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2021 Writing Exercise Series #14: Dueling Six Word Shootout 2

The 2021 Writing Series is a series of daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep their 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.

This is not a standard writing session. This is pure production—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 it, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.

#14
Dueling Six Word Shootout 2

For today's writing exercise write a piece that includes one or both of the following sets of 6 words. Don't front-load them all into the beginning of your piece, save at least one or two for somewhere to 'aim' your piece. Remember sestinas have 6 different end-words, but don't let me tell you what to write. Just use all 6 (or twelve) words in a fashion that isn't throw-away. Don't put them in in a way that you'll definitely later edit them out because they don't add to the piece. Make them important. This might require a little brainstorming at first. Don't be afraid, you can do it!

Set 1: 
1) Doubt 
2) Knot
3) Tout 
4) Taut 
5) Scout 
6) Loud


Set 2:
7) Renown 
8) Crowned 
9) Scrounge 
10) Mound 
11) Flan 
12) Pawn

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Bonus Exercise: If that's not enough, also include the following three things: A cell phone's cracked screen, Saturn and Charles Barkley.
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try "Genesis - Acoustic Covers for Piano & Chamber Orchestra played by Gazzara"