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?

Writing-ception...Book Number Eight

You don't have to wait any longer!  I have finally published another short story for your enjoyment and entertainment.  It is meta-fiction which means it is not an ordinary story and may seem strange at first.  Just roll with it.  It discusses and comments on writing conventions within the story itself. Kind of like writing with in writing...Or writing-ception! I wrote it for a creative writing class a year and a half ago.  It made me laugh writing it (plus every time I've reread it) and I hope it does the same to you!

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Voice Part 8/12

This chapter on Voice is one that I have always struggled with. I use it all the time but find it hard to define. I also fail to see it in my own writing, but I hope that I will figure it out over time.

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Setting and Pacing Part 7/12

This next chapter is easily overlooked. Setting and pacing are so simplistically difficult to get right and so painfully obvious when ill written. There is a balance that the writer must decide for each piece of writing. It always changes.

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Dialogue Part 6/12

Chapter Six of the Writing Fiction novel focuses on dialogue. Dialogue has always been one of my favorite parts of a story or novel. I loved that this chapter helps to make dialogue more believable and less boring. It is deceiving sometimes...

Writing Advice and Inspiration: Description Part 5/12

Here is chapter 5 in the Writing Fiction book. This is a great chapter about description and how to make the most out of it.