Get your character’s hands dirty today. Describe the feel of the dirt in the gardener’s hands, the dough between the fingers of the baker, the wet clay in the hands of the artist. This might relate to your character’s hobby or something he’s cooking, or maybe it’s a way to add texture to a scene [...]
Archive | September, 2010
What Writers Can Learn From TV
I’ll just come out and say it, “Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m a crime show junkie.” Deep breath. There I said it. I LOVE a well written, well cast mystery drama. I devour them like a dog with a fresh steak. I especially love murder mystery shows featuring a crack sleuth author (like [...]
Daily Writers’ Fix: Sound
What do you hear in this photo? Absolute silence? The sound of children playing in the background? Work your descriptions into a scene, short story, or poem.
Daily Writers’ Fix: Smell
Today it’s up to you. Click on one of the following photos and use that as your prompt today. Already done that one? Try it again and see what you come up with!
Daily Writers’ Fix: Sight
Stretch your ability to describe visual appearances today. Using the photo above–or any other photo with contrasting textures and colors–spend 10 minutes freewriting about the temperatures, moods, and emotions their appearance brings to mind. Don’t worry about it making sense or sounding great–just write! When you’re done, set it aside for a while. Revisit it [...]
Daily Writers’ Fix: Grab Bag
Does your character need a hobby? Whether he just happens to have plans with his golfing buddies whenever his wife’s family is in town or would prefer staying at home reading classic Russian literature to socializing with friends, your character’s hobbies can say a lot about his personality. Make a list of hobbies your character [...]
Daily Writers’ Fix: Grab Bag
Consider twilight. What feelings and moods come to mind? Do they differ if you place yourself in Paris’ bustling Place de l’Opéra or at a remote Eastern Washington cabin surrounded by trees and no electricity? Tell a story that takes place at twilight, using the setting of your choice. Or, if you’re writing a novel, [...]
Daily Writers’ Fix: Taste
Today’s challenge: Brew a pot of tea and savor it until you’ve come up with 30 words or phrases to describe its flavor or the feel of it on your tongue. Now that your creativity is warmed up, use your list to create a full-bodied description that will make your readers crave a taste.
Daily Writers’ Fix: Touch
One of your primary characters knows exactly where he’s going. Or does he? Does he tighten his grip on the wheel when familiar terrain suddenly looks foreign? Does he stomp his foot on the brake pedal as he approaches an unexpected roadblock? Explore an obstacle or a case of bad directions, not forgetting to use [...]
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Writer’s Kitchen: Homemade Marshmallows
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How to Give Your Character an Achilles’ Heel
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How to Schedule Writing Appointments… and Keep Them!
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4 ways to keep your 2011 writing goals
About Nooks & Cranberries
There are many excuses not to write, but we're here to ensure that a lack of creativity isn't one of them.
Nooks & Cranberries was created by two friends, Sarah Madson and Daytona Strong, who are freelance writers based in Seattle.
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