The Making of a Story Writing Exercises

In the next writing book I am reading, The Making of a Story, by Alice LaPlante, at the end of every chapter she gives two writing exercises. I thought I would post the prompt and my own examples of my writing. Feel free to comment on what you liked or didn't like and try them out for yourself. If you are really proud of what you wrote, send it to me! I would love to read what you have written. Enjoy and keep writing!

Chapter 1: What Is This Thing Called Creative Writing?

Exercise 1:  "I Don't Know Why I Remember..."

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Cheat Sheet Part 12/12

Cheat Sheet for Writing and Revision

Writing Advice and Inspiration: The Business of Writing Part 11/12

CHAPTER 11

THE BUSINESS OF WRITING:  DRIVING YOURSELF NUTS FOR FUN AND PROFIT

By Corene Lemaitre

THE HOLY GRAIL OF PUBLICATION

As writing is hard work, your desire to profit from your efforts is understandable.  But if you want to make serious money, fiction is probably not the best way to go about it.  

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Revision Part 10/12

CHAPTER 10

REVISION:  REAL WRITERS REVISE

By Peter Selgin

FIRST DRAFTS

Before we decided how to revise, it helps to have something to revise, namely a first draft.  I've heard it said that a first draft should be written with the heart, whereas subsequent drafts must bring to bear that more critical organ, the brain.

It's okay if a first draft sucks;  it should suck; it's supposed to suck.  Be reckless, be shameless, be grossly irresponsible and self-indulgent, even, but get something down.

Remember: when writing first drafts you should not be editing.  There is a woman who owns a collections of hats and wears one while writing her first draft, and another hat when revising.

However inspired, first drafts can always stand improvement.  And while there may be nothing sentimental about revision, editing can be enjoyable.  With experience the fiction writer learns not only how to find and solve technical problems but that solving such problems in a manuscript can be as creative as writing first drafts.

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Theme Part 9/12

CHAPTER 9

THEME:  SO WHAT’S YOUR STORY REALLY ABOUT?

By Terry Bain

"What's your story about?"

"Find out."

Of course, I think I was confusing plot with what my story was "about."  He wasn't asking, What happens, but rather, What's the big picture?  Why should I care?  He wasn't just asking what the story was about plot wise but what was the story really about?