I am running these two spots together because Cait has arranged with a very good friend–for us to go on vacation!!!!
I haven’t been on a vacation in years. Like 5 or more years. And before that it was 10 years. Whenever I travel I am always working.
I’m a little scared.
And a lot floored.
What will I do with myself?
Thank you, Friend, who would trust us in her vacation home.
So Three Things Thursday—
1. Using some world event, write the beginning of a dystopian novel. Give yourself less than 20 minutes. In part of that time, sketch out the plot.
2. Spend some time this weekend reading a short story by Flannery O’Connor. Pick a story you are not familiar with. For those of you who have never read O’Connor, A Good Man is Hard to Find is not a bad study. And that’s what I want you to do. Study what O’Connor does with language. With pacing. With the element of surprise. What can you learn from her writing? Etc.
My first teachers were the men and women I read. I’ve mentioned this before. Want to be a strong writer? Read, read, read.
3. Find a writing partner that will play this game with you:
Start with an idea the two of you agree on. Give yourselves an end point– how long you will go before you finish (a short story–a picture book [write fewer words when you switch off–see below], a chapter book, a full-blown novel, etc)? Know this in advance.
One of you write the first 150 words. Clean it up. Make it strong.
Now send that 150 words on to your partner.
She should write 150 words. Good, strong, story-moving-forward words.
Go back and forth until your piece is done.
Well, what do you have?
Ann Dee keeps saying, “Send me the beginning of a novel, Carol, and I will write a book with you.”
Perhaps on my vacation I will come up with that idea!
The Day of Accountability
What did you get done this week?
Are you happy with your work?
Did you do the five exercises I started the week out with?
Will you be ready to share those next week?
What did you read this week?
How did it help you as a writer?
Are you treating your writing as your job?
Are you giving your writing the time you need to succeed?
Think about these questions this weekend.
And see you Monday afternoon or evening!
Throwing Up Words 