An Example of Very Creative Writing

In answer to your question that will surely arise at the end of this tale, yes, this did come from an email; one of those chain-letter style emails.  However, it was beautifully done and a shining example of good creative writing.  See if you can write a short one like it and if it comes out well, send it along to your friends and see if it ever comes back - a true sign that the hungry masses enjoyed it!

A blonde decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons, nor prior experience. She mounts the horse unassisted, and the horse immediately springs into motion. It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slide from the saddle. In terror, she grabs for the horse's mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip. She tries to throw her arms around the horse's neck, but she slides down the horse's side anyway.

The horse gallops along, seemingly impervious to its slipping rider. Finally, giving up her frail grip, the blonde attempts to leap away from the horse and throw herself to safety.

Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup. She is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves, and her head strikes the ground over and over.

As her head is battered against the ground, she is mere moments away from unconsciousness when to her great fortune, Frank, the Wal-mart greeter sees her dilemma and unplugs the horse.

And you thought all they did was say Hello.

Describe This

Here are just a few pictures snagged from Flickr.com of living rooms.  You can check out more by going here.  Your assignment is to write a description of the room you pick.  Try to evoke some emotion as you describe it.  Remember to include two to three senses when you describe the room (touch, taste, scent, sight, sound). 

Physical Description of Setting Exercise

Try describing a room from three perspectives: through the door, looking in; from inside the room for the very first time, and then from the perspective of being an active participant in the room's use on a regular basis, maybe focusing on a couple particular elements within the room. 

Next, interject a character at the three different points. 

How does the room's view change the character?  The mood?  Does it affect the relationship between the character and the reader?  If so, in what way?

Exploring these aspects will help you, the writer, engage or disengage your reader as you so desire.  This is a useful tool to learn and master!

Good luck and, as always, write on!

Saturday's Craft Chat Blurb

" When we're telling a story, we need to tell our readers something about where it takes place. How do we bring the reader into the story's space? What kind of physical details are important? What's best left to the reader's imagination? "

For more information, check out the previous post announcing our upcoming meeting this Saturday, January 24, 2009.

Craft Chat and Critique Workshop

Agenda

1-2 p.m. Craft Chat and Writing Exercise
Topic: Physical Description - Setting

2-4 p.m. Critique Workshop
Members will critique manuscripts
which have already been distributed.

Note: If you have not previously attended
a Chico Writer's Group workshop, you are
welcome to attend the craft chat session.
Critique Workshops are for members only.

Date: Saturday, January 24th, 2009
Location: Butte County Library, Chico Branch
1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico, CA
Meeting room directly across from Circulation Desk

For further information, leave a comment
below with your current, functional email address.

Describing the Physical Setting

The topic of our upcoming craft chat (Saturday, January 24, 2009) is how to describe the physical setting in your novel.  Over the next two weeks, we'll attempt to post prompts and challenges along with some helpful tidbits about this topic here. 

One thing that seems to be overlooked when writing a scene is using several senses.  Draw your reader in by including at least three of the five senses: smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound.  Thinking about the five senses, how could you describe an artist's studio?  Try playing around with the five senses, using a different set of three each time.  How does it change the feel of the room? 

Character Study

Write a description for one of the "characters" shown below or go to Flickr's People Pool to find a character to write about.

This Old House

Writing prompt:

Write about a situation where the first character wishes to achieve a certain goal, but is prevented by the second character. 

Character 1:  Octavio Washer
Goal: To restore a creepy old house
Character 2: Paul Shaner

Writing Prompt: The Snooping Neighbor

Write about a situation in which an obstacle causes problems for this character:

Character: Daisy Swiss
Obstacle: A snooping neighbor

Writing Prompt: Character vs. Character

Write about a situation where the first character wishes to achieve a certain goal, but is prevented by the second character.

Character 1: Rebecka Lorenzo
Goal: To die penniless
Character 2: Roland Woodring

I Can't Read You

LJ Sellers, author of The Sex Club, lists several reasons why she can't finish a novel. It's a compelling list even for authors or those aspiring to become one. 

Check out LJ's post and then think about the reasons you might put down a novel or at least rank it in the bottom two out of five stars.  Are these reasons your own work might not be well liked by your readers?  What can you do to change that in your writing? 

Here's your challenge:  Take something you've written recently and consider the problem areas you've identified in reading other works or LJ's list.  If you find some of these problems, hammer out a working draft that will help solve them. 

Writing Prompt - Character's Physical Description

Entertain some dialogue between two of your characters.  As you write the dialogue, only focus on one particular physical description, such as their eyes, their hands, chins, etc.  Pick only one.  Try to write your physical descriptions to convey emotions, or better yet, have the emotions from one character contrast dramatically with the other character and show that through how you portray their physical description. 

Writing Challenge: Author Biography

Not long ago the prize-winning author, Tania Hershman, shared she didn't mind as much being interviewed.  An idea was fielded in her direction, would conducting interviews help write a biography, seeing that most writers don't care much for this task.  She agreed, that would be a great way to get over that hurdle. 

Thinking about writing a biography can be daunting.  At writing-world.com there are some tips that might help get you warmed up for writing one, then consider getting someone to "interview" you to help you get on your way.  Get started by reading the writing-world page here: http://www.writing-world.com/basics/bio.shtml

Writing Prompt: Character's Physical Description

Introduce the antagonist in a story, allow his physical description and body language to convey his/her sinister or selfish nature. (From: Creative Writing Solutions)

Craft Chat and Critique Workshop

Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Time: 3:30 - 7:30 PM (may break at 6:30 pm)
Location: Meeting Room directly across from Circulation Desk
          Chico Branch, Butte County Library
          1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico (cross is 1st Ave)
RSVP: Leave a comment below with a valid email address (never published) to RSVP.

Agenda

3:30-4:30 PM  Craft Chat and Writing Exercise

Physical Description of Characters
When we're telling a story, we need to tell our readers something about our characters, and that often includes what they look like. How do we do that without making it sound like a police report? What kind of details are important? What's best left to the reader's imagination?

4:30 - 6:30 PM Critique Workshop

Manuscripts are distributed January 2nd to members in good standing.
Queue:  B. C.
                D. H. 
                R. A.
                N. J.
                K. L.