In the Thick of Things

These writing prompts first appeared last week over on Monday Motivation.

Joshua has been home for a week and will be flying out on Friday (insert frowny face here). (He flew back last Friday, and yes, I did shed a few tears on my way home from the airport.)

(This was posted in “the middle” of his visit and Joshua is my middle child. Therefore, it got me thinking about middles.)

Middles can be hard. In a story, you have to keep the reader flipping those pages. Plus, you don’t want to head off on the proverbial bunny trails.

1. This might take some serious brain power, but think of a book or movie that “lost you” in the middle. Analyze it carefully. In your opinion, what did the writer do wrong?

2. Rewrite a particularly distracting/boring/unnecessary scene in a way that would hold your attention more effectively.

3. How do your favorite writers keep you turning those pages?  Write down as detailed a list as possible.

4. Write three scenes: a gripping opening, a Wow! ending, and a compelling middle.

5. Open a novel you’ve never read before. Read the first two chapters. With no more info, write your own version of a third chapter.

Have you read a book with a particularly compelling middle? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Not that my To Read list needs to be longer . . .

10 “Unsung Heroes” Writing Prompts

This post will appear in Monday Motivation November 19 at Christian Editing Services, but I thought I’d give you a sneak peek.

Last week we paid particular attention to servicemen and women, past and present, which we should do on an ongoing basis—not just once a year.

Today, I’d like to draw your attention to another kind of hero. They’re everywhere. You probably know several personally; you may even be one.

Just what kind of a hero are we talking about?

Almost every morning when I arrive at work—between 7:30 and 7:45—there is already someone here . . . two someone’s, actually. There is a gracious older couple who attends our church who have taken it on themselves to tidy up—inside and out—on a regular basis. They expect no accolades or special mention. They do it as an act of service.

Those are the kinds of heroes I’d like to focus on this week. While they won’t be the subject of epic poems or the main characters in best selling novels, they are crucial to our lives and to our writing.

Here are some writing prompts based on the idea of The Unsung Hero:

1. Write a scene from a skit/play/screenplay that features one or more supporting actors (aka unsung heroes).

2. Write and send a thank you to one of the unsung heroes in your life.

3. Describe the physical characteristics of your main character, the hero/heroine . . . or one from a favorite TV show or movie.

4. Now, describe the physical characteristics of a “secondary” character.

5. Write a scene in which their characteristics are reversed. The protagonist can still shine and the unsung hero can still play a less prominent role, but it will take some real thinking to pull it off.

6. Snatch a biography or autobiography from your bookshelf—or borrow one from the library. Read the book or at least a few chapters. Would you characterize the main character as a hero in the classic sense of the word? If not, what makes this individual interesting enough to be the subject of a book?

7. Research unsung heroes online. Write a one-page piece about an interesting individual or group of people you come across.

8. Write an over-the-top caricature about an unsung hero.

9. Image yourself as a “real” hero. Write a journal entry after a particularly exciting day.

10. Image yourself as an unsung hero. Write a journal entry after a typical day.

If these prompts inspire your writing, I’d love it if you’d shared an excerpt with us. 

Words Matter Blog Challenge – Days 4 & 5

Day 4 – What person in your life helped you understand the importance of choosing words carefully?  What would you say to them if you met them today?

After almost thirty years, I suppose I qualify as “an old married lady.” In those three decades I’ve learned a thing or two about the importance of the words I choose when relating to those closest to me.

My husband and I wrote our own vows. As Christians, we looked to the Bible as the source of our inspiration. Dave promised to “love me as Christ loved the church.”

I thought, “Nice sentiment, but how is that possible?” Well, truth be told, he has spent our married lives doing just that.

In the early years, my emotions were all over the board. Poor guy! At the end of the day, he never knew what he’d be walking into. Far too often, I would blow up for no good reason. When I did, I’d see the hurt in his eyes. He refused to get caught up in the cycle, and instead, always expressed patience and compassion.

Because he did so, I can honestly say I don’t remember the last time we argued. It didn’t mean I was always even tempered, but it did prevent many hurtful encounters.

Thankfully, I get to tell my husband each day how much I love and appreciate him.

Words – and the way we say them – can make all the difference in our relationships.

Day 5 – If you had to eliminate one word or phrase from the English language, what would it be?  Why?

Beyond swear words, all of which I would eliminate if it was up to me, I would eliminate the phrase “oh, never mind.”

This phrase can be interpreted in a number of ways.

1. “I can’t be bothered explaining myself.”

2. “This conversation is not worth the effort.”

3. “You are not worth the effort.”

4. “If you can’t see things my way, well…hmph!”

5. “I’d rather sulk than explain myself.”

As someone who has dealt with the frustration of feeling unable to explain myself, I understand why people resort to saying, “Oh, never mind.”

As a communicator, I know words matter.

As a friend and family member, I know it’s important to listen to an other’s perspective and to explain oneself fully.

Words Matter Blog Challenge – Day 3

It’s already Day 3 of the Words Matter Blog Challenge. (Check it out here.)

Day 3 – Communication breaks down when words are misused.  What is the funniest or worst breakdown you’ve ever observed?

This is craziness…almost 51 years on this planet – 612 months, 2652 weeks, 18,627 days – and nothing stands out.

I gave the question a lot of thought, and then I reread the statement: “Communication breaks down when words are misused.” Isn’t that the truth?

Years ago, I was a very angry person. The wrath would bubble up inside of  me like acid. What was worse, it would overflow and splash on those closest to me: my ever-patient, ever-loving husband and our three amazing kids.

Of course communication broke down. What my words and actions were saying was so far from what, at the deepest level, I wanted to express. I desperately wanted them to know how much I loved them.

What I didn’t want to say…”My anger is all your fault. If you would just do things right, I wouldn’t feel like this.” But that’s what I communicated time and again. Blame hormones. Blame tiredness. Blame my humanity. But that really doesn’t cut it.

Although, at the time, I’m sure the anger and accusations did a lot of damage, I have been blessed beyond measure.

No longer does anger have a foothold in my life. I haven’t lashed out in years. My husband kept on plugging, and we’ve been married for almost 30 years. (He’s such a blessing!) I can honestly say I am friends with our three grown children, all of whom still call this “home.”

Words can, indeed, be misused. Thankfully, there is healing for the damage they cause. I truly thank God that healing has been applied to the hearts and minds of those I love.

This is one area about which I say without reservation WORDS MATTER!

Happy Words Matter Week

Days 1 & 2 of the Words Matter Blog Challenge. (Check it out here.)

Day 1 “Writers craft words into memorable phrases, stories, poems and plays. Who are the writers who make your heart sing? Why?”

This is such a difficult question for me to answer. I have eclectic tastes and read many different authors and writers.

Currently, I am reading Frank Peretti’s newest novel, Illusion. Peretti offered free chapters of the book to those who “liked” his Facebook page. I was hooked from the first paragraph, and so far, he has sent out twenty chapters. If I had the book in my hands, I’m sure I would find it difficult to set aside. Peretti’s This Present Darkness is the first book I remember trying to read while doing housework. I have no idea how the many mysteries of Illusion will be resolved, but I look forward to finding out. Books that keep me turning the pages are among those that make my heart sing.

I am also reading Margaret Brownley’s Dawn Comes Early. I’ve gasped and laughed aloud while reading it. I’m always impressed when an author can evoke such a response without the benefit of soundtracks and special effects.(Stephenie Meyer’s The Host was the first book that made me sob aloud. Oddly, I count it among books that made my heart soar.)

I am honoured to belong to Women Writing for Christ. Heather carefully crafts beautiful poems, some of which I have posted here on my site. Barbara also writes lovely poems, as does Rita. (I’ve posted some of her work as well.) Darlene writes challenging blog posts at Dream, Believe, Fly. Lisa shares personal stories on her site and great information about the craft of writing with her co-writer, Marcy, at Girls with Pens. Their work makes my heart soar, as does their friendship.

There are so many others, but space is limited.

Day 2 What word, said or unsaid, has or could change your life? How?

Worship…I attended the Worship Matters conference in Lansing, Michigan last month with a dozen others from my church. Bob Kauflin’s last session was about the importance of worshiping God with our entire being: body, mind, and spirit. It isn’t just about going to church on Sundays and trying to do the right thing. It’s about showing others what we truly believe not only with our words, but with our actions as well.

And how will this affect my writing? While I don’t always refer specifically to matters of faith, I want to encourage and uplift readers at every opportunity. Last week two amazing things happened. 1) I attended the birth of a beautiful baby boy and 2) a poem I had written in his and his late great grandfather’s honour was read at the funeral. Words really do matter!

Writing Prompts

If you would like a springboard for your writing, I invite you to check out Monday Motivation here.

January 23 – Ephiphanies

January 30 – Fears and Apprehensions

February 6 – I’m not sure yet, but it will likely be something along the lines of The Joys of Getting Older.

Hope you can pop by often.

Black and White

(The above picture is under copyright. Please do not reproduce it without permission. Thank you.)

My husband is the eternal diplomat. He isn’t wishy-washy. He really does see things from both sides…or all sides, as the case may be. However, for the most part, I see things as right or wrong, black or white. (Mind you, age and maturity have tempered me. Although I still don’t want to compromise what is right, I now know I may not always be right. *grin*)

This black and white vision is the basis of this week’s prompts. (For more prompts, please visit Monday Motivation at Christian Editing Services.)

1. Get hold of a black and white photograph and freewrite for fifteen minutes. Don’t plot and plan. Just write whatever comes to mind.

2. Study old b/w portraits. Develop a detailed character sketch for one of the subjects.

3. Create a dialogue between two of the subjects in one of the photos. Choose two who don’t seem to know one another.

4. Write a personal memo or letter to one of the subjects.

5. Write a paragraph or two explaining life today to one of the subjects. Make sure you use words in a way he or she would understand…you know – when windows were something people cleaned in the spring and tweeting was something only birds did. *smile*

6. Create two lists of things you feel strongly about, one a list of things you consider right and the second a list of things you consider wrong. If this prompts an idea for an article or an op-ed piece, go for it.

7. As I learned many years ago, flipping out or being critical of those who don’t share my perspective doesn’t get me anywhere. Choose one item on your list and write an op-ed piece that doesn’t attack the opposing view or those who think differently than you do, but still makes a good case for what you believe. Remember the old adage: You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. (If you’re up for a real challenge, take the opposing view and do the same.)

8. Look at a color picture and the same picture in black and white. Fire off a list of what draws your attention in each. It’s amazing just how different the focus can be.

9. Light and shadow…right and wrong…black and white…What pops into your mind when you think of these contrasts? Run with that.

10. Black and white pictures can be considered old-fashioned or chic and contemporary. Which is it for you? Write a poem from your perspective.