Beth Neff's Blog - Posts Tagged "prompts"
Writing *blinks*
New Blog Feature - Writing *blinks*
Each week (or so,) I’ll post a little writing note, idea, exercise, reflection – something to keep those writing fires burning!
Find *blinks* here, or “like” my Beth Neff-author page on Facebook to receive *blinks* on your newsfeed.
If you are particularly inspired, send your results/comments to authorbethneff@gmail.com and I may post your contribution on my website! www.bethneff.com
Today's *blink* -
Go outside. What is the weather doing? What does the sky look like? (today, we’re grey and overcast with light rain.) Think of vivid and picturesque ways of describing the scene before you (if you’re inside looking out, add that to your description.) Imagine a scene that’s far away from you but still with the same weather – on a dock ready to board a ship? A child stepping out onto the playground? Struggling to open a stubborn umbrella as you rush to an important meeting? Be creative. Use metaphors but make this weather an integral part of the setting you want to create.
Each week (or so,) I’ll post a little writing note, idea, exercise, reflection – something to keep those writing fires burning!
Find *blinks* here, or “like” my Beth Neff-author page on Facebook to receive *blinks* on your newsfeed.
If you are particularly inspired, send your results/comments to authorbethneff@gmail.com and I may post your contribution on my website! www.bethneff.com
Today's *blink* -
Go outside. What is the weather doing? What does the sky look like? (today, we’re grey and overcast with light rain.) Think of vivid and picturesque ways of describing the scene before you (if you’re inside looking out, add that to your description.) Imagine a scene that’s far away from you but still with the same weather – on a dock ready to board a ship? A child stepping out onto the playground? Struggling to open a stubborn umbrella as you rush to an important meeting? Be creative. Use metaphors but make this weather an integral part of the setting you want to create.
You're an Artist
Writing *blink*
Read a paragraph or page from one of your favorite books. Pay attention to the use of words, the lengths of sentences, the choices of verbs and metaphors. Now write a paragraph imitating this exact style. Make the subject different but try to ‘hear the voice.’ What’s hard about it? What, of your own writing style wants to creep in? Listen carefully because that’s probably YOUR voice. (Note: this is not plagarism. You’re not going to try to copy another author’s writing and pretend it’s your own. Think of it as how the great masters of the Renaissance required their apprentices to copy the master’s work again and again until they had honed their skills.)
Read a paragraph or page from one of your favorite books. Pay attention to the use of words, the lengths of sentences, the choices of verbs and metaphors. Now write a paragraph imitating this exact style. Make the subject different but try to ‘hear the voice.’ What’s hard about it? What, of your own writing style wants to creep in? Listen carefully because that’s probably YOUR voice. (Note: this is not plagarism. You’re not going to try to copy another author’s writing and pretend it’s your own. Think of it as how the great masters of the Renaissance required their apprentices to copy the master’s work again and again until they had honed their skills.)
Out of the corner of your eye
New writing *blink*
Collect ten gestures. Watch people in your school, office, at the bus station or grocery store. (Be discreet – no staring, please.) Observe how they move their bodies, perform gestures, make facial expressions depending on their reactions to whatever is going on around them. Just write these down and keep them for future use or build a story around them. Don’t use words that describe feelings – just rely on the descriptions to convey the emotions.
Collect ten gestures. Watch people in your school, office, at the bus station or grocery store. (Be discreet – no staring, please.) Observe how they move their bodies, perform gestures, make facial expressions depending on their reactions to whatever is going on around them. Just write these down and keep them for future use or build a story around them. Don’t use words that describe feelings – just rely on the descriptions to convey the emotions.
Or maybe a musician!
Writing *blink*
Have you ever heard of a riff? It's a blues concept, a variation on a musical theme. It's the idea of staying true to a general set of rules (timing, key, etc.) while letting the imagination go within those parameters. Just like writing, right?
Okay, here's the exercise:
Choose an object. Study it, observe everything about it and then use the written word to describe it. In other words, create a riff. Ask questions. Do you and this object have some history together, some associations? A story? Write from any perspective, even that of the object itself. A riff on everything to do with this object.
Have you ever heard of a riff? It's a blues concept, a variation on a musical theme. It's the idea of staying true to a general set of rules (timing, key, etc.) while letting the imagination go within those parameters. Just like writing, right?
Okay, here's the exercise:
Choose an object. Study it, observe everything about it and then use the written word to describe it. In other words, create a riff. Ask questions. Do you and this object have some history together, some associations? A story? Write from any perspective, even that of the object itself. A riff on everything to do with this object.
You might need to *blink* twice at this one!
Freeze frame – describe an event that occurred recently with as few adjectives as possible, no added emotion or response. Simply say what happened with short sentences, attention to detail but no flowery description. It doesn’t even have to be a significant event, might be better if it’s not. This is from your point of view.
Now, consider writing the same event from the perspective of someone else. Or write it in a different tense, sprucing up your descriptions, nailing them down, as you go. Have fun! And send me your results - they may be posted at www.bethneff.com!
Now, consider writing the same event from the perspective of someone else. Or write it in a different tense, sprucing up your descriptions, nailing them down, as you go. Have fun! And send me your results - they may be posted at www.bethneff.com!
Put it in its place
Did you do last week's 'freeze frame' *blink*? Now, instead of an event, write about a place. Be short, direct, accurate, no flowery language necessary. And you don't have to be describing Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon. Maybe you just want to talk about your kitchen counter or the path out to your mailbox. In any case, pay close attention and try to include observations from the perspective of all your senses. If you're still enjoying yourself, change tense and go again.
And, don't forget, you can send your results to me at authorbethneff (at) gmail (dot) com and I might comment or post (if you want me to.) Keep it fun!
And, don't forget, you can send your results to me at authorbethneff (at) gmail (dot) com and I might comment or post (if you want me to.) Keep it fun!
