Thursday, May 1, 2008
Twenty Five Words for May
A writing exercise I like from my Brown Bag writing group is “Twenty-Five Words.” We go around the table and, one by one, say a word (or short phrase.) It can be any word that comes to mind, or sometimes words based upon a pre-determined theme. The object of the exercise is to write a story using as many of the words (or short phrases)as possible. Here are twenty-five words for May. Set your timer for thirty minutes and try to write a picture book or children’s short story. Remember to try and use as many of the words as possible:
April showers
bear
grumpy
sneezy
hail
group hug
bamboozle
ramshackle
snail
randomly
stranger danger
run
pant
gasp
howdy
yoga
big yucks
razor
quick as a bunny
did you see that
wedding
cows
sleep
dasterdly
fantasy
May 8, 2008
Personal Narrative Writing Prompt
A personal narrative is written in the first person point of view. In general, the story is told as a chronology of events. To have impact, the narrative, like any other story, has a plot with a beginning, a middle and an end. It also supports conflict, has vivid characters and a sense of place. Specific sensory details and personal observations are used to bring the narrative to life.
The object of this prompt is to write a personal narrative, then to re-write it for a different age group. Select one topic from the list, then write a personal narrative about the topic for a middle grade reader. When you are done, re-write it as an 800 word picture book or short story for a pre or emergent reader. Keep in mind plot, conflict, characters, a sense of place and sensory details.
Topics:
1. A thanksgiving tradition with your family.
2. A traditional family vacation - at the beach, at the lake, on a remote island.
3. Something your parents made you do that you didn't want to do. How did you react? Did they regret it later?
4. A treasured old family photo. Who is in it? What does it represent? What is the story behind the photo?
5. A "don't tell Mom" secret shared by you and your sibling. What prevented you from telling? Who would have gotten into more trouble?
When you are finished, did your personal narrative reflect your authentic voice? Were you able to maintain your authentic voice when you re-wrote your piece for a younger reader?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Vocabulary List Writing Prompt
This prompt was inspired by a discussion I had with some writing friends regarding "early readers." While some educational publishers require writers to follow a vocabulary list when writing early readers, most trade publishers do not. This got me to thinking about vocabulary lists in general, and the difficulty in creating a picture book when using a limited vocabulary. I downloaded a list of "sight words" called the Dolch Pre-Primer Sight Vocabulary and the the Dolch Primer Sight Vocabulary. The challenge in this writing prompt is to try to create a coherent picture book using the words on this list. Try using repetition, and see how many times you are able to reuse the words in the course of an 800 words story.
The Dolch Pre-Primer and Primer Vocabulary List:
a and away big blue
can come down find
for funny go help
here I in is
it jump little look
make me my not
one play red run
said see the three
to two up we
where yellow you
all am are at
ate be black brown
but came did do
eat four get good
have he into like
must new no now
on our out please
pretty ran ride saw
say she so soon
that there they this
too under want was
well went what white
who will with yes
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Letter to Your Character Writing Prompt
This is an exercise I did with a writing group. It is especially useful when trying to work through difficulties with characterization. In the writing group, we were each having trouble understanding the nuances of our main characters - basically, why our main characters weren't "cooperating." In this prompt, your main character is away for an extended period of time, perhaps at summer camp, or at grandma's house. Or maybe he's away at boot camp for incorrigible youth. In your letter, describe the problem you are having with him (the scene in question, stilted dialog, unrealistic motivations, whatever the problem may be) and ask your main character why this problem exists between the two of you. Try to understand and make connections between how you feel, act and think, to your characters strengths, differences, challenges and core values.
When you have written your letter, read it out loud. How will your character feel when he reads this letter? What emotions will come to the surface? Can he find a way to cooperate with you, the writer? Or is there something about his basic character that will make it impossible for him to do what you think he should be doing? Is there anything you should change as a result?
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