Writing Adventure #13

This writing adventure is in honour of Halloween, my favourite holiday. For this adventure you get to go to a cemetery (the older the cemetery the better, in my opinion). Once there wander around and read tombstones. Let yourself be inspired. Who were these people? What were their lives like? You're a writer - only you can breathe life into them again and let them live on the page.

Quote

Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then write. If it all feels hopeless, if that famous "inspiration" will not come, write. If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and the odds are against it - go to your desk, no matter what your mood, face the icy challenge of the paper - write.

~ J. B. Priestley

Week #104

The day began as a perfectly ordinary one.

Random Exercise #36

Use these three words in a short story: pony, ice, purple.

(I'm heading into the last weekend of my yoga teacher training course. I've been studying like crazy for my exam. All I have to do is wrap both legs around my head and levitate, and I'm in! Kidding! Wish me luck! Have a great weekend!)

Week #103

As Dexter turned his key in the lock he heard an unfamiliar rustling and then a sharp whisper come from inside.

Quote

The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

~ Henry Miller

Theme Exercise #1

I thought we'd try something new. For this exercise I am going to give you a theme and you can interpret it anyway you want to write a short story, a postcard story, or even my own idea - a haiku story. I know that you remember a haiku story is a story told in three sentences because you hang off my every word, right? Of course you do, everyone does. (I'm a fiction writer, I live in a make believe world, okay?)

The theme is: Renewal

Happy writing!

Week #102

All her long life Doreen Willowby had been known for her sharp tongue, short temper and complete lack of humour, but there was one thing that never failed to bring a smile to her otherwise grim face.

Random Exercise #35

In this exercise I am going to give you a line of dialogue and you can use it in your story any way you like. You can make it the first line, the last line, or any line in between. You decide who says and why. Sound like fun? I hope so!

Here's the line of dialogue:

"It is a vicious circle."

Confessions from the Desk

Things have been going well at the desk lately. I sold another short story! That's makes two stories accepted in less than a month! That's a record for me. I'll let you know when this one appears. It will be online (and apparently there will be a "hilarious" caricature of me as well). That alone should be worth the click. I'll let you know when it appears.

Week 101

I was reading the newspaper and eating a sandwich on a park bench when the dishevelled old man stopped in front of me and announced, "I am the world's most fabulous dancer!"

Two Great Websites

I discovered a new website for short story writers and poets that I thought you might be interested in called Fictionaut. It's part magazine, part community. Click here to have a gander.

Full disclosure: actually, I didn't discover Fictionaut - the fabulous Erika Dreifus did and I simply read about it in her Practicing Writer e-newsletter, which you should be signed up for, if you're not already. Click here to learn more about Erika, her awesome blog and newsletter, and her soon to be released short story collection, Quiet Americans that I can't wait to read.