Friday, July 18, 2014 Prompt #75 Two-Step Instructions Choose one of the opening lines below and write it on the top of a fresh page of paper. Write for 15 minutes. They say I’m not normal. The one place I can be myself is… The first person I told was… Something you should knowContinue reading “Return of the Opening Line: Part I”
Author Archives: Ellen Orleans
Thursday Thoughts: Out Loud
For Thursday, July 17 Prompt 74 Do you read your work out loud as you write and edit? If so, how does it change what you write? If not, try it. See if it affects your word choice, sentence length or dialogue.
City Sidewalks
For Wednesday, July 16, 2014 Prompt #73 Write about an encounter on a city street. Writing Tips: This can be an encounter between two people, a person and a sign, an older person and a toddler, three dogs, or some other combination. Balance observation, description, and dialogue. Write for 15 minutes. Book Suggestion:Continue reading “City Sidewalks”
Roar!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Prompt #72 Yesterday afternoon, I wandered through Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, the inspiration for today’s writing prompt. Write about zoos. Writing Tips: You can focus on a particular zoo, animal, visit, or a opinion about zoos. Or you can write in a more abstract, mixed-up, or interwovenContinue reading “Roar!”
Breakable
For Monday, July 14, 2014 Prompt #71 Write about something fragile, either literal or metaphoric. Instructions Find something fragile in your home or someone else’s home (with their permission of course). Hold it (carefully!). Put it down, describe it, using a variety of sensory details. Is it heavy in your hands?Continue reading “Breakable”
Caught!
For Sunday, July 13, 2014 Prompt #70 Today is another quick prompt: Write about your experiences fishing or watching others fish. Writing Tips Include sensory details, including sense of smell, about place, time, weather conditions, or what you were wearing. Include specifics about the kind of fishing you were doingContinue reading “Caught!”
Ritual
For Saturday, July 12, 2014 Prompt #69 Write about a ritual, either personal or public, that you have taken part in or regularly take part in. Instructions 1. Write about the ritual in a factual step by step detail. Write for 10 minutes. 2. Next, add in emotional and sensory details, perhaps explaining what drawsContinue reading “Ritual”
Thursday Thoughts
For Thurday, July 10 Prompt 67 Is there any author whose writing you’ve read thoroughly or repeatedly? Why do you return to their writing? What has evolved or changed from their earliest writings to their later ones? Try writing two paragraphs in their style.
Commitment
For Friday , July 11, 2014 Prompt #68 Following up Wednesday’s cycle-of-life, theme, today’s prompt is about weddings, actual and metaphoric. (I’m traveling this week, so no photo accompaniment.) Instructions 1. Write about the first wedding you remember attending. 2. Include small details that have stayed with you and emotions you experienced, such as excitement,Continue reading “Commitment”
One Wedding and A Funeral
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 Prompt #66 This weekend I attended both an unexpected funeral and an impromptu wedding. (I officiated!) Most definitely a cycle-of-life few days. The next three prompts will draw off these experiencse. Funeral Write about the first funeral you remember attending. Include small details that have stayed with you and emotions youContinue reading “One Wedding and A Funeral”
Ellen Orleans 