1/31/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #31: Three Things Together 5


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#31
Three Things Together 5
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following three things, Nice and simple.

Photo by Irene Kredenets
But before you do that, read this brief description of Micronesian mythology and write three (3) sentences which describe myths you read about. Pick your favorite and expand that into a three sentence paragraph. Write a one sentence experience which would be a current everyday parallel of that myth (on a much smaller scale of importance, of course). You don't need to use any of these sentences, but take them seriously as a warm up, and maybe you can use one.

  1. A B52 Bomber
  2. A coconut
  3. A bicycle tire pump

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If you'd like some background music to write to, try Yuri Bashmet and Sviatoslav Richter playing Shostakovich's Viola Sonata, op. 147, live in Moscow in 1985.



1/30/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #30: Ekphrastic Protesting Umbrellas 4


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#30
Ekphrastic Protesting Umbrellas 4

Photo by Joseph Chan

For today, we're going to write a poem or prose piece inspired by another piece of art, or an ekphrastic piece. The piece of art in question is this photo by Joseph Chan from the Hong Kong protest at the end of 2019.

If nothing right off strikes you try the following exercises along with the image.
  1. Imagine yourself the graffiti artist in this protest and feeling the desperation to spray paint the phrase "Kill Me or FREE ME" on this barrier. Include umbrellas, and at least one clash of some sort with the police.
  2. Imagine this is a protest somewhere back in the 1920s. The image might look somewhat the same as umbrellas may have been even more popular then. During the protest (what's it about?) you snuck a can of paint and a brush and have begun painting messages all around during the unrest/tumult. What do you write?
  3. Umbrellas in the Hong Kong protests have been used for many purposes. Write a piece which includes at least three of the uses outlined in this article.
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If you'd like background writing music try Johannes Brahms' 21 Hungarian dances.



1/29/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #29: Erasing "Out of Season" 1


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#29
Erasing "Out of Season" 1

For today's exercise we have split paths for fiction and poetry, though I highly recommend that even fiction writers try the poetry exercise, because erasures can be a blast!

For poetry do an erasure or black-out poem from the following selection of Ernest Hemingway's 1923 short story "Out of Season". An Erasure/Blackout is really simple: you take the given text and remove many words to make it your own new piece. One way to go about the erasure that I like to do is to copy the text and paste it twice into your document before you start erasing or blacking out (in MS Word set the text background color to black), that way if you get further into the erasure and decide you want a somewhat different tone or direction, it's easy to go to the unaltered version and make the erasure/black-out piece smoother. Another tip is to look for recurring words, in this example marsala occurs many times and could be a good touchstone for your piece.

If you insist on fiction, write a piece with one of the three titles taken from this section:

  1.  "A Wonderful Day for Trout Fishing" 
  2. "Workmen in their Stone-Powdered Jackets" 
  3. "Mountain Boots and a Blue Beret".


Today's excerpt is a little short so keep that in mind\ when composing your erasure.

Erasure Selection:

from "Out of Season"

OUT OF SEASON

On the four lira he had earned by spading the hotel garden he got quite drunk. He saw the young gentleman coming down the path and spoke to him mysteriously. The young gentleman said he had not eaten but would be ready to go as soon as lunch was finished. Forty minutes or an hour.

At the cantina near the bridge they trusted him for three more grappas because he was so confident and mysterious about his job for the afternoon. It was a windy day with the sun coming out from behind clouds and then going under in sprinkles of rain. A wonderful day for trout fishing.

The young gentleman came out of the hotel and asked him about the rods. Should his wife come behind with the rods? Yes, said Peduzzi, let her follow us. The young gentleman went back into the hotel and spoke to his wife. He and Peduzzi started down the road. The young gentleman had a musette over his shoulder. Peduzzi saw the wife, who looked as young as the young gentleman, and was wearing mountain boots and a blue beret, start out to follow them down the road, carrying the fishing rods, unjointed, one in each hand. Peduzzi didn't like her to be way back there. Signorina, he called, winking at the young gentleman, come up here and walk with us. Signora, come up here. Let us all walk together. Peduzzi wanted them all three to walk down the street of Cortina together.

The wife stayed behind, following rather sullenly. Signorina, Peduzzi called tenderly, come up here with us. The young gentleman looked back and shouted something. The wife stopped lagging behind and walked up.

Everyone they met walking through the main street of the town Peduzzi greeted elaborately. Buon' dì, Arturo' Tipping his hat. The bank clerk stared at him from the door of the Fascist café. Groups of three and four people standing in front of the shops stared at the three. The workmen in their stone-powdered jackets working on the foundations of the new hotel looked up as they passed. Nobody spoke or gave any sign to them except the town beggar, lean and old, with a spittle-thickened beard, who lifted his hat as they passed.

Peduzzi stopped in front of a store with the window full of bottles and brought his empty grappa bottle from an inside pocket of his old military coat. A little to drink, some marsala for the Signora, something, something to drink. He gestured with the bottle. It was a wonderful day. Marsala, you like marsala, Signorina? A little marsala?

The wife stood sullenly. You'll have to play up to this, she said. I can't understand a word he says. He's drunk, isn't he?

The young gentleman appeared not to hear Peduzzi. He was thinking, what in hell makes him say marsala? That's what Max Beerbohm drinks.

Geld, Peduzzi said finally, taking hold of the young gentleman's sleeve. Lire. He smiled, reluctant to press the subject but needing to bring the young gentleman into action.

The young gentleman took out his pocket book and gave him a ten lire note. Peduzzi went up the steps to the door of the Specialty of Domestic and Foreign Wines shop. It was locked.
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try this very 1980's instrumental album by guitarist Phil Keaggy called "The Wind and the Wheat".


1/28/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #28: 3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 3


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#28
3x5x7 Wordbank Sprints 3
For today's writing exercise complete the following steps. The wordbank exercise has changed so be sure to take a peek at the new 'rules'. I recommend using the timer on your phone or computer and setting it for 1 minute. Each time you write a sentence, quickly reset the timer. If it goes off before you're finished with the sentence—wrap it up ASAP!

In order to complete the large number of sentences demanded of this exercise it is imperative that you write fast. Don't think too much at all until you've reached the final exercise. The process of this quick production is to thrust past second guesses or other stumbling blocks that sometimes impede your writing. You're aiming to write 23 sentences in at most 20 minutes so you have ten minutes to organize and write that actual piece, so you're going to be writing more than a sentence a minute.

WRITE FAST, DON'T OVERTHINK


  1. Pick one word from each of three groups and write a sentence that includes all of the words, feel free to change tense, pluralize, gerund etc. Repeat the process five (5) times using different combinations. No dawdling! 
  2. Now write three (3) sentences that are six (6) words or fewer in length that use any two (2) words from the wordbanks.
  3. Now write three (3) sentences that use four (4) or more of the words.
  4. Now write five (5) sentences which begin with one (1) of the words and contain a second one (1) of the words.
  5. Now write five (5) sentences which are fewer than ten (10) words in length and conclude with one (1) of the words from the wordbanks. Remember, keep up the pace! Don't overthink!
  6. Now rephrase two (2) of your sentences from exercise #1 in either a more efficient or more descriptive manner.
  7. Now write a piece of fiction or poetry that uses at least three (3) of the sentences you've written throughout this process of exercises. Try to use as many of the (good) sentences as you can, or parts of the sentences if the whole thing doesn't fit or works better altered.


Word Bank 1:
  • Contortions
  • Larva
  • Zit
  • Plod
  • Ferry
Wordbank 2:
  • Batter
  • Egress
  • Globule
  • Frank
  • Growth

Wordbank 3
:
  • Dragonfly
  • Puma
  • Cantilever
  • Ferrari
  • Flick

Bonus writing exerciseInclude a list of four famous people (or groups of people that are known with a proper noun such as bands, organizations etc) that have something in common, and include a description of the smell of either burning popcorn or plastic in the last paragraph or stanza.

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Want some mellow background writing music? Try Flemish orchestra musician and jazzhop producer Phlocalyst's BeatTape "Entity"


1/27/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #27: Beginning & Ending with Sprinkles 4


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#27
Beginning & Ending with Sprinkles 4

F
or today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which begins with one image, scenario, line of dialog or place and ends with another, and an optional additional requirement.


Begin WithA swirling pattern of cake sprinkle decorations on a birthday cake.

End With: Multiple characters standing under a tree during a sudden rain storm.


Extra Credit RequirementsInclude a large bell or chime's sound causing a distraction; and the words: "Troop" "Cowcatcher" "Helmet" "Turbulent" and "Hull".


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If you'd like some background music, try Chopin's Nocturnes.





1/26/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #26: Between a Fact and an Exact Place 3


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#26
Between a Fact and an Exact Place 3
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following place (either as the setting, referenced or some aspect of it described) and the following fact in some way (its discovery, used as a metaphor, witnessed etc).


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If you'd like some background music to write to, Eddy Doorenbos's jazzy crooning in his 1981 album "Here I Go Again...!".






1/25/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #25: Title Mania Plus Old Clouds 4


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is here! These are daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#25
Title Mania Plus Old Clouds 4

For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which uses one of the following as its title. For a bonus challenge use the additional exercise of five random constraints.


Titles:
  1. Turned Away
  2. 15, 16, 17 and Other Such Ages
  3. The System Breaks Down
  4. Three Years
  5. Morality, Altruism and Alvin and the Chipmunks

Bonus Exercise: 5 Random Constraints
(I recommend picking any required words or lines before writing with a little surplus for options, but with your chosen title in mind)
  1. The first or second word of your piece must be "Within".
  2. You must include at least five words which rhyme with "Flute".
  3. You must include something dropping into water (or liquid) from at least a foot above it.
  4. You must include the words "Ninety" "Left" "Tip" "Max" and "Trunk".
  5. Your must include a green vegetable.

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If you'd like some background music to write to, try prolific lofi artist Knxledge's album Old Klouds.



1/24/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #24: Three Things Together 4


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#24
Three Things Together 4
Photo by Steven Wright on Unsplash
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following three things, Nice and simple.

But before you do that, read this section about Edith Wharton's travels abroad and write five (5) sentences describing or referencing interesting things you read there. You don't need to use any of these sentences, but take them seriously as a warm up, and maybe you can use one.

  1. A banana
  2. A magnifying glass
  3. Bambi (the character)

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If you'd like some background music to write to, try Chet Baker and Paul Bley's 1985 jazz album Diane.



1/23/20

Be Wary Citizens! Hunger Mountain's (No-Fee) International Young Writers Prize (for High School Aged Writers) Deadline March 1, 2020

sponsors a contest called the
with a March 1, 2020 deadline

The Details(in their words):

This contest is open to only high school student writers (ages 14-18) from around the world, in all genres of creative writing: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for young adults & children, & hybrid work. Students in Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA Program in Writing & Publishing will judge submissions and choose an overall winner, as well as a finalist in each genre. The winner will receive $100 and online publication, and the finalists' names will be listed online.

Our goal with this prize is to foster the next generation of creative writers, and to encourage young people to make their voices heard. We look forward to reading your best work.

We accept, per entry:

  • One short story of up to 5,000 words
  • One essay of up to 5,000 words
  • One document with up to 3 poems included
  • One piece of writing for children of up to 5,000 words
You may enter multiple submissions, but please limit to one entry per genre category.

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Hunger Mountain is the print literary journal based out of Vermont's College of Fine Arts. They describe themselves as such:

Past contributors to Hunger Mountain include Elizabeth Acevedo, Dilruba Ahmed, Pinckney Benedict, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Destiny O. Birdsong, Robin Black, Ron Carlson, Hayden Carruth, Lucy Corin, Kwame Dawes, Matthew Dickman, Mark Doty, Rita Dove, Santee Frazier, Terrance Hayes, Robin Hemley, Bob Hicok, Tony Hoagland, Lily Hoang, Pam Houston, Major Jackson, W. Todd Kaneko, Maxine Kumin, Dorianne Laux, Kelly Link, Robert Lopez, Sidney Lea, Michael Martone, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Naomi Shihab Nye, Gregory Orr, Ann Pancake, Carl Phillips, Jordy Rosenberg, Tomaž Šalamun, Charles Simic, Jake Skeets, Patricia Smith, James Tate, Paul Tran, Jean Valentine, L. Lamar Wilson, Tiphanie Yanique, and many others.

Hunger Mountain was started in 2002 by founding editor Caroline Mercurio through a generous donation from a Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing alumnus. The journal has since thrived with the assistance of MFA in Writing faculty & ongoing support from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, VCFA alums, subscribers, & friends. Miciah Bay Gault served as Editor from 2009-2018, & the journal is now run by students in VCFA’s MFA in Writing & Publishing Program & Editor Erin Stalcup.
For the Adults, the same deadline: 
They also hold contests in multiple genres with a March 1st deadline which do have fees, they all have a grand prize of $1000, except the chapbook contest which is $100 and 50 copies of really finely made chapbooks.

  • Poetry (Ruth Stone Poetry Prize 3 poems, $20 entry)
  • Fiction (Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize, up to 8000 words, $20 entry) 
  • Non Fiction (unnamed, up to 8k words, $20 entry)
  • Chapbook (May Day Mountain Chapbook Series, any genre, 30-50 page, $10 entry)
  • YA/Children's lit (Katherine Paterson Prize, up to 8000 words, $20 entry)


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Do something good with your spring

So if you know a teenager that's interested in writing, maybe take them under your wing briefly and guide them through some writing exercises or workshop their pieces once you make it very clear that you're not telling them their words are bad, but just that for this venue, you know how they would like the piece to read... Really you're just doing a workshop with kid-gloves, but one which will help them progress. Or just encourage them to submit if they have solid pieces. They can submit once to each genre as well, so remember that if they write in multiple genres. Get a kid on the right literary path this spring and put a little "I did a good thing" pep in your step.



2020 Writing Exercise Series #23: Beginning & Ending with Green 3


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#23
Beginning & Ending with Green 3
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which begins with one image, scenario, line of dialog or place and ends with another, and an optional additional requirement.


Begin WithThe smell of freshly cut grass.

End WithEating something with the taste of peppermint.


Extra Credit RequirementsInclude a large bell or chime's sound causing a distraction; and the words: "Hysterics" "Forty" "Campaign" "Scoot" and "Flung".


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If you'd like some background music, try Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 conducted by Manfred Honeck.




1/22/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #22: Ekphrastic Cabin 3


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#22
Ekphrastic Cabin 3


For today, we're going to write a poem or prose piece inspired by another piece of art, or an ekphrastic piece. The piece of art in question is this render called "The Secret Cabin" by the amazing French digital artist Christophe Tritz.


If nothing right off strikes you try the following exercises along with the image.
  1. You are the builder and owner of this cabin. Why did you build it this way? The tiny cabin up top looks like only enough room for a staircase down to the actual house—do others know about your secret underground lair, or does it remain your secret? Tell us about someone coming for a visit.
  2. You are a magistrate/sheriff coming to investigate a missing old man/woman. You arrive at the cabin and find it well up-kept, but no one seems to be in the little cabin, entering, you discover this much larger abode and explore it. Does the owner come home while you're searching? Do you find something awful? Amazing? Magical?
  3. This is the home of a magician/wizard of some sort. From the perspective of the sunflower at the middle of the garden, describe the odd comings and goings to this magical home. Has the magician enchanted you so you can interact with the guests, or are you merely a sentient plant? Can he communicate with the other plants in the garden, what smells come from the cabin/vents from those cauldrons?
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If you'd like background writing music try Nepalese musician Manose Singh's bamboo flute album Suskera.



1/21/20

2020 Writing Exercise Series #21 One Word Exercise 1


The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.



These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#21
One Word Exercise 1

For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which focuses on one word. If the word itself doesn't spark a piece, do the generative exercises below.

    1: Shut off from the light; as in "Dark" or "Murky"
    2: Hard to understand; as in "Obscure"
    3: Causing gloom

    1. Think of things that are shadowy, dark, sketchy, unsafe etc. Places, situations, things in the look of someone that just say "Not safe, run." Write down as many as you can for five minutes. If you're stuck google some of those terms. Get at least ten things but you should be able to get much more than that in five minutes.
    2. Now think of things that are confusing, unclear, nebulous, non-distinct etc. Places or things that melt together, things that are screened, veiled, shielded, concealed, occluded etc. Again, write down as many things as you can for five minutes and google image search those words looking for interesting things, places or words you can describe or use. You're building a bank to harvest from. Don't overthink things, write them and move on to the next go for volume and diversity of 'things'.
    3. Pair up interesting combinations of things from exercise #1 and #2, at least one from each. Get at least three combinations. Write a paragraph for each combination, using the extra sentences as connective tissue to allow the paragraph make sense. Make sure there's at least one very unexpected event in each of the paragraphs (magic realism, surrealism, extremely unlikely event)
    4. Pick your favorite paragraph to expand. Use at least 2 unused items from either list #1 or #2. If the word Tenebrous doesn't appear in the piece, consider including it in the title.
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    If you'd like some background music to write to, try the ÆkaSora - Naruto "Rainy day" lofi hip hop remix.


    1/20/20

    2020 Writing Exercise Series #20: Rhymebank Rounds-Rhyming Poem 1


    The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


    These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes. 
    This may be pushing 45 unless you're really writing fast.

    #20
    Rhymebank Rounds-Rhyming Poem 1

    Rhymbank Rounds are a new type of exercise. Kind of like the Wordbank sprints, but there will be more focus on editing and re-writing, and you'll complete a piece, with the main focus of the exercises being on Like Sounds. If you're typing I suggest copy/pasting the lines you're editing to save time, save the originals in their own exercise space.


    1. Take three minutes and jot down/type all rhymes and slant rhymes (include phrases for multi-syllabic words/feminine rhymes) you can think of just off the top of your head for the word: Pat. If you have trouble getting more than ten or so remember to rhyme with packtap, and even pant. You want to have close to thirty (30) words even if they're only kind of rhyming.
    2. Pick four of those words you wrote down and underline/bold them. Write three sentences for each of those words which include at least two other words from the rhymebank you generated from #1. Try to use even more words without making the sentence awkward or too weird—a little weird can be good though.
    3. Fragment time! Write down ten (10) sentence fragments which end with words from your rhymebank—they should end in either a comma or a period. You don't need to know the rest of the sentence or the context so something like "with a quick pat" or "pledging the worst frat".
    4. Fragment time 2! Write at least ten (10) 5-word partial sentences that use at least two (2) words from your list. Don't worry about context or what might be being said, just make sure you can make some logic of the phrasing.
    5. Short fragment time! Write five (5) three-word partial sentences which use two (2) words from your rhymebank back to back. No dawdling, but try to switch it up and use words you hadn't yet if you can. An example would be "the fat rat" or "in fact rap".
      -
    Poem or story time!
    1. Rhymed Poem: Write a poem that is 12 lines in three quatrains (4-lined stanzas) with the rhyme scheme ABCB BABC CBAB with B being words from your rhymebank. Try to use fragments from the previous exercises and even the rhymebank itself to fill out your poem with as many 'like' sounds as you can within the lines. Lots of 'at/ack/ap/ant/ast/act' etc. Lots of plosives. If you want more guidance, pick your favorite 3 fragments that ends in the rhymebank sound that can be an ending. Your favorite is your ending. The other two will be the end of the Fourth and fifth lines, so ending the first stanza and starting off the second.
    2. Free form narrative: Pick your ten favorite fragments and find a way to fit those pieces together. What do I mean by fit them together? I mean that you're required to use ten of the fragments you'd written in a coherent piece by adding connective tissue and exposition/whatever needs to get you narratively from one line to the next. Whether you write this as a story or a poem is up to you. 
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    If you'd like some background music, folk musician Mike Cooper's 1970 album Do I Know You?.



    1/19/20

    2020 Writing Exercise Series #19 We Mean Anaphora—Repetition Files 2


    The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


    These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

    #19
    We Mean Anaphora—Repetition Files 2

    For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which focuses on repetition. In this instance we will work with anaphora. It's a handy little bit of poetic craft that goes a little something like this:

    the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines to create a sonic effect.
    Take a moment and read the Poetry Foundation article, even if you know the term. For even more fun check out this longer article called Adventures in Anaphora.


    "By ____ we mean..."

      There are a number of ways you could approach this bit of anaphora. You can explain specialized jargon from a profession or a hobby and
      . Or do something completely different. Just be sure that the repeated phrase earns its worth in your piece. It should be necessary.

      Bonus Writing Sprint Exercise: For the following exercise don't be afraid to write from narrators that are not yourself. Each sentence can be a new person if you'd like. Follow the following steps.

      1. Write 5 sentences which are eight words or fewer where the ____ is "Family". Write another 5 (same length) where the ____ is "Loyalty". Now write another 5 sentences (same length) where the ____ is "Home". 
      2. Write 2 new sentences each "Family" "Loyalty" and "Home" which are at least 15 words.
      3. Pick your favorite sentence. Whichever word that one uses, write ten more sentences using that word.
      4. Now use that sentence bank to put together your piece, filling in the connective tissue where it needs it, using only parts of sentences sometimes (use two or more of the shorter sentences paratactically in the same section by removing the anaphoric phrase (as in, "By home we mean where the bunk bed is, the frayed blankie, both the painful and the best memories.")

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      If you'd like some background music to write to, try Mozart: Great Mass in C minor, K. 427




      1/18/20

      2020 Writing Exercise Series #18: Title Mania Plus Metamorphosis 3

      HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

      The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is here! These are daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

      These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
      #18
      Title Mania Plus Metamorphosis 3

      For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which uses one of the following as its title. For a bonus challenge use the additional exercise of five random constraints.


      Titles:
      1. In Thin, Elegant Lines
      2. Whetstone, Knife
      3. Followed Over the Edge
      4. "I'm Freaking Out, Man"
      5. Free Show

      Bonus Exercise: 5 Random Constraints
      (I recommend picking any required words or lines before writing with a little surplus for options, but with your chosen title in mind)
      1. The first or second word of your piece must be "Hopefully".
      2. You must include at least four words which rhyme with "Fling".
      3. You must include some sort of chocolate or something that contains chocolate.
      4. You must include the words "Egg" "Tender" "Gate" "Nut" and "Hang".
      5. Your must include the image of snow melting.

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      If you'd like some background music to write to, try Slovak composer Eugen Suchon's Metamorphosis for Orchestra 1953 performed by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra with Zdenek Kosler as conductor. Give it a click, guys. The music is really peaceful and the video has under 275 videos when posting this.



      1/17/20

      2020 Writing Exercise Series #17: Three Things Together 3


      The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


      These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
      #17
      Three Things Together 3
      For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following three things, Nice and simple.

      But before you do that, watch this 3 minute clip from BBC's Wild Alaska following an arctic fox pup. Pause at every 30 second mark and write a sentence describing something you saw (this will be 6 sentences). Try writing from the perspective of someone or something that might be seeing it, try being very concise and descriptive. You don't need to use any of these sentences, but take them seriously as a warm up, and maybe you can use one.

      1. An Icicle
      2. Corn on the cob
      3. A paper grocery bag

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      If you'd like some background music to write to, try Dmitri Shostakovich - Viola Sonata 147 written in 1975 and performed by Yuri Bashmet (viola), Sviatoslav Richter (piano) in 1985.


      1/16/20

      2020 Writing Exercise Series #16: Between a Fact and an Exact Place 2


      The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.


      These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
      #16
      Between a Fact and an Exact Place 2
      For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which contains the following place (either as the setting, referenced or some aspect of it described) and the following fact in some way (its discovery, used as a metaphor, witnessed etc).


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      If you'd like some background music to write to, try Schumann: Piano Concerto / Đặng Thái Sơn & Paavo Järvi (with bonus Chopin: Mazurka Op.17-4 at around the 35 minute mark).





      1/15/20

      2020 Writing Exercise Series #15: Six Word Shootout 1


      The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.

      These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.


      #15
      Six Word Shootout 1

      For today's writing exercise write a piece that includes the following six words. While it perfectly sets you up for a sestina, feel free to write whatever you'd like (but ya know, give that sestina a shot!). Also feel free to make slight alterations to the required words if you want to avoid that eye-pokey repetition you can find in sestinas sometimes.

      Required Words: Magnet, Protest, Task, Plate, Shoplift, Upend

      -

      Bonus Exercise: Also include these words which are found within your required word: Net, Test, Ask, Late, Lift, End. 
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      If you'd like some background music to write to, try this album of Guzheng covers of popular songs.