Spinning yarns

“When it comes to life, we spin our own yarn, and where we end up is really, in fact, where we always intended to be.” 
― Julia Glass, Three Junes






DAY ONE.

This Julia Glass quotation is so perfect for me. Is it for you? In one paragraph, write the condensed story of your life. What would you like to part of that story might be a point you'd like to explore more in writing? Pick one. Write another paragraph and then wait for tomorrow's prompt ;-)

FOR THOSE OF YOU JUST STARTING WITH THE ABOVE NOW, STOP HERE. I MEAN IT.

I SAID, I MEAN IT. THIS EXERCISE IS THREE PARTS--THUS GOOD FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS OF WRITING. DON'T WRECK IT FOR YOURSELF.

STILL READING? MMPH. I STILL MEAN IT. 

If you are the person who rewrote and chose a different episode/event/life experience, come back tomorrow.

Hello, person still using the life experience you wrote about yesterday ... you, my friend,  may continue on ...

DAY TWO.

Okay, you left that writing (above) for a day. Do you still see the episode you identified yesterday as interesting enough and important enough to you to explore more? If no, write a couple of paragraphs and return tomorrow. If yes here's your next prompt:

You were the protagonist in the paragraphs you wrote. Now imagine that this event features not you, but someone else. Create that person. Day dream. Jot down ideas. Now describe him/her, including both physical appearance and personal characteristics. Try to keep a bit of yourself in this new character, but also include some different traits. Write about this person in third person: He did this, she felt that. Give this person a setting, with detail. Include place, using as many senses as you can. Include time of year. Include weather. Think of the weather and setting as a character, too, influencing the outcome of the event and the feelings of the character.

Guess what?

You just started writing fiction. We all mine our own lives for important life events. We all create characters using some of ourselves and some of what we know about others.

Tomorrow, we shall go forth again ...

Know that this exercise is not just about becoming a fiction writer. Nope. I have hidden motivations.

Bwahahaha.

STOP HERE. I MEAN IT. ;-) See you tomorrow. 

DAY THREE.

Yesterday you described your character. Now take those sentences and instead of using adjectives to describe him/her, show the same things about him/her through action and dialogue with one other character. You can be the extra character yourself if you'd like! Imagine ... it's sort of authorized talking to yourself! All writers are pretty crazy anyhow. Get used to it.

One more part coming ... tomorrow.

DAY LAST

Yesterday, you created a scene, mini-scene, start of a scene, idea for a scene. You know, something sort of scene-like. Today you get an easy assignment. Scenes in a short story, novel, memoir, bio, etc. relate to one and another. One scene leads to the next in a kinda sorta cause and effect relationship. Reread your work from yesterday. What might a following scene contain? Journal on it.

And guess what?

You just finished multiple days of writing like a "real" writer. Which makes you one, too. It's in the doing ... See you next week!