1. MAKE A LIST OF AT LEAST 5 TURNING POINTS IN YOUR LIFE & RECORD THE YEARS IN WHICH THESE EVENTS...
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Transcript of 1. MAKE A LIST OF AT LEAST 5 TURNING POINTS IN YOUR LIFE & RECORD THE YEARS IN WHICH THESE EVENTS...
1. MAKE A LIST OF AT LEAST 5 TURNING POINTS IN YOUR LIFE & RECORD THE
YEARS IN WHICH THESE EVENTS OCCURRED
2. MAKE A LIST OF HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THESE YEARS
3. LOOK FOR OVERLAP BETWEEN 1&2 (don ’ t worry i f you don’ t see any)
Journal Prompt 1
1. D I S C U S S D I F F E R E N C E S B E T W E E N A U T O B I O G R A P H Y, M E M O I R , A N D P E R S O N A L E S S AY
2. D I S C U S S O B L I G AT I O N S O F N O N - F I C T I O N A N D B R A I N S T O R M E X A M P L E S
( r e s e a r c h , d i a l o g u e )
3 . D I S C U S S A M I L L I O N L I TT L E P I E C E S C O N T R O V E R S Y
4 . U S I N G B R A I N S T O R M E D L I S T D I S C U S S F E AT U R E S T H AT I N T E R E S T R E A D E R S
( r e l a t a b i l i t y, n o v e l t y, v o i c e , s t y l e )
F r e e w r i t e / B r a i n s t o r m f o r e s s a y
H W: a c q u i r e a B O U N D J O U R N A L
Personal Essay
RETELL A STORY YOU WERE ONCE TOLD BY SOMEONE ELSE.
Be sure to cons ider why th is ta le i s memorable . Was i t the ta le i t se l f? Something spec ia l about the
s toryte l ler? Or d id the t ime/p lace / re levance to your l i fe make i t espec ia l l y po ignant?
IN YOUR RETELLING BE AS SPECIFIC AND VISUAL AS
POSSIBLE ABOUT THE TIME/PLACE/PEOPLE INVOLVED.
Journal Prompt 2
1. READ AND DISCUSS THE EXCERPT FROM GOREN’S ESSAY “ I FEEL A SPELL COMING ON”
2. DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF TITLE/ LEAD ELEMENTS
3. WORK ON PERSONAL ESSAY
Personal Essay example
W H O I S T H E M O S T I N F LU E N T I A L P E R S O N I N Y O U R L I F E ? C O N S I D E R W H Y.
T h e n d e s c r i b e e i t h e r :
1. Y O U R F I R S T M E E T I N G W I T H T H I S P E R S O N
2. A M E M O R A B L E T I M E W I T H T H E M
3. W H AT M A D E Y O U R E A L I Z E T H E I R I M P O RTA N C E T O Y O U
4. A B L E N D O F 1 - 3
Journal Prompt 3
1. REA D A ND DI SCUSS SELZER’ S “TH E DI SCUSS TH ROWER”
2. DI SCUSS I M P ORTA NCE OF T I TLE / LEA D ELEM ENTS/ DI CTI ON
3. DI SCUSS DI F FERENCES FROM Y ESTERDAY ’ S P I ECE . I n your op in ion w h ich i s mor e ca p t i va t ing ? Why?
4. WORK ON PERSONA L ESSAY (a f t e r t omor r ow ’ s s e s s i on you s hou ld ha ve a r oug h d r a f t fi n i s hed )
Personal Essay example
DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU RECALL HAVING BEEN
TERRIFIED(or some other extreme emotion)
Journal Prompt 4
1. F L A S H F O R WA R D
l e s s c o m m o n t e c h n i q u e u s e d f o r d e l a y i n g g r a t i fi c a t i o n o f t h e n o w, b u t i n a w a y t h a t p r o v i d e s a
s u g g e s t i o n u s i n g a f u t u r e p a r a l l e l
2 . F L A S H B A C K
B e c a r e f u l t o a v o i d s t a r t i n g w i t h a fl a s h b a c k . R e m e m b e r y o u w a n t t o s t a r t w i t h a c t i o n .
A l s o a v o i d u s i n g a fl a s h b a c k a s a w a y o f p r o v i d i n g b a c k s t o r y o r g e n e r a l e x p l a n a t i o n f o r w h y t h e n o w i s
h a p p e n i n g
( s e e )
Flash Techniques
REVIEW THE GENERAL RULES AND THEN PUT THEM TO PRACTICE!
HW FOR MONDAY: 1 ) ACQUIRE A BOUND
JOURNAL/NOTEBOOK 2) HAVE YOUR GRADING POLICY SIGNED
Peer Editing/ Sharing Sessions
WRITE A LETTER TO EITHER YOUR CHILDHOOD SELF OR TO YOUR
FUTURE SELF. What would you want this other you to either know or remember? Think
about what changes such a letter could cause.
Ex. http://youtu.be/RQ3bn7V0zdU
Journal Prompt 5
Journal Prompt 6Free Write: Let one of the images inspire your writing.
AT THE AUTOPSY
"Vic t im’s b lood i s comple te l y d ra ined , apparent l y through two smal l punc ture wounds in the neck , " sa id the coroner. "Hey . . . you don ’ t suppose i t ’ s , you know, the rea l dea l ? " asked h i s as s i s tant . "No , jus t some psycho . " "You sure? " They s tared a t each o ther fo r a moment , then burs t out l augh ing–but s topped when the corpse l aughed , too .
R O S S L E S K OL A K E W O O D , O H
Flash Fiction
DEATH TRAP
The growing hatred between Mary and Robert was such that a k i l l ing was inev i tab le . Mary had a p lan , ba i t ing Robert incessant l y in the hope that he would k i l l her. The note he found a f ter he shot her read , "Thank you ,Robert . Doctors had g iven me only two months . I hope you rot in pr i son forever. "
E R N I E G L E N E S KS A N T A M A R I A
Flash Fiction
O N E Y E A R L AT E R
" G o o d m o r n i n g , E v a . " " M o r n i n g , S h e r y l . " " S o h o w ’ s y o u r g a r d e n d o i n g ? " " G r o w i n g l i k e a w e e d ! " T h e y l a u g h e d . " I ’ m s u r e i t ’ s g i v e n y o u a l o t o f c o m fo r t s i n c e H e n r y d i s a p p e a r e d , " s a i d S h e r y l k i n d l y. " A c t u a l l y, " s a i d E v a , " I o f t e n f e e l h e n e v e r r e a l l y l e f t m e a t a l l . " H e r r o s e s w e r e u n u s u a l l y l a r g e t h a t s u m m e r.
M A R T H A P H I L L I P SM A D I S O N , W I
Flash Fiction
“ J E R M A I N E ’ S P O S T S C R I P T T O H I S S E V E N T H - G R A D E P O E M A S S I G N M E N T, ” B Y C H R I S T O F F E R M O L N A R .
“Ms. Ty ler, the g i r l part was about Shante l l . P lease don ’ t te l l anyone .”
“ H O U S T O N, W E H AV E A P R O B L E M , ” B Y J . M ATT H E W Z O S S .
I ’m sorry, but there ’s not enough a i r in here for everyone . I ’ l l te l l them you were a hero.
E R N E S T H E M I N G WAY ’ S 6 -W O R D S T O RY:
For Sa le : Baby shoes , never worn .
Flash Fiction
Part 1 : E i ther p ick an ind iv idua l f rom your l i f e or c rea te your own charac ter then imagine conduct ing an in terv iew wi th them to fi nd out every th ing poss ib le about who they are .
Record the i r responses us ing d ia logue ( t ry to capture the i r a t t i tude) .
S tar t w i th bas ic in terv iew ques t ions such as :• What’s your name?• Where were you born?• How old are you?• Do you have a job? What is it? For how long have you had it? What do you enjoy/hate about it?
To put your sub jec t a t ease and then bu i ld to more complex ques t ions such as :
• Describe your relationship with your (mother/sister/ boyfriend/ boss, etc…)
Fina l l y, end wi th your most cha l l eng ing / persona l l y invas i ve ques t ion . For example :
• Do you care to address the rumors that _____ has been cheating on you?• Can you describe the night you found _______’s body?
Journal Prompt 7
Part II: Exchange your list with someone near you.
Look over the list of information you have been provided and then write as if you are this character using the line "I lay awake, unable to sleep, and all because…" to start your entry.
Consider what is this new character excited about, or scared of? What have they done or what will they have to do that keeps running through their mind?
T h e b e s t s h o r t s t o r i e s j u m p r i g h t i n t o t h e a c t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e , r e a d e r s l o v e m y s t e r i e s , s u r p r i s e s , a n d i n t r i g u e . B y l e t t i n g t h e m k n o w t h a t s o m e t h i n g o r
s o m e o n e i s n o t w h a t h e / s h e / i t s e e m s , y o u m a g i c a l l y c r e a t e t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a l l t h r e e .
F R E E W R I T E T O T H E S T O R Y S T A R T E R B E L O W.
" . . . W A S / W E R E N O T W H A T I T / H E / S H E S E E M E D . "
E X A M P L E S :T H E N E W S E C R E T A R Y W A S N O T W H A T S H E S E E M E D .
T H E I R M A R R I A G E W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .T H E J O B O F F E R W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .
T H E A D O P T I O N A G E N C Y W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .T H E G R A Y H O U S E O N T H E C O R N E R W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .
T H O S E L I G H T S I N T H E S K Y W E R E N O T W H A T T H E Y S E E M E D .T H E H O T E L W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .
N O T E : D O N ’ T F E E L C O M P E L L E D T O U S E S U C H S I M P L E S E N T E N C E S . Y O U C A N U S E C O M P L E X S E N T E N C E S , I N T R O D U C T O R Y P H R A S E , C L A U S E S ,
P R E P O S I T I O N A L P H R A S E S , E T C … T O M A K E Y O U R O P E N I N G A S A R R E S T I N G A S Y O U ’ D L I K E .
Journal Prompt 8
Incorporate the paradox “sweet sorrow” into a free write of your
choice.
Ex. Shakespeare once wrote, “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I’ll say goodnight
until tomorrow…”
Journal Prompt 9
WRITE DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS HAVING AN ARGUMENT.
Keep wr i t ing for ten minutes w i thout s topp ing , and remember the pr imary condi t ion : the charac ters must
a lways d i sagree .
• AS LONG AS YOU HAVE DISAGREEMENT, YOU HAVE CONFLICT, AND, IF YOU HAVE CONFLICT, YOU’LL
HAVE DRAMATIC TENSION. • DIALOGUE SHOULD BE FUN, SNAPPY, CRISP, AND
SHOULD REVEAL SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE SPEAKING.
Journal Prompt 10
THINGS THAT KILL DIALOGUE
1. WHEN CHARACTERS TELL EACH OTHER WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW
2. WHEN CHARACTERS RESPOND AS IF THEY EXPECTED TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER SAID
3. WHEN CHARACTERS STATE THE ISSUES OF THE SCENE EXPLICITLY ( i . e . “ I ’m angry a t you for
wi thhold ing emot iona l l y )
Journal Prompt 10 (Don’ts)
“Would you pass the salt?”“Get it yourself,” he said, not looking up from the television.She reached for he salt , and threw it through the TV screen.“Now,” she said, “would you pass the pepper?”
Journal Prompt 10 Example
FREE WRITE: INCLUDE EITHER
“A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS”OR A
“SECOND CHANCE”IN YOUR WRITING
Journal Prompt 11
Go back through your prev ious entr ies and rough draf ts ; choose a p iece that begins wi th character and rewr i te i t , th i s t ime lead ing wi th three fu l l l ines o f
se t t ing descr ipt ion be fore introduc ing the characters .
Star t out wide and l ine by l ine , br ing your focus c loser in toward the characters .
The fact that the p lace precedes the characters could say something about the character ’s re la t ionship to
that space OR i t may symbol ica l l y suggest a theme/ idea that your characters wi l l go on to fl esh
out .
Journal Prompt 12
W R I T E F O R T E N M I N U T E S T O O N E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G P R O M P T S :
• D e s c r i b e a b u i l d i n g a s s e e n b y a m a n w h o s e s o n h a s j u s t b e e n k i l l e d i n a w a r. D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e s o n , w a r, d e a t h , o r t h e o l d m a n d o i n g t h e s e e i n g ; t h e n d e s c r i b e t h e s a m e b u i l d i n g , i n t h e s a m e w e a t h e r a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e o f d a y, a s s e e n b y a h a p p y l o v e r. D o n o t m e n t i o n l o v e o r t h e l o v e d o n e .
• D e s c r i b e a l a n d s c a p e a s s e e n b y a n o l d w o m a n w h o s e d i s g u s t i n g a n d d e t e s t a b l e o l d h u s b a n d h a s j u s t d i e d . D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e h u s b a n d o r d e a t h .
• D e s c r i b e a l a k e a s s e e n b y a y o u n g m a n w h o h a s j u s t c o m m i t t e d m u r d e r. D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e m u r d e r.
• D e s c r i b e a l a n d s c a p e a s s e e n b y a b i r d . D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e b i r d .
D O N ’ T F O R G E T T O I N C LU D E A T I M E P E R I O D O R T O G O B E Y O N D T H E V I S U A L A N D I N C LU D E O T H E R S E N S O R Y D E TA I L S ( S O U N D S , TA S T E S , S M E L L S , E T C … )
Journal 13: It’s all about the setting…
To n i g h t I l i n g e r e d o v e r y o u r n a m e , t h e d e l i c a t e a s s e m b l y o f v o w e l s
a v o i c e i n s i d e m y h e a d . Yo u w e r e s l e e p i n g w h e n I a r r i v e d .
I s t o o d b y y o u r b e d a n d w a t c h e d t h e s h e e t s r i s e g e n t l y.
I k n e w w h a t s l a n t o f l i g h t w o u l d m a k e y o u t u r n o v e r.
I t w a s t h e n I f e l t t h e h i g h w a y s s l i d e o u t o f m y h a n d s .
I r e m e m b e r e d t h e o l d m e n i n t h e w e s t s i d e c a f e ,
d e a l i n g d o m i n o e s l i k e m a g i c a l c h a r m s . I t w a s t h e n I k n e w,
l i k e a w o m a n l o o k i n g b a c k w a r d , I c o u l d n o t l e a v e y o u ,
o r fi n d a n y o n e I l o v e d m o r e .
San AntonioNaomi Shihab Nye, 1952
Hibernat ing by day, they hover t ree - top h igh . Dark I ron She l l s s i l ent l y absorb ing the sun ’s rays , l ock ing away
energy for n ight fa l l when sunl ight wi l l burs t for th in a concentrated beam, g lar ing down upon the cracked and
rust -s ta ined concrete . The i r impart ia l façade d i sappear ing , rep laced wi th an immovable anger aga inst
a l l in truders . Army Rows e l iminate the l ike l ihood o f s tea l th be ing enough to sneak past the i r obst inate
guard .
YOU MAY FREE WRITE ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WISH OR YOU MAY USE ONE OF THE PROMPTS BELOW FOR
INSPIRATION:
• Topic : broken promises
Or i ncorpora te one o f the f o l l ow ing l i nes :
• “…daydreaming wi th a penc i l…”• “…spl i t your t ime…”
• “…I couldn ’ t be l ieve my eyes…”
Journal Prompt 14
Contemporary readers typ ica l l y pre fer short t idb i ts o f descr ipt ion spr ink led throughout ra ther than long intr i cate passages descr ib ing the se t t ing . Choose THREE o f the be low prompts and wr i te an opening for a s tory in each locat ion / t ime . Keep your descr ipt ions to no more than a paragraph each in l ength .
A GHOST TOWN IN THE WILD OLD WEST.A CONTEMPORARY METROPOLIS.
A MEDIEVAL HOUSEHOLD.A MADE-UP FANTASY LAND.
ABOARD A VESSEL, SUCH AS A SPACESHIP, IN THE FAR-OFF FUTURE.
Journal 15
E X P E R I M E N T W I T H T H E F O L L O W I N G T E C H N I Q U E S :
• p r e s e n t a s n a p s h o t o f t h e l a n d s c a p e b e f o r e m o v i n g i n t o y o u r s t o r y • b r i n g r e a d e r s r i g h t i n t o t h e s e t t i n g b y c o m b i n i n g t h e s e t t i n g ’ s
d e s c r i p t i o n w i t h a c t i o n a n d b y u s i n g a c t i v e l a n g u a g e r a t h e r t h a n p a s s i v e :
I n s t e a d o f d e s c r i b i n g b u s y s t r e e t s p a c k e d w i t h s h o p p e r s , e x p l a i n t h a t s h o p p e r s c o u r s e d t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s l i k e r a t s i n a m a z e .
• b r i n g c h a r a c t e r s i n t o t h e s e t t i n g : K a t e c r a n e d h e r n e c k a n d s p i e d a t i n y p a t c h o f s k y a m i d s t t h e t o w e r i n g s k y s c r a p e r s .
• I n e s t a b l i s h i n g t i m e , i n s t e a d o f s i m p l y s t a t i n g t h e d a t e ( t h e y e a r w a s 2 0 1 2 ) , y o u c a n p l a c e s o m e t h i n g i n t h e s e t t i n g t h a t i d e n t i fi e s t h e e r a : A b r a n d n e w 2 0 1 2 Po r c h e s p e d b y a n d K a t e w h i r l e d o n h e r h e e l s j u s t i n t i m e t o s e e i t d i s a p p e a r a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r o f L e x i n g t o n .
PA RT I : G U E SS W H E R E T H E F O L L O W I N G S T O R I E S TA K E P L A C E . W H AT H E L P E D Y O U F I G U R E I T O U T ?
A . T h e a u t o m a t i c d o o r s o p e n e d s w i f t l y a s J a d e s t r o d e i n . S h e g l a n c e d q u i c k l y a t t h e c l u s t e r o f s i g n s a n d p r e s s e d o n d o w n t h e w i d e p o l i s h e d c o r r i d o r. A h e a d o f h e r a s e t o f d o u b l e d o o r s fl e w o p e n a n d a t r o l l e y, p u s h e d b y fi v e c o n c e r n e d f a c e s , p a s s e d r a p i d l y b y. T h e s m e l l o f a n t i s e p t i c c a u g h t a t t h e b a c k o f h e r t h r o a t . P u s h i n g t h r o u g h t h e d o o r s a t t h e e n d o f t h e c o r r i d o r, s h e e m e r g e d i n t o a b r i g h t l y l i t r o o m . R o w s o f p l a s t i c s e a t s g r o a n e d w i t h i n j u r e d p e o p l e . W h e r e w a s M a n n y ? T h e c a l l h a d b e e n b r i e f . A l l s h e k n e w w a s t h a t M a n n y w a s h e r e s o m e w h e r e .
Journal 16
B. Sa d ie t h r us t t h e t i ck e t i n t o t he ma n ’ s ha n d . Ha l f - t o r n he r e t u r n ed i t a n d p u l l ed o p en t he d o o r. Her ey es na r r o wed a s s he s t ep p ed f o r wa r d u r g en t l y i n t o t h e d i m l y l i t r o o m. S t a l e p o p co r n co l l a p s ed und er h e r f ee t . She f e l t he r wa y d o wn t he n a r r o w a i s l e . She ha d a g r eed t o mee t G er r y so mewh er e i n t he m i d d l e . T he f r o n t wa s t o o c l o se , wh i l s t t he b a ck mea n t y o u sp en t mo s t o f y o u r t ime s t a r i ng a t t he h a i r s t y l e i n f r o n t . A y o ung co u p l e s t o o d up t o l e t h e r p a ss , t he i r co a t s f e l l f r o m t h e i r l a p s a nd wer e l o s t i n t he d a r k a l l e y b en ea t h t he i r f o l d in g sea t s .
C. T he v eg e t a b l e s g l ea med un d er t he l i g h t i n g a s sp ec i a l o ff er s swun g g i d d i l y o n t h e i r s t r i ng s f r o m t h e ce i l i n g . He i n ch ed f o r wa r d , k eep ing h imse l f we l l h id d en b eh i nd t h e wo ma n who s e ch i l d r o cked i n t h e me t a l ca g e p r o v id ed a t t h e b a ck o f t he t r o l l e y. As t hey p a ss ed t h e cheese a n d m i l k a co o l d r a ug h t ca ug h t t he b a ck o f h i s n eck , s end i ng a sh i v e r d o wn h i s sp in e .
CHOOSE AN IMAGE BELOW AND BEGIN A STORY WHERE THE SETTING IS AMPLY DESCRIBED AND INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
Journal 16 Part II
BE AN OBSERVER:
The best wr i ters are constant l y on the lookout for insp i rat ion . P ieces o f a conversat ion they hear in the
ha l lway, the tune in a TV advert i sement , a bumper s t i cker, a photograph, a p iece o f l i t ter, a p lace , or an
indiv idual can a l l serve as insp i rat ion .
THINK BACK OVER THE PAST WEEK AND USE ONE CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A RANDOM INDIVIDUAL OR
OBJECT AS INSPIRATION FOR A FREE WRITE.
(note your s tar t ing po int a t the top o f the pg . )
Journal 17
• MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE FAIRYTALES/ LEGENDS YOU CAN THINK OF
• COMPARE YOUR LIST WITH A NEIGHBOR’S
• CIRCLE THE THREE FAIRYTALES THAT YOU FOUND MOST SATISFYING AND EXPLAIN WHY
• CIRCLE THE THREE FAIRYTALES THAT YOU FOUND LEAST SATISFYING AND EXPLAIN WHY
Journal 18
T H I N G S T O C O N S I D E R :
1 . AV O I D D E U S E X M A C H I N A : A n e n d i n g t h a t c o m e s u n e x p e c t e d l y o u t o f n o w h e r e
2 . M U S T B E L O G I C A L
3 . P R O V I D I N G A Q U I C K WAY O U T W I L L O N LY D R I V E AWAY R E A D E R S . D o n ’ t s h o r t c h a n g e y o u r v i e w e r s . Yo u h a v e t o b e p a t i e n t .
4 . F I L L I N T H E G A P S . D o n ’ t l e a v e t h e r e a d e r d a n g l i n g . Yo u ’ l l o n l y a n n o y t h e m .
5 . T H E B E S T E N D I N G S A R E T H O S E T H AT W I L L R E A D Y O U R R E A D E R T H I N K I N G . O N E W A Y t o d o t h i s i s t o h o o k y o u r r e a d e r i n t o y o u r c h a r a c t e r ’ s
t h o u g h t s . U n l e s s y o u r c h a r a c t e r d i e s t h e n f o r t h e m t h e s t o r y c o n t i n u e s . T h i n k a b o u t w h a t m i g h t c o m e n e x t . F i n d a w a y t o e n d t h a t w r a p s u p t h e c u r r e n t d i l e m m a s i n a m a n n e r t h a t m i g h t c h a n g e t h e c h a r a c t e r ' s f u t u r e .
R u m i n a t e a b o u t t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s . A N O T H E R W A Y: i s t o c l e a r l y r e i n f o r c e t h e p a r a l l e l s t o m o d e r n l i f e i n a w a y t h a t t h e r e a d e r m a y h a v e
l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g a p p l i c a b l e . A N O T H E R W A Y: y o u r s t o r y i s j u s t t h a t s h o c k i n g / i n c r e d i b l e t h a t t h e y a r e g o i n g t o k e e p t h i n k i n g a b o u t i t ( T h e r e a r e
m a n y m o r e )
Journal 19: Endings
I T ’ S T H E N I G H T J A M E S F I N A L LY FA C E S O F F W I T H T H E S U P E R N AT U R A L E NT I T I E S H U N T I N G H I S H O U S E . H E ’ S
P R E PA R E D E V E RY T H I N G T H E C A R NI E F O RT U N E T E L L E R H A D T O L D H I M T O P R E PA R E .
H O W W I L L Y O U P R OV I D E A S AT I S F Y I N G E ND T O J A M E S ’ S T O RY ?
Journal 19: Endings
O f t e n t i m e s i t i s t e m p t i n g t o r u n w i t h t h e fi r s t i d e a t h a t e n t e r s y o u r h e a d b u t , w h i l e d o i n g s o i n i t i a l l y i s n o t e r r i b l e t h i n g , a s k i n g “ I F … ” s o m e w h e r e b e f o r e y o u d r o p y o u r p e n o n y o u r “ g o o d c o p y ” i s w a r r a n t e d . Q u e s t i o n e v e r y t h i n g ! A n d t h i n k o f w h a t e v e r y m i n o r c h a n g e i n y o u r fi r s t p a r a g r a p h w i l l r e s u l t i n d o w n t h e r o a d . Fo r p r a c t i c e :
W R I T E T O O N E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G P R O M P T S :
I F Y O U C O U L D H AV E D I N N E R W I T H A N Y O N E ( A L I V E O R A L R E A D Y D E A D ) , W H O W O U L D I T B E ? W H AT W O U L D Y O U H AV E ?
I F Y O U C O U L D M E E T A N Y F I C T I O N A L C H A R A C T E R , W H O W O U L D I T B E ? W H E R E W O U L D Y O U M E E T ? D I S C U SS ?
I F Y O U C O U L D C H A N G E O N E T H I N G A B O U T Y O U R P R E S E N T L I F E , W H AT W O U L D I T B E ?
I F Y O U C O U L D L I V E A N Y W H E R E Y O U WA N T E D, W H E R E W O U L D Y O U L I V E ? W H Y ?
I F Y O U C O U L D G O B A C K I N T I M E A N D C H A N G E O N E T H I N G S F R O M Y O U R PA S T, W H AT W O U L D I T B E ? W H Y ? H O W W O U L D I T C H A N G E Y O U R L I F E ?
Journal 20: Asking “If” questions
• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?
• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT?
• WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR IF A GENIE GRANTED YOU THREE WISHES?
• WHAT’S YOUR WILDEST DREAM?
Journal 21: Sky’s the limit!
• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD LIVE A DAY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES?
• WHAT GRAND ADVENTURE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD GO ON?
• IF YOU COULD BECOME AN EXPERT IN ANY SUBJECT OR ACTIVITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
• WHAT WOULD YOUR PERFECT DAY BE LIKE?
• CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE THE KIND OF WORLD YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. WHAT IS IT LIKE?
Journal 22: Sky’s the Limit part II
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
PUT YOUR PEN/PENCIL TO PAPER AND DON’T STOP WRITING FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT ORGANIZATION, SPELLING, OR MUCH OF ANYTHING.
IF IT FLOWS THROUGH YOUR MIND, WRITE IT DOWN.
Journal 23
IMAGINE YOU’RE ARE A CREATURE (REAL OR
MYTHOLOGICAL) AND THEN WRITE A
MONOLOGUE BRINGING THIS CHARACTER TO
LIFE. BE SURE TO CONSIDER HOW THE
PATTERN AND CONTENT OF THEIR
THOUGHTS WOULD DIFFER FROM A
HUMAN’S.
Journal 24
EITHER:1.HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH AN
INANIMATE OBJECTOR
2.WRITE A PIECE INSPIRED BY A MOVIE/ T.V. SHOW
Journal 25
Let one o f the images inspi re you
Journal 26
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU CAN ENVISION USING YOUR POWER.
(you may s t i ck to narrat i ve descr ipt ion , poet ic verse , or invent a short s tory around the event)
Journal 27
TAKE AN UNEXPECTED/UNUSUAL PERSPECTIVE:
1. BE A TRASH COLLECTOR WHO LOVES HIS/HER JOB
2. BE A SURGEON WITH A FEAR OF BLOOD3. BE A TAX COLLECTOR WHO IS A NATURALIST
4. BE AN IMC AIDE WHO DOESN’T ENJOY READING5. BE A COLOR BLIND PHOTO JOURNALIST
6. OR A UNIQUE PAIRING OF YOUR OWN
Journal 28
DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE NOVELS/ SERIES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS WORK THAT APPEALS TO YOU?
THE SUBJECT MATTER?THE WRITING STYLE?
A PERSONAL CONNECTION?
IMAGINE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GHOSTWRITE A STORY FOR THIS AUTHOR. LAYOUT THE DETAILS THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE TO GUARANTEE THAT
YOUR STORY APPEARED TO BE THE AUTHOR’S.
Journal Prompt 29
• Fi r s t you need an idea t ha t i s capab le o f be ing to ld i n a shor t s to ry f o rmat (be tween 4 -8 pages ) . Keep i n m ind the bes t s to r i e s t yp i ca l l y have some ma in message , mora l , o r purpose beh ind the s to ry ( aka theme ) . What i s the ma in
theme o f your s to ry?
• Determine what the main focus o f your s to ry i s go ing to be ( a charac te r, ac t i on , o r se t t i ng ) .
• Shor t s to r i e s t yp i ca l l y have no more than four characters and t yp i ca l l y a re l oca ted i n on l y one p l ace / t ime ( set t ing ) .
Brainstorming…
W h a t p o i n t - o f - v i e w w i l l b e m o s t c o n d u c t i v e t o t e l l i n g y o u r s t o r y ? W h y ?
F i r s t p e r s o n : T h e n a r r a t o r i s a c h a r a c t e r i n t h e s t o r y a n d u s e s : I , m y, m e , w e , o u r a n d u s t o t e l l t h e s t o r y.
T h i r d p e r s o n o m n i s c i e n t : T h e n a r r a t o r i s o u t s i d e o f t h e s t o r y a n d i s n o t a c h a r a c t e r, b u t c a n s e e i n t o t h e m i n d s o f a l l c h a r a c t e r s t o t e l l
r e a d e r s t h e c h a r a c t e r s ' t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s . T h e n a r r a t o r k n o w s a l l a n d s e e s a l l .
T h i r d p e r s o n l i m i t e d : T h e n a r r a t o r i s o u t s i d e o f t h e s t o r y a n d s e e s i n t o t h e m i n d o f o n l y o n e c h a r a c t e r. T h e n a r r a t o r s t i l l s e e s o t h e r
c h a r a c t e r s , b u t o n l y k n o w s t h e t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s o f o n e c h a r a c t e r.
Brainstorming
Imagine you have two characters stuck in adjoining rooms. They can either see each other or hear each
other but not both. While both characters are in no immediate danger of death, one character
should be extremely worried about their plight while the other, at least initially, is not. Write a brief sketch
of how this story might play out.
Journal Prompt 30
YESTERDAY YOU SHOULD HAVE ESTABLISHED:1. YOUR MAIN IDEA/ THEME2. SETTING3. BEGUN EXPLORING CHARACTERS
TODAY YOU SHOULD OUTLINE:4. INCITING INCIDENT
5. BUILD UP OF EVENTS6. CLIMAX
7. RESOLUTION
Story Mapping
Think of something that undergoes a transformation and
describe the process using sensory imagery.
For example :1. Go from be ing a grape to a ra i s in and d i scuss what
i t fee l s l ike to shr i ve l and dry up2. Be a Snowfl ake that mel ts Or water that turns to
s team and descr ipt the process and how you fee l about your new s tate
Journal 31
FREE WRITE, INCORPORATING THE LINE:
THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND I COULDN'T FIND THE KEY....
Journal 32
IN DETAIL , IMAGINE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE OF GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.
NOW IMAGINE THAT SOME EVENT ALTERS YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE.
DESCRIBE THE SCENE/ OUTCOME….
Journal 33
DESCRIBE A HEADACHE (or other physical ailment you’ve experienced)
TO SOMEONE WHO NEVER HAS EXPERIENCED IT.
Journal 34
IMAGINE YOU COULD INVENT YOUR OWN HOLIDAY.
WHAT WOULD IT BE IN CELEBRATION OF?HOW WOULD IT BE CELEBRATED?
WHO WOULD CELEBRATE?WHEN? WHY?
Journal 35
FREE WRITE, INCORPORATING THE LINE:
WELL, DOCTOR, IT 'S LIKE THIS. . . .
Journal 36
INCORPORATE SOME STRANGE, UNUSUAL, OR SURPRISING
EVENT/DETAIL FROM YOUR WEEKEND INTO A FREE WRITE.
Underline the element from your life.
Journal 37
FREE WRITE ON THE TOPIC OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
IS IT REAL?
Journal 38
PARALLEL UNIVERSES EXIST!
WHAT DOES YOURS LOOK LIKE?
WHAT EVENT WAS THE TRIGGER THAT SEPARATED IT FROM OUR UNIVERSE?
CAN YOU TRAVEL BETWEEN THEM? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO?
Journal 39
FREE WRITE: IN HONOR OF HALLOWEEN, FOCUS ON A MONSTER OF YOUR CHOICE.
As you wr i te cons ider the fo l lowing:What does i t l ook l i ke?
Where does i t L i ve?What does i t ea t ?
What a re i t s s t reng ths /weaknesses?
Journal 40
FREE WRITE: “ I FEEL A SPELL COMING ON…”
OR
INCORPORATING HALLOWEEN AS THE SETTING
Journal 41
FREE WRITE: “A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS…”
(OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WISH)
Journal 42
IMAGINE YOU WERE TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME TO A DIFFERENT ERA.
WRITE A SHORT PIECE AS A CHARACTER FROM THIS TIME. EMBED SENSORY DETAILS THAT WILL LET US KNOW WHEN/WHERE YOU ARE AND GIVE
US A TASTE OF THE FLAVOR OF THIS ERA.
E x a m p l e s : V i c t o r i a n L o n d o n
A m e r i c a n W i l d W e s t1 9 2 0 ’ s N e w Y o r k
R e n a i s s a n c e I t a l y B a b y l o n , 6 0 0 A D
C r u s a d e s , E u r o p eK i n g R a m s e y , E g y p t
A z t e c E m p i r e , S o u t h A m e r i c a
Journal 43
FREE WRITE:“THE SOUND OF THE
CLOCK ON THE WALL…”
Journal 44
IMAGINE YOU ARE A TERRIFIC PAINTER AND THAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE NO
PROBLEM WITH YOU PAINTING ON THE WALLS OF YOUR BEDROOM.
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WOULD PAINT AS VIVIDLY AS POSSIBLE.
Journal 45
DESCRIBE AN UNUSUAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Journal 46
FREE WRITE: “WHO FILLED THE POOL
WITH STRAWBERRY JELLO?”
Journal 47
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU THINK THE IDEAL AGE WOULD BE AND WHY
Journal 48
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE NEXT
STOP IS …”
Journal 49
IMAGINE WHAT A RELATIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
ANOTHER TIME.
FOR EXAMPLE: COULD YOUR DAD HAVE BEEN A PIRATE? WHICH CHARACTERISTICS
MAKE YOU THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUITABLE OCCUPATION FOR HIM?
Journal 50
IMAGINE YOU COULD BE ANY CHARACTER. WHOM WOULD YOU BE? WHY?
Journal 51
B E G I N N I N G W R I T E R’ S O F T E N F O R G E T T O G O B E Y O N D S I G H T W H E N U T I L I Z I N G S E N S O R Y D E TA I L S .
E X P L O R E W H AT O N E T H E F O L L O W I N G S C E N T S E V O K E S F O R Y O U. A M E M O RY ? A D R E A M ? A N E M O T I O N ?
• C I N N A M O N• C U T G R A S S• D A M P PA P E R
• P E N C I L E R A S E R S• C H A L K
• W E T PA I N T • T I R E R U B B E R
• H O L LY
Journal 52
DESCRIBE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IN AS MUCH DETAIL (SENSORY)
AS POSSIBLE:
1. YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY
2. THE ONE MEMORY YOU WOULDN’T TRADE FOR ANYTHING
3. AN EVENT/MEMORY YOU WISH YOU NEVER EXPERIENCED OR COULD FORGET
ENTIRELY
Journal 53
DESCRIBE WATCHING SOMETHING FALL.
S O M E I D E A S I N C LU D E :1. F E AT H E R S
2. L E AV E S3. S N O W4. R A I N
5. M E T E O R S6. C H I L D R E N O F F S W I N G S7. C L O T H E S O F F T H E L I N E8. A D E F L AT I N G B A L L O O N
Journal 54
IF YOU COULD HAVE PERSONALLY
WITNESSED ONE EVENT IN HISTORY, WHAT WOULD YOU
WANT TO HAVE SEEN?
Journal 55
IF YOU JOINED THE CIRCUS,
WHAT ACT WOULD YOU MOST WANT
TO PERFORM?
Journal 56
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR METHOD OF
DYING AND THE PLACE IN WHICH YOU
WILL DIE. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO
DIE AND HOW?
Journal 57
DESCRIBE YOUR THANKSGIVING
BREAK. ANY HIGHLIGHTS?
ANY LOWS?
Journal 58
CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU AND
IMAGINE IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF
THEIR DREAMS. WHAT WOULD IT BE? HOW DO
YOU THINK THEY WOULD REACT?
Journal 59
FREE WRITE ABOUT ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING IMAGES.
Journal 60
Journal 61
Let one of the quotes below inspire you.
“GREAT SPIRITS HAVE ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED VIOLENT OPPOSITION FROM MEDIOCRE MINDS. ” ~ ALBERT
EINSTEIN
“A GOOD TRAVELER HAS NO FIXED PLANS AND IS NOT INTENT ON ARRIVING.” – LAO TZU
“WE ARE WHAT WE PRETEND TO BE, SO WE MUST BE CAREFUL WHAT WE PRETEND TO BE.” ~ KURT
VONNEGUT
“ IN LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE, YOU LOOK FOR THREE QUALITIES: INTEGRITY, INTELLIGENCE, AND ENERGY. AND IF THEY DON’T HAVE THE FIRST, THE OTHER TWO WILL KILL YOU.” ~ WARREN BUFFETT
PICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STARTS:
• …CHILDREN RULED THE WORLD• …THE STREETS ALL TURNED TO RIVERS• …YOU COULD DESIGN YOUR PERFECT DAY
• …YOU FOUND A MAGIC WAND• …YOU COULD BE ANYTHING WHEN YOU GREW
UP• …YOU LIVED IN A MUSICAL
• …YOU COULD REDESIGN THE WORLD
Journal 62“What if…?”
“ IF YOUR DAI LY L I FE SEEMS POOR, DO NOT BLAME I T; TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE NOT POET ENOUGH TO CALL FORTH I TS R ICHES.” — RI LKE “ I have a lways imagined that Paradise wi l l be some k ind o f l ibrary.” — Jorge Luis Borges “CALL IT A CLAN, CALL IT A NETWORK, CALL IT A TRI BE , CALL IT A FAMI LY. WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU NEED ONE.” — JANE HOWARD “What in your l i fe i s ca l l ing you? When a l l the no ise i s s i l enced , the meet ings ad journed, the l i s ts l a id as ide , and the wi ld i r i s b looms by i t se l f in the dark fores t , what s t i l l pu l l s on your sou l? In the s i lence between your heartbeats h ides a summons , do you hear i t? Name i t , i f you must , or l eave i t forever nameless , but why pretend i t i s not there?” — The Terma Col lect i ve
Journal 63Look at the following quotes and write whatever
comes to mind when you read them….
EXECUTIVELY BRANCH OUT
YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WHEN YOU GET TO THE WHITE
HOUSE, YOU FIND OUT THAT THERE'S A NOTE FROM YOUR PREDECESSOR. THE NOTE SAYS "GOOD LUCK," BUT WHEN EVERYONE ELSE LEAVES THE ROOM THE WORDS ON THE NOTE DISAPPEAR AND NEW WORDS APPEAR: "LOOK IN THE BOTTOM DRAWER OF THE
DESK. THERE’S A HIDDEN COMPARTMENT. YOU WILL FIND MORE INSTRUCTIONS THERE.”
C O N T R I B U T E D B Y: B R I A N A . K L E M S | D E C E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 4
Journal 64
USE ALL OF THESE IN A FREE WRITE:
AN UNLABELED CAN OF SOUP A CIGARETTE PACK FILLED WITH M&MS
AN UNREQUITED CRUSH
Journal 65
WHEN A STRANGER TAPS YOU ON THE SHOULDER
YOU’RE LEAVING YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT AFTER EATING BREAKFAST WHEN A STRANGER TAPS YOU ON
THE SHOULDER. BUT THIS TAP LEADS TO A CONVERSATION—AND ADVENTURE—THAT LEAVES YOU
WITH ONE ITEM THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D EVER OWN. START YOUR STORY WITH “I HATE TO BOTHER YOU, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ASK.”
C O N T R I B U T E D B Y: B R I A N A . K L E M S
Journal 66
WRITE A STORY FOR THE TITLE
“THE WALLFLOWER SOCIAL SOCIETY”
WRITE A MURDER MYSTERY THAT TAKES PLACE ON A TRAIN IN THE 1920S OR
1950S.