Topic Task - Week Sixteen

We are at week sixteen. I hope you've been inspired by some, if not all of these writing prompts. This week we are looking at characterisation. To help you I've decided to give you a basic start to developing a character.

Characters:

1. Male and 14 years old.
2. Female and 23 years old.
3. Male and 49 years old.
4. Female and 75 years old.

Now you have to make them live. Think about how they might live, walk, speak. Are they happy, sad or don't give a damn? What might they do if they found themselves in a spot of bother? Would they help if they found someone in trouble, or would they walk away or worse film it on their mobile for posting on the internet?

Okay, you've created your characters. What are you going to do with them? I suggest you select one or two and write a short story that shows all their characteristics and how they interact with each other. And why not try to mix and match your characters to create different stories.

At the end of your endeavours have a look back at your work and ask yourself: Are these characters believable and could I sell this work? If the answer to these questions is yes, then send them out and see if you can get them published. Remember to use the Writers' and Artists' Year Book to help you.

So, off you go and get writing.

Topic Task - Week Fifteen

I hope the snow hasn't frozen your creativity and you are busy developing your writing skills and producing work that excites you. Don’t forget to let me know if you find an outlet for your writing. It would be great to create ‘Success’ posts. If you want your achievements mentioned leave me a message and let me know.

Today’s Topic Task is opening lines. You need to use one of the lines below as the opening of your work and see where it takes you.

1.     1.  The cracking sound terrified me. At first I didn’t know where it came from and then I looked down.

2.     2.    The ice formed a crystal forest etched inside the window.

3.     3. Sitting naked on the frozen slide didn’t have the effect I had imagined!

Now choose one and allow your creativity to flow. Of course if you would like to attempt all three then feel free. See where they take you.

So, go on – Get Writing. 

Topic Task - Week Fourteen

These weeks are flying past so fast, I blink once and a day has gone. I'm not complaining - I love it and I'm hoping that it will continue this way. Being busy is great and even better now that the writing is slowly falling back into line - I'm getting creative and loving it.

The topic task for week fourteen is based around one word - Disinterested. I'm sure you've already got some ideas buzzing around your heads, but if not these ideas might trigger something for you.

1. A disinterested parent.
2. A disinterested lover.
3. A disinterested teenager/child.

Obviously there are many other ways to look at this, it is up to you to decide how you use it and how you create your work. Try writing it as a short story, a poem or even think about a short play. Remember to use all your skills to draw a scene that lives in the readers mind.

So go on, get writing.

Topic Task - Week Thirteen

There is nothing wrong with week thirteen, it is just another number. And I know it is Friday, but it isn't Friday the 13th which means you are all okay. So lets get on with it... well I will in a moment. 

Last week I set you a the first twelve week challenge. I hope you are all having a go at this and discovering that you can indeed plot out an idea for a novel. I'm not expecting you to have completed that yet, but if you are struggling with it, don't worry, it isn't easy. However, don't give up. The more you practice plotting the better you become. Like all writing it is an art form that needs to be honed. It isn't easy, it if were everyone would be a best selling novelist. 

So what are the tasks for this week?

1. Three little words to get your mind working. Are they linked? Could you link them? Would they just be items used in the story or are they just the catalyst to get you going? You decide.
Dried triangle of pizza - A manky cat - Lace-less boot. 

2. Now for something slightly more grotty.
Puss filled boil - Snotty hanky - E irksome child.

Use your writing skills to make us feel something for the characters you develop. Think about why we would want to read about them, and what makes them special.

So good luck. Get writing. 

Topic Task - Week Twelve

I've decided that at the end of each twelve weeks, I'll create a longer task for you to attempt. Hopefully as your writing is developing these larger tasks will become easier as time ticks past. So what have I got in mind for you?
This week I'm thinking about thrillers.
I would like you to create a plot for a thriller. Whether that is a thriller aimed at the children's, young adults or adult market is up to you.
How long do you want the novel to be? Think of chapters. How many would be right for your plot?So how do you work that out? I suggest that as you plot, it might help to break the structure down in sections - one section of the plot is one chapter of the book.
Draw out your characters, making sure there is a good story arc for all the characters - especially the main characters. Think about how each character will develop. What will they learn? Will they learn? Maybe you will make your plot dark and dangerous or it will have a lighter touch.

Don't let this frighten you. A challenge in writing is always a good thing. So what are you waiting for? Go and get writing.

And if you think the plot has legs, why not try writing a couple of chapters to see.

Good luck and enjoy.

Topic Task - Week Eleven

Last week I asked you to make the reader feel what your characters felt. I hope you achieved this. It is always important to weave thoughts, feeling/emotion into your writing and don't forget those all important smells. The senses are one of the most evocative parts of a piece of work. They are used to enhance the readers enjoyment and can lighten the mood of a story or darken it to terrify.

This weeks tasks are:

1. A box full of ...
This can be a box full of anything you would like. Of course it could be chocolates, worms, worries. What is inside your box and how you deal with the contents is up to you, but remember you need to use all the senses. In essence, make it real. Let the reader feel the power from inside that box crawling across your work.

2. It oozed over the step and ...
What oozed over the step? What step was it? Is is a step on a staircase or a step ladder? Think about where your step is and what it is that is oozing over the edge. Is it custard, slime or blood. You may be thinking something else. Whatever it is remember to include what it feels like to touch the oozing substance. Smell it, maybe even taste it.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and get writing.

Topic Task - Week Ten

The New Year is here and the days appear to be getting longer. This should bring smiles to our faces, but this time of year is one in which many things can change. Little things might niggle or bring great happiness. The changes might be wonderful for one person and horrendous for another. For this weeks Topic Task I would like to think of two things that have changed since the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve. Write from the heart. This may bring anger to your mind, if so, write a piece to show the power of that feeling. If you have felt lonely or scared let your reader feel that. However, if your overriding passion was pleasure make us feel the endorphins rising in ourselves as we read.
I'm not giving you a genre or any other prompts, this is what I call free writing from the heart. Good luck and let those feelings out.