#Daily writing exercises

[flaskoflethe]

It's a funny thing, being seen.

A decade ago, we got an experience that was if not actively unpleasant certainly set a trend. We were seen, and didn't expect to be, and didn't know how to be ok with it. Which, this was half a decade before we even realized ourself; how could even a fragment of insight from an other not pierce?

Then it happened again, a few years later. We knew it was a possibility now, although one that wasn't easier. We didn't like being seen, being known. It was still years before actualization, of course it was unpleasant.

And after transitioning, we've stayed fairly closed. Not in private, but that was learned. We've been fortunate with friends, and have so much respect for what it took to see us before even in existentially stunting stealth. And it happened, again, today. We were seen, and this time...

This time it went well. We laughed at it, not as a defense but with genuine amusement. Something that was close, personal, was known by Other. And we weren't just ok with it because they're professional, but because.

It can be nice to be seen?

[daily-prompts]

“I think the hard work of writing is just how long a book is terrible before it's good.”

― Leigh Bardugo

[yyprompts]

#26 🌙❤️🤍

seeking help/aid

"I'm sorry to bother you but I need your help with something."

"Please, it'll just be one night, you don't have to act like it's the end of the world."

"You always ask for favors just to waste my time." / "What I'd give to have this be another playful favor."

"I'll help you with anything, that's what I'm here for." / "This time, it's not so simple..."

"I'm literally the person you hate most in this world. Why do you want my help?"

"No, I get it. There were lots of times I needed help where no one came to my aid either. It happens to everyone."

"You're just always so independent and put-together, it's weird to see you losing your shit now."

"Uh, back in the break room...was that a cry for help?"

"Haha, the last time you asked me to help you with something, I didn't leave your side for the whole day." / "It was an emergency, my god!"

"It's not my fault the grocery store shelf has better height genes than me!"

[starryslyii]

My story needs to simmer… on low… for like 6 months.

[enlightenedfeline]

Daily prompt #52: ≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼

A local bakery owner starts a program specifically for senior citizens, teaching them how to bake on weekends.

[gildedbearediting]

Writing Exercise: Flashback

Today’s cue card writing exercise is straightforward and quick. Remember, if you recognize these cue card exercise then let me know where I got them from in order to properly credit the source. Alright, let’s get to it. Start with these memory prompts: 5 years ago… When I was a teen… My father used to… Keep it short, use the senses. Include important setting details and dialogue. You can use…

[writinghoursopen]

Writing prompt #972

“Sorry for the loss, or congratulations. I never know with you.”

[corellianhounds]

Idk if me being excited about writing annoys you guys or not, but it hasn’t been until the past few years that I’ve been able to see a story from start to finish. My usual writing style was just to start with an idea and descriptions and worldbuilding and interesting characters and just write, but more often than not I got stuck halfway through with no end in sight. Knowing where a story ended was rare.

Now though, anything you all see on this blog that’s longer than a one-shot is something I know the ending of. Posting it piece by piece might be sporadic and slow-going in the middle, especially since I have so many dishes cooking in the kitchen, but I know how the story ends. I know where the characters are going to end up

I’ve seen the architect vs gardener description for how different writers write but neither have felt quite accurate to describe how I work on projects. The gardening style was how I used to write, and I had good ideas and visuals and imagery and elements I wanted to use, but the structure would suffer for it and I couldn’t figure out the endings or what I was trying to say/do with the piece. Architecture-style feels too rigid and I suck at outlines, though I think that was mostly due to the fact any outline styles teachers or professors taught or gave us felt too formulaic and I didn’t know how to write a story by coming up with something for rising action, character intro, up the stakes, etc. That was always too disconnected and confining, and trying to write backwards from “Here’s the ending, figure out how it gets there,” has always felt bizarre and disjointed to me. The stories and characters end up not feeling organic and natural, always ending up forced and unsatisfying and ultimately just not well-written

What I do now is somewhere in the middle, which I KNOW is what most people are like, but the best way to describe it is like panning for gold: I write everything and anything down from all of the things I input regardless of what idea it pertains to, and as I sift through and think on the pieces I already have out I get closer and closer to something that’s solid and real. Sure, 80% of what I put on the page in a day are fragments and bits and pieces of stuff, but it’s OUT and it’s no longer distracting me and I can go back through and look for the potential in each of them or draw inspiration from one thing to use elsewhere. Then when those nebulous floating pieces come together I know the rhythm and flow of how it’s supposed to be written and how the characters are going to get there. Trying to force characters into certain actions that have to happen for The Plot to progress almost never works for anybody, and readers can tell that it feels contrived and ineffective.

Anyway. I genuinely like coming up with new ideas and different projects. All of them tend to improve because I’m taking inspiration from all of them and applying it somewhere else, and sometimes just working on another project helps give my mind the break it needs to come back with fresh eyes and an objective view. Anything I write is influenced by everything that has come before it, and I often find the solution I need for one project while I’m prospecting somewhere in another.

[mothsvein]

How many times can your character skip a stone?

[leighwillwritethat]

If you're looking for a challenge, join us on March 15th when we try to write like Stephen King... for a fortnight, at least.

(Turns out it's way harder than it looks.)

Click here for challenge details.

[wicked-whump]

I think this post will mark the start of me posting my "daily" writing exercises. Most of them will probably be short things inspired by a randomly chosen image/word. If it's an image, I'll post the image under a cut after the writing.

For the first few I no longer have access to the image that inspired it, so I'll just put a short description. Without further ado:

Writing Exercise #1

(A black and white image of a long-haired white man holding a guitar in one hand and his other fist in the air, screaming into a microphone)

Time: 10 mins | Word count: 100

Blinding lights, harsh noise, a throng of writhing bodies. Being tossed this way and that, one helpless speck in a sea of movement and heat and sweat. A bloodied nose here, a chipped tooth there, the best way to experience the raw power and emotion of this music. For a moment, it settles, and then a cheer goes up from the crowd when the band members return to the stage for the encore.

The thrashing begins again, masses of people moving discordantly, no rhyme and with one reason: to release. A release of energy, of emotion, of inhibitions and reservations.

[daily-prompts]

"You're lying to me."

"You don't know that."

[yyprompts]

#34 🌙❤️🤍

defensive prompts.

"I didn't do it, why are you accusing me?"

"Keep your nose out of my business, got it?"

"Say whatever you want. People value my words over yours."

"I don't even care, I don't know why you're talking like I care."

"Maybe it's true. Why, what is a twit like you gonna do about it?"

"I am not! You're just jealous that you don't look half as glamorous as I do."

"Funny that you think you can talk to me like that when you literally look like a deflated balloon."

"You sound so funny, acting like you know what you're talking about."

"Umm, who said anyone wanted to hear your opinion?"

"At least I'm not always annoying everyone with my stupid mouth!"

[starryslyii]

I’ve been thinking (a truly terrifying concept, I know)… writing down my thoughts is one thing, but what about speaking them? A video diary feels both terrifying and intriguing. Would you ever try one? Or do you prefer the safety of words on a page?

[enlightenedfeline]

Daily prompt #41: ≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼

A stressed college student finds a random book in the library that they believe is all nonsense, but they're desperate to pass their exams so they follow what the book says, and do a ritual that actually ends up summoning a demon.

The demon, who hasn't been summoned since medieval times, has a lot of catching up to do, and is offended at the fact that they were summoned solely to help this student pass their finals.

[gildedbearediting]

Writing Exercise: Plotting Together

This cue card exercise is perfect for those that have trouble with plot, and mapping it out. With this exercise, I wanted to pair it down as much as I can without losing too much context. Yet, I couldn’t help myself in losing track of my thoughts a little. First, write your details for the following: Choose a Character Choose a Setting Choose an “Opposition” Character Choose a…