1. MAKE A LIST OF AT LEAST 5 TURNING POINTS IN YOUR LIFE & RECORD THE

YEARS IN WHICH THESE EVENTS OCCURRED

2. MAKE A LIST OF HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THESE YEARS

3. LOOK FOR OVERLAP BETWEEN 1&2 (don ’ t worry i f you don’ t see any)

Journal Prompt 1

1. D I S C U S S D I F F E R E N C E S B E T W E E N A U T O B I O G R A P H Y, M E M O I R , A N D P E R S O N A L E S S AY

2. D I S C U S S O B L I G AT I O N S O F N O N - F I C T I O N A N D B R A I N S T O R M E X A M P L E S

( r e s e a r c h , d i a l o g u e )

3 . D I S C U S S A M I L L I O N L I TT L E P I E C E S C O N T R O V E R S Y

4 . U S I N G B R A I N S T O R M E D L I S T D I S C U S S F E AT U R E S T H AT I N T E R E S T R E A D E R S

( r e l a t a b i l i t y, n o v e l t y, v o i c e , s t y l e )

F r e e w r i t e / B r a i n s t o r m f o r e s s a y

H W: a c q u i r e a B O U N D J O U R N A L

Personal Essay

RETELL A STORY YOU WERE ONCE TOLD BY SOMEONE ELSE.

Be sure to cons ider why th is ta le i s memorable . Was i t the ta le i t se l f? Something spec ia l about the

s toryte l ler? Or d id the t ime/p lace / re levance to your l i fe make i t espec ia l l y po ignant?

IN YOUR RETELLING BE AS SPECIFIC AND VISUAL AS

POSSIBLE ABOUT THE TIME/PLACE/PEOPLE INVOLVED.

Journal Prompt 2

1. READ AND DISCUSS THE EXCERPT FROM GOREN’S ESSAY “ I FEEL A SPELL COMING ON”

2. DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF TITLE/ LEAD ELEMENTS

3. WORK ON PERSONAL ESSAY

Personal Essay example

W H O I S T H E M O S T I N F LU E N T I A L P E R S O N I N Y O U R L I F E ? C O N S I D E R W H Y.

T h e n d e s c r i b e e i t h e r :

1. Y O U R F I R S T M E E T I N G W I T H T H I S P E R S O N

2. A M E M O R A B L E T I M E W I T H T H E M

3. W H AT M A D E Y O U R E A L I Z E T H E I R I M P O RTA N C E T O Y O U

4. A B L E N D O F 1 - 3

Journal Prompt 3

1. REA D A ND DI SCUSS SELZER’ S “TH E DI SCUSS TH ROWER”

2. DI SCUSS I M P ORTA NCE OF T I TLE / LEA D ELEM ENTS/ DI CTI ON

3. DI SCUSS DI F FERENCES FROM Y ESTERDAY ’ S P I ECE . I n your op in ion w h ich i s mor e ca p t i va t ing ? Why?

4. WORK ON PERSONA L ESSAY (a f t e r t omor r ow ’ s s e s s i on you s hou ld ha ve a r oug h d r a f t fi n i s hed )

Personal Essay example

DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU RECALL HAVING BEEN

TERRIFIED(or some other extreme emotion)

Journal Prompt 4

1. F L A S H F O R WA R D

l e s s c o m m o n t e c h n i q u e u s e d f o r d e l a y i n g g r a t i fi c a t i o n o f t h e n o w, b u t i n a w a y t h a t p r o v i d e s a

s u g g e s t i o n u s i n g a f u t u r e p a r a l l e l

2 . F L A S H B A C K

B e c a r e f u l t o a v o i d s t a r t i n g w i t h a fl a s h b a c k . R e m e m b e r y o u w a n t t o s t a r t w i t h a c t i o n .

A l s o a v o i d u s i n g a fl a s h b a c k a s a w a y o f p r o v i d i n g b a c k s t o r y o r g e n e r a l e x p l a n a t i o n f o r w h y t h e n o w i s

h a p p e n i n g

( s e e )

Flash Techniques

REVIEW THE GENERAL RULES AND THEN PUT THEM TO PRACTICE!

HW FOR MONDAY: 1 ) ACQUIRE A BOUND

JOURNAL/NOTEBOOK 2) HAVE YOUR GRADING POLICY SIGNED

Peer Editing/ Sharing Sessions

WRITE A LETTER TO EITHER YOUR CHILDHOOD SELF OR TO YOUR

FUTURE SELF. What would you want this other you to either know or remember? Think

about what changes such a letter could cause.

Ex. http://youtu.be/RQ3bn7V0zdU

Journal Prompt 5

Journal Prompt 6Free Write: Let one of the images inspire your writing.

AT THE AUTOPSY

"Vic t im’s b lood i s comple te l y d ra ined , apparent l y through two smal l punc ture wounds in the neck , " sa id the coroner. "Hey . . . you don ’ t suppose i t ’ s , you know, the rea l dea l ? " asked h i s as s i s tant . "No , jus t some psycho . " "You sure? " They s tared a t each o ther fo r a moment , then burs t out l augh ing–but s topped when the corpse l aughed , too .

R O S S L E S K OL A K E W O O D , O H

Flash Fiction

DEATH TRAP

The growing hatred between Mary and Robert was such that a k i l l ing was inev i tab le . Mary had a p lan , ba i t ing Robert incessant l y in the hope that he would k i l l her. The note he found a f ter he shot her read , "Thank you ,Robert . Doctors had g iven me only two months . I hope you rot in pr i son forever. "

E R N I E G L E N E S KS A N T A M A R I A

Flash Fiction

O N E Y E A R L AT E R

" G o o d m o r n i n g , E v a . " " M o r n i n g , S h e r y l . " " S o h o w ’ s y o u r g a r d e n d o i n g ? " " G r o w i n g l i k e a w e e d ! " T h e y l a u g h e d . " I ’ m s u r e i t ’ s g i v e n y o u a l o t o f c o m fo r t s i n c e H e n r y d i s a p p e a r e d , " s a i d S h e r y l k i n d l y. " A c t u a l l y, " s a i d E v a , " I o f t e n f e e l h e n e v e r r e a l l y l e f t m e a t a l l . " H e r r o s e s w e r e u n u s u a l l y l a r g e t h a t s u m m e r.

M A R T H A P H I L L I P SM A D I S O N , W I

Flash Fiction

“ J E R M A I N E ’ S P O S T S C R I P T T O H I S S E V E N T H - G R A D E P O E M A S S I G N M E N T, ” B Y C H R I S T O F F E R M O L N A R .

“Ms. Ty ler, the g i r l part was about Shante l l . P lease don ’ t te l l anyone .”

“ H O U S T O N, W E H AV E A P R O B L E M , ” B Y J . M ATT H E W Z O S S .

I ’m sorry, but there ’s not enough a i r in here for everyone . I ’ l l te l l them you were a hero.

E R N E S T H E M I N G WAY ’ S 6 -W O R D S T O RY:

For Sa le : Baby shoes , never worn .

Flash Fiction

Part 1 : E i ther p ick an ind iv idua l f rom your l i f e or c rea te your own charac ter then imagine conduct ing an in terv iew wi th them to fi nd out every th ing poss ib le about who they are .

Record the i r responses us ing d ia logue ( t ry to capture the i r a t t i tude) .

S tar t w i th bas ic in terv iew ques t ions such as :• What’s your name?• Where were you born?• How old are you?• Do you have a job? What is it? For how long have you had it? What do you enjoy/hate about it?

To put your sub jec t a t ease and then bu i ld to more complex ques t ions such as :

• Describe your relationship with your (mother/sister/ boyfriend/ boss, etc…)

Fina l l y, end wi th your most cha l l eng ing / persona l l y invas i ve ques t ion . For example :

• Do you care to address the rumors that _____ has been cheating on you?• Can you describe the night you found _______’s body?

Journal Prompt 7

Part II: Exchange your list with someone near you.

Look over the list of information you have been provided and then write as if you are this character using the line "I lay awake, unable to sleep, and all because…" to start your entry.

Consider what is this new character excited about, or scared of? What have they done or what will they have to do that keeps running through their mind?

T h e b e s t s h o r t s t o r i e s j u m p r i g h t i n t o t h e a c t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e , r e a d e r s l o v e m y s t e r i e s , s u r p r i s e s , a n d i n t r i g u e . B y l e t t i n g t h e m k n o w t h a t s o m e t h i n g o r

s o m e o n e i s n o t w h a t h e / s h e / i t s e e m s , y o u m a g i c a l l y c r e a t e t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a l l t h r e e .

F R E E W R I T E T O T H E S T O R Y S T A R T E R B E L O W.

" . . . W A S / W E R E N O T W H A T I T / H E / S H E S E E M E D . "

E X A M P L E S :T H E N E W S E C R E T A R Y W A S N O T W H A T S H E S E E M E D .

T H E I R M A R R I A G E W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .T H E J O B O F F E R W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .

T H E A D O P T I O N A G E N C Y W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .T H E G R A Y H O U S E O N T H E C O R N E R W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .

T H O S E L I G H T S I N T H E S K Y W E R E N O T W H A T T H E Y S E E M E D .T H E H O T E L W A S N O T W H A T I T S E E M E D .

N O T E : D O N ’ T F E E L C O M P E L L E D T O U S E S U C H S I M P L E S E N T E N C E S . Y O U C A N U S E C O M P L E X S E N T E N C E S , I N T R O D U C T O R Y P H R A S E , C L A U S E S ,

P R E P O S I T I O N A L P H R A S E S , E T C … T O M A K E Y O U R O P E N I N G A S A R R E S T I N G A S Y O U ’ D L I K E .

Journal Prompt 8

Incorporate the paradox “sweet sorrow” into a free write of your

choice.

Ex. Shakespeare once wrote, “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I’ll say goodnight

until tomorrow…”

Journal Prompt 9

WRITE DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS HAVING AN ARGUMENT.

Keep wr i t ing for ten minutes w i thout s topp ing , and remember the pr imary condi t ion : the charac ters must

a lways d i sagree .

• AS LONG AS YOU HAVE DISAGREEMENT, YOU HAVE CONFLICT, AND, IF YOU HAVE CONFLICT, YOU’LL

HAVE DRAMATIC TENSION. • DIALOGUE SHOULD BE FUN, SNAPPY, CRISP, AND

SHOULD REVEAL SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE SPEAKING.

Journal Prompt 10

THINGS THAT KILL DIALOGUE

1. WHEN CHARACTERS TELL EACH OTHER WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW

2. WHEN CHARACTERS RESPOND AS IF THEY EXPECTED TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER SAID

3. WHEN CHARACTERS STATE THE ISSUES OF THE SCENE EXPLICITLY ( i . e . “ I ’m angry a t you for

wi thhold ing emot iona l l y )

Journal Prompt 10 (Don’ts)

“Would you pass the salt?”“Get it yourself,” he said, not looking up from the television.She reached for he salt , and threw it through the TV screen.“Now,” she said, “would you pass the pepper?”

Journal Prompt 10 Example

FREE WRITE: INCLUDE EITHER

“A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS”OR A

“SECOND CHANCE”IN YOUR WRITING

Journal Prompt 11

Go back through your prev ious entr ies and rough draf ts ; choose a p iece that begins wi th character and rewr i te i t , th i s t ime lead ing wi th three fu l l l ines o f

se t t ing descr ipt ion be fore introduc ing the characters .

Star t out wide and l ine by l ine , br ing your focus c loser in toward the characters .

The fact that the p lace precedes the characters could say something about the character ’s re la t ionship to

that space OR i t may symbol ica l l y suggest a theme/ idea that your characters wi l l go on to fl esh

out .

Journal Prompt 12

W R I T E F O R T E N M I N U T E S T O O N E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G P R O M P T S :

• D e s c r i b e a b u i l d i n g a s s e e n b y a m a n w h o s e s o n h a s j u s t b e e n k i l l e d i n a w a r. D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e s o n , w a r, d e a t h , o r t h e o l d m a n d o i n g t h e s e e i n g ; t h e n d e s c r i b e t h e s a m e b u i l d i n g , i n t h e s a m e w e a t h e r a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e o f d a y, a s s e e n b y a h a p p y l o v e r. D o n o t m e n t i o n l o v e o r t h e l o v e d o n e .

• D e s c r i b e a l a n d s c a p e a s s e e n b y a n o l d w o m a n w h o s e d i s g u s t i n g a n d d e t e s t a b l e o l d h u s b a n d h a s j u s t d i e d . D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e h u s b a n d o r d e a t h .

• D e s c r i b e a l a k e a s s e e n b y a y o u n g m a n w h o h a s j u s t c o m m i t t e d m u r d e r. D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e m u r d e r.

• D e s c r i b e a l a n d s c a p e a s s e e n b y a b i r d . D o n o t m e n t i o n t h e b i r d .

D O N ’ T F O R G E T T O I N C LU D E A T I M E P E R I O D O R T O G O B E Y O N D T H E V I S U A L A N D I N C LU D E O T H E R S E N S O R Y D E TA I L S ( S O U N D S , TA S T E S , S M E L L S , E T C … )

Journal 13: It’s all about the setting…

To n i g h t I l i n g e r e d o v e r y o u r n a m e , t h e d e l i c a t e a s s e m b l y o f v o w e l s

a v o i c e i n s i d e m y h e a d . Yo u w e r e s l e e p i n g w h e n I a r r i v e d .

I s t o o d b y y o u r b e d a n d w a t c h e d t h e s h e e t s r i s e g e n t l y.

I k n e w w h a t s l a n t o f l i g h t w o u l d m a k e y o u t u r n o v e r.

I t w a s t h e n I f e l t t h e h i g h w a y s s l i d e o u t o f m y h a n d s .

I r e m e m b e r e d t h e o l d m e n i n t h e w e s t s i d e c a f e ,

d e a l i n g d o m i n o e s l i k e m a g i c a l c h a r m s . I t w a s t h e n I k n e w,

l i k e a w o m a n l o o k i n g b a c k w a r d , I c o u l d n o t l e a v e y o u ,

o r fi n d a n y o n e I l o v e d m o r e .

San AntonioNaomi Shihab Nye, 1952

Hibernat ing by day, they hover t ree - top h igh . Dark I ron She l l s s i l ent l y absorb ing the sun ’s rays , l ock ing away

energy for n ight fa l l when sunl ight wi l l burs t for th in a concentrated beam, g lar ing down upon the cracked and

rust -s ta ined concrete . The i r impart ia l façade d i sappear ing , rep laced wi th an immovable anger aga inst

a l l in truders . Army Rows e l iminate the l ike l ihood o f s tea l th be ing enough to sneak past the i r obst inate

guard .

YOU MAY FREE WRITE ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WISH OR YOU MAY USE ONE OF THE PROMPTS BELOW FOR

INSPIRATION:

• Topic : broken promises

Or i ncorpora te one o f the f o l l ow ing l i nes :

• “…daydreaming wi th a penc i l…”• “…spl i t your t ime…”

• “…I couldn ’ t be l ieve my eyes…”

Journal Prompt 14

Contemporary readers typ ica l l y pre fer short t idb i ts o f descr ipt ion spr ink led throughout ra ther than long intr i cate passages descr ib ing the se t t ing . Choose THREE o f the be low prompts and wr i te an opening for a s tory in each locat ion / t ime . Keep your descr ipt ions to no more than a paragraph each in l ength .

A GHOST TOWN IN THE WILD OLD WEST.A CONTEMPORARY METROPOLIS.

A MEDIEVAL HOUSEHOLD.A MADE-UP FANTASY LAND.

ABOARD A VESSEL, SUCH AS A SPACESHIP, IN THE FAR-OFF FUTURE.

Journal 15

E X P E R I M E N T W I T H T H E F O L L O W I N G T E C H N I Q U E S :

• p r e s e n t a s n a p s h o t o f t h e l a n d s c a p e b e f o r e m o v i n g i n t o y o u r s t o r y • b r i n g r e a d e r s r i g h t i n t o t h e s e t t i n g b y c o m b i n i n g t h e s e t t i n g ’ s

d e s c r i p t i o n w i t h a c t i o n a n d b y   u s i n g a c t i v e l a n g u a g e r a t h e r t h a n p a s s i v e :

I n s t e a d o f d e s c r i b i n g   b u s y s t r e e t s p a c k e d w i t h s h o p p e r s , e x p l a i n t h a t   s h o p p e r s c o u r s e d t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s l i k e r a t s i n a m a z e .

• b r i n g c h a r a c t e r s i n t o t h e s e t t i n g :   K a t e c r a n e d h e r n e c k a n d s p i e d a t i n y p a t c h o f s k y a m i d s t t h e t o w e r i n g s k y s c r a p e r s .    

• I n e s t a b l i s h i n g t i m e , i n s t e a d o f s i m p l y s t a t i n g t h e d a t e ( t h e y e a r w a s 2 0 1 2 ) , y o u c a n   p l a c e s o m e t h i n g i n t h e s e t t i n g t h a t i d e n t i fi e s t h e e r a :   A b r a n d n e w 2 0 1 2 Po r c h e s p e d b y a n d K a t e w h i r l e d o n h e r h e e l s j u s t i n t i m e t o s e e i t d i s a p p e a r a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r o f L e x i n g t o n .

PA RT I : G U E SS W H E R E T H E F O L L O W I N G S T O R I E S TA K E P L A C E . W H AT H E L P E D Y O U F I G U R E I T O U T ?

A . T h e a u t o m a t i c d o o r s o p e n e d s w i f t l y a s J a d e s t r o d e i n . S h e g l a n c e d q u i c k l y a t t h e c l u s t e r o f s i g n s a n d p r e s s e d o n d o w n t h e w i d e p o l i s h e d c o r r i d o r. A h e a d o f h e r a s e t o f d o u b l e d o o r s fl e w o p e n a n d a t r o l l e y, p u s h e d b y fi v e c o n c e r n e d f a c e s , p a s s e d r a p i d l y b y. T h e s m e l l o f a n t i s e p t i c c a u g h t a t t h e b a c k o f h e r t h r o a t . P u s h i n g t h r o u g h t h e d o o r s a t t h e e n d o f t h e c o r r i d o r, s h e e m e r g e d i n t o a b r i g h t l y l i t r o o m . R o w s o f p l a s t i c s e a t s g r o a n e d w i t h i n j u r e d p e o p l e . W h e r e w a s M a n n y ? T h e c a l l h a d b e e n b r i e f . A l l s h e k n e w w a s t h a t M a n n y w a s h e r e s o m e w h e r e .

 

Journal 16

B. Sa d ie t h r us t t h e t i ck e t i n t o t he ma n ’ s ha n d . Ha l f - t o r n he r e t u r n ed i t a n d p u l l ed o p en t he d o o r. Her ey es na r r o wed a s s he s t ep p ed f o r wa r d u r g en t l y i n t o t h e d i m l y l i t r o o m. S t a l e p o p co r n co l l a p s ed und er h e r f ee t . She f e l t he r wa y d o wn t he n a r r o w a i s l e . She ha d a g r eed t o mee t G er r y so mewh er e i n t he m i d d l e . T he f r o n t wa s t o o c l o se , wh i l s t t he b a ck mea n t y o u sp en t mo s t o f y o u r t ime s t a r i ng a t t he h a i r s t y l e i n f r o n t . A y o ung co u p l e s t o o d up t o l e t h e r p a ss , t he i r co a t s f e l l f r o m t h e i r l a p s a nd wer e l o s t i n t he d a r k a l l e y b en ea t h t he i r f o l d in g sea t s .

C. T he v eg e t a b l e s g l ea med un d er t he l i g h t i n g a s sp ec i a l o ff er s swun g g i d d i l y o n t h e i r s t r i ng s f r o m t h e ce i l i n g . He i n ch ed f o r wa r d , k eep ing h imse l f we l l h id d en b eh i nd t h e wo ma n who s e ch i l d r o cked i n t h e me t a l ca g e p r o v id ed a t t h e b a ck o f t he t r o l l e y. As t hey p a ss ed t h e cheese a n d m i l k a co o l d r a ug h t ca ug h t t he b a ck o f h i s n eck , s end i ng a sh i v e r d o wn h i s sp in e .

CHOOSE AN IMAGE BELOW AND BEGIN A STORY WHERE THE SETTING IS AMPLY DESCRIBED AND INCREDIBLY

IMPORTANT.

Journal 16 Part II

BE AN OBSERVER:

The best wr i ters are constant l y on the lookout for insp i rat ion . P ieces o f a conversat ion they hear in the

ha l lway, the tune in a TV advert i sement , a bumper s t i cker, a photograph, a p iece o f l i t ter, a p lace , or an

indiv idual can a l l serve as insp i rat ion .

THINK BACK OVER THE PAST WEEK AND USE ONE CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A RANDOM INDIVIDUAL OR

OBJECT AS INSPIRATION FOR A FREE WRITE.

(note your s tar t ing po int a t the top o f the pg . )

Journal 17

• MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE FAIRYTALES/ LEGENDS YOU CAN THINK OF

• COMPARE YOUR LIST WITH A NEIGHBOR’S

• CIRCLE THE THREE FAIRYTALES THAT YOU FOUND MOST SATISFYING AND EXPLAIN WHY

• CIRCLE THE THREE FAIRYTALES THAT YOU FOUND LEAST SATISFYING AND EXPLAIN WHY

Journal 18

T H I N G S T O C O N S I D E R :

1 . AV O I D D E U S E X M A C H I N A : A n e n d i n g t h a t c o m e s u n e x p e c t e d l y o u t o f n o w h e r e

2 . M U S T B E L O G I C A L

3 . P R O V I D I N G A Q U I C K WAY O U T W I L L O N LY D R I V E AWAY R E A D E R S . D o n ’ t s h o r t c h a n g e y o u r v i e w e r s . Yo u h a v e t o b e p a t i e n t .

4 . F I L L I N T H E G A P S . D o n ’ t l e a v e t h e r e a d e r d a n g l i n g . Yo u ’ l l o n l y a n n o y t h e m .

5 . T H E B E S T E N D I N G S A R E T H O S E T H AT W I L L R E A D Y O U R R E A D E R T H I N K I N G . O N E W A Y t o d o t h i s i s t o h o o k y o u r r e a d e r i n t o y o u r c h a r a c t e r ’ s

t h o u g h t s . U n l e s s y o u r c h a r a c t e r d i e s t h e n f o r t h e m t h e s t o r y c o n t i n u e s . T h i n k a b o u t w h a t m i g h t c o m e n e x t . F i n d a w a y t o e n d t h a t w r a p s u p t h e c u r r e n t d i l e m m a s i n a m a n n e r t h a t m i g h t c h a n g e t h e c h a r a c t e r ' s f u t u r e .

R u m i n a t e a b o u t t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s . A N O T H E R W A Y: i s t o c l e a r l y r e i n f o r c e t h e p a r a l l e l s t o m o d e r n l i f e i n a w a y t h a t t h e r e a d e r m a y h a v e

l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g a p p l i c a b l e . A N O T H E R W A Y: y o u r s t o r y i s j u s t t h a t s h o c k i n g / i n c r e d i b l e t h a t t h e y a r e g o i n g t o k e e p t h i n k i n g a b o u t i t ( T h e r e a r e

m a n y m o r e )

Journal 19: Endings

I T ’ S T H E N I G H T J A M E S F I N A L LY FA C E S O F F W I T H T H E S U P E R N AT U R A L E NT I T I E S H U N T I N G H I S H O U S E . H E ’ S

P R E PA R E D E V E RY T H I N G T H E C A R NI E F O RT U N E T E L L E R H A D T O L D H I M T O P R E PA R E .

H O W W I L L Y O U P R OV I D E A S AT I S F Y I N G E ND T O J A M E S ’ S T O RY ?

Journal 19: Endings

O f t e n t i m e s i t i s t e m p t i n g t o r u n w i t h t h e fi r s t i d e a t h a t e n t e r s y o u r h e a d b u t , w h i l e d o i n g s o i n i t i a l l y i s n o t e r r i b l e t h i n g , a s k i n g “ I F … ” s o m e w h e r e b e f o r e y o u d r o p y o u r p e n o n y o u r “ g o o d c o p y ” i s w a r r a n t e d . Q u e s t i o n e v e r y t h i n g ! A n d t h i n k o f w h a t e v e r y m i n o r c h a n g e i n y o u r fi r s t p a r a g r a p h w i l l r e s u l t i n d o w n t h e r o a d . Fo r p r a c t i c e :

W R I T E T O O N E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G P R O M P T S :

I F Y O U C O U L D H AV E D I N N E R W I T H A N Y O N E ( A L I V E O R A L R E A D Y D E A D ) , W H O W O U L D I T B E ? W H AT W O U L D Y O U H AV E ?

I F Y O U C O U L D M E E T A N Y F I C T I O N A L C H A R A C T E R , W H O W O U L D I T B E ? W H E R E W O U L D Y O U M E E T ? D I S C U SS ?

I F Y O U C O U L D C H A N G E O N E T H I N G A B O U T Y O U R P R E S E N T L I F E , W H AT W O U L D I T B E ?

I F Y O U C O U L D L I V E A N Y W H E R E Y O U WA N T E D, W H E R E W O U L D Y O U L I V E ? W H Y ?

I F Y O U C O U L D G O B A C K I N T I M E A N D C H A N G E O N E T H I N G S F R O M Y O U R PA S T, W H AT W O U L D I T B E ? W H Y ? H O W W O U L D I T C H A N G E Y O U R L I F E ?

Journal 20: Asking “If” questions

• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?

• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT?

• WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR IF A GENIE GRANTED YOU THREE WISHES?

• WHAT’S YOUR WILDEST DREAM?

Journal 21: Sky’s the limit!

• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD LIVE A DAY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES?

• WHAT GRAND ADVENTURE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD GO ON?

• IF YOU COULD BECOME AN EXPERT IN ANY SUBJECT OR ACTIVITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

• WHAT WOULD YOUR PERFECT DAY BE LIKE?

• CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE THE KIND OF WORLD YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.   WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Journal 22: Sky’s the Limit part II

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

PUT YOUR PEN/PENCIL TO PAPER AND DON’T STOP WRITING FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT ORGANIZATION, SPELLING, OR MUCH OF ANYTHING.

IF IT FLOWS THROUGH YOUR MIND, WRITE IT DOWN.

Journal 23

IMAGINE YOU’RE ARE A CREATURE (REAL OR

MYTHOLOGICAL) AND THEN WRITE A

MONOLOGUE BRINGING THIS CHARACTER TO

LIFE. BE SURE TO CONSIDER HOW THE

PATTERN AND CONTENT OF THEIR

THOUGHTS WOULD DIFFER FROM A

HUMAN’S.

Journal 24

EITHER:1.HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH AN

INANIMATE OBJECTOR

2.WRITE A PIECE INSPIRED BY A MOVIE/ T.V. SHOW

Journal 25

Let one o f the images inspi re you

Journal 26

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?

DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU CAN ENVISION USING YOUR POWER.

(you may s t i ck to narrat i ve descr ipt ion , poet ic verse , or invent a short s tory around the event)

Journal 27

TAKE AN UNEXPECTED/UNUSUAL PERSPECTIVE:

1. BE A TRASH COLLECTOR WHO LOVES HIS/HER JOB

2. BE A SURGEON WITH A FEAR OF BLOOD3. BE A TAX COLLECTOR WHO IS A NATURALIST

4. BE AN IMC AIDE WHO DOESN’T ENJOY READING5. BE A COLOR BLIND PHOTO JOURNALIST

6. OR A UNIQUE PAIRING OF YOUR OWN

Journal 28

DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE NOVELS/ SERIES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS WORK THAT APPEALS TO YOU?

THE SUBJECT MATTER?THE WRITING STYLE?

A PERSONAL CONNECTION?

IMAGINE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GHOSTWRITE A STORY FOR THIS AUTHOR. LAYOUT THE DETAILS THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE TO GUARANTEE THAT

YOUR STORY APPEARED TO BE THE AUTHOR’S.

Journal Prompt 29

• Fi r s t you need an idea t ha t i s capab le o f be ing to ld i n a shor t s to ry f o rmat (be tween 4 -8 pages ) . Keep i n m ind the bes t s to r i e s t yp i ca l l y have some ma in message , mora l , o r purpose beh ind the s to ry ( aka theme ) . What i s the ma in

theme o f your s to ry?

• Determine what the main focus o f your s to ry i s go ing to be ( a charac te r, ac t i on , o r se t t i ng ) .

• Shor t s to r i e s t yp i ca l l y have no more than four characters and t yp i ca l l y a re l oca ted i n on l y one p l ace / t ime ( set t ing ) .

Brainstorming…

W h a t p o i n t - o f - v i e w w i l l b e m o s t c o n d u c t i v e t o t e l l i n g y o u r s t o r y ? W h y ?

F i r s t p e r s o n : T h e n a r r a t o r i s a c h a r a c t e r i n t h e s t o r y a n d u s e s : I , m y, m e , w e , o u r a n d u s t o t e l l t h e s t o r y.

T h i r d p e r s o n o m n i s c i e n t : T h e n a r r a t o r i s o u t s i d e o f t h e s t o r y a n d i s n o t a c h a r a c t e r, b u t c a n s e e i n t o t h e m i n d s o f a l l c h a r a c t e r s t o t e l l

r e a d e r s t h e c h a r a c t e r s ' t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s . T h e n a r r a t o r k n o w s a l l a n d s e e s a l l .

T h i r d p e r s o n l i m i t e d : T h e n a r r a t o r i s o u t s i d e o f t h e s t o r y a n d s e e s i n t o t h e m i n d o f o n l y o n e c h a r a c t e r. T h e n a r r a t o r s t i l l s e e s o t h e r

c h a r a c t e r s , b u t o n l y k n o w s t h e t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s o f o n e c h a r a c t e r.

Brainstorming

Imagine you have two characters stuck in adjoining rooms. They can either see each other or hear each

other but not both. While both characters are in no immediate danger of death, one character

should be extremely worried about their plight while the other, at least initially, is not. Write a brief sketch

of how this story might play out.

Journal Prompt 30

YESTERDAY YOU SHOULD HAVE ESTABLISHED:1. YOUR MAIN IDEA/ THEME2. SETTING3. BEGUN EXPLORING CHARACTERS

TODAY YOU SHOULD OUTLINE:4. INCITING INCIDENT

5. BUILD UP OF EVENTS6. CLIMAX

7. RESOLUTION

Story Mapping

Think of something that undergoes a transformation and

describe the process using sensory imagery.

For example :1. Go from be ing a grape to a ra i s in and d i scuss what

i t fee l s l ike to shr i ve l and dry up2. Be a Snowfl ake that mel ts Or water that turns to

s team and descr ipt the process and how you fee l about your new s tate

Journal 31

FREE WRITE, INCORPORATING THE LINE:

THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND I COULDN'T FIND THE KEY....

Journal 32

IN DETAIL , IMAGINE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE OF GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.

NOW IMAGINE THAT SOME EVENT ALTERS YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE.

DESCRIBE THE SCENE/ OUTCOME….

Journal 33

DESCRIBE A HEADACHE (or other physical ailment you’ve experienced)

TO SOMEONE WHO NEVER HAS EXPERIENCED IT.

Journal 34

IMAGINE YOU COULD INVENT YOUR OWN HOLIDAY.

WHAT WOULD IT BE IN CELEBRATION OF?HOW WOULD IT BE CELEBRATED?

WHO WOULD CELEBRATE?WHEN? WHY?

Journal 35

FREE WRITE, INCORPORATING THE LINE:

WELL, DOCTOR, IT 'S LIKE THIS. . . .

Journal 36

INCORPORATE SOME STRANGE, UNUSUAL, OR SURPRISING

EVENT/DETAIL FROM YOUR WEEKEND INTO A FREE WRITE.

Underline the element from your life.

Journal 37

FREE WRITE ON THE TOPIC OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

IS IT REAL?

Journal 38

PARALLEL UNIVERSES EXIST!

WHAT DOES YOURS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT EVENT WAS THE TRIGGER THAT SEPARATED IT FROM OUR UNIVERSE?

CAN YOU TRAVEL BETWEEN THEM? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO?

Journal 39

FREE WRITE: IN HONOR OF HALLOWEEN, FOCUS ON A MONSTER OF YOUR CHOICE.

As you wr i te cons ider the fo l lowing:What does i t l ook l i ke?

Where does i t L i ve?What does i t ea t ?

What a re i t s s t reng ths /weaknesses?

Journal 40

FREE WRITE: “ I FEEL A SPELL COMING ON…”

OR

INCORPORATING HALLOWEEN AS THE SETTING

Journal 41

FREE WRITE: “A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS…”

(OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WISH)

Journal 42

IMAGINE YOU WERE TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME TO A DIFFERENT ERA.

WRITE A SHORT PIECE AS A CHARACTER FROM THIS TIME. EMBED SENSORY DETAILS THAT WILL LET US KNOW WHEN/WHERE YOU ARE AND GIVE

US A TASTE OF THE FLAVOR OF THIS ERA.

E x a m p l e s : V i c t o r i a n L o n d o n

A m e r i c a n W i l d W e s t1 9 2 0 ’ s N e w Y o r k

R e n a i s s a n c e I t a l y B a b y l o n , 6 0 0 A D

C r u s a d e s , E u r o p eK i n g R a m s e y , E g y p t

A z t e c E m p i r e , S o u t h A m e r i c a

Journal 43

FREE WRITE:“THE SOUND OF THE

CLOCK ON THE WALL…”

Journal 44

IMAGINE YOU ARE A TERRIFIC PAINTER AND THAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE NO

PROBLEM WITH YOU PAINTING ON THE WALLS OF YOUR BEDROOM.

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WOULD PAINT AS VIVIDLY AS POSSIBLE.

Journal 45

DESCRIBE AN UNUSUAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

Journal 46

FREE WRITE: “WHO FILLED THE POOL

WITH STRAWBERRY JELLO?”

Journal 47

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU THINK THE IDEAL AGE WOULD BE AND WHY

Journal 48

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE NEXT

STOP IS …”

Journal 49

IMAGINE WHAT A RELATIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN

ANOTHER TIME.

FOR EXAMPLE: COULD YOUR DAD HAVE BEEN A PIRATE? WHICH CHARACTERISTICS

MAKE YOU THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUITABLE OCCUPATION FOR HIM?

Journal 50

IMAGINE YOU COULD BE ANY CHARACTER. WHOM WOULD YOU BE? WHY?

Journal 51

B E G I N N I N G W R I T E R’ S O F T E N F O R G E T T O G O B E Y O N D S I G H T W H E N U T I L I Z I N G S E N S O R Y D E TA I L S .

E X P L O R E W H AT O N E T H E F O L L O W I N G S C E N T S E V O K E S F O R Y O U. A M E M O RY ? A D R E A M ? A N E M O T I O N ?

• C I N N A M O N• C U T G R A S S• D A M P PA P E R

• P E N C I L E R A S E R S• C H A L K

• W E T PA I N T • T I R E R U B B E R

• H O L LY

Journal 52

DESCRIBE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IN AS MUCH DETAIL (SENSORY)

AS POSSIBLE:

1. YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY

2. THE ONE MEMORY YOU WOULDN’T TRADE FOR ANYTHING

3. AN EVENT/MEMORY YOU WISH YOU NEVER EXPERIENCED OR COULD FORGET

ENTIRELY

Journal 53

DESCRIBE WATCHING SOMETHING FALL.

S O M E I D E A S I N C LU D E :1. F E AT H E R S

2. L E AV E S3. S N O W4. R A I N

5. M E T E O R S6. C H I L D R E N O F F S W I N G S7. C L O T H E S O F F T H E L I N E8. A D E F L AT I N G B A L L O O N

Journal 54

IF YOU COULD HAVE PERSONALLY

WITNESSED ONE EVENT IN HISTORY, WHAT WOULD YOU

WANT TO HAVE SEEN?

Journal 55

IF YOU JOINED THE CIRCUS,

WHAT ACT WOULD YOU MOST WANT

TO PERFORM?

Journal 56

YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR METHOD OF

DYING AND THE PLACE IN WHICH YOU

WILL DIE. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO

DIE AND HOW?

Journal 57

DESCRIBE YOUR THANKSGIVING

BREAK. ANY HIGHLIGHTS?

ANY LOWS?

Journal 58

CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU AND

IMAGINE IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF

THEIR DREAMS. WHAT WOULD IT BE? HOW DO

YOU THINK THEY WOULD REACT?

Journal 59

FREE WRITE ABOUT ONE OF THE

FOLLOWING IMAGES.

Journal 60

Journal 61

Let one of the quotes below inspire you.

“GREAT SPIRITS HAVE ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED VIOLENT OPPOSITION FROM MEDIOCRE MINDS. ” ~ ALBERT

EINSTEIN

“A GOOD TRAVELER HAS NO FIXED PLANS AND IS NOT INTENT ON ARRIVING.” – LAO TZU

“WE ARE WHAT WE PRETEND TO BE, SO WE MUST BE CAREFUL WHAT WE PRETEND TO BE.” ~ KURT

VONNEGUT

“ IN LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE, YOU LOOK FOR THREE QUALITIES: INTEGRITY, INTELLIGENCE, AND ENERGY. AND IF THEY DON’T HAVE THE FIRST, THE OTHER TWO WILL KILL YOU.” ~ WARREN BUFFETT

PICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STARTS:

• …CHILDREN RULED THE WORLD• …THE STREETS ALL TURNED TO RIVERS• …YOU COULD DESIGN YOUR PERFECT DAY

• …YOU FOUND A MAGIC WAND• …YOU COULD BE ANYTHING WHEN YOU GREW

UP• …YOU LIVED IN A MUSICAL

• …YOU COULD REDESIGN THE WORLD

Journal 62“What if…?”

“ IF YOUR DAI LY L I FE SEEMS POOR, DO NOT BLAME I T; TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE NOT POET ENOUGH TO CALL FORTH I TS R ICHES.” — RI LKE “ I have a lways imagined that Paradise wi l l be some k ind o f l ibrary.” — Jorge Luis Borges “CALL IT A CLAN, CALL IT A NETWORK, CALL IT A TRI BE , CALL IT A FAMI LY.   WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU NEED ONE.” — JANE HOWARD “What in your l i fe i s ca l l ing you? When a l l the no ise i s s i l enced , the meet ings ad journed, the l i s ts l a id as ide , and the wi ld i r i s b looms by i t se l f in the dark fores t , what s t i l l pu l l s on your sou l? In the s i lence between your heartbeats h ides a summons , do you hear i t? Name i t , i f you must , or l eave i t forever nameless , but why pretend i t i s not there?” — The Terma Col lect i ve

Journal 63Look at the following quotes and write whatever

comes to mind when you read them….

EXECUTIVELY BRANCH OUT

YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WHEN YOU GET TO THE WHITE

HOUSE, YOU FIND OUT THAT THERE'S A NOTE FROM YOUR PREDECESSOR. THE NOTE SAYS "GOOD LUCK," BUT WHEN EVERYONE ELSE LEAVES THE ROOM THE WORDS ON THE NOTE DISAPPEAR AND NEW WORDS APPEAR: "LOOK IN THE BOTTOM DRAWER OF THE

DESK. THERE’S A HIDDEN COMPARTMENT. YOU WILL FIND MORE INSTRUCTIONS THERE.”

C O N T R I B U T E D B Y: B R I A N A . K L E M S | D E C E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 4

Journal 64

USE ALL OF THESE IN A FREE WRITE:

AN UNLABELED CAN OF SOUP A CIGARETTE PACK FILLED WITH M&MS

AN UNREQUITED CRUSH

Journal 65

WHEN A STRANGER TAPS YOU ON THE SHOULDER

YOU’RE LEAVING YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT AFTER EATING BREAKFAST WHEN A STRANGER TAPS YOU ON

THE SHOULDER. BUT THIS TAP LEADS TO A CONVERSATION—AND ADVENTURE—THAT LEAVES YOU

WITH ONE ITEM THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D EVER OWN.   START YOUR STORY WITH “I HATE TO BOTHER YOU, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ASK.”

C O N T R I B U T E D B Y: B R I A N A . K L E M S

Journal 66

WRITE A STORY FOR THE TITLE

“THE WALLFLOWER SOCIAL SOCIETY”

WRITE A MURDER MYSTERY THAT TAKES PLACE ON A TRAIN IN THE 1920S OR

1950S.