Tips and Advice About Writing and Self-Publishing
For this week, I thought we’d merge the short story and journaling prompt together. Think about a story you read and enjoyed so much that it’s been a keeper in your story collection. For the short story writer, this will get you thinking about what makes a good story and what made you enjoy…
This week’s prompt focuses on saving to buy something. For the short story writer-what is it your character hopes to buy? How are they saving their money and what are they doing to earn the money? Something legal, perhaps not so legal? Something fun? Do they reach their goal? If you’re journaling, think back…
This week’s prompt is all about a window. For a short story, what does your character see when he or she looks out of the window? Something they shouldn’t? Something beautiful? Someone they like or have a crush on? Do they go outside or stay indoors and spy from afar? For journaling…look out the window…
This week it’s all about songs. If you’re writing a short story, your character decides to write a song. What is it about? Does he or she sing it for someone and what’s the result? Do they have a winning song on their hands or something they’d rather forget? If you’re going the journaling…
As the title says, short and sweet, and that’s what this Ramblings is going to be. It’s been a week off from teaching for me and to be honest, I haven’t done a lot. Monday kicks off a new teaching month with Crafting The Short Story/Novella. Here’s the link to sign up if you’re…
This week it’s all about vacations. Think back to one you took. If you’re going the journal route, write a couple of pages about it. Which one do you remember the most and why? If you’re the short story writer, then your prompt is to have your character head out on vacation. Where is…
Or winter depending on what part of the world you live. Either way, it marks a new beginning. Days start getting shorter again or longer. New beginnings are perfect to look at goals. Ones you’ve set or ones you want to set. Recently, I’ve discovered that it’s goals and motivation that are the biggest hurdles, or…
This week the focus has been on motivation so let’s continue with that theme for this prompt. If you’re going the short story route, think about what motivates the character in your story. In fact, knowing that is key to any good story. What do they want? How are they going to get it?…
Memories sometimes make the perfect stories or at least an idea for a story. They also make the best journaling prompts. For this week’s prompt either journal about one of your summer memories or base a story upon it. Maybe it’s going to the beach, trying to get out of a sudden downpour or thunderstorm…the sights…
Your two characters are wearing the same shoes. Were they supposed to? Is it part of a team outfit? Or did they not plan on wearing the same shoes to the event and it starts a conversation…maybe even an argument? Perhaps these two characters know one another, maybe they don’t. There’s lots you can…
