Tag: Writing

Short Story, Writing
Laura

This piece is my first draft of this piece. The idea comes from the book Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises From Today’s Best Writers and Teachers. This exercise is by Jim Heynen. In it, you must write a long paragraph and “introduce the character in the first sentence, and then describe the setting. Return to the character only at the end of the paragraph” (177). I really like to use this book for story ideas or practicing. I’ve used it in my classroom to give students ideas for short stories or creative ways to practice some part of writing. Hope you enjoy it.

 

As she looked around the office, Miranda knew that she was in big trouble this time, and she wasn’t going to be able to avoid it any longer. The cream-colored sheers prevented the sharp sunlight from engulfing the spacious office, causing the light to cast the room in a soft glow. Academic books lined the entirety of the wall behind the mahogany desk. Several filing cabinets rested in the corner closest to the entrance of the office. On the wall opposite the books sat the dreaded couch with a chair facing it. Miranda took a deep breath, stilled her nerves, and headed for the couch.

Modern living room and balcony

Story-Starter Sunday, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing Ideas

Story-Starter Sunday

Laura

Here is another installment of Story-Starter Sunday. There is no better day of the week to write. I hope you have fun with the last one. Again, the sun is shining here, and it’s absolutely beautiful outside despite the brown landscape. It’s a great day to spend a little time with your notebook, computer, or journal. Here is your Story-Starter Sentence:

When I woke up the next morning, I noticed I was not in my apartment. It was a year ago the last time this happened. 

Happy writing!

Question Mark

Poetry, Writing, Writing Ideas

The Lesson

Laura

Last week I posted one of my poems about the topic of drugs. I think I’ll keep with that topic this week. Last week’s poem was a little disheartening, but this one isn’t. I hope you enjoy it. As always, this is my work. If you desire to use it for anything, give credit please.

Syringe needle with a drop at the endThe Lesson

Because of you,

I have seen the degrading world of drugs.

Because of you,

I can recognize the sweet rotting smell (or metallic smell) of a meth addict.

Because of you,

I know the all-consuming thoughts of putting something else first.

Because of you,

I took off the rose-colored glasses in order to better see the lies.

Because of you,

I learned to hope for the first time.

Because of you,

I have also experienced the biggest sense of failure I have ever known.

Because of you,

I carried the burden of a broken heart.

Because of you,

I have learned to love myself as much as you hate yourself.

Because of you… and your addiction,

I am a better person today.

Because of you… and your addiction,

I learned to let you go.

Because of you… and your addiction,

I later met and married the man of my dreams.

 

Superfluous Simile Saturday

Superfluous Simile Saturday

Laura

WordsToday I want to take a look at some common similes. These are similes that we probably use on a daily basis and don’t even think about the fact that they are similes because they have become so cliche. However, cliche can actually be fun sometimes!

Cliche Simile #1: Cute as a kitten. This simile always strikes me as funny because there are some people in the world who don’t find kittens cute at all. Take a look this Oatmeal comic. There are some definite concerns there about the stability of the feline mind.

Cliche Simile #2: Happy as a clam. At what point did anyone ever determine the happiness of a clam? Is that even possible?

Cliche Simile #3: Snug as a bug in a rug. This one is just silly (or asinine if you looked at the latest WWW post). No bug is going to be snug in any rug. They’re just going to crawl right around the carpet fibers and get out. Duh!

Cliche Simile #4: Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. If you think this simile is true, then you keep buying the boxes of chocolate that don’t have the labels on the bottom or on the sheet that covers the chocolates. Stop buying the unlabeled boxes! No one wants to be surprised by the cream-filled. They all want to go straight for the caramel!

Are there any similes that you have that are just plain ridiculous? Please share them in the comments.

Story-Starter Sunday, Writing, Writing Ideas

Story-Starter Sunday!

Laura

Here is another installment of Story-Starter Sunday. What better day of the week to write? I hope you have fun with this one. Here, the sun is shining after a night of rain. Most of the snow has melted, and it’s much warmer than I thought it would be. It’s a great day to spend a little time with your notebook, computer, or journal. Here is your Story-Starter Sentence:

I opened up the love note from my boyfriend excitedly. It wasn’t until I was halfway through that I realized it wasn’t to me. 

Liebe

Quote
Laura

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
– Maya Angelou

I suspect that almost every writer feels this way. This quote is particular to me because I do feel that there are bountiful untold stories fluttering around in my brain, but I have yet to overcome my Ink Monster completely and write about them. Many of us have a fear of putting what we want down on paper (or computer) due to rejection or the inability to write because we have yet to find that amazing idea that no one has discovered (as if that idea really exists).

This quote gets to the heart of the matter for every writer. Failing to put pen to paper is agony. Having stories to share coupled with a fear of sharing them multiplies that agony. That’s why I’m writing this blog. My goal is to never bear that agony again. I hope you follow the same path toward taming your Ink Monster.

Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Poetry

I Don’t Want to Be a Hypocrite

Laura

I love to write, but I am one of those people who are frozen, waiting for the ideas to come. I know there are stories trapped in this brain of mine; it’s just a matter of breaking them out. What feels like a paralyzing inability to come up with a good idea has kept me from writing for years. Because of this, I have felt like such a hypocrite because I teach high school English where we read amazing literature and constantly write.

Up until a few years ago, I never tried writing poetry. I thought my paralyzing thoughts of failure would be best be expressed in a poem. I don’t feel that I’m a great poet, but everything I do write is extremely heartfelt. I hope you enjoy this one. It’s short and not so sweet.

Hypocrite

My hands hover over the keyboard.

The ideas just don’t come to me.

This should be so easy.

I teach English for Pete’s sake!

I’m such a hypocrite.

Pressure builds in my chest

The screen is still empty.

This should be so easy

Because I teach English for Pete’s sake!

I’m such a hypocrite.

Just one idea.

I just want one idea.

This needs to be easy

Because I teach English,

And I don’t want to be a hypocrite.

My hands hover over the keyboard.

Still the ideas don’t come to me.

I know this should be so easy for me

Because I teach English.

My students will think I’m a hypocrite.