A Pen In Each Hand 2006
Think You Know It All?
By Beaver
This month, every time you're unsure of the meaning of a word, jot it down. At the end of the month, look those words up.
Start a Writer's Notebook
By Jaywalke
Take a notebook with you everywhere. Carry two writing utensils. Live with your senses wide open, and when something makes you laugh, cry, vomit, love, hate, bridle, sweat, whatever... write it down. Do it for a week. Then sit at your computer and leaf through the ramblings. Ignore the chocolate smears and drops of... is that blood? Where have you been? Never mind, never mind... just give it a shot. Remember, you can't be wrong. Now get out there and do your job—collect some truth.
Nobody's Perfect
By The Bellman
What's holding you back on a writing project you are working on? Analyze the attitudes you might have about perfectionism that contribute to your problems with the project. Try one of the steps mentioned in the article to push yourself closer to the finish line.
Stock Your Writing Pantry
By Beaver
It's much easier to come up with brilliant ideas when a deadline isn't looming. This month, use your downtime to replenish your idea notebook or file.
Practice Writing Short
By Dinty Moore
Write ten rough drafts of ten different ideas; save one. Write ten more, save two. Then develop those three and see what you learn.
Supernatural Writing
By Billiard
Write a scene or story involving some element of the paranormal.
Favorite Books & Movies
By Bonnets
At the end of Bonnets's interview with Kevin Brockmeier, he lists his favorite books and movies. What are your favorites? Create your own list of your ten favorite books or movies and then write a reason why you chose them.
Unblock Your Block
By Boots
Write about what you can't write about.
Back to School
By Jaywalke
Locate your dream workshop, retreat or conference. Price and time are no object. Now consider making it a reality.
The 50,000 Word Challenge
By Ana George
Find out about NaNoWriMo and decide whether to do it this year.
Sell Your Submission
By Billiard
Write a cover letter, query, or synopsis and post it for critique.
Eight Layers
By Baker
Exercise 1 | Symbolism
Choose one of the following and write for 15 minutes, using your choice as a symbol:
Exercise 2 | Symbolism
Reread an old story or fragment and find recurring images (shapes, colors, times of day, etc.). How would your story improve if you used these symbolically? Rewrite with deliberate symbolism in mind.
Exercise 3 | Atmosphere & Tone
Have a piece that just went nowhere but you couldn't bear to chuck it? Pull it out and change the atmosphere and/or tone. Go very serious or very comic. Make things tense from the opening paragraph.
Exercise 4 | Tone
Write something new for this one. Imagine a narrator with a point of view different from your own. Think politics, religion, morality, professional, etc. What story does this narrator have to tell? How does your opposing viewpoint change the tone of your writing?
Exercise 5 | Characterization
For twenty minutes, write an extraneous scene for the piece you've actively worked on most recently. Take one of your main characters and put him/her in a cafe or restaurant, alone (maybe waiting for someone). S/he eavesdrops on the other patrons:
Once you've finished your scene, go back and read it objectively. What do the reactions to these flat characters reveal about your narrator?
Exercise 6 | Conflict
Take a piece you're working on or stuck on and add a new villain or antagonist. Does your new character work with the old antagonist or bring something fresh to the mix?
Exercise 7 | Conflict
Find a story idea that never worked out for you. What would be at stake in the story? If you're not sure, write for ten minutes and get to know the main character. What's the worst thing that could happen to him/her? Make it happen in the next ten minutes. Keep writing or put in your idea folder for next time.
Exercise 8 | Theme
As suggested in the article, write a statement you'd like to make with a short story, novel or poem. Incorporate your theme into an existing piece or write something fresh with your theme in mind.