Monday, January 31, 2011

Thinking cap

Hilarey here...

Robin Lee Hatcher had a great tip in her "Staying Organized in the Chaos of Writing Class."

She doesn't believe in being in the mood or having a muse, but that you can train your mind to switch from left brain to right brain.

The suggestion was: write in a particular chair, at a particular time or even wear a particular hat, each time you write. It helps to turn on your creativity.

Any other suggestions for telling your mind "It's time to work."?

Fun Lines in fiction -- James Scott Bell

“His busy white eyebrows suggested sedated lab rats, stirring only to scorn certain defense motions.” James Scott Bell, Sins of the Fathers

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Inspiration

“Your word is a lamp to my feet. and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NIV).

Friday, January 28, 2011

Fiction Lines -- Brandilyn Collins

“He drank in the sight of her. Goose pimples popped down his arms as he swayed. He could not fight the pull any longer. It wrapped tentacles around his ankles, threatening to suck him beneath the waves of his childhood memories.” Brandilyn Collins, Eyes of Elisha

Fun with Dialogue

Lisa here...

How would you flesh in the following dialogue?

“Why?”
“You gave me no choice.”
“But—”
“No buts about it. Leave now.”


Example 1:

He forced his eyes open. Tammy stood over him. The baseball bat perched on her shoulder. His head throbbed drumbeats of pain as he struggled to sit erect. “Why?”

Her dark eyes narrowed but a smile flickered across her lips. “You gave me no choice.”

“But—”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. “No buts about it.” She stood close to him, close enough he could smell her perfume. “Leave now.”

----
Example 2:

“Why?” Tommy’s brown eyes shimmered.

Mrs. Smith closed her grade book. “You gave me no choice.” She had warned him about turning in his homework. Two months was enough time. He had to learn. Maybe his report card would wake him up. He had the potential. If only he would try.

His bottom lip quivered. “But—”

“No buts about it.” She pointed to the door. “Leave now.”

___

Example 3:


“Why?” She rubbed the spot on her hand where her engagement ring used to be.

“You gave me no choice.” He took a picture of her off the wall and threw it in the trash.

She lowered her head. She couldn’t stand to see him in so much pain. “But—”

“No buts about it. Leave now.” He lit a match and threw it into the trash can. A lifetime of memories went up in flames.


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Thursday, January 27, 2011

More gifts for writers

Hilarey here...

I taught a high school writing class once and it was difficult to coax some of the teenagers to share what they were working on.

Gifts helped. One thing I came up with was a honey stick that had a simple address label attached. On the label I printed Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

Can anyone else submit a quick, inexpensive idea for a writing class incentive?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

What would be the perfect gift for writers?

Coffee pot with painless IV for direct caffeine access

Office chair with built-in exercise bike

No-calorie chocolate


Any other ideas?


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