10/8/21

2021 Writing Exercise Series #281: First Line Bonanza 23

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.

#281
First Line Bonanza 23

For today's writing exercise write a piece that begins with one of the following first lines.

1) P.T. Barnum wasn't the best role model, perhaps, but he took on that role for millions of young people.
2) "Why are so many people dying?" was the question everyone was asking that summer.
3) Winter came in with a bang.
4) Someone in the apartments was making cinnamon rolls—a cruel prank on Demetri's churning stomach and unconscious.
5) Tornado sirens were nothing new.
6) Like many other backstory retellings, he focused on the negatives.

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Bonus 'constraint': You must include a paragraph/stanza in which the all sentences or lines begin with the letter "W" (hint: who, what, where, when, why).
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try the Miles Davis Quintet album "Côte Blues".