Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 20, 2013 Edition

November 20, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Dear Writers:

I feel slightly hypocritical about prompting you to write when I’m apparently in my own little slump. Every time I sit down to write it just doesn’t want to seem to come out. It happens. The creative cycle is a cruel beast during its natural course. I’m in the “thinking” phase, where I have to think so deeply about what I’m writing that it somewhat paralyzes me. Don’t misunderstand, I’m writing. Just more slowly than what is normal for me. But the important part is that I AM writing. Even if it’s only 500 words here or 1,000 words here (unlike my normal 2k a day I prefer to do — or 4 solid hours of editing).

My point in sharing my current state is to let you know it happens, and you need to just keep plugging along.

However, if you’re on deadline for a project (ala NaNoWriMo), you can’t necessarily let the creative cycle take it’s dear sweet time. You may have to give it a nice swift boot and kick it along to the next “write like crazy” phase.

This is where playing games with yourself (plot bunny jars anyone?) help.

Here’s a little game to help you perhaps move things along:

Find a board game. Can be any board game. Scrabble is a great one. But it can be Sorry, Clue, Connect Four, Checkers, or whatever. Do not use video game. You want the tactile experience to make it more real for you.Set up the game and either a) play with other people, or b) play by yourself, but pretend to be your characters playing it.

Yes, I know this sounds bizarre. Humor me for a moment. Whatever scenario you’re able to create — by yourself or with others — make notes on how people play (it can just be a mental note, but having a notebook to capture things you might forget later is strongly encouraged). If you’re doing this alone to play out character traits, you certainly want your notebook. How do your characters play? Does your protagonist maybe cheat to win? Ah-Ha! You found a flaw in your hero! Does your antagonist follow the rules because he battles with honor? Ah-Ha! Your antagonist does have some redeeming qualities.

Regardless, you’re creative types, you get the idea. It’s a nice respite from when you’re struggling to get the words down.

Please do email me back or comment on our blog post on our website if you did this and how it worked out.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“ It is not abstinence from pleasures that is best, but mastery over them without being worsted. ”

— Aristippus

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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 — Nov. 13, 2013 Edition

November 13, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Our dateline is full of the magic number of 13 today.

So our prompt is going to take about 13 minutes. Set a timer so you don’t do longer than that — otherwise you’ll get lost. Trust me.

This exercise should also help you get through your mushy middle and make you fall back in love with your Work In Progress.

I want you to find a quiet place (lock yourself in the bathroom if you have to). Have a notebook and pen handy for immediately following.

Put on calming, white-noise kind of music, if you like (totally optional).

Get comfortable (you can sit, lie down, recline, whatever).

Close your eyes.

Start to think about your protagonist. Put your mind into getting into their head. A quick way to do that is imagining yourself putting on their shoes (boots, high heels, sneakers, whatever). Make a mental note about how they tie, strap, or zip on the shoes. What are they thinking about as they are putting on their shoes. Do they put on socks or hose first? Barefoot? do they put on both socks first and then shoes or do they put on one stocking and then a shoe before heading to the other. Where are they walking once they put on the shoe. What’s their mission for the day? Do they have to discover something? Do they have to hide something? Do they need to reveal something? Do they have to go and talk to someone, or stop them from doing something?

Spend the timer’s 13 minutes being your character. What do they feel? Are they scared? Determined? Confused? What?

When the timer dings (or buzzes or squawks or hoots), write down everything you experienced as fast as you can. Don’t spend more than another 13 minutes doing this. Feel free to set the timer again.

Now get back to work on your WIP.

Don’t forget, writer’s cafe tonight at Sawdust Coffee house at the North Bend Outlet Mall.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.” ~Horace Mann
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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 — Nov. 8, 2013 Edition

November 8, 2013Weekly Writing Promptblocked creative, support the arts, unblockingadmin

Writers:

First off, my apologies for the delay. I’ve had a couple of days this week that are now in my top ten of very terrible no-good days.

However, I was inspired today by this thought:

If you are a blocked creative, the surest way to becoming unblocked is by supporting other creatives; If you are blocked, you may want to examine if you’re being unsupportive, or worse — oppressing other creatives. Are you lifting up your fellow artists? Or are you somehow keeping them down? Handing them disapproval as opposed to lifting them up.

I’m not meaning that we let work that needs improvement out into the world, but the way we provide critique and feedback is essential to not only our fellow artists but in unblocking ourselves.

Therefore, the prompt this week is to examine if you’re lifting other creatives or are you pushing them down. Don’t know how to lift up fellow artists? Here’s some ideas: write a review, purchase a piece of art, seek out an author-published writer and purchase their work and write a review. You can also make a donation to a museum or other group that focuses and helps your fellow creatives. You could even just read another writer’s blog and comment on it. Encouraging comments can make an artist’s day.

I would like to hear back from folks on what they did to support…and what happened? Did you find yourself becoming unblocked? Did you find your creativity increasing?

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people. When the creative impulse cannot flourish, when it cannot freely select its methods and objects, when it is deprived of spontaneity, then society severs.” ~John F. Kennedy.

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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 — Oct. 30, 2013 Edition

October 30, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Zero Hour is approaching for those who are doing NaNoWriMo. For those not doing it, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep writing. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have goals. It doesn’t mean you can’t still keep coming to write-ins, and getting caught up in all the motivation. In fact, I say, join us anyways. Keep writing, keep working on your goals, keep coming to write-ins. This month our cafes tend to be more “heads down writing” and that’s a good thing, so you can get your articles done, your mind mapping done, your own personal, non-nano project done. So please plan to join us. Kick off is at Boxley’s mezzanine room (up the stairs from the pub side), beginning at 7 p.m. Hope to see you there. Bring your rubber duckies and rhinos.

In the mean time, I want you to think about characters. Really, really think about them.

What does your protagonist want that they can’t have? Why does she make the silly choices that she does that creates the conflict for the story? Does he have mommy issues? Does she have daddy issues? Are they afraid of commitment. Today’s exercise is to write five vignettes for either characters for your current project (including NaNo), or for one you’re about to do. Pretend you’re writing an extended obituary for the character. Keep in mind the phrase, “What motivated them throughout their life?” Was is service? Was it glory & fame? Was it money? Don’t know how an obituary is written? Check out your local newspaper, or google fu “extended obituary.” There’s some pretty epic ones out there. Now do it for your characters.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

P.S. I finished SECOND THOUGHT’s massive re-write last night. 64,000 words. 260 pages. Now for it to pass the beta readers during November, be polished in December, and sent for query in January. Woohoo! What project did you finish?

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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 — Oct. 23, 2013 Edition

October 24, 2013Weekly Writing Promptfinishing, NaNoWriMo, tis the seasonadmin

Sorry for the delay in delivery. It helps if you push “send.” 🙂

Writers:

I can feel the creative energy building all around us. It’s that time of year where the days grow dark so fast, we’re forced back into our writing caves and art studios. We have to create. We snuggle with books by the fire, and let our creative muses dance through our lives unfettered. Embrace the season. Create.

It has been a very busy week for SnoValley Writes! members. A workshop on Monday; a workshop on Tuesday; two writing cafes. Some of us are headed to Seattle this evening for the Lit Crawl. And tomorrow’s writing cafe right on the heels. If you’ve been unable to do these things — be sure you’re signing up for National Novel Writing Month. The kick off is Nov. 1. at Boxley’s in North Bend for the entire Snoqualmie Region. Sign up at nanowrimo.org and you’ll get even more support to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Feel free to friend me there, I’m HeroProtagonist (ask me during a cafe how that name came to be….).

Today’s writing exercise is about finishing. For those that know my creation schedule more intimately, they know that I’m knocking on the door of finishing a weird urban fantasy novel that began — as a project during NaNoWriMo — back in 2009. I need to finish it this weekend, so I have a few days to prep for NaNoWriMo where I’m going to tackle my very first creative non-fiction piece. Having some “back up” energy, knowing that there are other folks out there “finishing” projects, too

You need to find a project — either a story that’s done that needs a home, a poem that needs revision, an outline that needs doing, a kitchen drawer that needs organizing, the special trash dump that needs doing, or even a craft or piece of visual art you need to get complete. It may be anything you’ve been avoiding that needs to get “DONE.” Make a plan to get it done before next Wednesday.

I’d love to know (either email me or comment on our blog, or post to our facebook) what you accomplished. Inspire me and the rest of the group with your stories of getting something done.

Go now. Get it done!

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Do not plan for ventures before finishing what’s at hand.” ~Euripides

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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 — Oct. 16, 2013 Edition

October 16, 2013Weekly Writing PromptNaNoWriMo, outlines, weekly writing prompt, writing workshopadmin

Writers!

Only two weeks left until a big chunk of you decide to write away November and participate in National Novel Writing Month! Don’t know what NaNoWriMo is about? Check out their website.

For the rest that have already signed up, signed on, and been putting away freezer meals for the frantic days of making up work counts, or been creating play lists to get motivated or to write by, today’s exercise is for you. If you have signed up, be sure to home with Snoqualmie Valley region so you get all the goodness from all our fellow writers in the valley. SVW! board members, and long-time NaNo-heads and now regional Municipal Liaisons, Sheri J. Kennedy (Quinnleeeee) & Takako Wright (Tam Borgia), along with myself (aka heroprotagonist), and your other Wrimos will help you get through the month and have something successful to look back on. I personally can tell you I’ve learned something about my writing process each year I’ve done it (going on 8 now). I’m never sorry I did it. Please join us!

On Tuesday, Oct. 22 we’ll be doing more exercises on outlining. But, this is a pre-exercise, if you will.

Set aside 30 minutes for this exercise. Using a timer is encouraged, but not necessary. At the end of it you’ll have a rough outline for your book.

Each one of these steps will last about 3.5 minutes. That leaves you with a little extra on one or two steps, but not much more. The goal is to get what’s in your head out quickly. Don’t mess with it yet. That comes later. Just get it down and go forward to the next step. Stop that inner editor. Just write it down.

Step 1: Brainstorm: What do you want to write about. Concentrate on the first thing that pops into your head. Is it similar to anything else you’ve read by another author? If so, spin it so it’s different — the characters have some sort of different perspective (female vs. male, young vs. old, etc.). Do this until you have at least three ideas down.

Step 2: Decide which of the ideas above you like best. Then write down as many details as possible about the idea you decided on. What happens in Act I, II, III, & IV. Don’t know what that is? Look up what a story arc is. Stop your outlining timer is necessary.

Step 3: Once you have the rough story arc for your story, write down as much as possible that you want to include about the plot. Details that pop out of your brain, like your protagonist always carries a 9mm; or that your protagonist is a pacifist. Type or write fast.

Step 4: Develop your characters. Who’s your protagonist? Who’s the antagonist (bad guy)? What’s the major conflict? What does your protagonist want that they can’t have? How does the antagonist keep it from the protagonist? Are there any other external or internal factors that keep the protagonist from getting what they want? (Many of those questions may have been answered in step 3, but if you missed something, cover it in this step.) Write a little bio on each of your characters, including a physical description of them, potential names (unless you have something definitely scream out from your muse), background, etc.

Step 5: Label your paper (or screen) at least 1-10. Think of each number as a chapter and decide what happens in each chapter to the characters. Don’t spend more than three sentences in each chapter. Sentence 1: Protagonist does this. Sentence 2: Antagonist does this. 3. Those actions create this. Focus on the important events and write them down. You are not actually writing the chapter yet. Just jotting down key sentences and the main point of the chapter (scene, if you will).

Step 6: Take a minute or two and read over what you have.

Step 7: Add any more details that you want to this straw-man outline, but only those that come to you immediately as you reviewed it, until the timer runs out.

At the end of this you’ll have a rough idea on what you want to write and where it’s going.

Then come to our workshop on Oct. 22nd at the North Bend Library at 6 p.m. for more work. (You may come even if you haven’t done this exercise, but you’ll just get even more done if you do do this exercise). Please RSVP that you’re going to attend.

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Also, don’t forget on Monday, Oct. 21 there’s a special event being held at Boxley’s (upstairs in the meeting room), “How to publish and market your own book without going crazy,” by Stephen J. Matlock, successful author of Stars In The Texas Sky. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7. Space is limited, so get your tickets today. Contact freevalleypublishing@gmail.com for more info. The link above also has more details on the presentation.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing, to find honest men to publish it, and to find sensible men to read it.” ~Charles Caleb Colton.

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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. 25, 2013 Edition

September 25, 2013Weekly Writing Prompt5 years old, Poor Writer's MFA, reading as a writer, review, showing upadmin

Writers:

Oh wow! What a great work session we had last night. I certainly hope that you might make the next one — Oct. 8, 6 p.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. We will be continuing with my make-shift “Poor Writer’s MFA.” Don’t know what that’s about? Check out this link:

http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=1388

Don’t worry if you missed our kick-off; we’ll keep at it and you’re welcome to join when you’re able. But, someday is today, as I always say.

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Today’s prompt continues our PW-MFA.

I want you to get a book you’ve always wanted to read, could be something you maybe were hesitant to read, a classic you never got around to, or just a book on your bedside table or book shelf that has been waiting for you. It’s time. It’s time to read that book. As you read it I want you to read it as a writer. Pay close attention to the story arc, the character development, the pace, sentence structure. Get a notebook and take notes. Write out passages that you particularly enjoy. When you finish (obviously, this may be a multi-week project), write a review of the book. Write the review as if you were talking directly to the author — writer to writer. If you have a blog, post that review. Regardless if you post it, it’s a great exercise and will help you develop your skills.

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As I told the group last night, SnoValley Writes! is five years old. We missed its actual birthday in August; but, a party is still forthcoming. Stay tuned.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” ~Woody Allen

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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 — The Casz Has Been Busy & Ill Edition

September 20, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Hey gang:

Sorry for my silence these last two weeks. Having to burn the candle at both ends lately…and then some. It’s a freelance life; what can I say?

Today is more of a reminder email. I’d like to remind you about our writer’s cafes, as well as the next writing work shop, which is next Tuesday, Sept. 24. Please RSVP to let me know if you plan to attend. I have a few ideas for topics/themes, but if there’s something a few of you are interested in covering, please email me.

In the meantime, your other task is to get something ready for perhaps handing out for critique at the work shop. Remember, if you hand something out, be prepared to read another’s work and come back to the next work shop to receive your feedback.

All the best, and here’s to a calmer end to September and easier October.

—
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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 — Aug. 28, 2013 Edition

August 28, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Well it sure doesn’t feel like summer is waning. My micro farm certainly doesn’t think it’s waning. However, in a mere week the kiddos will be back in classrooms and traffic will increase, so will the rains (as we’re getting a preview lately). And bimonthly workshops begin again.

Our next will be Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. On topic will be building a platform as we ready for publishing or even post publishing. Heck, even Joyce Carol Oates said she’d be platform building and blogging. So do plan to be there. So far I have 10 RSVPs. If you let me know already, no need to respond again. But, if you’ve just cleared your calendar to be there, please let me know.

Your writing prompt is more of a writer prompt. Go find three blogs you like. You can see a few examples on our web site under the blogs tab. Most folks who have blog also have blogs they follow. Let yourself play in the blogosphere for a couple of hours. Or do 20 minutes a day until the workshop. Just have an idea of how people use blogs, what they do, don’t do, how they are laid out, etc. Take notes, if that’s your thing. Take screenshots, if that’s your thing. Just have an idea.

Don’t know about platform building? You can check out this article, too, as an introduction. Then get some tips and tactics at the workshop.

And now your moment of Writing Zen: “One of the difficulties with the creative life is that when we have creative breakthroughs, they may look and even be experienced as breakdowns. Our normal, ordinary way of seeing ourselves and the world suddenly goes on tilt, and as it does, a new way of seeing and looking at things comes towards us.” ~Julia Cameron

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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 — Aug. 21, 2013 Edition

August 21, 2013Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Bit of a nip and the foretelling of Autumn in the air this morning. The full moon seems to have everyone in some bit of emotional ups or downs.

Regardless, we’re just a few weeks before the kids go back to school, summer vacations come to a close, and all the harvest is in. It’s time to get back to writing.

Our next writing workshop will be Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 6 p.m. Hopefully many of you can make it. Please RSVP and let me know so I can plan the work session accordingly.

We have much to catch up with: like new books being published, the successful launch of Free Valley Publishing, and just with our fellow writers.

Today’s prompt is to put the workshop on your calendar, make arrangements to attend, and RSVP back to me. In the meantime, I hope to catch you all at one of the write-ins.

Happy Writing,

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Casondra Brewster

http://www.casondrabrewster.com

http://www.creativewordlab.com

http://www.snovalleywrites.org

“If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t write, because our culture has no use for it.”
Anais Nin