Tag Archives: weekly writing prompt

Weekly Writing Prompt — June 11, 2014 Edition

June 11, 2014Weekly Writing Promptnew schedule, permission, schedule, summer sabbatical, weekly writing prompt, workshop, Writing Zenadmin

Writers:

Again, my sincere apologies for the last-minute cancellation yesterday. All I can say is that life happens and it doesn’t happen according to schedule. That’s the stuff stories are made of, yes? All is handled, and life will go on.

Now for writing-focused news:

Our next workshop June 23 and we’ll do an editing check list along with doing feedback and critique. Please bring some work to share.

On July 8 we have special author guest speaker. Regional Author Sharol Louise will come and speak to the group. If you attend any workshop this summer, please attend this one.

July 22 will be our last workshop of the summer. I’ve learned a few more things since the last time we focused on this in a workshop regarding online personas and building platforms. As is our core, we’ll be doing some feedback and critique time. Please bring some work to share.

August we’re on summer sabbatical. Enjoy the weather, good times with family and friends and get ready for some changes in the group come fall.

Beginning in September our workshops will moved to once a month and on the third Saturday of the month. Therefore, Sept. 20th will be our first of the new schedule. We’ll meet at the North Bend Library Meeting room, still. Time is from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Hope this schedule allows everyone to participate more often and regularly. Be ready with work to share for feedback and critique, as always.

Your prompt is to put all these dates down on your calendar and make writing a priority in your life. We give you permission.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Our animal companions love us unconditionally. They are our great teachers.” ~ Julia Cameron

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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 — 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 — April 17, 2013 Edition

April 18, 2013Weekly Writing Promptjournaling, looking for a mentor, mining our lives, weekly writing promptadmin

My day (Wednesday) was co-opted by all the BE-A-RESPONSIBLE-ADULT-type things. Add to that oversleeping and the day was away from me before it even started.

So, your prompt is late. Things always happen for a reason. I’m guessing you needed extra time, too.

At any rate, I need to remind you all that the April 23 Workshop has been cancelled due to a special event at the North Bend Library.

Our next session is May 14 where we will be mining our lives for great writing material. I went to a terrific workshop last Sunday, which serendipitously dealt with the same thing — so now I have even more ammo to help you all. As we get closer I’ll ask you for RSVPs. Just put it on your calendar now. Following the 14th, our next Workshop will be May 28.

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Today’s prompt:

As you have been aware, oftentimes, I pull from my own journey in my writing life to help push you all along. This week I’ve been reflecting on my time with SnoValley Writes!. What I discovered is that its time for me to find a writing mentor. When I was back at University, I naturally had some mentors in my creative writing and literature professors. But, I’ve been out of Uni since 2011. I miss that mentoring. Although, I derive a great benefit in the form of inspiration and motivation from all of you, I’m seeking a very personal relationship with another, likely more experienced writer.

So I’ve been journaling about hoping that person appears. I want you to do the same. I want you to journal about a need in your life. It doesn’t have to be writing-focused, but it could be. You decide. What’s your most pressing need? Journal about it. Put it in the hands of the universe (God, Allah, Buddha, Odin — whatever is your bent).

Then watch for synchronicity. Ask yourself each day how and where perhaps things are moving in the direction of having that need met. Keep journaling about it. At our writing workshop session on May 14, let’s talk about it.

This exercise should take you about 5 minutes a day until May 14. Dig deep. Find that need. Talk to yourself and the universe about fixing it.

*****

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.”
― Christina Baldwin

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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 — April 10, 2013 Edition

April 18, 2013Weekly Writing PromptSnoValley Writes!, weekly writing promptadmin

Busy, busy writing week!

We had an awesome workshop last night. Be advised that our April 23rd workshop is canceled, because the library has a special event. I would encourage everyone to do the following night’s Writer’s Cafe at Sawdust Coffee Co. I’ll be there and will probably have some exercises or be available for critiquing.

So next workshop will be May 14th. We’ll be working on “mining” our lives for creative stories. It’s going to be great. Please put it on your calendar.

And coming up tonight and this week:

Writer’s Cafe’ will be travelling this week to Pioneer Coffee in North Bend for a Reading and Book Signing involving SnoValley Writes! author, Jackie Fedyk and local artist Leslie Moon for their book, Agatha Hattie. Here’s a link to more info: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/289260581205683/?fref=ts It runs from 6:00 – 8:00 with a reading and door prize each 1/2 hour. Hope to see you there!

Also, come and write with us on Saturday this week, the 13th, for the NaNoWriMo Writing Marathon. SnoValley Writes! will be shooting for 30 hours or more between all of the writers, so come and contribute what you can. You can work on any project including editing to be counted toward the total. We’ll be at North Bend Bar & Grill starting at 9:30 and will move to Pioneer Coffee from 11:30 – 5:30 or 6:00. The official NaNoWriMo event info is here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/marathon. You can also look for check-ins on our Regional Forum for Snoqualmie Valley on the NaNoWriMo site. You are welcome to donate to NaNo as part of this event, but you can write with us without monetary obligation other than an appreciative order from whichever cafe’ you are visiting.

My plan is to join at least first thing in the morning at the grill and then we’ll see whether baseball will interrupt before I come back and finish at Pioneer in the afternoon. You could do the same. Come when you can, leave when you must. Make time for your writing. We’re all hanging there with you!

And that, my fellow authors, is your prompt. Get out and connect with your fellow writers. Go to the reading tonight. Participate in the Writers Cafe on Friday morning at the Black Dog or the Writing Marathon this week.

Do it. You have my permission. You’re a writer. Go be with other writers, listen, read, write.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“A writer without interest or sympathy for the foibles of his fellow man is not conceivable as a writer.”- Joseph Conrad
P.S.: The snovalleywrites.org site is currently down. My server crashed due to a hardware failure. the replacement part then crashed as well. We got a new part, but now we have to reload everything and that takes some time (since we’ve been doing this for several years). Hopefully it will be up by Thursday morning. I’ll keep you posted.

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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 — January 30, 2013 Edition

January 30, 2013Weekly Writing PromptArtist Date, creative recovery, morning pages, SnoValley Writes!, Synchronicity, the artist way, weekly writing promptadmin

Greetings Writers!

Most times you get this directly to your Email. This week, I sent you simply a link to our web site, to get the information there. Please feel free to comment there, as well, on the information contained therein.

When was the last time you positively affirmed either “I am a writer,” or “I am an artist?”

Don’t know?

Well say it with me now. Out loud. Doesn’t matter where you are.

“I am a writer.”

“I am an artist.”

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So it’s Artist Way Check-In Time.

Look folks, it’s been more than a year that we’ve been working on The Artist’s Way. I’m really hoping that you’re beginning to do some of these “habits” to nurture your “inner artist child” and find your path to creative recovery. It’s a long and arduous journey. The abuse to our inner child was long in the making. We’re not going to fully heal over night. So, don’t just think you can give up on these habits. They are life long.

If you’ve truly been doing these habits and have no sense of recovery, I’d really like to know. For those who have been doing these weekly habits, the exercises, the tasks, tell me how you’re doing. Answer the questions below in the comment section:

1. How many days this week (since last Wednesday) did you do your morning pages? Regarding your U-turns, have you allowed yourself a shift toward compassion, at least on the page?

2. Did you do your artist date this week? Have you kept the emphasis on fun? What did you do? How did it feel?

3. Did you experience any synchronicity this week? What was it?

4. Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery? Describe them.

Again, please answer in the comment section below.

And now your Moment of Writing Zen:

“When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us. So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are.” ~Cesar Chavez

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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 — March 14, 2012 Edition

March 14, 2012Weekly Writing Promptartists date, artists way, basic tools, daily reading, homework, moment of writing zen, morning pages, SnoValley Writes!, weekly writing prompt, Word Jazzcasz

Happy Pi Day all. Be sure to get some Pie today as well. Treat yourself. Apple-pie making in the happening over in these parts.

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So how many days this week did you do your morning pages? What? You haven’t been journaling? You haven’t been getting that mental debris out — the stuff that keeps your creativity blocked?

Have you given yourself an artist date this week? Even just a trip to a favorite retailer for some fun stickers and a new journal? How about to a book signing? A new art exhibit? Hear a new band? If you did, how did it feel? What did you do? What do you plan to do this week?

For those that missed the work session on Sunday, we’ve started the journey of The Artist’s Way (A path to higher creativity). Having done the formal program twice personally, beginning it with a group is fabulous. It has that much more meaning. For those that have had a hard time making time for your creativity — or spending too much time on your shadow art as opposed to the art you’re impassioned about (e.g. writing), this will be a great exercise for you. It will take us many months to do, but I hope that you will see this as a course in discovering and recovering your best creative self yet. A self who is generative and prolific and a creative life that leaves you feeling satisfied.

The major tools in this journey are:

1) Morning pages: three hand-written, stream-of-consciousness pages you write every morning as soon as you wake up (before you do anything else). Write them in a notebook or journal so you can have them all in one place (currently, I have two completed Morning Page journals sitting on my bookshelf). I set my alarm :15 early to do this. My handwriting is not pretty; but, it clears the mind and is like a writing meditation. I can’t recommend this practice enough.

2) A weekly Artist Date: A commitment of time spent on yourself once a week; Time spent solely on you — no companions allowed; A date with your inner-artist, or your inner-child. For me, it was yesterday and getting a multi-flavored slurpee at 7-11 and to sit in the sunshine (albeit brief as it was in Seattle yesterday) and just watch the world go by. Oftentimes I walk down to the river and do yoga or just sit and watch the inner workings of the water, the trees, the birds and critters. I have also been known to pull the blinds and get out the kids coloring books and crayons and just color in superheros or Hello Kitty. It’s freeing and lets your brain recharge for productive creativity.

3) Daily Reading (which can be accomplished on Wednesdays by undertaking your weekly writing prompt from SnoValley Writes!) I do no less than :30 of reading a day. Non-fiction, fiction, it doesn’t matter. I have books everywhere — my car, the bathroom, my bedroom, my purse, my desk, the living room, even the kitchen. There’s no excuse for not reading every day.

Therefore your prompt this week is to try to accomplish these goals. I can’t recommend or encourage you strongly enough to really take these tasks to heart and do them. Reward yourself for each day you accomplish your morning pages; the artist date is a treat in itself. Do not turn out the lights at night until you’ve gotten in your :30 of reading.

Let me know by next Tuesday how you’re doing, too. Yes, I’m giving homework. Report back, please. I promise no tongue-lashings, just honest encouragement and understanding and all-out cheerleading-praise when appropriate.

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Sometimes I carve out my artist date on either end of one of the Writing Cafes we host. The next is Friday’s DayTrippers from 9:30 a.m. to about noon-ish. Our dearest Takako Wright sends out the reminders for that. DayTrippers are tripping all over the valley for the next few weeks until the Black Dog returns to normal hours on Fridays. So, get the Email from Takako to find out where this week’s location is (her email is in the to line above).

Following that will be Mid-day Muse on Monday at Toad’s in North Bend. This is your reminder about that. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ish). Hope to see you there.

Then Tuesday is Writers Cafe at Carriage Insurance House in North Bend. The Incredible Sheri Kennedy will send out the reminders for that. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.(her email is in the to line above).

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Make your reservations for Word Jazz now. April 10 at 7 p.m. at Boxley’s. It’s going to feature some of our best work yet. Be there or make us all very sad.

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I am still in need of local literary legends for our first Literary Salon. Send me your suggestions now, please.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours.” ~Anne-Wilson Schaef

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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 — January 4, 2012 Edition

January 4, 2012Weekly Writing Promptboard meeting, day trippers, weekly writing prompt, Word Jazz, writer's cafe, writing contestcasz

Happy New Year Writers!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions for your Writing?

Me? I’m trying to get back to basics and meet my personal word count five days a week.

A quick note before I forget, I’ll be forwarding you all another email under separate cover regarding another contest and conference. So be sure to look for that.

Busy week coming up in the SnoValley Writes! World.

Friday (1/5) — Day Trippers, 9:30 a.m., Toad’s Coffee House in North Bend — write, consume caffeine and get literary energy.

Sunday (1/8) — Regular Work Session, 3 p.m., North Bend Library Meeting Room (be sure to RSVP, so I can plan accordingly. Topic = Revision Tips & Tactics — so bring a project to ‘revise’)

Tuesday (1/10) — Writer’s Cafe, 6:30 p.m., Carriage House — Tea there to share, or bring your own coffee/soda/snacks. Write, Share, Get Inspired

Wednesday (1/11) — SnoValley Writes! Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Carriage House, All invited to attend (Word Jazz, Writing Contest, Next Journal — all up for discussion)

Again, I can’t stress enough how much RSVP’ing for the work sessions help. Lesson plans are tailored for number of authors attending. So, please do shoot me a quick Email to confirm your attendance.

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Today’s prompt has to do with self-improvement.

Tell me a story about you or your protagonist when a goal for self-improvement (losing weight, not being so angry, being more assertive, etc.) has gone horribly wrong. Develop your character through the trials and tribulations of trying to get better and having a different lesson entirely presented to her/him. Losing weight makes them lose their friends because they become obsessed with unreasonable eating and exercise, perhaps? They try to curb their quick temper and learn that they’ve gone to the point of letting people just walk all over them. Torture them through their imperfect humanity. Give your reader a real honest-to-goodness lesson on the intricate balances of life.

Bring this story with you on Sunday — or some other project to work on revision.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.” — John Holt, Educator

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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. 16, 2011 Edition

November 16, 2011Weekly Writing Prompthenry miller, NaNoWriMo, weekly writing prompt, winter's coming, Word Jazz, writing contestcasz

Wow, the middle of November. Ouch. The forecast is calling for Snow this weekend, however, all those hot little writing hands are not going to allow it to stick around much.

For those still participating in National Novel Writing Month: Kudos! Keep at it. Even if you don’t make 50k — all the words you have are good ones. You allowed yourself, gave yourself permission to be creative. Keep it up. Don’t give up. Heck, I’m only at 8k and I’m not giving up. Today’s goal is to simply get to 10k. If you’re having trouble, I encourage you to come out to one of the write-ins and challenge yourself with your fellow WriMos and SnoValley Writes! members and do some word wars, talk out your plot, your characters. Ask any veteran of a Write-In, they will tell you they are hugely helpful. I got an extra 800 words yesterday thanks to a write-in. I doubt I would have gotten those without the support of my fellow writers. And that’s why we’re here. Support. Encouragement. Education. We help you reach new literary peaks. 😀

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Don’t forget SnoValley Writes! authors who were featured in Views, Voices & Verses Vol. II: Fall Into Story, will be signing copies of the anthology on Monday (Nov. 21) at Selah Gifts in Downtown North Bend (Bendigo and 3rd Street area…right next door to Carriage House). Signing begins at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see many of you there!

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Still looking for a project manager to get Word Jazz organized. Anyone? Buehler? Anyone? Let me know if you’re interested. You will be fully supported by the board, but you will be leading the charge to create a successful literary event.

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Still looking for a project manager to lead the Annual Writing Contest.

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Today’s prompt: So stealing this from NaNoWriMo because it’s 7 a.m. and my brain has only half a cup of coffee…

Sit down and free write and focus on you or your character observing a duck that is missing something. You decide if its literal or metaphorical. Could be a wing, an eye, it’s webbed foot. Could be your character’s best friend that represents the duck. Like I said, you decide. Would love to see what folks come up with — post on our SnoValley Writes! Facebook Page what you came up with when you’ve finished.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Until we accept the fact that life is founded in mystery, we shall learn nothing.” Henry Miller
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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. 2, 2011 Edition

November 2, 2011Weekly Writing PromptFree Write, NaNoWriMo, visual prompts, weekly writing prompt, write-inscasz

Happy Noveling Month All!

Even if you’re not participating in NaNoWriMo (yet I highly encourage you to do so!), November is a great time to redirect and allow writing to be a priority in your life. If you’re so passionate about it you wanted to be on this email list, there’s something inside of you screaming to be fed. Feed it. Give it time to get words and stories out. Even 30 minutes a day is better than nothing. Heck, 3 minutes a day even. Scrawl a poem, scratch out a character introduction — whatever you can do. Do it.

Have to mention that last night’s Snoqualmie Valley National Novel Writing Month kick off at the Snoqualmie Brewery and Tap Room was fabulous. We even got our server to consider joining in on the noveling fun! Woot! Go Allison! Again, as I mentioned last week, there is a theme to our NaNoWriMo efforts this year here in the Valley: 30 Days, 30 Ways to Play…Writer! So each day there is a write-in, writer’s cafe or other such event to get you focused on your writing. Give yourself permission for just this month at least.

Today’s prompt is dedicated to Sheri Kennedy, who is taking on an ambitious challenge in doing a thematic short-story collection for NaNoWriMo:

It’s a visual prompt:

Free write for :20 on what the image speaks to you. Write as the rain. Write as the child. Write as the photographer. Write as your main character. Look deeply at the photo and make sure you don’t miss a detail.

Put it in your novel if it works. Put it in your novel even if it doesn’t work. Just get the words on the page.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Write books only if you are going to say in them the things you would never dare confide to anyone.”
― Emil Cioran

P.S. Write-In tonight in Carnation at the Jin Heng restaurant beginning at 6:30 p.m., your host is Kathy Gabriel. Thursday’s Write-In is Late Night at the North Bend Bar & Grill at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Casz will be your host. As with all of these — it’s come when you can, leave when you must. Do be prepared for some head-down writing time.

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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