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Your Prompts and Tips

Some free resources to help you write better and achieve the success you deserve

This is a selection we've harvested from our archives, RELOAD THE PAGE for more!

Prompts:

1. Write a few pages about a private investigator who is hired by a stranger to uncover a surprising truth about a recent spree of jewelry robberies.

2. There are lots of different summer camps out there. There are traditional ones for kids, filled with archery and kayaking, but there are also lesser-known camps, like one where you can foster your circus skills. Write a few pages about one such unusual camp that you make up!

3. 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?

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Tips:

1. You may remember learning in elementary or middle school that writing has three primary purposes: to entertain, to inform, and to persuade. When you read, ask yourself what the author’s purpose is.

2. There are seven primary types of conflict in a story: person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. fate, person vs. nature, person vs. society, person vs. technology and person vs. the unknown. Each one brings with it its own unique challenges. When you read, think about which types of conflict characters are facing and how they drive the narrative forward.

3. Almost every story has some unexpected aspect, ranging from a small moment with a sudden turn of phrase all the way to a sweeping plot twist. When you read, think about what surprises you and how. Is it a pleasant or unpleasant surprise? Do you wish the story surprised you more?

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TO DO SCRATCHPAD PRIVATE JOURNAL TRACKING Update Assessment
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TO DO LIST:
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SCRATCHPAD:
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PRIVATE JOURNAL:
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TRACKING:
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