you can create (remember, no backspacing, no crossing out… just write).

~"Message in a bottle returns to writer's family after 76 years"

~"Poor sleep can lead to feeling unappreciated in your relationship"

~"Writing letters to complete strangers can make the world a better place"

~"Oldest marathon runner plans to retire, aged 101"

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Photo info: Copyright by Moyan Brenn

Writing Prompts: The How of Writing

Many writers have a routine that eases them into the waters of creativity. I recently changed my routine, which got me to thinking about how we write; our writing spaces and the things we do to call the muse.

With that idea in mind, here are four writing prompts:

1. Describe your perfect writing space.

2. The one thing I have to have when I write is…

3. First drafts: Longhand or computer? 

4. Have you had an interesting experience while writing in a public place (Starbucks, the library, etc.)?

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Photo courtesy of @sahxic < twitter - Sarah Scicluna

Have You Put in Your 10,000 Hours?

In Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcom Gladwell wrote about super-achievers. One of the things he examined was the role of sustained practice—the often cited 10,000 hours—in attaining world-class success.

How many hours a week do you spend writing?

If you wrote for 20 hours each week and kept that up for ten years, you’d have 10,000 hours of writing practice. If that sounds like a lot of time, consider that the average American spends more than 20 hours a week watching television.

How many hours of writing practice do you think you’ve accumulated over the past year?

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Photo courtesy of Indi Samarajiva

The Return of Writing Prompts

When my writing group was meeting on Wednesdays (I miss you all, by the way, wherever you are), I created writing prompts each week to give everyone a warm-up exercise.

~What’s your favorite food?

~At the top of the stairs…

The goal was to spark an idea that could be used in any way: poetry, fiction, memoir, or essay, and it didn't matter how tangential the piece might be to the actual subject or question in the prompt. Crossing out was strongly discouraged and no dictionaries were allowed. We took ten or fifteen minutes to craft our impromptu pieces. Sometimes we came up with gems, and sometimes we wrote clunkers.

~Describe your first car.

~Combine a bowl, a lamp, and a dog toy in a story/poem.

Writers are often dismissive about prompts since no writer has a shortage of ideas. I think of prompts as an exercise, or something akin to Suduko for people who like to write.

What do you think you could do with one of the prompts above? All were popular with my group.

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My first car was a Ford Granada that looked a lot like the one in the picture above. Photo courtesy of Dave_7.

Five Rules For Better Business Email

In today's business world, email is a vital form of communication that not everyone has mastered. The immediacy of being able to click "send" and transmit a message to dozens of people scattered around the globe has created a pressing need for people to communication clearly and concisely. But since when was clear and concise easy? Follow these five rules and you'll side-step pitfalls that can mangle your message and get you into trouble.

1.         Say "No" to humor.

This may be one of the toughest rules to follow, especially for those of us who secretly dream of being stand-up comedians. The problem is that in an email, funny doesn't always translate well. In fact, it rarely translates well. It often comes across as rude or inappropriate. Save the funny stuff for your personal communications.

2.         Avoid pronouns.

Cloudy pronoun antecedents can be a problem in any piece of writing, but in business writing, not being able to decipher who "they" are can pose a host of problems. In creative writing, we're trained to avoid repeating a name or word. In business writing, ditch the creativity and repeat yourself if necessary. We need to know who "he," "she," and "they" are.

3.         Think twice before you click "send."

We all know this person (or perhaps have been this person): Angry, upset, irate, and in possession of an email account and an Internet connection. Do not send emails when you are emotionally compromised. It's the equivalent of drunk dialing.

4.         Pay attention to your grammar.

Before email became a standard form of business communication, most people used it as a pre-texting, pre-Facebook form of casual communication. Capitalization, greetings, and good spelling were optional. Some people still have not gotten the message that email is all grown up now and needs big boy and girl grammar.

5.         Be concise.

Use bullet points, short sentences, and keep most emails to two paragraphs or less. People are overloaded with information. They want their business communication to be brief and easily digested. Deliver clear, concise emails, and your messages will get read.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lamont 

Taking a 9-5

Munch really captured how most writers feel about taking a day job.

Most freelance writers have worked hard to stay away from offices, mandated work hours, and employment requiring new clothing purchases. For many years, I was firmly in this group.

However, the need for shelter and food can sometimes interfere with your most dearly held ideas about employment. Perhaps you believe that if you do what you want, the money will follow, but while you're waiting for the money, it's nice to have electricity.

Six months ago, I joined the ranks of the 9-5. After ten years of working for myself, this has been a profound shock to the system.

Once upon a time, I did the one thing most writers long to do: I left a full-time job to be a freelance writer.  Now, I find myself in the opposite position, having to do the one thing most freelancers dread: spend eight hours a day on someone else's time.

I'm lucky because my new day job has a lot in common with the writing I do. I'm a travel writer and my job is related to the tradeshow industry. And the volume of daily email and other written tasks keeps me on my toes as a writer. Even after six months, though, I'm still working on my time management. That part is tough.

The hardest part? Keeping a love of writing alive. When you're busy, it's easy to feel like writing is yet one more task on a never-ending list.

Are you a freelancer who's recently had to take on a second job? How do you balance your time?

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Photo courtesy of Ian Burt; photo of the Edvard Munch original painting.

10 Lessons Learned In 10 Years As A Writer

Ten years ago, I left a stable, successful, stressful career to became a freelance writer. I wanted to do something meaningful. Something flexible. Something that didn't keep me awake at night worrying about employees and politics.  Looking back over the past decade, I'm not sure if I was crazy or visionary.

I'm still learning my current profession, but continuous learning goes along with being a writer. I've never met a writer who felt she knew it all, and I'd be mighty suspicious of anyone who claimed she did.

I have picked up a few things during my time behind the keyboard, however. Many of the lessons I've learned are more about self-employment than writing. Eliminating unnecessary adverbs is easy compared to bidding jobs properly.

Are you thinking about plunging into a writing career? Here are 10 things I've learned during my 10 years as a writer—things I wish I'd known:

1. Life goes on, no matter when your deadlines are. Death does not care if you have something due.
2. Publishing is not the only goal of writing. For the most important kinds of writing, it's not a goal at all.
3. Changing from a person who loves to write to a person who writes for a living is hard. Damn hard.
4. If you want to be a published writer with an income, learn to write well and fast. Then learn to write faster.
5. If you want to write for your family and friends, accept that they may not like what you write.
6. Everyone has a story. Getting published isn't about how great your story is. It's about how you tell it and if you can sell it.
7. The greater your need for uninterrupted silence, the greater the number of phone calls, arguing children, and sick animals.
8. Persistence and flexibility are both gifts and curses.
9. Don't expect anyone you know to understand that working at home actually involves working.
10. Technology is changing the way we write and read. Writers who ignore this are forgetting that we also had to move beyond carbon paper and mimeographs. 

What lessons have you learned as a writer?

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Photograph courtesy of James/Ellesmere FNC at Flickr