I have a memory. I have a memory of cow pastures and chocolate milk and broad, blue forever-skies in Western Pennsylvania. Find us on Facebook I have a memory of wind chimes whipping wild in a Santa Ana windstorm. Read: Quick write: Delve beneath the surface I have a memory of sun-soaked days spent lounging … Continue reading »
Tag Archives: writing exercises
Quick write: Tap into sound to wake up your writing
When I lie in bed on a lazy Sunday morning pretending to sleep so that I am not disturbed, I hear my family rouse from their beds. One by one they roll in their beds, rumble to the door and then make their way to the bathroom or downstairs to the kitchen or to my … Continue reading »
Quick write: Delve beneath the surface
Dive into a lake and you might expect a murky greeting. But this is not so much the case in this strikingly cool pool. Open your eyes and you’ll be surprised to find a rock-strewn bed of color on the lake’s floor. Read: Quick write: The calm before the storm For your writing exercise today, … Continue reading »
Quick write: Trick-or-treat schemes and writing dreams
Trick-or-treat! Welcome to the one day of the year where children and grown-ups get to dress up and make believe they are something vile and villainous, bizarre or beautiful. The trick-or-treat tradition stretches back nearly 100 years, and, according to History.com, can claim a loose connection to “ancient Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic holidays, medieval … Continue reading »
Quick write: Aim for low-hanging fruit
It’s time to wake the senses in your writing. This lush little gem evokes memories of summer for me. As a child I would wander the tiny wood near our rural home and rob the wild bushes of their sweet gifts. Follow @EducatedWriter. I could go on and on, describing how my mouth still waters … Continue reading »
Quick write: Pondering amber waves of grain
Something about this image feels so “American” to me with its golden wheat standing tall against a stiff breeze as a storm threatens in the distance. Follow @EducatedWriter. What does this photo say to you? Does it inspire any memories or feelings of patriotism? Do you find the stark contrasts in color appealing? Is … Continue reading »
Quick write: Write to light up the taste buds
We all know how summer feels, but today let’s write about how summer tastes. Whether you are writing poetry, a screenplay or the Great American novel, it’s always important to tap the senses in your storytelling. Enhance the reading experience by immersing your audience in the tastes, touch, smells and sounds of the setting … Continue reading »
Quick write: Fun in the sun or something more?
What story surrounds this abandoned beach blanket beauty? Something naughty? Or something nice? Take a moment to imagine the tale or even just try your hand at describing the photo itself. For those of you still suffering in the winter cold, what feelings does this pic inspire for you at this moment? Have fun with … Continue reading »
Quick write: A house full of memories
As I was once a small-town girl who grew up in the beautiful and rural outreaches of western Pennsylvania, it was not such an uncommon thing to have to use an outhouse. This was never something I did willingly. It was only by sheer and painful necessity that I would enter such an old and … Continue reading »
Quick write: Pondering power and paradise
Check out this beautiful image of Huntington Beach in sunny southern California by photographer Greg Quirin: If a picture says a thousand words, then what does this colorful shot say about the interesting juxtaposition about power and paradise? Read: Quick write: Get tangled up in your writing Take a moment to think on the image … Continue reading »