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This week was a different beast. Rather than focus on a topic, the theme was all about the how of writing. The exercises used discovery writing to develop a story one piece at a time. Each day included five writing prompts—you mix a subject with some discourse and it generates a direction your story could go. Each piece written serves as a potential passage in a finished work.
The Problem Space article this week focused on the advice to “Write every day.” Is that too much? Don’t worry, there are options.
So, once you get your writing schedule in order, let’s jump in and write some fiction!
Monday, May 13, 2024
🟡 Kickstart Your Story
Exercise #211 Discovery Writing at the Start
Strategy: How do you start a story when there are so many options? Just like a chef experimenting with different ingredients to create the perfect dish, this exercise encourages you to explore various aspects of your story through bite-sized writing prompts. Each prompt focuses on a specific element, such as setting, characters, or conflict, allowing you to develop your story in a fun and engaging way. Think of it as a literary tapas adventure – you never know what delicious combinations you might discover!
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
🟡 Developing Character
Exercise #212 Discovery Write Characters
Strategy: Ever wonder what makes your character tick? What shadows lurk in their past or what secrets they hold? We're going to peel back the layers, revealing what drives them, what haunts them, and what transformative moments shape their journey. Through flashbacks, foreshadowing, epiphanies, and internal conflicts, you'll bring your characters to life in vivid detail. This exercise is a blend of introspection and revelation, designed to challenge you to explore the full spectrum of your character's psyche.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
🟡 Setting the Stage
Exercise #213 Crafting a Vivid Story Setting
Strategy: Dive headfirst into the art of world-building! Whether you're conjuring a futuristic metropolis or a mystical forest, the goal is to make your readers feel like they've stepped into another world. This exercise isn't just about where your story happens; it's about how the setting influences your characters and shapes the plot. Ready to transform your setting from a mere backdrop into a dynamic, integral part of your story? Let's get started!
Thursday, May 16, 2024
🟡 The Murky Middle
Exercise #214 Developing the Middle of a Story
Strategy: The middle of a story is where things get juicy! This part is all about building tension, deepening characters, and throwing in twists that keep readers hooked. By focusing on introspection, persecution, misdirection, dialectic, and defamiliarization, you'll create a rich, multi-layered narrative that explores your characters' inner worlds and external conflicts.
Friday, May 17, 2024
🟡 Plot-Driven Prompts
Exercise #215 Using Prompts to Develop Plot
Strategy: Ever find your plot stuck in neutral? This exercise is here to turbocharge your storytelling! By focusing on hyperbole, montages, dialogue, concurrent narratives, and grandiosity, you'll delve into the core of your plot and elevate your characters' journeys. This exercise challenges you to amplify moments, reveal layers of character growth, and weave complex threads into a tapestry of action.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
🟡 The Climactic Battle Begins
Exercise #216 Prompts for Shifting to the End
Strategy: Moving from the middle to the end of your story is like setting up the grand finale in a symphony. This part is all about building up the tension, revealing hidden truths, and pushing your characters to their limits. By focusing on a rival, a flashback, a maneuver, a major revelation, and a freeze-frame moment, you’ll create a seamless and impactful transition that propels your narrative toward its climax.
Sunday, May 19, 2024
🟡 Getting to the End
Exercise #217 Writing Prompts for a Story's End
Strategy: The end of a story is where everything culminates in a burst of action, emotion, and resolution. This exercise focuses on introspection, flash-forwards, revelations, character traits, and visionary scenes to help you bring your story to a satisfying close. Think of it as the final act in a play, where every line and movement builds towards the grand finale. Embrace the heightened drama, the deep character insights, and the explosive revelations to make your ending as powerful as possible.
Our next weekly theme will focus on setting.