New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone...speaking of which:

Today's Prompt:

Write a story about a New Year's Eve experience involving you or someone you know.

Idea joggers:

• too much to drink
• special outfit
• snow storm
• plans that changed
• meeting someone
• other unique happenstance

Donna
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Bio Bits

Write a short bio about yourself. Keep it to 100 words or less.

Donna
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New Year Writing Goals

Today's prompt is a bit different. I want you to consider your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve within the next year?

I set writing goals each year. From these goals, I set monthly goals and weekly goals.

Take the time to write down at least three writing goals for the new year.

Donna
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Bad Christmas Gift

I remember back in the 70's when I wanted a sunlamp for Christmas. One package under the tree met the bill. I just knew it was the aswer to my pale palor--I was excited. Christmas morning when I ripped the wrapping away, I stared at a box of new pots and pans. My heart sank--but I couldn't let the giver know how disappointed I felt. So I plastered a smile on my face and thanked him. Over time, the pots and pans proved to be the better gift, but at that moment on Christmas morning I expereienced an inner battle.

Today's prompt:

Develop a scene where a character opens a "bad gift." It can be serious, ture, fictional, or filled with humor.

Donna
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Two By Sea

Place two passengers in a boat and put them on the water. Add any two of these elements:

a ring

gusty wind

music

fie along the shore

a big fish

Donna
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Driving Down the Street

It's easy to overlook details in familiar territory. Today's exercise draws these details into focus. Imagine driving down your street on July 4th. How would that be different from Christmas Eve--or when the fall colors are at their height? Develop a scene that picks up the details--you pick the season, day and time.

Donna
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A "B" Story

Write a scene including these three items:

1. Bubble
2. Book
3. Board

Donna
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Did You See That?

Create a character waiting to see something--but just when the time comes they aren't paying attention. What distracts them?

Some ideas for things to watch for:

a baseball player up to bat with a full count and bases loaded

the bride and groom to come out of the church

someone in a crowd

Donna

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How to Make a Cookie

Holiday time can drain our engergy and zap our time to nill. To keep writing even through the frezy have fun with this one. Describe making your favorite cookie. Keep it to no more than three paragraphs.

Donna
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Religion In The News

Take a media bit from the news that deals with religion. Now develop a scene from the flip side of that news story. If religion portrayed in the news is strict--create it tolerant. If forbidden, allow it. And of course if war breaks out because of religion create peace. What news piece you select will determine the flavor of your story.

Donna
Check out more articles and classes on writing at the Inspired Author

Shopping When Hungry

It's easy to get caught up in running errands and skip lunch--or just plan to eat when you're done, but ohhh those delicious smells in the grocery store.

Today's prompt is an effort to include smells and aromas in our writing. Create a hungry character drifting through the aisles at the local grocery. What do they smell and how does it affect their actions?

Donna
Check out more articles and classes on writing at the Inspired Author

Snap Shots

Put a camera into the hands of a grandmotherly character. Does she know how to use the technology? Is it an old fashioned camera? Does it need a battery?

Once you decide on the type of camera, put her into a family mix for the holidays. And one more thing--she likes to snap photos.

Donna
Check out more articles and classes on writing at the Inspired Author

Comfort

People find comfort in small things. To create believable scenes, small realistic details offering sensory information readers (as well as the character) process to equal comfort. Develop a character seeking comfort in one of the following:

a hot cup of coffee or tea

a chocolate sundae

looking through a scrapbook

walking in the woods

pick one of your own

Donna
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That's Not Music

Describe the noise others consider music. Here's the twist. Write it with a sense of humor.

Donna
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Show Off

Develop two young male characters vying for a girl's attention.

Idea starters:

athletic contest or game

hanging out at a local mall

offering help in a store

Donna
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Vermin

What gives you the creeps? What sneeks into your nightmares? Write a scene with swarming vermin surprising or chasing your character.

Donna
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Snack Time

Develop a snack time theme around one of the following:

Super Bowl

after school

PMS time

Donna
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School Days

Create a classroom setting. What do you smell? Hear? Maybe even taste? Don't tell the grade--instead show it.

Donna
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Mistaken Identity

Have you ever called to someone in a crowd and then realized it wasn't the person you thought it was? Write a scene where mistaken identity evolves into a relationship.

Donna
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The Interview

Develop a character that's after a job. Include the following:

a scent

papers scattering across the floor

an unusual sound

Have fun with this one!

Donna
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Going For a Ride

This is a reasearch prompt. Look up one of the following modes of transportation and learn enough detail to take a character for a ride.

motor bike sidecar

sports car from 1935

pullman train

covered wagon

Donna
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Comfort Food

We all hear about it. Most of us even turn to it during times of stress. But, not everyone finds comfort in the same foods. Develop a scene describing the perfect comfort food.

Donna
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Like the Wind

At a recent writers group meeting, we discussed the incorporation of description in writing. What's the right amount and when is it necessary?

I recommended "The Sky" exercise from Pumping Your Muse which offers promps that train us to practice writing description in one sentence.

Today's Prompt:

Show the wind in one sentence (each) using the following items.

dry leaves

long grass

snow

water

Donna
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Breaking the News

Create a scene with two or more characters. One or two of these characters has news to share with the others. Is it good news or bad? Develop the exchange between characters. If you're looking for a springboard for your ideas consider these:

Someone is:

in the hospital

moving

going to have a baby

promoted

Donna
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Take Over

Write two scenes involving the same character. Here's the twist. Take over the character's mind for the second scene and place them in the same circumstances but acting opposite the first scene.

Prompts to include:

Unexpected visitor

Fire

Storm blowing in

Donna
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Bathrobe

Write a scene involving a bathrobe and one or more of the following:

rose petals

a pipe

newspaper

sticky lock

big toe

Choose a piece you've already written. Polish it up and submit.

Donna
Check out more articles and classes on writing at the Inspired Author

Submitting your work to the right markets

I know it's not easy for new writers to let go of their writing and send it into the cold world of publishing, but if you don't you'll never see your name as a byline. Some people are afraid of rejection, so their desire to be published wars with their desire to be published. For many, this leads to avoidance. Others just aren't sure where to submit. Searching out the right market is a big part of the submission process, and then making sure your piece is in line with the market's submission guidelines is another important part of the process.

Check the writer's guidelines

Every market has their own set of writing guidelines. If you have a market, publication or publisher in mind, you can find their submission guidelines on their website. If you can't find them, use the search tool. Type in "guidelines" and that should bring you to what you need. These guidelines work as a writing style guide. They offer information from how to format your document, to how much the market pays. If your new to searching for markets I'm happy to tell you there are some handy resources to help you out. One of the best is, Writer's Write. Here you'll find a wide-range of submission guidelines from publications seeking short story submissions, poetry submissions, nonfiction articles, manuscripts and they even offer writing contests links at times. The site is easy to navigate, and they even offer a link for paying market listings to help narrow your focus. 

As you look for markets, know your genre. If you write flash fiction, you can search for "flash fiction submission guidelines" in your browser. Be specific. It will help cut the time you spend browsing for markets. And as you check the guidelines be sure to see if they accept simultaneous submissions. If they do, you can submit the same piece to multiple markets at the same time. If not, you have a choice. Submit and wait to hear from them or look for a different market. If it takes six months, you can't submit elsewhere.  And if you receive a rejection, it can feel like a waste of time. That is not truly the case, it is part of the process, but something you'll want to weigh as you pour over a variety of guidelines deciding who will have the privilege of  reading your work. 

Include a brief cover letter

Be sure to include a brief cover letter and author bio with your submission. If you are unsure how to put this letter together, it's a good idea to pick up a book like The Ultimate Query Letter Tool Kit or How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters.

 

Today's Writing Prompt

Today's prompt is a bit different. Choose a piece you've already written. Polish it up. Take the risk and submit. It's part of life as a writer. I know several people who love to write but never submit. Writing is meant to be shared. Don't let fear of rejection stop you from submitting.

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Choose the Rules

Pick three rules from the following list and develop a scene:

Only one character speaks

In the dark

4 objects start with the same letter

Write in third person

No adjectives

No adverbs

The antagonist is dead.

Donna
Check out more articles and classes on writing at the Inspired Author