This week’s Writing Prompt is in the form of a dialogue prompt. I have found a number of wonderful snippets that could be the beginnings of an intriguing story.
What do you think?
Are you inspired? I don’t know why I see someone going off to kill a big spider..?
Happy Writing!
Besides the adorable-ness, the lessons are a great reminder of things (sometimes) forgotten with age.
As writers, I think we, generally, embody 2 of the 3, with happiness getting lost from time to time. Writers, historically, have been known to be melancholy, depressed, repressed, vice riddled, isolated, and any variant of the above and much more. I think it’s a good lesson to remind ourselves to find happiness where and when we can, and to embrace it.
Curiosity is a staple among writers. We wouldn’t write the stories we do if we weren’t full of wonder at the possibility of what if. Our stories lead us to amazing places, and we learn about topics we may never have even considered before creating our new world. Keep learning and keep growing because you never know where your next great idea will come from.
Another staple – the fight. We fight for our characters. We fight for our stories. We believe in our babies and in order to get others to love them as we do, we have to fight to get them out into the world. Even when you’re tired, don’t give up. Success may be just a moment away.
I then thought about these words in regards to my characters. They’re people too and they have their own lives to lead, and could probably use a friendly word. Amidst their trials could they find a moment of happiness? Do they have a cause or a reason to keep fighting? A little food for thought.
Wishing you all the best! And Happy Writing!
I’m feeling a little romantically inclined today. Perhaps it’s because, in part, I’ve dreamt of Tom Hiddleston 4 out of the last 5 nights…I haven’t even seen him in anything recently, so who knows?!
The other part could be that I’m thinking about rewriting one of my scripts that is heavily imbued with romance, and so I’m trying to get in the right frame of mind. Whatever the reason, you all get the benefit of a biased Writing Prompt this week. So enjoy. 😉
I had a specific idea when I saw this image, so I’m in. Are you inspired to join me in this week’s Writing Prompt Challenge?
Happy Writing!
While reading On Writing by Stephen King at the beginning of the year, I made notes, wherever was convenient at that particular moment – things I wanted to remember. I like getting a resource messy – highlighting passages, underlying things, and making notes in the margins because the book is a tool, and although I felt that way about On Writing, I couldn’t force myself to mark up it’s pages.
In some way, I suppose, the book didn’t feel like a resource. You know the kind. You ear mark pages, and put in little sticky notes out the side to refer to at any given time. His book was an easy read, a lesson, but not one I thought I would go back to in the same way. I don’t know if that makes any sense…?
These are a few of the topics that stood out:
1. Our influences as a child cause us to be “built” a certain way. I can attest to that. I was designed with a love for being swept off my feet and happily-ever-afters. Of course, that’s not how my life has been, but those are the types of stories I want to write, regardless of how un-feminist it may be considered. There’s enough darkness in the world, and movies are for escape. Besides, fads come and go, and the desire for a feel good movie will always be in fashion.
2. King noted that we write with one person in mind – the one we want to WOW. For him it’s wife, for me it’s The Sis. I never even thought about that until I saw the words on the page. I do remember how proud I was that one of my screenplays made her cry, just a little. She’s a tough nut to crack, and if I could get her teary-eyed, then I knew it worked. I realized with his words, that it was her I wanted to impress, not the masses. Although, yes, I want them to come running too.
3. When you’ve finished writing your story, ask yourself, “Why did I bother?” What was so important about this story that you had to tell it? This is a great note to post on your computer or wherever you write. Sometimes we get lost along the way, and this may help us remember the spark of the idea that instigated the story in the first place. I wrote about this once in regards to my last full length feature I was working on. I had sort of lost focus, hence the mid-stopping point. Now I know how to get back into it.
As I’m trying to be better about sharing what I learn (and I am so behind in that), I thought you might find these ideas interesting while shedding a light on your own writing.
Do they strike you the same way they did me?
Happy Writing!
After coming to the realization that I had accomplished very little last year, I decided to make some changes. Any time you want to do anything, you have to be ready for the change. You have to commit. Going in all willy-nilly only leads to failure and subsequent disappointment.
I wanted to be…better, in all aspects of my life. So, I decided to mix things up and create for myself a new schedule that would lead me to the things I wanted. I wanted to get fit, so I’ve made it a goal to work out every other day. So far, I’ve been pretty good about it, and I do feel better. I wanted to read more, since last year I didn’t read a single book, and I’m close to finishing no#5. I wanted to write more, and I’m on a third rewrite of my tv pilot, I’ve written more fanfic, and I’ve taken on more Writing Prompt Challenges.
Additionally, I’m working on the show bible and making headway into the many writing books I’ve had on my shelf for years to determine which are truly useful. The only “new thing” I wanted by now was a different job. I’m still working on it. Of course there are plenty of other things I’d like to do this year, but you know, one step at a time.
I’m not sure where I found this three step system, but I thought I would share it with you in the hopes that you can achieve your goals, writing or otherwise.
Because of the job situation, which has lead to monetary issues, I am unable to enter any writing contests this year, which is disappointing. Instead of looking at it as a negative, I’m trying to think of it as a gift – I have a year to get my writing “show” ready.
I printed out monthly calendars in order to set those benchmarks, dates when I want to have certain projects completed. I’m working with only three months at a time, so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. I’ve tacked the calendars to the wall next to my computer to use as motivation. I’m a big advocate for visually identifying deadlines. Just holding on to the idea of a deadline somehow makes it feel less relevant. Seeing that April 15th (let’s just say) date circled, highlighted, marked in red, or what-have-you gives it more weight, makes it feel more real and impending, and sometimes we need that pressure to get things done.
Life gets busy. It’s easy to get sidetracked. Sometimes it’s comforting to get lost in TV and gaming, I should know, but in order to reach our goals and follow our dreams, we have to be relentless in that pursuit.
Not every step toward our goal needs to be a big one, even the small ones get us a little closer each day!
As you know, I love a good quote, so here are a few to keep you motivated:
And remember, it only takes a couple of weeks to create a new habit. 😉
Wishing you all the very best!
Happy Wednesday, my friends!
I’m taking a vacation from my pilot for another few days, because when I reread it after the last rewrite, I didn’t like it. So today, I wanted to find an image that was as far removed from that story as possible, in the hopes I’ll write something else, and come back around with a clearer head.
Are you inspired?
Happy Writing!
Some time back in July, I wrote the first part of this topic. You can read it here. I can’t believe it took me until January to write the first draft of the pilot, which was what inspired that post – world building, etc. (I was such a lump last year.) I know I was excited by the idea, and the research phase did take some time, but it is clear that I lost my way and floundered for a while before I made the effort. I remember just being clueless as to some decisions I needed to make. There were so many things that didn’t seem right, and that derailed my enthusiasm.
My biggest hurdle, oddly enough, was in regards to my protagonist. I had backstories and loads of ideas in place for all the other characters, but something about her was off. I finally decided to do research on character development, in the hopes it would shine a light on her. Here is a link to a few of the things I discovered, which may help you too, if you’re ever struggling. Before I begin a story, after some research, I’m pretty sure of my characters, so this hurdle was new for me.
I mean, how could I not know who she is?! She is the reason I’m writing the story.
I finished the rewrite of the pilot a couple of weeks ago, and it got me thinking that I never did come back to this topic, and I wanted to share a few things I learned along the way. I had planned on continuing this topic some time closer to the original post, but now, who knows what I intended all those months ago..?!
Everyone develops a strategy for their writing over time. We learn what works for us and what doesn’t. I am not a fan of outlining, but I tried do create a rough outline so I knew what I wanted to hit within the pilot and where I wanted it to end. This is one of the first times it sort of worked for me. I have so many ideas for this story, and not writing a full length feature made it clear that while I needed to touch on some ideas, I only needed to allude to others. Writing just one episode means leaving a lot open for later, and that is something I was not used to doing. Also, by creating the rough outline, I had an idea of where I needed to interject the subplots, so that made it easier to see the holes.
Tired of dragging my heels, I finally made it a point to write the first draft, regardless of how much information I was still lacking, and this was a huge step forward for me. I’m one of those who painstakingly writes each word. I tend to rewrite while I’m writing, and this causes a lot of lag time. I wanted to pound out the first draft as quickly as possible (I think I wrote it in 3-4 days), then I would know what I was missing and how to proceed in my research and decision making. So here is a suggestion for something I have never done before.
Knowing there were still things that needed names, or language issues, because I’m writing about aliens, I used asterisks or parentheses around words I knew would need to be changed in the rewrite. I still didn’t know the name of the galactic order so I generically used the word Empire (thanks, Star Wars) and put an asterisk next to it. It allowed me to continue the flow knowing it wasn’t a decision that needed to be made right then and there. I did the same with alien terminology and location headers within the screenplay; anything really that I didn’t have an answer for right on the spot.
The other thing I learned was a way of introducing nearly a full cast in one scene. I’ve never done this before, and I had to think of an activity that would showcase their individual personalities in a short amount of time. During research mode, I wrote up note cards on each character which included where they were from, their race, occupation, positive and negative traits, and some background info. This helped me to see how they would each respond in a given situation. The first draft included a generic scene where all the characters were introduced and described, but I knew it didn’t work. I put a big asterisk next to the scene and moved on. Before the rewrite, I thought about the different kinds of group activities that could take place, but it was one thing in particular that made the difference.
I had been limited in my thinking. World building includes a number of topics to take into consideration – there’s government, military, religion, customs, and trade, all of which I had thought about, but I hadn’t thought about entertainment. What did my characters do for fun? How did they blow off steam? It didn’t take long after that to figure out their new introduction.
My last insight is this. Fantasy and sci-fi, in particular, allow for a number of freedoms in their stories, but it also offers writers the opportunity to highlight social and political issues under this guise. Just another topic to consider while you’re world building. Is there something going on in the world that you want to talk about? Setting your story against an alien/fantasy backdrop may offer you the freedom to share your insight. This is something I learned years ago, when I decided I didn’t want my first story to be just a fluff piece. I utilize my fantasy and sci-fi worlds to highlight the current state of humanity, the deterioration of the environment, and the pros and cons in the advancement of technology.
There is a lot to think about when creating a world from scratch, and I’ve just touched on a few. It’s a lot of fun because it truly is a blank slate, and this is one reason research is so important, but don’t let it become the sole focus for too long. Keep your momentum, and try a variety of tricks to help you get that story out as quickly as possible. You’ll have plenty of rewrites to work out the details.
I’ve been trying to keep an eye out on Pinterest for writing tips as well, so click here, for some more. If you’ve learned any tricks along the way, please share and let’s help each other make great stories!
Happy Writing!
It’s Wednesday and you know what that means…It’s Writing Prompt Day!
I was torn this week between two things – an image and a line of dialogue. Instead of trying to choose between them, I’ll share them both, and let you decide which (or both) inspires you.
1:
Is this one of those times you want me to lie to protect your delicate emotions?
2: I’ve been rewatching episodes of Supernatural, so that may have influenced this decision. 😉
If you’ve ever visited my Pinterest page, you already know how much I enjoy imagery. If you have a great image for writing inspiration, please share! And don’t forget to share your creations if you’re inspired by any of the Writing Prompts. There are some past images along the side –>, but if you’d like to take a look at any of the previous 74, search “Writing Prompts” and write away!
Happy Writing!
When I decide to take on a writing prompt challenge, I generally don’t put too much thought into what I’m going to write. I use this time to free write, you know, that stream of consciousness style writing. When I’m working on a screenplay I agonize over every word I put on the page and this exercise allows me the freedom to just write.
They are what they are – flash fiction.
Don’t forget that I enjoy reading the words you write too based on the inspiration you find here, so share away!
Great Mother
It was said there was a tree as old as the world itself. Traveling in the shadow of the great tree that stood before me, it was easy to believe that such an idea could be possible. This tree stood out from all the others around it. Suppose this was the mother of all trees? Her roots were thick and entrenched in the earth, and it created mounds of emerald green to dot the landscape around her. Her base had grown straight for years before bending to search for the light; her branches were many and had long been reaching for the sun.
It was the kind of tree you would seek shelter in. It was the kind of tree that offered a weary traveler refuge. It was the kind of tree that the wildlings must revere, and therefore, so must I. The eerie silence and the responsive nature of the earth beneath my feet let me know that I was indeed in a place of reverence. I did my best to avoid digging my walking stick into her soil, not wishing to leave my mark, although I did lean upon it and stare up at her in wonder.
Downed
First there was a lurch that made everyone grasp for something to hold on to. Then the lights flickered and screams echoed. Finally, the engines roared as they tried to compensate. I never heard the fighting outside. The ship was like a floating planet. It took a day’s journey to travel from one side of the ship to the other. It was rare to see a crewman from another level. I had never even seen the captain in my 10 years of service. I hadn’t seen much of anything beyond the metallic walls of my level.
We were rarely given shore leave, because a ship of this size did not have many a port to come into. There were also many components to be aware of in order to keep her running smoothly, and that is why I found the current situation so bewildering. There must be an explanation for why we were turning on our side? The walls moaned as they buckled under the pressure and the loss of velocity. It would take a number of failures to cause such a chain of events.
As I sat outside on the frozen planet, the rebel fleet overhead, I found myself overcome with grief as I stared at the state of her. She would never fly again.
~
The final WP is the Dragon Age related one I shared for my birthday. It’s a wonderful image for my fan fiction. I really wanted to write something for this, and although I haven’t completed that story, I wanted to play with an idea, so bear with me, as it might show up again later. 🙂
Also, it became so much longer than I anticipated, but as I’ve learned with these characters, I have lots to say. This is just a random snippet of what I actually wrote.
Reunion
All of Thedas knew the outcome of the battle in Denerim, and yet the fates of the Grey Wardens who slayed the beast were still unknown. Cullen’s stomach had been in knots for months since he had learned that the only way to defeat the archdemon was the sacrifice of a Grey Warden’s life. He knew she would do it. She would not hesitate. And he had hated himself for leaving her side.
What a fool he had been to think that he would better serve the Maker across the Waking Sea than with her. He was a warrior and he should have at least fought with her to ensure her victory, instead of running away with his tail tucked between his legs. He was no lion. He was a pup.
There had been no word, and he wallowed in his grief, often finding himself at the Chantry’s doors without even realizing it. He prayed to Andraste for comfort, for forgiveness, for closure – for surely she must have perished. He trained harder than ever, hoping to exhaust himself with the release of the anger that seared his flesh. He wanted to fall into his bed each night without a trace of energy or thought in the hopes of dreamless sleep. He did not want dreams filled with images of her. Sometimes he saw her limp body twisted beneath the talons of a dragon, while other times he saw her smiling sweetly up at him while twisting her fingers in the curls at the nape of his neck. It did not matter the image, for each time he woke up drenched in sweat, terrified that he’d never see her again.
He hadn’t realized how much he cared for her until the moment he heard that the Blight was ended and the bitter taste that filled his mouth had nearly choked him.
And then there was light – a letter.
As he walked with hopeful purpose through the city, he caught the sunlight glint off unfamiliar armor. Cullen’s knees buckled under the weight of his relief. Her eyes swam with unshed tears despite the bright smile that lit up her face. “I wanted to surprise you.”
He barely heard the words because in the next instant he was taking desperate strides across the courtyard, ignoring the curious and strange glances of the onlookers. She followed suit, but her lithe body, not burdened by the weight of heavy armor, allowed her to run into his arms. He crushed her to him.
“I feared the worst.” He whispered harshly, the emotions stirring in him walking a sharp edge. He had been staring into a dark abyss for far too long.
She looked sad then, realizing that he had been mourning her until this moment. “Oh, Cullen. I am so sorry…”
There was nothing else to be said. She had survived. She was in his arms, alive and well and he didn’t care how it had happened. He would forgive her anything; even a pact with a demon, if it meant that she could be here, now.
Their kiss was desperate. Their relationship would always be complicated, for although she had given her heart to another, she found there was still room in it for her lion.
~
Happy Writing, my friends!
I’ve been fairly lackadaisical in my blogging recently. I’ve been relying on short posts, in part, because I’ve been rewriting my pilot. My goal was to complete it by Saturday, which I did, so yay!
I have lots of new things to share, so I’ll be better about putting things of interest here, and not just fluff. 😉
This week’s Writing Prompt, I suppose, could be a running theme that honors Women’s History Month. I was looking for an image of an empowered woman, and this one struck me. What do you think?
Are you inspired?
Happy Writing!
A Writer's Discrepant Memoirs and Other Tales 