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What is your protagonist trying to escape from? Republished from Nooks & Cranberries, September 2010.

Create a short story or poem using all of the following words. And don’t forget to share what you come up with by leaving us a comment! Stowaway Top ten Luminescence Vital signs Too late Ephemeral Fleeting Daughter Grandma Roses Saffron Broken mirrors Smoke and mirrors Republished from Nooks & Cranberries, September 2010.

Photo Week Day 7

Photo Week Day 6

Place your character in a new city, somewhere she’s never been before. She just arrived. What does she look forward to most, and what does she dread? How does the way she approaches a new place color her personality? Optional: If you like where today’s writing is going, take it one step further and use [...]

The setting of your story shouldn’t be an afterthought. Done well, a setting can almost be a character, helping to propel the story forward and add richness and depth to your plot. Today consider one of your primary settings. Describe it in detail, from its landmarks to its hidden corners, from its physical appearance to [...]

We all have to get somewhere somehow. What is your character’s usual mode of transportation? What does it say about him? As we’ve mentioned before, make every detail–even something as simple as how he gets to work–count.

Look just beyond the surface of your story. Is there a recurring theme you hadn’t noticed before? What about a hidden motivation you never knew your character had? Can you use your discoveries to your story’s advantage?

Do you keep a journal? Sitting down with paper–perhaps in the form of a nicely-bound book–and a pen can be a great way to unwind, relax, and clear one’s head. Today give yourself time to reflect and write a journal entry. It’s for your eyes only, so don’t get caught up in writing well. Just [...]