12/27/15

12/26/15

12/25/15

Title exercise: Milliseconds with Loved Ones

For today's exercise use the following as the title of a poem or piece of prose.

Milliseconds with Loved Ones

(And, hey, Merry Christmas! Here are a couple of fun modern (and secular) Christmas songs: Oi to the World by The Vandals (Punk), and White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin (skeptic warning, but it's a beautiful song), and for good measure, here's Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies, again by The Vandals. If you don't already have it, their Christmas with The Vandals album is a great punk tribute to the holiday.)

12/24/15

Title exercise: Cinnamon and Leather Polish, (+Holiday Bonus)

For today's exercise use the following as the title of a poem or piece of prose.

Cinnamon and Leather Polish

or


Santa's Strict Summer Diet

(And one of my favorite TV show holiday specials, from Community Season 2: Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas.

12/23/15

12/22/15

12/19/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/19/15 Papa Conifer

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) The word "Conifer" must appear in the title of your piece.
2) You must write the piece in sections (not just paragraphs or stanzas) of fewer than fifty words.
3) You may only use three words that end with the letter "Y".
4) The smell or taste of peppermint must be described or somehow come into the piece.
5) The name "Papa" must appear at least three times.

12/18/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/18/15 Arizona or Peru

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) Include at least six pairs of words that rhyme, for instance "This bliss" "My thigh" etc.
2) The story or poem must be written in the second person.
3) The piece must be set in Arizona or Peru (for bonus points use both locations).
4) An exact time must be mentioned.
5) The final word in every sentence must have a hard /a/ sound for instance "way" "day" etc.

12/17/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/17/15 Before the Thunder

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) Every paragraph must begin with the word "Before".
2) Three sentences must be of three words or fewer.
3) Thunder must be heard by at least one character.
4) The following three words must be used: OxyContin, Camel, Precipice.
5) The entire piece must be between 350 and 500 words.

12/16/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/16/15 Hilltop Kangaroo

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) The title of your piece must include the word "Hilltop".
2) Something has to be likened to a Kangaroo (bonus points if it's not for the pouch or jumping).
3) There can only be three characters in your story or poem but they must all be named.
4) You must use the word "This" at least eight times in your piece.
5) Two smells must be described or recalled (for bonus points use the smell of rotting wood as one).

12/15/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/15/15 This or That

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) Every paragraph or stanza must begin with a "P" word.
2) Someone must drink almond milk in the story or poem.
3) Something must be the color teal.
4) The following three words must appear in the same paragraph or stanza: Molten, Squash, Cactus.
5) Do not use the words "This" or "That".

12/14/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/14/15 Marc Ecko

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) An instrument must be named and either played or its play described.
2) Your second paragraph or stanza must be a single sentence of at least fifteen words.
3) You must somehow include Marc Ecko by name.
4) The last word of your piece must be "hay".
5) You must use one word or short phrase that is a palindrome. (My advice is pick your palindrome before you start, but hey, it's your world)

12/13/15

Five Random Constraints: 12/13/15 "Lefty"

About today's writing prompt genre: This is an exercise to make your brain work within a confined space. There will be a few constraints pressed upon your writing, some meant to help drive narrative, some meant to slow the process of the ever-flowing feed of words that stream through the mind. The purpose of this is to make you meditate on specific word choices and sentence structure and elements not necessarily the most important plot points or character traits which should allow the piece to unfold in a way that it would not have otherwise.

Five Random Constraints:

1) Five different words beginning with the letter K must be used.
2) No sentences longer than 10 words are allowed.
3) One character must have the nickname "Lefty".
4) A remote control must play an important role in your piece.
5) Two words that are eight letters must be used.

12/12/15

12/11/15

12/10/15

12/9/15

12/8/15

12/7/15