How-To Create Writing Prompts

One of the most helpful and time-saving tasks the writer can do is to create a series of writing prompts. These prompts can be for any genre, any writing level, and any length of proposed project. If all you need is a mental push—okay, let’s talk shove here—prompts fill your plate with possibilities.

Deciding on a theme for a group of prompts can keep you in work. Whether you’re blogging or writing on spec, prompts can help keep you focused. If you enjoy writing poetry, you can keep yourself occupied forever with a few photos or subject prompts. Here are some examples for two subjects.

All you need is to give your imagination free range. Each prompt is a wisp of thought or image derived from the theme.

Theme: A coastal location and a brewing storm (This theme has driven prose and poetry alike for centuries.) 

·       Prompts

o   A lost child is calling

o   Returning home

o   Sunken treasure

o   Selkies—mythical creatures

Theme: A Winter’s Day

·       Prompts

o   Old-fashioned sledding with shovels

o   Bitter cold and the walk home

o   Deep snow hinders free movement

o   Bright blue skies and snow-burdened pines

None of these prompts took time to conger up. They were waiting there, just under the surface, vying for attention. What can you do with such small prompts?

Any of these could be the basis of a short story, a poem, an article, or a profile. A Profile?

Yes, a profile. Look at it this way. How many times have you read an article about a lost child calling for help until someone hears? There’s a rescue, emergency personnel, etc. And how many times is the child interviewed? What about the rescuer? Sometimes they fade into obscurity or anonymity. In times past, they’re often ignored. Or, what about when the rescuer is an animal? Can you think of an angle where a profile can be done on the one ignored, or the animal praised and forgotten? Could this not be a historical article?

Selkies? Really? Dig a little into mythological history and see what you find. These are fascinating creatures; ones still accepted as real among some fishermen. Could you not put verse together about these, a piece of short fiction, or perhaps an article on mythical creatures in today's world?

Bright blue skies and snow-burdened pines are an idyllic winter scene, but what is the danger here? Can you find it? If you live in the Deep South, would this be heavenly or hellish? Perspective defines all things.

Taking the time to put together short writing prompts, to themes which interest you or can further express your thoughts and ideas, can keep you writing, even when you’re facing that blank page and empty mind syndrome known as writer’s block. Give it whirl. What do you have to lose? I’d be willing to bet you can get through to the end without your mind triggering on one of your generated prompts.

Enjoy the exercise. It helps tone a writer’s idea muscles. Until later,

Claudsy

News Breaks

Friday, June 1, 2012—Claudsy and Meena Rose launch their new endeavor “Two Voices, One Song” with two posts, one in the Garden room and the other in the Kitchen. There’s a bit of something for everyone.

Denise Stanley of “Room to Write” fame is having a Giveaway for the next couple of weeks. Pop on over and see how to enter this lively little celebration. She’d love to see you. 

Claudsy’s Calliope will continue for the foreseeable future with a posting two-three times a week. Yes, you all thought I’d abandon you, didn’t you? No such luck for now. I’ll still come here to kitbitz, complain—but not much, and generally talk about writing.

Claudsy’s Blog will have postings every other day from now on, since I’ll have new post on 2Voices, 1Song on alternate days, usually. Please drop by Claudsy’s Blog anytime you get the opportunity. I’m working on guest posts for that site for this month, and perhaps another interview as well.

My author’s page on Facebook could use some more love. If you haven’t done so as yet, please pop over there and punch the like button. I’ve still got a few needed likes before I get any insights on that little page.

I’ve decided to go back to studying Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.” I abandoned it when Sister and I went on the road and didn’t pick it back up on our return. It dawned on me when I was writing my post for 2Voices, 1Song, how much I need to resume that study.

Therefore, beginning tomorrow, I’ll be back at my Morning Pages. Heaven only knows what will erupt from my subconscious now. It will be interesting to find out.

Things around home are chugging right along. Sister begins her new degree program next Monday. I have my own coursework at the moment and for many moments to come. Learning is a good thing around here that we strive for.

And there you have it for today on my personal news front. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for coming here and reading my small musings as often as you do. You are truly appreciated.

I’ll see you next time, folks.

Claudsy

http://claudsy.wordpress.com/

http://2voices1song.wordpress.com/welcome/

Turning Off Alarm Bells, Building Structure, and Fulfilling Dreams

When I left teaching, my life drifted for quite a while, not because I couldn't think of something for which to use my time. On the contrary, I could think of dozens of uses for time, but to what purpose. The idea of purpose kept nagging at me. I didn't seem to have any, and the realization ticked me off.

No longer stranded on a foggy, deserted beach, I took up writing again where I’d left off years before. Oh, there were no screenplays or commercials. There was no research for PBS documentaries on spec. I no longer did corporate writing. Instead, I began slowly by learning to write specifically for children.

What does this have to do with alarms, structured lives, and fulfilling one’s life dreams? Everything!

My first desire as a child was to write. I came to a place where my need to fulfill that purpose, held so long within a tiny corner of my being, refused to remain in the shadows. My life was worth more than early retirement, disability, or relaxation.

My writing brought me here, to this new cosmos of cyber energy and virtual reality, completely peopled and conveniently housed. I made an interesting personal discovery the other day; one which I intend to do something about.

I’ve watched my day skewered by bits of life’s battle with time. Errands, email, writing prompts, publication submissions, social media networks, you name it. This goes on each day as I run to catch up. I stopped running today. I took a nap when I was tired.

I got three poems out to, for me, a new market. I singled out a new submission to another market for tomorrow. I didn’t work any further my author’s page. That will happen some other time. I did get two other blog posts done. I didn’t complete a guest post that I need soon.

Yesterday these unfinished items would have nagged with the voice of guilt as I went to bed; today, not so much. I made a decision to stop battling with time. I can do what I can do. That reality is the only one that matters. I don’t have to apologize to anyone for not working 18 hours at my desk each day to complete goals I set for myself. I only have to move the goals to eliminate the guilt.

Each problem has both a solution and an opportunity; a solution to correct the problem or minimize it; an opportunity to take something unexpected from the problem and create a new project, attitude, viewpoint, or blessing.

So much of our day is taken up with the business of others. Some of us choose to take up the business of ourselves and what’s good for us. When we live at the behest of others, we only exist for ourselves. Existence isn’t the same as living. Living takes energy, gives energy, and creates beauty.

Restructuring life takes time and effort, but it pays for itself in the end. Lately, I've had little real time to write as I want to, dreamed about, and planned for. That situation is about to change.

I’ll still blog, but my blogging will have morphed into something new. I’ll be writing more poetry, more guest blogs for other sites, and working far harder on my own books. And I’m looking forward to this new avenue of endeavor.

The world is changing as am I. It’s my hope that each of you will be along for the ride, however long I stay in the saddle. Stay tuned for my announcement of things to come and places to go.

Until then,

Claudsy

Approaching Daytime with Nighttime Thoughts

Courtesy of BJ Jones Photography

You’re wrenched from sleep by the nightmare rampaging behind your eyelids, leaving you drenched with sweat and gasping. After all you’ve just run for your life, pursued by a raging lunatic with delusions of godhood.  Why wouldn’t you be looking around to see where she is?

Has this ever happened to you? Don’t feel alone. This past week I’ve been through this scenario at least four times, once with shouted sound effects: mine. I chalk it up to my muse preparing me for a day at the keyboard.

I would welcome the experience if I was engaged in actively writing horror stories. Unfortunately, I’m not. Horror isn’t usually my cup of tea.

Thankfully, these weren’t memories either. I admit to having known a few with major emotional and mental problems, but none who went quite that far. So what it is that I’m supposed to get from this race against nightmare pursuit?

I get a kick-start in my day, first thing in the morning. These types of events almost always occur just before I need to get up in the morning. I don’t recommend them as a visual alarm clock. It’s too hard on the heart.

I also get an imagination that’s wide awake and looking for a place to happen. Just because I don’t write horror doesn’t mean that I can’t use this snatch of dream as an action scene for one of my fantasy stories. They always have to have villains, and those with delusions of godhood make some of the best; especially when you give them normal day jobs and pleasant demeanors.

The latest one gave me the answer to a sticky situation with my main character, the second lead, and several bits related to or involving the villain that I didn’t realize I had until now. That’s quite a bit of work for such a short bit of dream, but I’m grateful for it.

So, if you’re looking to broaden how you approach your daytime writing, look to your nighttime thoughts. They may well hold the key to those influential scenes with hero, villain, backstory, etc. Who knows what kind of gem mine you might find when you go on an active search.

I’m sure you’ve heard all the tips.

·       Keep a small notebook or index cards on the table beside the bed with a reliable pen to write down those bits you remember of dream, or thoughts that flash through your mind while it’s in twilight sleep.

·       Give yourself a moment to orient once you wake, to allow your mind to wander across its nighttime landscape and resolve any issues left tangled before waking.

·       Surprise your body with a full-body stretch; extend your limbs as far as they will go, straightening all the fingers and toes until they feel like they’ll fly off the ends of hands and feet. Get the spine elongated and all the long tendons of the body.  You’ll be grateful afterwards. (BTW, this is an old yoga exercise and practice for waking up the body.)

·       Regardless of what you dream, remember that your mind showed you these scenes for a reason; there were problems needing resolution, aspirations wanting acknowledgement, fears needing attention, ideas needing a place to show themselves off. Pay attention to them. They do have meaning.

Most of all, give them a job in your daily writing. Use them in whatever way you can, and enjoy the fact that you have them. Some people never remember their dreams, not even a snatch of one and they feel deprived.

Now, on a different thought train, I encourage everyone to pop over to Claudsy’s Blog today to see what my guest blogger, Meena Rose, brought to the forefront. She’s had her own little experiment that can be used by anyone, and is especially helpful to those who write in any capacity. You can find it at: http://claudsy.wordpress.com/ 

I also guest blogged at Meena’s blog this morning. Find it at: http://meenarose.wordpress.com/

Enjoy your day, all. Until later,

Claudsy 

Publishing, Management, and Living with Challenges

April’s challenges are now history. Poetic Asides semi-annual PAD challenge concluded with its take-away poem and MNINB (My Name Is Not Bob) Author’s Platform Challenge has wound its way to independence for those taking the plunge.

**BTW—MNINB is Robert Lee Brewer’s great writer’s blog here on Blogger. Check it out, if you haven’t already.

Now that those two challenges and the rest for Poetry Month are completed, others along with me have that let down feeling. As a result, one enterprising writer of my acquaintance decided to throw out a challenge of her own for those of us who schlepped around the obstacle course of the Author’s Platform task calendar.

De decided that we needed incentive to get more active with our work. She dared us to submit one piece of our work each day during the month of May. I guess her logic was that April’s challenge showers caused our Muses to create lots of blossoms that needed distribution.

Since I’d just come off two major challenges, with a third chiming in once a week, I was already primed for another ride on the carousel, leaning out for a brass ring.

Yep, I’m going for it, with both hands and my handy-dandy flash drive of material yearning for a new home. A few times a week throughout May, I’ll be here telling everyone about what I’ve sent out and to whom.

Please stop by and help me keep track of whatever success I might have in placing some of my poor orphans. Hope to see you about the place often. Take care all.

Until later,

Claudsy

Author Platforms and Hoops

Robert Lee Brewer has set participants mighty challenges amid the relaxers this month.

I’ve created work schedules, as you all know too well. They work or they don’t, depending on how motivated I am on any given day. Lately, my motivational level has remained high, I think in part by writing for so many challenges in the past few months.

So far Robert has had us building networks, investigating both others’ blogs and having Twitter chats with large groups of people, along with serious writer stuff like Editorial Calendars. I managed to get that last item completed and revved up. Now he’s got up getting our nets prepared to seine for experts; experts to provide us with interviews on whatever subject we’ve chosen for our blog.

Brother, does that open up possibilities. Should I go after someone new or recycle one from the past? Hmm… choices come hard sometimes.

In truth, I’ll go for something new. Okay, that’s decided. Now, what area do I want to go for? Should it be poetry, fiction writing, screenwriting, ooo… or maybe—no, scratch that as too controversial.

I think I’ll go for film. I haven’t done anything with that in a long, long time. Besides, I just don’t have it in me to create an entirely new blog for other subjects. I have enough to worry about on that score.

And I still have to deal with guest blogs; someone else’s and my own, as well as investigate a social media management tool like Hootsuite. Yep, it’s going to be a long next few days.

Here’s hoping everyone out there has a grand finale to their week and a productive next few days. I’m working toward taking a few days off, but only after completing my appointed rounds and jumped through all of my hoops.

Until later,

Claudsy

Writers Are Marathoners of a Different Sort

Becoming an author is a bit like training for a marathon; not that I’ve run any marathons, unless dancing counts. The two do have a many aspects in common, including a finish line.

Runners make friends with other runners, participate in the same events during the year, train in similar methods to up their running game, and count themselves lucky. Along the way, they find a kind of happiness they find nowhere else. They are only themselves out on the track; no other roles need apply.

Writers do the same thing. We congregate on forums with other writers, discuss projects, problems and needs. The road to authorship is strewn with obstacles, just as runners’ abilities to tackle longer venues encounter injuries and setbacks, weather and personal needs. Writers train every day, if they want to be authors; coursework, submissions and rejections, social media platforms, and other obstacles that build and keep their writing abilities toned.

Within the framework of these career labels, stand three words that signify the relationship between these two careers; preparation, goals, and execution. If goals aren’t set by either the runner or writer, no progress is made. If proper preparation isn’t made, goal execution cannot move forward. Execution marshals the preparations necessary for each goal and advances the career onto the field.

Success on the field depends on one’s objective. A new marathoner might only desire to finish the race. For her, that spells success. For the veteran of the track, the triathlon is the goal each year, with faster times as a signal of improvement and success. For a new writer, the primary objective may be as simple as finishing a long piece of fiction and getting it to a polished state. Or, the objective for the established writer might be the development of a series that could get her a three-book deal.

Two tracks, two careers, similarities in each. As each type of marathoner ages in her career goals change, preparations come easier, and execution becomes a matter of habit. Over the length of the track there is time for the participant to think, evaluate, and decide about the next race, the next field. Nothing a consequence is firmed up at the starting line. Only the experience of the race can grant perspective.

Acknowledgement

During this month those who signed on for Robert LeeBrewer’s Author Platform Challenge stood at the starting line of a great field event. He promised to instruct all of us in what it takes to create a successful Author’s Platform. So far, he’s kept his promise.

We’ve learned about apps needed for everything from Time Management to Social Network updating. We’ve learned how to catch the eyes of those search engines everywhere and what to do in our blogs and on websites to increase traffic and comment numbers. Through it all, members of the field are cajoling each other, giving encouragement, and offering help to those still struggling with tech, time, and temperament.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Robert. He’s gone out of his way to see that we can stand on our own once we’re through this. But, more than that, he’s built a writing community that allows us to talk amongst ourselves. He’s put together a support structure that many will be using for a long time to come.

Thank you, Robert, for having patience with all of us and our questions and insecurities. You’re doing great!

Until later,

Claudsy

Taking a Spin Around the World of Writing

In Robert Lee Brewer’s blog My Name Is Not Bob for his Author’s Platform Challenge this morning, he gave a simple task, something that all of us with blogs do on a regular basis. He asked us to write a blog post, at the end of which we were to put a “call to action” on the part of the reader.

He explained that a “call to action” was merely a direction given the reader. For instance, a shared link that the writer urges the reader to explore, or a post from the past that has relevance at the moment. It seems a simple, straightforward task, doesn’t it?

I thought so, too, until I began it. What should I use for my call to action, I asked myself. I thought about the sites I’d been to in the past couple of days, the blog posts I’d made elsewhere, the past posts I’d made here and on Claudsy’s Blog. Perhaps, I could pinpoint one of the blogs that I follow on a regular basis, with/without my personal comments. Choices circled my head until I was dizzy.

The unhappy/happy result was that I chickened out and did a bit of all of them. Yes, I admit, I had to make it much more complicated than it was. I know that I always—well, almost always—end a post with at least a question, which is a call to action. You do think about an answer, don’t you, when faced with a question? See there. You did it again.

Each of the following is pertinent to the writer, or reader for that matter. Some ask questions. Others impart information. All can be used for some purpose. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be listed. Enjoy the choices and let me know how you did with them, what you learned, and if any of them helped in any way during your day.

·       http://claudsy.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/surviving-the-status-shuffle/

·       http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/2012/03/lets-write-together-use-collaborative.html

·       http://www.besteveryou.com/write-for-best-ever-you.htm

·       http://www.marketlist.com/qwf-(quality-women's-fiction)/dt/2717/

·       https://plus.google.com/u/0/106973816132524083338/posts

·       http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=96543791&locale=en_US&trk=tab_pro

If you managed to get through all of that, you merit a medal of persistence.

Have fun, above all. 


Until later,

Claudsy

We're Having an Interview

Just a short note to announce that children's writer, Denise Stanley, posted an interview with me on her lovely site, A Room to Write. Please feel free to slide over there, read all the "juicy secrets" and leave a comment or question. I'll try to field questions as quickly as possible during today and tomorrow.


Thank you everyone for your kind attention. I return you now to your regularly scheduled snooze. 


Later,


Claudsy

Life Is Full of Challenges

I’ve filled Claudsy’s Blog with poetry for this month’s challenges, but I haven’t really done anything with the Author’s Platform Development Challenge. I mention in passing on Wordpress and BlogHer but don’t discuss it.

Calliope will work well for periodic posts to keep me motivated to develop a “professional” brand, platform, persona, what-have-you.

Robert Brewer, of “No Name is Not Bob” fame and Poetic Asides, has been working to train writers on the development of a professional author’s platform for some time. He chose to do this challenge to get writers fired up and engaged in their own futures. Additional articles and reading recommendations extend the background material, which encourages the writer to step out and march forth into her chosen future.

The challenge is four days in and I’ve managed to have all of them done before dinner of the fourth day. Below are the first two days’ worth of tasks: defining myself as a writer and setting goals for segments of the next year.

Day 1: Platform Challenge – Define Yourself

Name: Claudette J. Young

Position: Freelance writer—multiple genres, retired teacher

Skills: Freelance writing—no current clients have me on retainer, though I have other contracts completed, poetry—published, fiction—published, non-fiction—published, travel writing—published, part-time writing coach, blogging, research, book review writing, interviews, newsletter writing, problem solving, idea generation, story development brainstorming, logistics detailing

Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Wordpress (2), Blogger, LinkedIn, Branch Out, She Writes, BlogHer, Jacketflap, Google +, Twitter

URL’s: http://claudsy.wordpress.com/

              http://claudsy.blogspot.com/

               http://trailinginspirations.com/

Accomplishments: Published poetry in two anthologies—2009 & 2011, published poetry in four online mags, published poetry on numerous websites, published writer’s articles (4) in ICL Newsletter, published travel articles for Assoc. Content and on Trailing Inspirations, published op-ed work for Associated Content, did contract work for both Assoc. Content and Yahoo News, published children’s fiction for British publisher and online Catholic children’s mag, supplied educational materials for SuperTeacher Worksheets, Completed ICL Basic Writing Course through ICL, ready to finish writing course for Great Courses, took travel writing course through AWAI, Graduated from BSU with two Bachelor’s degrees and two Master’s, taught at both college and elementary level successfully, survived non-stop corporate work for IBM in FSD, and managed to become a senior citizen without feeling old until I got there.

Interests: Writing, travel, learning, friends and family, developing into the best human being I can be, crocheting, beading, camping

In one sentence, who am I? I, Claudette J. Young, am a writer who almost waited too long to take her desire and her words seriously; a person who yearns to learn all that time and patience will allow; a person whose gypsy spirit never settles in one place before moving on to a new possibility; a woman who’s always traveled life without a partner or offspring; a woman who could neer be happy living a conventional life; one who would travel continuously if she was financially able; and a woman with emotions that run so deep they overtake her, at times, upon seeing a simple commercial.

Immediate Goals Today:

1.     Complete poems for challenges—PA, PB, and BlogHer. DONE

2.     Post each resulting poem to appropriate Websites and blogs DONE

3.     Begin rewrite on “Moon Sees All” after checking to make sure of format DONE

4.     Complete workout this afternoon DONE

Goals for This Week:

1.     Do each day’s challenges from poetry sites and post them all.

2.     Work min. one hour each day on “Failures to Blessings”

3.     Work min. one hour each day on “Moon Sees All” revision

4.     Work min. one hour each day on course work—either online or BGS

5.     Take at least one hour to relax with a good book each day.

6.     Talk to Peg

7.     Finish going through boxes and organizing office—use one hour per day

Goals for This Month:

1.     Complete all challenge’s for poetry and platform development

2.     Complete BGS course and set aside

3.     Get good handle on Lisle course

4.     Develop work schedule that allows for rewriting mss and writing poetry

5.     Get Cookbook layout completed, recipes placed and formatted

6.     Create Budget for the month to allow for what we need and money for next month

1.     Finish rewrite and submission process for “The Moon Sees All.”--Knopf?

Goals for 2012:

2.     Get Cookbook finished and to publisher/self-publish

3.     Lose at least 60 pounds

4.     Get more fit so that I won’t need a knee replacement

5.     From April through Dec. submit at least two short stories/articles each month to print/online publishers

6.     Finish and submit “Failures to Blessings” to Hay House and two other publishers by Sept.

7.     Finish and submit “Dreamie’s Box to print publisher/MuseItUp

8.     Finish and submit “Forest Primeval” to publisher—Knopf?

9.     Successfully conclude the first nine months of writing course.

Goals to Accomplish Before I Die:

1.     Visit Europe on extended vacation

2.     Publish at least three books in both fiction and non-fiction

3.     Produce a steady stream of published articles, stories, essays, and poetry

4.     Find a place where I can be content for more than a few years

5.     Become the person I know I can be

6.     Have enough continuous income that I don’t feel concern when a bill arrives

7.     Get rid of both properties that are weighing me down.

8.     Learn to sail

9.     Go to Disney World and Epcot Center

10.  Experience all of the National Parks in the country

11.  Enjoy good health and vitality for a long while before death.

The tasks for Days 3 and 4 had already been done. I already have a Facebook account and profile, along with having it on the new Timeline format, and I already have a Twitter account and profile. Although, I do need to refresh the Twitter profile. I haven’t done that in over a year.

Throughout April, posts will appear here every few days, outlining my progress through this challenge to attain a professional standing within the writing business. Check back in each week to see how my journey progresses. Feel free to comment on any post, give advice, cheer me on, but no raspberries. Those are for the table.