MetaChat - Bunny writers, hope me!

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28 August 2006

Bunny writers, hope me! So I need to start writing stuff (fiction, mostly) on a more regular basis. Thing is, I really suck at *starting* stories. Does anyone know of a site that has a daily or thrice-weekly (or something) writing prompt that is basically the first sentence of a story?→[More:]

I found some that are geared towards journals or essays (Write about your experience with underdogs. Write about whether you would have liked to be a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition.). I want something more like "The snow was falling thickly on the cedars lining the driveway, and Elizabeth hadn't showered in a week." Or, perhaps, a random photograph that's surreal/interesting/odd/whatever to kickstart a story. And...go!

post by: Fuzzbean at: 14:13 | 13 comments

This seems closer -- it's not journal-y, but it's not sentences either.

posted by JanetLand 28 August | 14:18

And there's always a quote generator.

posted by JanetLand 28 August | 14:20

Ah. Here's a sentence generator. The sentences are simple, though.

posted by JanetLand 28 August | 14:34

There's the MeFi Writers Group. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks interesting, and the feedback give & take atmosphere appears supportive.

posted by elizard 28 August | 14:35

Well, I’m no writer, but I’d say why not just use this fabulous site: “‘Cheap lodging in Colorado Springs,’ read the ad, but how could it be cheap enough, I wondered, my numb fingertips rubbing my last few coins together in my coat pocket.’ “Last night while twirling radio dials in a car I heard the whispering voices again, the same voices I’d heard that winter, half a lifetime ago, in Colorado Springs.” “‘OMG! Bunny!’ exclaimed Petula, as she ran full-tilt down the garden path toward uncle Oliver. ‘I say, isn’t that the fluffiest angora rabbit you’ve ever seen?’ he asked, in his curiously whispery voice.” Etcetera!

posted by misteraitch 28 August | 14:44

:) misteraitch.

Toasted Cheese has a calender with writing prompts for most days.

Today's is "Ash drizzled to the ground".

I ask, "who is Ash? And why can't he use the bathroom at the Dairy Queen like everybody else?"

posted by taz 28 August | 14:47

Just open a book at random and grab a sentence. That's what I do.

posted by dobbs 28 August | 14:51

I find Natalie Goldberg's books on writing extremely helpful. Her second one called Wild Mind is like my bible. It's full of lots of writing prompts and ways to get "unstuck." A good read in its own right, too.

(I'm also struggling with getting myself to write on a regular basis. To think I actually thought I might finish my first novel this summer. Now it's back to work on Thursday. But I'm not giving up. A page or two a day would do just fine. How the days (and years) slip by.)

posted by Pips 28 August | 16:09

This page was one of my "stumbles" this morning (I actually saved the page with Pips in mind!).

Fuzzbean, I apologize that it doesn't answer your question, but I hope it gives you some insight.

posted by getoffmylawn 28 August | 17:15

There are so many funny, weird and just plain sick minds in this particular hive, I think we should take the Writers Group concept one step further. What do you all think about creating our own Naked Came the Stranger?

Anybody up for collaborating on "The Hare en Deshabille?

Anybody?
Anybody?
Helloooooo?

posted by rob511 28 August | 17:57

I have a box called The Observation Deck with writing prompts printed on cards and a book that explains them. It's not bad. It doesn't have sample sentences, though.

posted by halonine 28 August | 18:45

Thanks, goml. Good tips there, truly. (I don't know about a novel in a week, though. I'll settle for a year at this point. A goal of twenty pages a month maybe, while I'm working? My novel's been "cooking" a long, long time, I'm afraid. It's a little soggy.)

posted by Pips 29 August | 09:46

These are all pretty cool...I like misteraitch's. ;)

Thanks!

posted by Fuzzbean 29 August | 09:50

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