Category: Uncategorized

An Influential Quirk

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A professor who’s right eyes twitches as he lectures. A ballerina who’s feet point inward. A flight attendant who’s hands tremble so strongly that fluids spill over the rims of cups. A mechanic who can’t pronounce the names of engine parts. An attorney who jitters and bounces around the courtroom.

These are quirks. Some might be considered disabilities. Some greatly influence what others think of them. Most cause others to tilt their heads in disbelief or a lack of trust.

Imagine a character in one of your stories having such a quirk. How would this affect how they appear to the public/ How would others react when seeing the quirk?

Your task is to write a story in which a quirk plays an influential role.

Have fun with this one.

Emotional Overload

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            Some stories revolve around somewhat dry exchanges between characters. They talk about mundane issues, such as a car needing repair, a leaky roof, or an unsatisfactory meal at a new restaurant. The couples sit around a mahogany table, before a roaring fire, as a crystal chandelier glows overhead. The setting cries for something loaded to happen. Perhaps voices raised, or glasses thrown against a wall, but nothing happens. Not even a shout or a cry of alarm.

            Your task is to write the opposite story! Tell an event that is emotionally charged. Perhaps there are disagreements. Perhaps someone storms off. Perhaps the phone is tossed to the floor. Perhaps someone gets slapped or punched or pushed. Perhaps someone loses an election after insulting the opponent.

            In other words, make something interesting happen that drives actions and consequences.

            Have fun with this one.

Disaster Strikes

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            Things happen. Imagine losing your home.

            Perhaps you rented, but it was yours. And then something horrible happens.

            It could be a storm or fire. It could be the landlord repossessing the property. Or falling behind on the mortgage. Or the death of a spouse.

            The shock, the travesty, is powerful. Emotions overwhelm, making it difficult to think rationally.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character loses their home.

            Sad, but have fun with this one anyway.

Something Hidden

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Everyone has secrets, right? Perhaps she jumped, naked, into a river while friends were watching. Maybe he stole a packet of pens back in fifth grade, when there wasn’t money to buy them. A group of friends might have banded together to cheat fellow classmates in a game of whack-a-mole.

Some secrets are never meant to be shared. Imagine telling your future partner about your naked stunt? What if the boy applies for a government job and the theft comes up during vetting? Or if the group is found out, but only one or two are charged?

Our task is to write a story in which a secret plays an important role.

Have fun with this one.

Needing Help

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            We often need the help of others. I’m short, so if there’s something in a high cabinet that I can’t reach, my husband helps. Or if my hands aren’t strong enough to open a bottle, he does it for me.

            When I taught, I often consulted with peers on how best to present a text or how to initiate class discussions. As an older adult, I look to peers, or if they can’t help, I’ll go online.

            What if your character was forced to rely on another person for something important? Choose something impactful, such as installing a new database, or climbing a mountain. Helpmates can be friends or office-mates. Other teachers or someone in a store.

            Have fun with this one.

Mood Hints

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            Something has happened. Your character is in an unfamiliar room or situation. We need to know her mood. How do you show that?

            First place her in a specific room, such as a bedroom, office, study or classroom. Establish mood through description of where it is happening or has happened. Use props such as items of furniture, clothes, weather, climate or a period of history.

            Have the camera pan in on the scene. What do you want the readers to see? To understand? What props are important to establish mood?

            Remember that everything is important in story.

Set events in motion.

Have fun with this one.

Story Starters

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If you’re stuck and can’t think of a way to begin, choose one of these:

  1. Describe a scene using the colors of the walls.
  2. Begin with a sound such as the coffee grinder or the ticking of a clock
  3. Have your character frustrated with a stovetop burner that suddenly quits working.
  4. Not everyone likes pets, but describing the nose prints a dog has left on the sliding glass door might be entertaining.
  5. Perhaps your character is fascinated by a scratch running down the wood paneling in a fancy business office.
  6. Or the crooked pictures hanging on a wall.

After you’ve chosen your beginning, write!

Have fun with this one.

Lines to Incorporate

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Here’s a writing challenge:

Choose one of these beginning lines to start your story:

  1. Every night I see you.
  2. Last week they rode the bus to…
  3. My husband and I lived…
  4. I am twenty…
  5. If I stood on the chair, I…

Begin writing. Somewhere inside of the story, you must include one of these lines:

  1. Oh, but look how dirty…
  2. Suspicion, doubt and jealousy…
  3. Luck’s nothing but chance, but…
  4. Stay with me until stars…
  5. Clouds built up over…

Have fun with this one!

Animal Antics

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            There are animal lovers and those who’d prefer they stay far away. There are creatures that make good pets and those that should remain in the wild. Taking into consideration your attitude toward animals, if your character feels as you do, what would happen if an animal suddenly appears in the story?

            Your task is to write a story in which, somewhere along the way, an animal plays a starring role. Imagine the villain rescuing a stray kitten. The hero sweeping down from the sky to pull a donkey out of a quagmire.

            Have fun with this one.

The Twist

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            Picture yourself on vacation, somewhere you’ve always wanted to see. You stand in line, with hundreds, waiting your turn to enter. You bought your ticket online. Planned everything, including how best to get there, where to stay, restaurants you’ve been dreaming of visiting.

            Something catches your eye. Something so tempting that you jump out of line and chase after it.

            Twists in storyline provide unexpected thrills. The reader is plodding along, following your character, perhaps even becoming a tad board because she is so predictable. When the cautious character follows a sketchy looking individual, or buys a thousand-dollar watch, or decides to jump out of a plane, readers read on, wanting to understand why the change.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character does something quite unusual and unpredictable.

Have fun with this one.