Category: Daily Writers’ Fix

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Daily Writer’s Fix: December 10-14

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Cat in Bed

Okay, this one is totally self-indulgent. But you’ll thank me for it. Today, write about the cutest thing you ever saw your favorite pet do.

Tuesday:

Smell

Autumn Leaves

Bundle up and go for a walk today, embracing the chill in the air and the brisk sensation of the wind blowing in your nostrils and adding a rosy glow to your cheeks.

Wednesday:

Sound

Backlit Branches

Go for another walk today, this time focusing on what you hear as you’re outside.

Thursday:

Touch

Brasserie Four Macarons

Look, but don’t touch. And that means no tasting either! Describe these macarons at Walla Walla’s Brasserie Four using all five senses–what do those lightweight little delicacies feel like when you gently pick them up, taking care not to break crush the outer shell?

Friday:

Taste

10 Barrel Sampler

So, if you thought I was mean yesterday by not letting you taste those macarons, I’m making up for it today. Choose your favorite beverage, pour yourself a glass, and get to work. But only if you work it into your scene.

Photos are all original. Some have been used on Daytona’s other blogs.

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Daily Writer’s Fix: December 3-7

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Washington Wheat

Whether you’ve just wrapped up a month of fiction writing for NaNoWriMo or are working on poetry or songwriting, treat yourself to some personal writing based on travel today. Pull a photo album off the shelf and choose a photo from one of the favorite places you’ve ever visited. Start by describing what you see in the photo, and see where your writing goes from there. Maybe you’ll end up with the vignette your memoir has been needing, or an idea for a travel article to pitch to your local newspaper. In any case, share the results with us in the comments section!

Tuesday:

Smell

Rose and Blue Building

Today’s prompt is an exercise in recollection. Since we’re well into autumn and it’s been months since the summer sun warmed our skin, take a few minutes of reflection to think back to the smell of roses and the verdant scent of freshly-cut grass. Spend some time freewriting, using this thought as a starting place, and see what you come up with.

Wednesday:

Sound

Train at Dusk

Chances are, if you’ve spent time living near the train tracks, a bus line, or airport, you’ve gotten so used to the comings and goings–and the sound that accompanies such transportation–that you don’t always notice it anymore. Don’t forget to share the entire sensory experience of your readers, however, and make them feel like they are there. Practice the art of observation in your writing today.

Thursday:

Touch

Fire Escape

Even superheroes feel the cool chill of metal as they grab onto railings in pursuit of the villain. Today, work on making your most outrageous or unbelieveable character a little more human.

Friday:

Taste

Sandwich

What is your protagonist eating for lunch today? What about your antagonist’s mealtime plans? What does this say about them?

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Daily Writer’s Fix: November 26-30

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

 

SAM Outdoor Sculpture Park

Inspiration can be found all around, and a change of scenery can be just the trick for fighting a case of writer’s block. Visit a museum or park today, if you have the chance, and find a quiet spot to do some freewriting. If you don’t have the time, at least bundle up and sit outside your front door with a notepad and a cup of tea to keep you warm and see what you come up with.

Tuesday:

Smell

Garden Art

It’s awfully easy for a writer to stay indoors, especially when it’s chilly out. But exercise and fresh air are key to a clear head–and free-flowing ideas! Go for a walk today (bring your camera!) and see what you find. Capture some images that catch your eye. Take a deep breath and notice the smell of the brisk autumn air. As soon as you get home, start writing.

Wednesday:

Sound

Beach Logs and Rocks

Even the most peaceful and tranquil settings have a soundtrack. Don’t miss out on the small, barely audible details in your scene today.

Thursday:

Touch

Tree Trunk

It’s nearly the end of the week, and in case your creativity is lagging, we’re going to delve deep into the imagination today. There’s a little tiny family of insects or animals–your choice–living in this tree. Despite their seemingly tiny accommodations, they’re living a life of luxury. Describe their creature comforts in elaborate detail.

Friday:

Taste

White Wine in Glass

We love Fridays around here, if you can’t tell. Since it’s our “taste” day, there’s always an excuse to sample some fine chocolate or brew up a fresh pot of chai tea. Depending on what time of day you’re doing your writing, it may be too early to pop open a bottle of wine, but don’t let that stop you from closing your eyes and imagining–in luscious detail–the flavor and sensation of white wine rolling around on your tongue. Make the reader taste it through your words.
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Daily Writer’s Fix: November 19-23

Autumn Leaves

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Spider on Web

Today, try to see the world from another perspective–such as that of a spider. What does your house look like from the eyes of an eight-legged creepy crawler?

Tuesday:

Smell

 Pears and Tomatoes

We’re entering a season of cinnamon and gingerbread, pine boughs and crisp snow-laden air. It’s perfect if you’re writing a scene that takes place during the holidays. But what if you’re writing about another time of year? Practice your ability to capture the richness of another season today, starting with the sense of smell. My description of late summer would start with the earthy scent of a ripe tomato fresh off the vine…

Wednesday:

Sound

Rain on Steps

You’re standing under an awning, the rain falling just inches away. Use the sound of raindrops to convey a mood in a short poem or vignette.

Thursday:

Touch

 Autumn Leaves

While we’re on the subject of rain, take a step out into it. Run your bare hand along the cold, water-laden leaves. Write a piece that’s complementary to what you wrote yesterday, focusing on the sense of touch.

Friday:

Taste

 Cookie Dough

Today eat a cookie. You deserve it. Write–about the cookie, about what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend, or about whatever strikes your fancy.
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Daily Writers’ Fix: Photo Week (November 12-16)

I hope you’ve been enjoying Daily Writers’ Fix these past few months and that they’ve inspired you to get writing. This week I’m encouraging you to stretch your imagination with Daily Writers’ Fix: Photo Week. Each day this week features a photo, sometimes with one of the five senses but without additional prompts. Use those photos, along with the senses if you wish, to jumpstart your creativity. It’s a great exercise in finding inspiration in the world around you, and who knows–you might just create the beginning of a masterpiece! As a reminder, here’ an overview of how to use Daily Writers’ Fix.

Monday:

Sight

Tuesday:

Smell

Wednesday:

Sound

Thursday:

Touch

Friday:

Taste

Grab Bag:

Grab Bag Bonus:

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Daily Writers’ Fix: November 5-9

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

What haven’t you noticed in the world around you, or in the world of your story?

Tuesday:

Smell

“Rose” is a common scent descriptor, but what does a rose really smell like? Today pick an object that’s commonly used to describe a scent, then give that object its due.

Wednesday:

Sound

Today write about home. Write about your own home–from childhood or present–or where your character lives. Is it a quiet, peaceful place providing an escape from the busyness of daily life? Or do the sounds of the city–traffic, people, sirens–filter through the windows, filling it with urban energy?

Thursday:

Touch

What is your character afraid of? How does that fear physically manifest itself when she’s facing it? If she’s afraid of heights, does she grip the Ferris wheel seat for dear life until her knuckles turn white? If he’s afraid of spiders, does the sight of one send crawling feelings up his arms as if he were covered in them? What does your character fear, and what do the reactions say about him or her?

Friday:

Taste

What’s on your character’s breakfast table this morning–steaming hot coffee, orange juice and a muffin, or scrambled eggs with bacon and a Bloody Mary? The way we start our day can say a lot about us and how we view the world. Get to know your character today by getting into his thoughts while he goes about his morning routine.

Grab Bag:

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 the general attitudes of its population. Now review your descriptions and see how your setting can work its way into your story in fresh, exciting ways.

Grab Bag Bonus:


We’ve all been caught in an unflattering pose or expression at some point or another, right? Use that embarrassing moment in your writing today.

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Daily Writers’ Fix: October 29-November 2

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Look outside your window, the one you’re sitting closest to right now. Spend ten minutes freewriting, jotting down whatever comes to mind.

Tuesday:

Smell

Who used to live here, who will live here in the future? Tell this house’s story, letting the sense of smell guide the reader. Do you smell simmering soup from happy days gone by, fresh flowers gracing the entrance and welcoming guests at a party? What about fresh, tropical air flooding through the rooms when a new owner takes possession and opens it up?

Wednesday:

Sound

Take your main character on a road trip. What’s on his or her playlist?

Thursday:

Touch

There’s no snow in sight–yet. So if you’re writing a scene that takes place outside in the winter, you have to imagine. Today describe the feelings of winter, from the sting of sleet on your exposed skin to to the feeling of a snowball sticking to your mittens. Make a list if you wish, or develop your descriptions into a scene or a poem.

Friday:

Taste

You’re eating at a restaurant on Santorini–or any other Greek island–and admiring a remarkable view. Describe what you’re eating and drinking, the climate, your surroundings, who you’re with, and what’s going through your mind.

Grab Bag:

Today, in honor of National Novel Writing Month, challenge yourself to write 1,667 words–the daily average to meet the NaNoWriMo goal–whether you’re participating or not. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a short story draft or a journal entry, or perhaps 1,667 words of freewriting. Just let the words flow.

Suggestion: If you have a writing project or assignment you’re procrastinating on, consider using today to kick it into gear.

Grab Bag Bonus:

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?

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Daily Writers’ Fix: October 22-26

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Perched high above a city street, what does this bird observe below?

Use this prompt as an exercise to open up your imagination, using it to envision a place and what’s happening there in detail–without actually seeing it.

Tuesday:

Smell

Autumn is full of opportunities to explore the five senses–from the feel of wet, fallen leaves in your hands to the taste of pumpkin pie. Today write about the smell of fall in the air and see where it takes you. For example, does it differ where you live now than where you grew up? If so, does that suggest a story, scene, or personal essay?

Wednesday:

Sound

Get up close to your surroundings–literally for a non-fiction piece or with your imagination if you’re writing fiction. It’s obvious you’ll see things differently, but does this change they way things sound? Do you hear things you otherwise might have missed?

Thursday:

Touch

Sometimes just the sight of something suggests the way it feels. Take a look at this apartment building, for example. There’s no doubt that its facade would feel damp and cold against your hand. Your assignment today: Take one of your visual descriptions and see if you can add a new dimension to it using the sense of touch.

Friday:

Taste

Candy! You’ve been working hard working on your writing skills and projects, so today we want you to have fun. Using candy as a starting place, spend 10 minutes just having fun with words. Don’t take yourself too seriously–allow yourself to write nonsense, if you wish. Who knows, this exercise might get the words flowing so freely you’ll be inspired to write all day!

Grab Bag:

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 write.

If you don’t know where to start, use one of these prompts:

  • Your most vivid memories from this past summer
  • An amazing meal you ate recently, and who you shared it with
  • What you’re hoping the upcoming holiday season will be like (and what you can do to make it happen)
  • Your childhood career aspirations and how they resemble or differ from what you do now
  • What you like or dislike about your neighborhood
  • Your favorite place in the world
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Daily Writers’ Fix: October 15-19

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Who hasn’t been enchanted by a story about a secret garden or a hidden retreat? Today your character sees a hidden door–and it’s ajar! What does it look like? Does its appearance keep him away or repel him? Write a scene beginning at the moment when he finds the door.

Tuesday:

Smell

Describe the smell of morning in and around your home.

Wednesday:

Sound

List five words you like because of how they sound. Now write a poem or paragraph using those words, paying attention to the overall music of the piece.

Thursday:

Touch

It’s getting cold out there! Whether it’s itchy but stylish, the softest cashmere, or a heavy wool wool that blocks out the fiercest wind, what does your favorite sweater or coat say about you? Silly question, you may say, but think about it seriously. Now, if you’re a fiction writer, think about your characters’ clothes. Don’t waste a word describing something that doesn’t somehow clue your reader into your characters’ personalities or your plot.

Friday:

Taste

Your character is at a Parisian bar. Alone. Is he waiting for someone? Has the rest of the party left? What’s going through his mind as he sips his beverage of choice? (And as we discussed yesterday, make the details count, whether he orders a whiskey on the rocks, a dirty martini, or a simple glass of ice water.)

Grab Bag:

Choose a word. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a noun, verb, or adjective, as long as it relates to a story you’re working on. Find a language dictionary online and translate your word to the language of your choice. Without thinking of the meaning of the translated word, spend 10 minutes freewriting about what associations its sound brings to mind. Does this give you any new ideas for your story?