Your Prompts and Tips
Some free resources to help you write better and achieve the success you deserve
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Prompts:
1. Write a few pages of a story in which one of our founding fathers finds himself suddenly transported to present-day Times Square. Is he convinced he’s dreaming? What does he think about all the cars and digital screens?
2. What if you had an elaborate dream one night, only to awaken the next day and find it playing out in real life? Is it a good dream or a nightmare? From bouncing on clouds to fighting an enemy army, write a few pages about one character’s experience.
3. Write a few pages about someone who is walking down the street one day and notices a jack-o’-lantern on someone’s porch that is carved to look just like him or her.
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Tips:
1. Whether they are about clowns, climbing a treacherous mountain, or a fear of rejection, scary stories get our hearts beating because they are able to achieve a level of suspense. While it may seem like you'd want to utilize fast pacing in such a story, mix it up with slower-paced moments too. These help create anticipation.
2. All writers draw from the same well of arts that are created by others. When you read, you probably notice that some stories and characters remind you of others that you have read about. Perhaps they are even an outright reimagining of them. Pointing out those connections can help us understand a story on a deeper level.
3. Beyond the title, the first line of a story is the author’s one and only chance to grab the reader’s attention and prompt them to keep reading. Make sure yours piques their interest enough. It can pose a question, bring up a conflict or provoke thought of some kind. If it doesn’t, is there another line, whether the second or the twentieth, that might make for a better hook?
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SCRATCHPAD:
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PRIVATE JOURNAL:
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TRACKING:
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TO DO LIST:
Add tasks to your sortable list, then revel in checking them off.
SCRATCHPAD:
Cache your gems as they fall in this always accessible place.
PRIVATE JOURNAL:
Reflect on your process — good, bad and ugly — in your dated diary.
TRACKING:
Measure your progress with key writing metrics, automatically,
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Minutes
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