Creative Writing Exercise

I can take NO credit for this whatsoever. It was sent to me over a year ago & I found it awfully funny.

A university creative writing class was asked to write a concise essay
containing the following elements:

1) Religion
2) Royalty
3) Sex
4) Mystery

The prizewinner wrote:

"My God," said the queen. "I'm pregnant! I wonder who did it."

Cheers,
Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesday: Story Starter

The Guys

What a group of guys! What do you think they are up to and what are they laughing at? Is the laughter genuine or fake? What is the guy in green looking at? Characterize these crazy characters.

by Elizabeth

First Line Friday: Gimme 5 quickies!

This is a fun one that will take only a few minutes of your time.

Gimme 5 quick first lines that pop in your head without thinking too hard!

1-Rosa's past was just about to catch up with her.
2-When I found the teddy bear on the sidewalk, my heart stopped beating.
3-Who do you think of when you fall asleep at night.
4-The revolving door finally came to a stop.
5-Life on my stepfather's farm was far from normal.

Okay, so I did that in about 2 minutes. Take a few minutes and share with me your quickies either on a comment or let me know in your comment that you're blogging First Line Fridays and link back here. I'd love to hear your lines! They can be as cheesy as the pick-up lines we've all grown to tolerate or something that might become famous someday...it was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

by Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesday: Story Starter

Remember...wordless for me...but not for you!

My CurlyQ

Oh, what in the world could she be covering her ears from? A dog barking? An airplane overhead? Her mama? What would you name this character? How would you characterize her and her life? Even our little characters need to be well-developed. How would you develop a 2 year old...maybe not this 2 year old but let her inspire you to develop a child and let me know your thoughts...or link back to here and write your own post on this subject.

by Elizabeth 

First Line Friday: Gimme a 1, and a 2, and a 3!

Oh, I LOVE working on First Lines...not because I always intend to finish the story but sometimes that great line just pops into your head in the middle of grocery shopping, taking your kiddo potty, or people watching...does it happen when I sit in front of Buffy (my lappy MacBook Pro) ready to write?

I am going to share with you 3 opening lines.
1-My WIP.
2-A favorite from a favorite book.
3-A wannabe novel first liner.

1-In my latest WIP which is my Amish grandmother's "memoir" titled SEASONS this is the first line:

I'm an old lady.

Short. Perhaps not the most evocative line but it's a start.

2-A Favorite from a Favorite Book:

Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.

Wow...now THAT is a mouthful. It is the first line of...of course, Anne of Green Gables...and the first paragraph! I'm not sure many writers, readers, editors, agents, pub houses...etc...would appreciate SUCH a long first line nowadays. But I sure enjoy this one.

3-A Wannabe Novel first line:

The darkness always increased Anna's sense of hearing.

Again, it's not perfect...but perhaps one day this will be the first line of a story I'd love to write.

What are your 3 lines! Please, share with me!

by Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesday: Story Starter

Guilty or Just a Cover?

Hmmm...what kind of character would this be in your novel? The villain? Or the good guy under-cover? What would you name him? What's his story?

Enjoy!

by Elizabeth

Before and After...

You know how life TOTALLY changes when you become a parent.  Even your writing changes.  No, seriously...it does. 

Don't believe me?  Watch...

Before:
Sarah relaxed in the bath with a good book.  She nearly dropped it in the water when she fell asleep in the calming scent of lavender.

After:
Sarah hadn't showered in four days and finally when she had 3 1/2 minutes to herself she turned on the shower only to realize that her sweet boy, Mark, had thrown her new Betsy St. Amant book in the tub. 

***

Before:
The scent of balsamic vinegar wafted through the air as Melanie flipped through her Style magazine, leaning over the island in the kitchen.  She peeked over and noticed that the water was a nice rolling boil and swiftly  added the basmati rice.  Her husband walked in with a dozen roses and kissed her soundly.

After:
The scent of vinegar and urine stung Melanie's nose as she sprayed Lysol behind her with one hand and threw in the 5 minute rice away that she'd burned because she hadn't removed it from the burner.  But on her way to the trash she slipped on the soiled undies that she'd forgotten to pick up.  Just then her husband walks in with a dozen kids hanging off of him, giving kisses all around.

***

Before:
She crawled into bed and made sure her alarm would not sound off in the morning.  She loved Friday nights with a Saturday free to sleep in.

After:
She crawled into bed after two in the morning completely drained of any energy after having a toddler with croup.  It seemed she fell asleep for only about seven minutes when she heard the barky cough hacking through the monitor.  In her sleep even the tired mom was up and rushing to the bedside of her two-year-old.  She gave her a drink and the mixture of honey, apple juice, and lemon juice that had been helping then gathered her curly-topped little girl in her arms and brought her to the master bedroom.  Though comfortably curled up the family still didn't sleep like babies, but at least they were together.  No matter the lack of sleep, Elizabeth loved being Mommy.

***

Yeah, writing does change.  Life changes.  FOR THE BETTER.

Boy, do I ever love being a mama to my sweet Curly-Q!  She really does bring out the best in me.

What's your BEFORE and AFTER?  Share!!!

Cheers,
Elizabeth

...you have to start somewhere...

I saw this neat writing exercise over HERE and thought...Oh, fun!!!  And, since I'm a fun girl, I had to join in...clearly!

While the hype about first lines is way over rated I don't think that the 1st line is a total make it or break it...I do think it's important to have it well-thought-out.  I've always loved writing the first lines to my manuscripts (I won't go into detail about how many line my dusty shelves).  {clears throat}

I digress...though the special first chair spot is so temporary and it's just a space keeper waiting to be booted out by better wording, thoughts, and typically something vastly different from where it started.  When you first fill that beautiful thick parchment paper with your flowery calligraphy, ahem, I mean when you have your fingers paralyzed at ASDF JKL; ... suddenly the right words will come.  Not without being forced, man-handled, chocolate eating, and, let's be honest, a little rocking back and forth that may or may not include banging your head on the edge of your desk...for better or worse mostly worse they will be written.

So, here are 10 first liners...no rewriting, editing and no not really too much thinking...

1-For most of my life I was considered the girl next door.
2-My mouth went dry when I looked down and realized that my husband was divorcing me.
3-I think I actually remember my first cry in the doctor's arms.
4-Where were you when your parents fell in love; I was sleeping in the bedroom next door.
5-The drive too forever this time, not just because of the icy roads but also because the book I was reading was so boring.
6-Lincoln grabbed at his wrist when he realized he couldn't stop the bleeding.
7-Military decorum meant everything to Raphael but now he was being dishonorably discharged.
8-Malinda heart pounded as she swung around in circles looking for Jayden, who had been swallowed up in the crowded sidewalk.
9-The last thing Joy remembered was the ribbon hitting her chest as she ran through the finish line.
10-Lola looked up and saw the doctor from across the hall. 

Okay, that's a lot harder than I originally thought.  Really, you should try it!  Maybe it should be a regular on Mondays.  The "work" week has to start somewhere...so does a novel...

Cheers,
Elizabeth