May 20, 2014 Prompt #19 Introduction Joe Brainard’s classic “I Remember” writing prompt has been taught in class rooms for more than 15 years. You can read more about Joe’s life and work and the history of the “I Remember” exercise here. Below is a variation that has been a big hit in my writingContinue reading “I Remember”
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Junk Drawer
May 19, 2014 Prompt #18 Instructions Locate an object in your home that is generally considered ordinary, outdated, or unnecessary. Don’t spend too much time thinking about what to choose. One option: If you have a junk drawer in your home or accumulated odds and ends at the bottom of a bag, close your eyes,Continue reading “Junk Drawer”
Sensory Weekend: Rolling Up Your Sleeves
May 18, 2014 Prompt #17 Today features a short prompt: less background, no further writing or writing group variations. Enjoy getting your hands dirty. Instructions Describe an action below. Include at least four different senses. Write for 15 minutes. Digging a hole. Shucking six ears of corn. Plastering cracks in a wall.Continue reading “Sensory Weekend: Rolling Up Your Sleeves”
Sensory Weekend: Smokin’
May 17, 2014 Prompt #16 Today and tomorrow feature short prompts: less background, no writing group variations. Have a good weekend! Surgeon General’s Warning If you are not a smoker, don’t light up to complete this exercise. Work from memory or sit near smokers and take notes. Instructions Write for 10Continue reading “Sensory Weekend: Smokin’”
Sensory Week: Taste
May 16, 2014 Prompt #15 To wrap up Sensory Week, it’s our long-awaited taste prompt. To enrich this exercise, I’ve included other senses as well. Tuck a napkin under your chin and let’s get started. Instructions Choose a fruit that you enjoy (or dislike) for this exercise. Other foods can work too; you mayContinue reading “Sensory Week: Taste”
Sensory Week: Smell
May 15, 2014 Prompt #14 This is among my favorite prompts, since smell brings up specific associations and memories. Plus, it’s fun to smell stuff. Instructions Find something in your house with a specific scent or odor. Looking for ideas? Consider one of these: a lemon, garlic bulb, crayons, chalk, perfume orContinue reading “Sensory Week: Smell”
Sensory Week: Sight
May 14, 2014 Prompt #13 As a visual person, descriptions of what things look like fill my writing. How do I use this “visual default” in the larger service of my writing? How can give “fresh eyes” to my visual description? I created today’s prompt with such challenges in mind. Instructions Choose a familiar, perhapsContinue reading “Sensory Week: Sight”
Sensory Week: Touch
May 13, 2014 Prompt #12 Our sense of touch is so important that when we want to establish if something is real, we reach out and try to touch it. What does touch tell us? Hot. Cold. Hard. Soft. Wet. Dry. Smooth. Sharp. Rough. Ridged. Sticky. As writers, where do we go from there?Continue reading “Sensory Week: Touch”
Sensory Week: Sound
May 12, 2014 Prompt #11 Welcome to Sensory Week here at The Writeous Sisters. Each day, Monday through Friday, will focus on a different sense. Today: Hearing. Instructions Start with a selection without words, such as a piano concerto, jazz, Big Band, or other instrumental work. Play your selection and write down whatever words, phrases,Continue reading “Sensory Week: Sound”
Creating Atmosphere
May 10, 2014 Prompt #9 Here’s one of my favorite kids/science nerd jokes: Q. Why did the restaurant on the moon go out of business? A. Because it had no atmosphere! Like a good restaurant, good writing needs atmosphere, which I loosely define as the mood, tone, or feel of the piece. What contributes toContinue reading “Creating Atmosphere”
Ellen Orleans 