Thursday, December 12, 2013

Pieces of Something #4

So you know that feeling where you are writing and you get to the point of feeling tired like there is no more that can be said. . . KEEP GOING! Dig further, push and push. Like Natalie Goldberg's book Writing down the Bones, there is so much more you can put out there on paper after you think all is written. It is always those dire moments where we are at our whits end and the voice is dead or the detail isn't fully there. Push yourself to paint the scenery more clearer, describe the emotion of a character with more truth. Don't be afraid of this. You will not spontaneously combust (though, I would hate to be liable for such a promise). Give it your all. Even when you feel there is no more, THERE IS ALWAYS MORE. I think of writing those last moments like the cream of the crop. That is the best part, that is butter! And if those extra ten minutes of writing is the cream, then it is the savory stuff you put on your potatoes or toast that take your tastes buds on a journey. Stick with it, try it out, see where it takes you.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Pieces of Something #3



Here is something that came to me in the wee hours of the morning. Did you ever think of how your kids would act and talk 15, 20 years down the road? Or how about imagining yourself meeting a public figure, historical figure, celebrity, or a hero - ANYONE like Sacagawea (I know I probably butchered that). With this writing exercise, try to imagine meeting anyone you have ever wanted to meet. Get creative with how they would act and respond to your comments and questions. What could be their interests, favorite food, good book to read while on the John. Try imagining the outcome, and create a fictional means of how you were able to speak to your now-grown-up-son. Maybe you only meant to set the Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds and the door blew up, shooting out rays of high radiation causing you to warp into the future. How would you speak to them? There are no rules to this, just write it out.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Pieces of Something #2

Hello everyone and welcome back to a sort of creative writing blog designed to help anyone break the ice of the halted inspiration every writer needs to bring to life their words and imagination. I have before you a scene from a really good film about a con man always on the run. This exercise deals with the art of observation. Sure this film has been shot and featured to millions, but from you watching it. . . how would write this scene? How would you explain the characters' reactions and expressions, the atmosphere of the room? There are no rules to this, just write it out. Enjoy!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Pieces of Something #1



So Missy and I the other night were sitting on the couch dead tired after the kids went down for bed. I was about to fall over and succumb to my five-hour coma when she came up with this neat idea of writing words on torn pieces of paper which afterwards goes into a mason jar. We would shake the jar up mixing the papers and then we'd each pick out one. We were given about 10 minutes to write whatever came to our minds from the words we received. The word could be anything like oranges, New Zealand, farting - ANYTHING. It didn't have to make sense, it didn't have to be correct. The important thing was we were in the moment writing. It's a really neat exercise, you'll be surprised with what you can come up with. Try it out!