Category Archives: Weekly Writing Prompt

Weekly Writing Prompt — February 17, 2016 edition

February 17, 2016Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Saturday we gather for our monthly work shop: FEB. 20: How to analyze critique notes, tools to help with first pass changes, creating platform for book launch

We will meet at the North Bend Library meeting room at 10:30 a.m. until Noon.

Hope to see you there.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“When I was seven or eight years old, I began to read the science-fiction magazines that were brought by guests into my grandparents’ boarding house in Waukegan, Illinois. Those were the years when Hugo Gernsback was publishing ‘Amazing Stories,’ with vivid, appallingly imaginative cover paintings that fed my hungry imagination.”~Ray Bradbury

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — February 3, 2016 Edition

February 4, 2016Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

We are halfway through the winter duldrums and Spring is around the corner.

Last week at the DayTrippers’ Writing Cafe, one of our long-time members brought in work she created based on prompts I’ve given in this very weekly email. So, I thought I’d revisit some of those types of inspirational prompts this week.

Illness has been part of my life for the last week, unfortunately. So, I thought I’d ask you to write a scene, poem, create an entire novel if you’re so disposed, turning illness into a good thing. Turn something that is typically negative and find a way to make it a positive plot point in a story. It could be in the past, present, future, here in the U.S. or abroad, or in outer space. Heck, put it on TALUS STAR BASE 5 (I just made that up). Just write until you find The End.

Okay, go!

As always don’t forget about our weekly write-ins (Little Si Cafe tonight at 6 p.m.; The Black Dog Arts Cafe on Friday at 9:30 a.m.) And don’t let the winter colds and flus get you!

Next workshop is February 20 at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m. See our Website for details.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”~Joseph Campbell

—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — January 13, 2016 Edition

January 13, 2016Weekly Writing Promptcommitment, new year, workshopadmin

Writers:

This is the week to start that journey from completed manuscript to publishing. On Saturday (1/16) at 10:30 a.m., leaders in the group will be at the North Bend Library to provide a short presentation and help attendees move forward. SVW! is presenting this year-long workshop series, NaNoWriMo to Published, designed to help you take a roughly written finished manuscript through the editing, critique, revision edit, beta, final edit, ARC, polish and publish phases. There will be some general instruction and resources offered, but it will mostly be a hands-on support program tailored to help move each writer forward with focus on areas where they are seeking help and/or continued motivation.

Please think about what you’d like to work on for this year’s workshop and consider committing to this intensive program. If you’re not sure…come to the meeting on Jan 16th at the NB library Meeting Rm from 10:30–noon to find out more about it. http://www.kcls.org/calendar/detail.cfm?view=event&lib=29

For those still trying to find The End, your prompt is to set aside no less than 20 minutes today and write. It doesn’t matter if you write three words, thirty words, or 333 words. Just so that you write in those 20 minutes. Journal if there are no story ideas. Then do this 20 minutes again tomorrow. Keep at it. Every day this year and you’ll find “The End.” You might even find it more than once.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Commitment is an act, not a word.” ~Jean-Paul Sartre

—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt: January 6, 2015 Edition

January 6, 2016Weekly Writing Prompt2016, goals, writingadmin

Happy New Year Writers!

Today’s prompt is the traditional “What are your writing goals for the year.”

Well?

What are they?

I finally have some exciting ones. I plan to pitch WHEN A RAVEN PECKS OUT YOUR NORMAL to other agents, since the first go-round fell flat (that happens and no need to get discouraged). I’m revising STONE EYES WAR. Also, this summer, I’ll be self-publishing my first Larch Falls Book: WILDERNESS RIM.

Busy! But exciting! And oh, so worth it.

I plan to keep blogging and doing book reviews (hopefully more than last year).

And if all goes well, I’ll return to teaching.

How about you? What do you want to do?

Get out the laptop or journal and write it down. Set some dates in pencil at least. If you’re bold, they’ll be in Pen.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — November 11, 2015 Edition

November 11, 2015Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Many of you are writing furiously this month. Today’s message is not addressed to you. It’s addressed to the rest of us still wrestling with making writing a priority in our life or cycling down at the moment.

I want to encourage all of you to just stop, drop, and write. Go to a writers cafe, get the motivation, inspiration, and community you need to launch yourself to the next level. With NaNoWriMo there’s actually more cafes available than our normal two a week.

Just this week you can go here:

11/11 – Little Si Cafe (formerly Jay Berrys) in North Bend. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

11/12 – PNWA Writer’s Cottage in Issaquah, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (317 NW Gilman Blvd #8, Issaquah, WA 98027)

11/13 – The Black Dog Cafe in Snoqualmie, 9:30 a.m. to Noon

11/13 – Writing on the Road — Fall City Roadhouse from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

11/14 – The Morning After Breakfast of Champions — Fall City Roadhouse from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

11/14 -Slide In Write In – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – North Bend Library, North Bend

11/15 – Slow Dance Write In – SnoValley Coffee Company, Snoqualmie Ridge, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

11/16 – Midday Moves — Pioneer Coffee Company, North Bend, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

11/17 – Boogie Nights Write In – Fall City Library, Fall City, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

If you can’t make even one of these, you may need to step back and address whether your goal of writing life priority is true and honest in you.

Alright, time for your moment of Writing Zen:

“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”~E. B. White

—

—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt: October 28, 2015 Edition

October 28, 2015Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers, Authors, and Penmonkeys:

This is the pre-NaNoWriMo week. What is that, you ask? National Novel Writing Month.

Our SnoValley Writes! folks lead the charge in our Snoqualmie Valley region, with two of our long-time members taking the reigns of municipal Liaison — Sheri Kennedy and Takako Wright.

Your prompt this week is to 1) decide if you’re doing NaNo, and 2) Plan to attend a kick-off event: (If you’re undecided, attending one of these events, just may seal the deal for you!)

Two kick offs this year:

First Words Late Night Kick-off at Pioneer Coffee NB October 31st from 10:30pm -12:30am

Gather up your writing gear and come out to meet your ML’s and fellow Rhinos. Pioneer’s doing a late night just for us! We’ll write First Words together when the clock strikes 12. Don’t miss a single second!

Time Warp Brunch Kick-off at Fall City Roadhouse November 1st, 11am-1pm

Kick-offs are so much fun, let’s do it again! Let’s meet up with those wise guys, the early-to-bed-ers, & greet your ML’s & Rhino buddies. Word count progress welcome!

Writing Zen time:

“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until its done. It’s that easy, and that hard.” ~Neil Gaiman

—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 21, 2015 Edition

October 21, 2015Announcement, Weekly Writing Promptbook launch, sheri J. Kennedy, Sno Valley Writes!admin

Folks:

There’s a bit of a literary walk today, which happened purely by happenstance, but we should just take advantage of it. Your prompt is to do all you can to support it.

Beginning at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Coffee in North Bend, our long-time fellow author and Sno Valley Writes! Board Member, Sheri J. Kennedy, is releasing her second book, LIKENESS! There will be books, cake, and more!

Please be there.

Here’s more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1665551160391281/

After that, plan to head to Boxley’s to support our other member, Gary Schwartz for his middle-grade book launch.

More details here: http://snoqualmievalley.macaronikid.com/calendar/event/north-bend-middle-grade-book-launch-party/2015-10-21/c4429104/

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.” ~Pete Carroll

—

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 7, 2015

October 7, 2015Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Get out your calendars. And put this on the calendar:

Also, are you thinking about NaNoWriMo but not sure what to write? Or are you intimidated to try it for the first time but want to know more? Have you written it before and can’t wait for it to start? Come to SnoValley Writes! Intro to NaNoWriMo workshop meeting at North Bend Library on October 17th (Saturday) from 10:30-noon. Meet your ML’s (municipal liaisons) for the Snoqualmie Valley Region, get some tips on how to get started and a sneak peak at this year’s event-filled calendar.
This is not the official Kick-off…that will be a First Words Party at Pioneer Coffee on Halloween starting at 10:30ish PM and culminating in starting our new novels at midnight! Put it on your calendar now!

That’s your prompt. Be there on October 17th. You get a gold star if you fit in some writing cafes between now and then.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“There is never just one thing that leads to success for anyone. I feel it always a combination of passion, dedication, hard work, and being in the right place at the right time.”~Lauren Conrad

—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — September 30, 2015 edition

September 30, 2015Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Fall is most certainly here, so says the crunch of leaves as I did my morning outdoor chores. I hope you all are learning that the cooler weather is some prime writing time.

But, it’s also time to do inventory. What stories do you have? What manuscript is ready to see the light of day? Don’t know? Time to know. Do an inventory. If you don’t have any, get cracking, get writing. Finish something. Then… Send things out. Try a goal of at least one thing a month. If that’s too easy, try once a week. But send it out. Send, send it out. (Are you singing yet? ::send it out::) Be brave. Do it.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” ― Erma Bombeck

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—
What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Sept. 23, 2015 Edition

September 23, 2015Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Greetings fellow authors and friends:

Just a quick update today, as I’m off to the dental specialist here pretty quick (what is it with writers and weird dental ailments?).

Those of you who attended Saturday’s workshop, I hope you are doing the prep and excellent advice provided by Tara Brouwer in getting ready for National Novel Writing Month. Some of us are in a whirlwind of trying to finish a book so we can start the next one. For those that unfortunately missed it, you might want to check out the many books on noveling in 30 days.

At any rate, here’s an exercise: your character is stuck in a dental chair, in a lot of pain. They feel like they are going to throw up, but there’s a seemingly crazed dentist working in their mouth. Describe it all. What the character sees, feels, tastes, hears, smells, and wants to do, does. Why is the dentist working furiously? Is this some villainous situation or is there a life at stake? Or is he just backed up on patients? What? Why? Make the characters do things that create new situations. It sounds elementary, but sometimes we have to go back to the basics to make sure our writing is full of action and both external and internal growth for our characters. It’s the decisions they make that create action, both directly and indirectly (make sure there’s a good balance of that), for which creates the story arc and the platform for character development.

And now your Moment of Writing Zen:

“Each of us has about 40 chances to accomplish our goals in life. I learned this first through agriculture, because all farmers can expect to have about 40 growing seasons, giving them just 40 chances to improve on every harvest.”~Howard Graham Buffett

Blessed Mabon, Beautiful Yom Kippur, and Autumnal Equinox!

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron