A Pen In Each Hand 2007
Excuses, Excuses
By Beaver
Make a list of the things you do when you "should" be writing. Are these things more important to you than writing? If not, consider why you do these things instead. Be honest with yourself. See if you can figure out the real reasons why you avoid writing. What do you think you might do to banish your excuses and take charge of your writing life?
The Genuine Blog
By Bonnets
Editor Danielle Chiotti noticed Rachel Spencer's blog, Au Paris, because it was "not forced" and had a relatable "realness" to it. Review your blog. Does it sound genuine? If not, what could you do to change that?
Polish Your Style
By Billiard
Pick up a grammar and style manual at your library or bookstore and brush up on your grammar skills or add some style to your writing!
Storify It!
By The Bellman
Look at the opening page of a non-fiction book. Does the author use any fiction techniques to engage the reader?
If so, list those techniques, and think about how effective each one was and how each affected the way you viewed the information.
If not, or if you can't tell, try rewriting one or two paragraphs in a way that does use some fiction techniques. Compare your rewrite with the original: which do you think gets the main idea across more effectively?
Comic Inspiration
By Baker
Exercise #1: Read a comic or graphic novel. Pay attention to the marriage of image and prose. Try writing six panels worth of a story. If it clicks, keep going.
Exercise #2: Ask a writing buddy to do a collaborative project. It could be an article, a scene for a play or a fractured fairy tale. Try different approaches and see what works. Publish it!
Exercise #3: If you usually submit to electronic journals, research print journals and send something out. Buy a few small press journals, read them and pass them along to other writers.
Statement of Purpose
By Jaywalke
Graduate applications require a statement of purpose—an essay outlining reasons for pursuing graduate work in creative writing. Some also ask that you reference specific examples in the works of authors you admire to illustrate what it is you wish to learn. What would your essay contain?
Mid-Year Evaluation
By Beaver
Answer the questions in Writing: Career or Hobby? Pick one area you're less than satisfied with and make a concrete plan to get where you want to be by the end of the year.
Be a Mentor
By Beaver
In my interview with Steve Simpson, he talks about the importance of his writing mentors to his success. This month's challenge is to give back to the writing community by doing something to encourage another writer: give some constructive feedback, offer some helpful advice, share a useful website, buy a book you love for a writer friend, pay for a writing class for someone who can't afford it... the list goes on.
Fun With Names
By Bonnets
In this month's AB article Trenton Lee Smith discussed how he named characters and places in The Mysterious Benedict Society: " It began with wanting to make the names distinctive and memorable, then developed into an enjoyable exercise in making most of the names hint at or reflect something deeper, such as a personality trait or a thematic joke."
Write a character sketch, or describe a fictional place with a name that reflects a personality trait or thematic joke.
No Plot? No Problem!
By Billiard
Sign up for NaNoWriMo!
Mini Character-Development Sheet
By Baker
Name:
If one asks the character, s/he would give these answers:
As the author, you would give these answers about this character:
My opinion of this character is…
*Elaborate on any of these; feel free to fill in names of other characters and how they relate to this one. For example, this sheet may be about the protagonist’s best friend, Kelly. Kelly may have a rival, maybe a common rival w/ the protagonist. Go ahead and fill in that info if it helps you determine Kelly’s character.
Give the Gift of… Proofreading!
By Beaver
It can be hard to spot errors in your own writing, particularly when you're tired. Before turning in that term paper, swap papers with a friend and proof each other's work. Not in school? Volunteer to proofread the work of someone who is. It's a gift any student would love to receive!