6/29/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 29, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:
Not Noah23


(All of today's titles are taken from the song Imhotep by Noah23 which might be said to be written in glossolalia)

1) A Pen Named Fountain
2) Pantomime Saw
3) Glossolalia
4) Red Dirt Nervous
5) Bourgeois cyborgs
6) Chemical Breadcrumbs

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Contour
2) Nest
3) Eclipsed
4) Skeleton key
5) With the wind
6) Seashell

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/28/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 28, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Five Random Constraints.

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. To make you meditate on specific word choice not necessarily at the most important plot places, but irregularly so that even connections can dictate concern and consideration at the word-level.


Today's constraints are...

1) Your title must be two sentences long
2) You must not include any words that begin with the letters "I" or "U".
3) You must include one character with white hair.
4) You must describe however briefly or offhandedly the theory of Plate Tectonics.
5) You must include the word "Bargain" and "Duck" in the first sentence or title.

6/27/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 27, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Ekphrasis.

Ekphrasis is from Greek meaning the description of a work of art as a rhetorical device. That's actually pretty straight forward, but another way to look at it, is it's highfalutin fan fiction, usually about paintings or pieces of music, but it can be about virtually anything. Look at or listen to the following piece of art and write a piece of prose or poetry that is inspired by some aspect of it.



Today's artwork is...


"Elephant and Pigeons" by Sarah Deremer.


The piece is already very surreal, so virtually any aspect of it could be used in your piece. I personally like the small fact that that elephant is in the snow. Normally when you think of elephants it's in a much warmer environment. A small touch, but I think a nice one.

6/25/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 25, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Narrative thread.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take the following story aspect and work it into a piece, whether poetry or prose, whether you explore what led up to this place in the story, it begins with the thread, or the thread is merely a tiny aspect of the story that has crystallized around the original image. However you choose to write it, use the following as a jumping off point.



Today's thread is...


Visiting a cousin who lives in the middle of nowhere you attend a party at an abandoned, partially burnt-down mini-golf course.


The age of the narrator for this piece is one to definitely take into consideration, as an abandoned mini golf course could be intriguing at very different age ranges for very different reasons. The obvious is as a teenager, but also someone returning to their hometown for a reunion and reconnecting with old friends at a place they used to go for childhood birthday parties might be a fun write also. Or this could go the horror route very easily, as the setting could be quite spooky instead of wistful if you'd like it to.

6/24/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 24, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:


(All of today's titles are taken from episodes 17-18 of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo)

1) Brain Fried
2) Inverse Skunk
3) A Mini Ninja
4) A Bling Bling Ring Thing
5) Two Squirrels in a Wool Sock
6) His Funeral Shirt

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Escapades
2) Black
3) Rust
4) With Remorse
5) But Furrier
6) Endearing

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/23/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 23, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: The How-To.

Today we'll work with the good old 'how-to' genre. Write a 'list poem' (or a regular poem) or a piece of prose that explains various ways or steps in how-to do something.



Today's how-to is...

How to impersonate an immortal.


Whether you have a specific immortal in mind, or you prefer the idea of pretending to have immortality you can have a lot of fun with this one. Here is a list of immortals in fiction. Here are some Greek Gods, here are some others from myth.

6/22/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 22, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Five Random Constraints.

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. To make you meditate on specific word choice not necessarily at the most important plot places, but irregularly so that even connections can dictate concern and consideration at the word-level.



Today's constraints are...
1) The piece must include two sentences made up of all the same words but in a different order.
2) You must include two tastes and two smells.
3) You must include at least one memory/flashback written in past tense.
4) You must not end any sentence on the letter "g" or "r".
5) Your piece must have a title that is exactly six words long.

6/21/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 21, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Wordbank.

For wordbank exercises take a few minutes to look through the following links which will have various lists of words. Pick out a dozen or so words that you like, whether you are drawn to them for their uniqueness, their sound, their meaning, whatever the reason, pick a bunch of words, at least 12. If any of the words' meanings are not crystal clear spend a little time both checking it out in the dictionary but also check through wikipedia for history of the word and its usage, if it's the name of a place or has some significance in the world aside from just its meaning. In your notebook take note of anything interesting that you come across. Be sure to look through all the related words and antonyms. You won't need to use all the words now, just some of them and it's good to have a pool to choose from.


Once you have your list, have done some research and have at least a half dozen notes try to following exercises.

1) Use three of the words in the same sentence. Then take those same words and use them in a new sentence but in the reverse order.
2) Use two of the words in a sentence that also includes the word "Keys".
3) Write two separate sentences that each use one word from the wordbank and the proper name of someone or a group of people nominated for a Billboard Music Award in 2012.
4) Use two of the words in a phrase or sentence fragment that is under six words.
5) Either use the sentence from #3 as a title and write either a poem or write a piece of short prose that uses the phrase from #4 in the first or last sentence.

6/20/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 20, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:

1) He didn't look the type to play superhero * from the song Always Comin' Back Home to You by Atmosphere
2) Beneficiaries of chance* from an essay by Ann Druyan
3) Thirty something loving nothing* from the song Out the Window by The Violent Femmes
4) Not an ocean, not an island, not a road* from the song Runaways by Sage Francis
5) Pull the tail, watch the wings flap* from the song Nightlight by Aesop Rock
6) I’ll spread my hand across your heart* from the poem Mirror by Bob Hicok in diode.

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Tile
2) Flipped
3) Paint
4) Into nothing
5) Threshold
6) Feast

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/19/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 19, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:

1) Let it bubble like Peroxide* from Period by MC Juice
2) That's how I'll live when I quit my rap career* from the song Strawberries by Why? 
3) Young tufts of spring in the darkness* from A Blessing by James Wright
4) Belly Up in a Pool of Us* from the song Belly Up by Maria Mena
5) When people wore pajamas and lived life slow* from the song Children's Story by Slick Rick
6) Perhaps I am the Turtle* from Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Periods
2) Droplet
3) Flat
4) Waves
5) Drowning
6) Interim

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/18/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 18, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Narrative thread.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take the following story aspect and work it into a piece, whether poetry or prose, whether you explore what led up to this place in the story, it begins with the thread, or the thread is merely a tiny aspect of the story that has crystallized around the original image. However you choose to write it, use the following as a jumping off point.



Today's thread is...


During a snowstorm you are stuck in a small apartment with two other people, only one of which you know. Someone pulls out a bottle of alcohol and more truths are shared than you ever expected.
Of course this doesn't have to be the whole story, flashbacks are a great tool for bottle episode. Also consider some out of the ordinary confessions or 'truths' to come to light while trapped together in the small space. It's always nice when the narrator themselves comes to a realization by the end of the story. Be sure there's at least one or two moments of levity.

6/17/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 17, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Five Random Constraints.

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. To make you meditate on specific word choice not necessarily at the most important plot places, but irregularly so that even connections can dictate concern and consideration at the word-level.

Today's constraints are...

1) The piece must be under one hundred and fifty words (not including title).
2) You must use two words from these lists of synonyms for break.
3) Your piece must be in the present tense.
4) You must include the word "Fey" in the first paragraph.
5) You must not use the words "say" "reply" or any form of the word "on".

6/16/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 16, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Ekphrasis.

Ekphrasis is from Greek meaning the description of a work of art as a rhetorical device. That's actually pretty straight forward, but another way to look at it, is it's highfalutin fan fiction, usually about paintings or pieces of music, but it can be about virtually anything. Look at or listen to the following piece of art and write a piece of prose or poetry that is inspired by some aspect of it.



Today's artwork is...

This submerged motorcycle. Photo taken by reddit user Flipett.


Whether you write about how the motorcycle arrived in the water, you tell the story of people trying to discover that secret, or the image is just present in your piece, this is a great image. The moss-covered motorcycle in clear blue water. Explore the image and see what you decide is the going on there.

6/15/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 15, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:


1) Withdrawn from the Day
2) Camp Curry
3) Christina Aguilera is Moving Again
4) Milk, Milk
5) Sparking a Larger Fire
6) The Torn Handle of a Grocery Bag

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Demand
2) Stuck
3) Frozen
4) Plastic
5) Slate
6) Genie

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/14/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 14, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Narrative thread.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take the following story aspect and work it into a piece, whether poetry or prose, whether you explore what led up to this place in the story, it begins with the thread, or the thread is merely a tiny aspect of the story that has crystallized around the original image. However you choose to write it, use the following as a jumping off point.



Today's thread is...


An alien has taken the form of a famous actor or sports star that you think would be the last person in the world to be masquerading as an alien. He's going home tomorrow and is opening up to you, his new drinking buddy.

 A little more prescriptive today, because sometimes that's what you need. If you want to change aspects, fine, whatever, just write! That's the whole point, not if you adhere to the prompt being a male alien, or an alien and not someone from the future or whatever twist you would like to put on it. Maybe the person is just drunk and delusional and not an alien at all—maybe he's getting sent to the minors in his home town and in his state that's how he expressed it to you. Maybe there's no drinking at all, but he gets intoxicated by eating fresh fruit or something. What does he tell you about his home, about his mission, about humanity from an alien's perspective? What is something that humans do that would be strange when viewed from the outside?

6/13/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 13, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: The How-To.

Today we'll work with the good old 'how-to' genre. Write a 'list poem' (or a regular poem) or a piece of prose that explains various ways or steps in how-to do something.



Today's how-to is...

How to Avoid the Cracks.


Whether you write it from the 'step on a crack and break your momma's back' literal perspective, or from a more metaphorical angle where cracks represent possible snags that life can throw at you, Or maybe you're the character in a video game knock-off of Super Mario where you have to jump over pits of pixellated fire. Maybe you're a concrete layer, or a sculptor, or a make-up artist. Maybe you're writing from the perspective of a singer and the cracks are vocal ones. However you choose to attack this piece don't second guess your choices, just power through and get something finished here,

6/12/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 12, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Wordbank.

For wordbank exercises take a few minutes to look through the following links which will have various lists of words. Pick out a dozen or so words that you like, whether you are drawn to them for their uniqueness, their sound, their meaning, whatever the reason, pick a bunch of words, at least 12. If any of the words' meanings are not crystal clear spend a little time both checking it out in the dictionary but also check through wikipedia for history of the word and its usage, if it's the name of a place or has some significance in the world aside from just its meaning. In your notebook take note of anything interesting that you come across. Be sure to look through all the related words and antonyms. You won't need to use all the words now, just some of them and it's good to have a pool to choose from.


Once you have your list, have done some research and have at least a half dozen notes try to following exercises.

1) Use three of the words in the same sentence. Then take those same words and use them in a new sentence but in the reverse order.
2) Use two of the words in a sentence that also includes the word "Fluid".
3) Write two separate sentences that each use one word from the wordbank and the proper name of either a rapper or a professional sports player.
4) Use two of the words in a phrase or sentence fragment that is under six words.
5) Either use the phrase from #4 as a title and write either a poem or a piece of short prose that uses that phrase in the first or last sentence.

6/11/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 11, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Five Random Constraints.

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. To make you meditate on specific word choice not necessarily at the most important plot places, but irregularly so that even connections can dictate concern and consideration at the word-level.

Today's constraints are...

1) One character must look for their glasses at some point.
2) You must use the words of at least three chemical elements in your piece.
3) You must include the words "Floating" "Tarnish" "Inflatable" and "Precipice".
4) You must include at least three sentences with fewer than four words in them.
5) Your title include a gerund (an "-ing" word).

6/10/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 10, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Narrative thread.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take the following story aspect and work it into a piece, whether poetry or prose, whether you explore what led up to this place in the story, it begins with the thread, or the thread is merely a tiny aspect of the story that has crystallized around the original image. However you choose to write it, use the following as a jumping off point.



Today's thread is...


Tell the tale of the first thing you ever stole.

Of course this doesn't have to be nonfiction, but if you want to delve into memoir, please do. Depending on the age of your protagonist, be sure to indicate why you hadn't stolen before then, or why you were already stealing. This doesn't necessarily have to be a physical item, remember. Interpret the thread as loosely as you'd like to.

6/9/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 9, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:

1) Spices of Marrakech
2) Until Years Later
3) Depressions in the Sand
4) INTERPOL gets involved
5) The Unlikelihood of Being Human
6) Windward

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Dropped
2) Still dry
3) Novice
4) Complimentary
5) Red
6) Read

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/8/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 8, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Ekphrasis.

Ekphrasis is from Greek meaning the description of a work of art as a rhetorical device. That's actually pretty straight forward, but another way to look at it, is it's highfalutin fan fiction, usually about paintings or pieces of music, but it can be about virtually anything. Look at or listen to the following piece of art and write a piece of prose or poetry that is inspired by some aspect of it.



Today's artwork is...


This mangrove photo by David Muench.


This beautiful afternoon photo has amazing potential. Perhaps a meditation on the colors is in order, perhaps a story set in this swamplike setting, whether the protagonist is human or otherwise. What could one be seeking in a swamp? Oh, so many things, many quite nefarious even.

6/7/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 7, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Fact-Based Piece.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take a fact or find a fact in the following database and do some research on it, then use it in some way in your piece. Be sure to use your Google-fu to flesh out the piece with some interesting information and so it doesn't come off as too 'one note' or surface level.

Today's fact is...

There are more plastic pink flamingos in the US than real ones.

The pinnacle of lawn kitsch, figure out a way to work this fact into a piece of writing. If you want more info about real flamingos, here you go.

6/6/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 6, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:

1) Whispers of San Sebastian
2) Escapade
3) Technology on Vacation
4) Water Moving Slowly
5) The Loveliness of Burning Wood
6) Extras

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Wishes
2) Coins
3) Leftovers
4) Annoyed
5) Wistfully
6) Din

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.

6/5/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 5, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Narrative thread.

About today's writing prompt genre: Take the following story aspect and work it into a piece, whether poetry or prose, whether you explore what led up to this place in the story, it begins with the thread, or the thread is merely a tiny aspect of the story that has crystallized around the original image. However you choose to write it, use the following as a jumping off point.



Today's thread is...


It began as a board game but ended in a high speed chase.


 What happened in the interim is where the story lies. Of course there's the small details: who's involved, what board game, what's the weather like, what was the impetus, who is chasing who, (is it actually a police chase?) and sometimes those small specific details are what makes the narrative all the more interesting and believable. Then there's always the question, does the narrative thread sentence appear in the piece, or just work as a guideline for what happens? Have fun with this one, even consider using little-known or made-up board games with Calvinball-like rules if you want something a little wackier.

6/4/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 4, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Five Random Constraints.

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. To make you meditate on specific word choice not necessarily at the most important plot places, but irregularly so that even connections can dictate concern and consideration at the word-level.

Today's constraints are...

1) The piece must include the same three digit number twice.
2) You must include an action or non-verbal description between every line of dialogue.
3) At least four sentences/lines must begin with the word "caught".
4) You must not use the article "a" in the entire piece.
5) Your title include the name of a desert.

6/3/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 3, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: The How-To.

Today we'll work with the good old 'how-to' genre. Write a 'list poem' (or a regular poem) or a piece of prose that explains various ways or steps in how-to do something.



Today's how-to is...

How to save the day.


Whether you write a guide to being a superhero, a realistic list of how to be prepared for any (or a specific) situation, you combine the idea of 'saving the day' and 'save the date' and discuss strategies to keeping a day open for an event, or even write a heartfelt recollection of a time when you, even in a small way, 'saved the day' by doing something that another person was very grateful for. Plenty of ways to approach this, have fun!

6/2/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 2, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Wordbank.

For wordbank exercises take a few minutes to look through the following links which will have various lists of words. Pick out a dozen or so words that you like, whether you are drawn to them for their uniqueness, their sound, their meaning, whatever the reason, pick a bunch of words, at least 12. If any of the words' meanings are not crystal clear spend a little time both checking it out in the dictionary but also check through wikipedia for history of the word and its usage, if it's the name of a place or has some significance in the world aside from just its meaning. In your notebook take note of anything interesting that you come across. Be sure to look through all the related words and antonyms. You won't need to use all the words now, just some of them and it's good to have a pool to choose from.


Once you have your list, have done some research and have at least a half dozen notes try to following exercises.

1) Use three of the words in the same sentence. Then take those same words and use them in a new sentence but in the reverse order.
2) Use two of the words in a sentence of dialogue.
3) Write two separate sentences that each use one word from the wordbank and the word "seaweed".
4) Use two of the words in a phrase or sentence fragment that is under six words.
5) Either use the phrase from #4 as a title and write either a poem or a piece of short prose to fit it,
6) Use the colloquial name of a type of seaweed (listed in parentheses) and one of your wordbank words as the title of a short piece.

6/1/15

Notebooking Daily Writing Exercise June 1, 2015

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Daily Exercise Genre: Title Mania!

About today's writing prompt genre: Instead of just using a random generator, for today's exercise I will offer up six titles. Pick the title that appeals the most to you and run with it. If you want to leave your choice up to chance use this random number generator. I will also have a small list of possible last words or phrases that you can use as an end-goal if you feel like you need a little extra direction/constraint for the piece.

Titles:


1) Death at a Baseball Game
2) Stolen Slivers of Seconds
3) Wave-Smoothed
4) Admonished Again
5) Pathway of Morning Mists
6) The Meandering River Plucks Daffodils

Words or phrases to end with:

1) Renewal
2) Plot
3) Fringe
4) Flip
5) Escalator
6) Dropped

Again, if you want to leave this to chance, use the random number generator.