Happy Friday!
It’s so great to sit with friends at dinner. My Greek friend, Loannis, owns Big Nick’s Pizzeria. He’s a very great chef and a wonderful storyteller.
There’s been so much going on politically this past week that it’s hard to concentrate on writing! But concentrate we must!
One way to focus is to write very short stories or character sketches using a timer set for fifteen-minute increments. This exercise will help keep you focused without pushing you beyond your concentration limits.
Here’s a topic that might inspire you to write a fifteen-minute sketch or story:
I’ve been hearing true stories from several people who recently discovered that there is more to their family history than they ever knew.
For example, one friend recently discovered that his father was bigamous, and had another family in another state. When he met the other family, his half- brother looked like his identical twin! They didn’t get along and are now in court battling over the father’s estate.
Another friend discovered that the woman she thought was her mother wasn’t. She had been adopted when the birth mother gave her up. My friend had a terrible relationship with the woman she thought was her mother. When she discovered the truth, the relationship changed and they were able to bond finally and become close friends.
1. Set a timer for 15 minutes.
2. Using either of the above stories or one of your own, quickly write the history of the event. When the timer goes off, either stop or if you’re on a roll, reset, and write some more.
3. Read what you’ve written aloud to yourself. You will hear many interesting things about your own writing.
If this doesn’t intrigue you, set a timer and write the story of the amazing tree here. Ask yourself what would make a nice happy tree grow spikes along every inch of its trunk?
I’m excited to be giving the third webinar on dialogue and scene writing. Please email if you’d like to join.
I’m equally excited about JOS Episode #41. We’ve been experimenting so check out our new stuff.
Here’s to your successful writing,
Professor Marilyn Horowitz
