Monthly Archives: March 2017

On video this time…Writing Warmup #318 “Aha!”

Tried something a little different…

It’s two minutes long.

There is a little thinking aloud early on, but then I back off of that, for the good of all.

I’m wondering if any viewers start filling in their own snippets of dialogue, plot twists, and more effective word choices as they’re watching. I know that I did when I replayed it.

Here it is…

 

A confession…

The other day I was at a loss to describe my inability to solve an annoying situation.

And I heard myself say, “It is what it is.”

Yes, “It is what it is.”

To quote Boon from Animal House, “A new low. I’m so ashamed.”

Not sure I can forgive myself for that…so I’ll turn to readers for forgiveness.

;-]

begging

Writing Warmup #137: “You’re on the air! Say something!”

I gripped the microphone and looked at the producer who whirled one hand around the other.

microphone-and-hand cropped

“A hamster wheel?” I thought.

My armpits were spritzing.

Oh-yeahhh! A referee’s signal for traveling.

My thought process? Glacial.

The pounding on the window was one hint.

The scrawled message of Keep it moving!!!!!! on the back of the pizza menu was another.

Geez, though, did he really need six exclamation points?

“So,” I said into the mic. “How ’bout those Yankees!?”

 

Writing Warmup #413: “I don’t know about you, but I’m outta here.”

And just like that, my now ex-best buddy was gone.

And I was left holding the bag. Literally.

“So, whatcha got there?” asked the large one.

“I’m not really sure,” I said, and backed up toward the door.

“Looks like it might be just what we’ve been looking for,” said the larger one. “What should we do with this clown?”

 

Juggling talent and inspiration…

Seth Godin provides a little insight on this question…

“It turns out that getting less lazy, more brave—more clear about your fears, your work, and your mission—are all easier than getting more talented.”

[Feels like he’s talking right at me. I hate when that happens.]

Will keep this post short so I can work on getting less lazy.

frustrations-corner-punching-boxing

Writing Warmup #151: What the heck, no one was looking…

Yeah, yeah, yeah, all those wisenheimers spew about character being what you do when no one was looking, but this was different.

It was just a book, a silly book. And it wasn’t even written in English. So who really would miss it?

I only needed to make it to the end of the block, trade it for cash, and I’d be on my way.

avoid-suspicion-sneaking-around-after-dark-864

Writing Warmup #87–Crop circles everywhere…

My dad threw down his beloved John Deere hat.

“No way we’re making any money this year,” he said to me as he picked up the cap.

“Dad,” I said. “Do we know anyone with a helicopter? I have an idea.”

He glared at me. “We’re starvin’ here and you want to go on a joyride in the sky?”

***

When all you need is that one special nudge to your next great story…