Because I recently facilitated the painting of a mural on the side of my garage, I have circles on my mind. For this mural, based on a Kandinsky painting, over 20 members of my cohousing community (plus a few neighbors) pitched in to paint a circle or two. Aged 3 to 60, the painters addedContinue reading “Concentric”
Category Archives: Experimenting with Voice
The Face of Frustration
Thursday, September 18 Hey Everyone — I’m back from my summer hiatus with more prompts, recommendations and explorations of the craft of writing. Today’s prompt: Write about frustration. Suggestions and inspirations: 1. Writing in prose, write a series of dialogue-free actions that depicts growing frustration. Write for 15 minutes 2. Writing poetry, create pacing, wordContinue reading “The Face of Frustration”
Fleeting Image
for Monday, August 11, 2014 Write a piece based on a fleeting image from a dream or piecemeal memory. Suggestions: Try writing in an unfamiliar voice. Try writing from multiple perspectives. Try using two of more of the following words: Dim. Instead. Impossible. Faint. Linger. Damp. Silent. Drip. Root. Laughter. Cough.
Late Night Parking
For Monday, August 4, 2014 Write an overheard conversation that takes place in this parking lot.
Tick Tock
Wednesday, July 28, 2014 • Prompt #87 The element of time often adds suspense and welcome tension to writing. For this prompt, write about two people who agree to meet under this clock at 3 p.m. Suggestions and Considerations Describe the day’s weather. How does that influence the story? DoContinue reading “Tick Tock”
sur-real-ly
Monday, July 28, 2014 • Prompt #85 Today’s Prompt Write a poem or short fiction piece in a surreal or magic realism style. This genre introduces supernatural or unbelievable events or abilities into in an otherwise everyday realistic environment. (However you define that!) Option #1: Write a new piece. Option #2: Take an existingContinue reading “sur-real-ly”
Button Holed
Sunday, July 27, 2014 • Prompt #84 Today’s Prompt Write about buttons. Instructions Find two or three buttons. Hold them in your hand. Describe their weight, color, texture and material. What is your response seeing or touching these buttons? Write for 20 minutes. Options and Springboards Write about aContinue reading “Button Holed”
Return of the Opening Line: Part II
Saturday, July 19, 2014 • Prompt #76 Following yesterday’s Opening Lines post, here are two more prompts with which to experiment. Choose one of these lines for the exercise. They say I’m not normal. The one place I can be myself is… The first person I told was… Something you should know about my sister…Continue reading “Return of the Opening Line: Part II”
Return of the Opening Line: Part I
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”
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.
Ellen Orleans 