My List

My actual list. I really do love my handwriting.

Tomorrow begins my daily ritual of writing. I've already created the list of exercises I will do and the order in which I will do them. They are as follows:

1. Write a short excerpt that should be a few paragraphs long using only short sentences.

2. Write a short excerpt of a few paragraphs using longer sentences. Try to really elaborate.

3. Write an excerpt without any passive verbs (as in any form of the verb "to be").

4. Write an excerpt without any adverbs.

5. Practice using adjectives to enhance the nouns within your excerpt.

6. Practice using similes.

7. Use an extended metaphor.

8. Change how you use punctuation. Make up your own rules, in a sense.

9. Write only dialogue.

10. Describe the process of doing something. (example would be making tea).

11. Find a news article and write a short-short based off of it.

12. Find a piece of art you like and write a short-short about it.

13. Create a character.

14. Brainstorm a world.

BONUS!! Write a story where you place your new character into the world you created!

15. Write some six word stories.

16. Write about a place that makes you feel safe.

17. Write about a place that makes you feel unsafe.

18. Describe a scene with all five senses.

19. Describe something as if seeing it for the first time; as if you've never seen it before.

20. Write the same scene three times, changing perspective (as in 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd).

21. Use typography to add to the excerpt.

22. Write about a mythical creature. Do not just give facts, but bring life to the creature in some way.

23. Focus on a specific time period and write a historical fiction short-short.

24. Write about a place you've never been as if you've lived there. Research about a foreign place.

25. Create a tone by describing a setting.

26. Write the same setting twice, but change the tone.

27. Take a normal situation (like going to work) and make it extraordinary.

28. Write something based on an object, but the object cannot be the main subject/topic.

29. Write a scary short-short.

30. Practice writing body language. Make two people interact without any dialogue.

31. Suggest something in your excerpt, but do not actually spell out what it is. Let the reader figure it out.

There you have it. I had first brainstormed some exercises and then numbered them according to what I determined as first based on the basics of writing, and then up to more complex exercises. The first fifteen are mainly based on basics like grammar and syntax, giving me (and others who might want to do these as well) the chance to play and practice with the English language. The following eight are a little more advanced and involve some more style. The final eight are complex and involve the writer focusing on suggestion and "show" rather than "tell."

I am very excited to start this journey of writing, and I hope others may also join in on this practice. Wish me luck and get ready for a lot of posts!

A Plot for the Next Month

All right folks, I've got a plan.

May is an interesting month to me. First, there's the obvious reason: my birthday is May 9th. I'm the type of person who wishes that her birthday was special or something, but really I like spending the day enjoying my own company. Ah, but I digress. Other people have birthdays in May too, like my sister and my best friend. It's a month for Mother's Day, when I get to thank my wonderful mom for everything she does. Finally, it's when spring finally starts showing up in Cleveland. April kind of teases us with warm days interspersed between freezing, but May at least promises to never snow. I appreciate that.

Anyhoo, since I like May, I've decided this is the month when I will begin my creative writing exercises! Yay! It helps that I'm almost done with my second semester of grad school, so I will have a tad bit more free time. It'll be epic.

Here's the plan: every day in the month of May (ha, that rhymes), I will post an exercise to help with writing. Some days, it may just be me brushing up on grammar. Other days, it may be practicing detail or character development. Some of them will be ones I've done for workshops and the like, others I will make up... probably on the spot.

You're probably now asking yourself: why in the world should you do this? Well, for starters, I would love to write one of those self-help books for writing skills. Haven't thought of a title or anything, but I like the idea of forcing the readers to write, since that is the best way to learn. It's also great practice for me, and it has been awhile since I did exercises.

PREVIEW!! This means in June, I may begin my series of stories. This means every week, I will add another chapter to my story. I'm bouncing around two ideas at the moment, so by June I'll hopefully have it figured out. Until then, bear with my incessant posts...

The Underground

It has been two years since I studied abroad in London. That seems like forever and a half ago and it's weird to think that it even happened at all. One of the objects I have in my possession to help remind me that yes, I did indeed live across the pond, is a journal I used for class. The module was a creative writing course that used London itself as the main focus. I loved the class and loved the opportunity to write about such an amazing place. What follows is a small excerpt from that journal that I like so much I thought I'd share...

Taken by Mary Crotty

The Underground
(Originally written on 28. January 2011)

Within the grungy bowels of London, monsters rumbled and groan. Nothing can stop them as they crash through their long tunnels of concrete. Beware their many mouths as they slide open wide and engulf any waiting mesmerized passenger too close to the yellow line.

True heroes may stand on the gray concrete platforms beside the trenches of the beasts. The thick air wraps around them, smelling of leather and a slight hint of human sweat. Only those brave enough may step up to the painted line marked "Mind the Gap." Passed that, the platform falls away to deceitful metal tracks; the footprints of the behemoths.

All goes quiet and the wind gushes from the dark unknown, fluttering loose hair and newspapers about the concrete catacomb. A quiet hiss and squeak of metal-on-metal comes from the darkness. Two orbs of light, like glowing yellow eyes, appear first. Then the head of the beast made of a square metal frame and sheets of glass as it slides closer. Ever closer to the platform.

Quench the urge to pet the monster as it swoops by.  Everything begins as a blur as one can only see the white body and the red doors mixing together, creating the illusion of pink. The train slows, making the windows and doors become separate. Even the dirt can now be seen marking the worn-out beast as a veteran of the deep.

Finally, the train comes to a stop. With a hiss, the doors open, beckoning those stationed on the platform to step inside. Are you a hero here to force the modern Grendel to slumber? Or will you only be another snack for the eternally starving Tube?

****

Taken by Mary Crotty

It's short, and I think I like it mainly because it's fun to fantasize about everyday things. I guess this just gives you an idea where my mind goes when I had to wait for my train home. Truly, it was nothing short of an adventure.