15 different types of journals to keep - darktea As the start of the new year approaches, people often think about starting a journal. There is no reason why you need to start a journal on the 1st January, but it is a popular time to start, perhaps because of preprinted diaries. If you are thinking of keeping a journal here are some ideas for the types of journals you could keep. Please consider subscribing to my blog to receive all my posts including journal writing. Time capsule This is a record of events that are important to you, for instance news or sports stories. Specific topic You many want to follow your progress on a specific topic, such as your exercise habits, children or career. Dreams A dream journal should be written every morning as soon as you wake up to capture as many details of the dream as possible, the longer you leave it after waking the fewer details you can remember. Travel journal Keeping a journal of holidays you take means after the event you have more than just photographs as a record. Reading journal Meditation
Proofreading Symbols and Abbreviations Common Proofreading Symbols Common Proofreading Abbreviations (The abbreviation would appear in the margin, probably with a line or arrow pointing to the offending element.) Some Online Aids on Proofreading and Editing Editing and Rewriting (from the Guide to Grammar and Writing) "Revising Your Writing" from Paradigm "Editing Your Writing" from Paradigm Proofreading Strategies — from Bowling Green University Guide to Grammar and Writing Learning Center Capital Community College Journaling Prompt – Hone Your Writing Skills With Colors | Creat May 13th, 2009 by Avital Most people are blessed with all 5 senses: Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. I am constantly using all five senses throughout my creative journey and cannot imagine what would I do if one of my senses was impaired. However I have come across very creative people who were unable to see, hear or taste, so I know that creativity can for a certain extent compensate for the loss of one of the senses. One of the things I cannot imagine how can one compensate for is the ability to see colors (which is funny as my father is color blind). The broad spectrum of colors, the different tones and shades, the richness, the effect of combining different colors together. For this week’s journaling prompt try to describe colors to a blind person. Share Do you think colors can be described to a blind person? Tags: colors, creative writing, guided writing, journaling, Journaling Prompt
Make every word count: Tips for polishing and tightening copy Reporters and editors everywhere battle and complain over length of stories. Even online, where newspaper space or tight broadcast schedules aren’t an issue, you need to write tightly to hold the reader’s attention and keep the story moving. You need to hone your ability to organize information and write tight stories that make every word count. Plan to write tight Coordinate with your editor. Consider the reader. Make your story useful. Consider follow-ups, sidebars, graphics, layers. Write as you report. Set the pace Your lead sets the pace for your story. The writing process Write without your notes. Keep the end in sight. Identify and avoid detours. Be demanding. Allow time to rewrite Much of the best work in tightening and strengthening stories comes in rewriting. Read aloud. Check each sentence. Stamp out there is usages. Minimize it is usage. Challenge uses of to be verbs. Challenge all weak verbs. Write with active verbs. Replace phrases with words. Eliminate imprecise words.
A Simple Novel Outline – 9 questions for 25 chapters « H.E. Roulo Just as every tree is different but still recognizably a tree, every story is different but contains elements that make it a story. By defining those before you begin you clarify the scope of your work, identify your themes, and create the story you meant to write. At Norwescon 2011 I sat in on a session called Outline Your Novel in 90-minutes led by Mark Teppo. I’ll give you the brief, readable, synthesized version. Answer 9 questions and create 25 chapter titles and you’re there. Here are the 9 questions to create a novel: 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.) 8.) 9.) Now, with those 9 questions answered to your satisfaction, try to fill in a 25 chapter, 75,000 word outline. Chapters 7-18 are the middle of your book. Chapters 19-25 depict the heroic act to victory. Wasn’t that easy? Okay, sure, the work isn’t done yet. Using the idea that there are 25 chapters, I outlined my current work in progress. I hope that was helpful. Tell me what works for you. Related 6 Steps to Masterful Writing Critiques
Writing Exercises Meredith Sue Willis Author and Teacher More Free Writing Exercises below and here : Exercises 1- 20 Exercises 21- 40 Exercises 41 - 60 Exercises 61-80 Exercises 81-100 Exercises 101 - 120 Exercises 121 - 140 Exercises 141 - 160 Exercises 161 - 180 Exercises 181 - 200 Exercises 201 - 240 Exercises 241 - 260 Point-of-View Characters Whose Gender Is Not Yours We had a discussion in my Advanced Novel Writing Class at NYU about the difficulty of capturing a character who is of a different gender from yourself. Writing about people unlike yourself– by race, ethnic group, age, and certainly gender or sexual preference– is always a big challenge, but also of great interest to a creative writer. Exercise #261 All around me as I write this exercise there is great devastation from the natural—possibly human enhanced—disaster, Hurricane Sandy. Exercise #262 Exercise #263 Here's an exercise for stories and personal narratives from story teller/writer Norah Dooley. Exercise #264 Exercise #265 Exercise #266 Exercise #267 Exercise #268
Journal Writing Prompts for Life Story Writers Journal Writing Topics to Have Fun With This is a new page on my site and I will be updating this page on a regular basis with new journal writing prompts, journal writing topics and ideas. Journal writing prompts can have several purposes, but the ones on this web page will be for the purpose of sparking memories from one's life through creative writing prompts. I also would like to invite you to submit some of your favorite journal prompts, in the form provided below. Basically a "mining" of your memories. Your responses (private or public) will help you piece together events from your life. The journal writing prompts on this page will get you started and really thinking about the great life that you have lived so far! Describe The People in Your Life Look at your life as a play and you are, of course, the lead character. There are many "supporting actors" in your life story. One of the simplest ways to do this is respond to the following "award show" type questions. Who is the...
Tips about references - Kathryn Woodcock A professor may not be in a particularly good position to give a meaningful evaluation for jobs, unless you have done work with the professor outside of a course, such as volunteering or work-study projects. An employer will primarily be verifying that you have completed the degree you have claimed (which they can do by contacting the university). The hiring manager may have additional questions about specific skills, such as analytical skills or computer tools, or general qualities such as leadership abilities in course related teamwork. When naming a professor as a reference for a job, therefore, ensure that you are choosing someone who has seen you applying skills relevant to the job. However much she liked you, a professor in a basic course especially first or second year courses, is not a good choice. When should I avoid asking a certain professor? When you have cheated or plagiarized on their course.
Story Starters for Creative Writing Exercises One-line story starters are great for group writing exercises. They have enough conflict to start the writing flow, but are open-ended to allow each writer to follow his or her own direction. Individual writers can use them on a regular basis for “practice writing,” following Natalie Goldberg’s suggestions in Writing Down the Bones. Creative Writing Exercises Set a timer for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. As writing exercises for individuals, try doing one each day, or several a week if daily is too much. Develop a Short Story or Novel? If the results of these writing exercises remain intriguing, spend more time with them, either that session or on different days. Story Starters Here are 25 simple story starters to get the creative juices flowing.
Welcome to Writing@CSU Spring Creative Writing & Blogging Prompts, Springtime Photo Ins Writing : Prompts : Spring Writing Prompts Seasonal Writing & Blogging Photo Prompts By Chris Dunmire Warming, fresh spring weather! With spring in the air and writing on your mind, you'll be inspired by this collection of springtime photos, quotes, and prompts celebrating the emergence of new life arising from the soil of the earth. These fresh writing prompts and photos will breathe new life into your creative stories, blog entries, and holiday reflections for the spring season. The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. Writing Prompt 1: Spring Photo and Quote Inspiration: When do you feel the arrival of Spring has come? Writing Prompt 2: Write about one of the five senses (related to your spring experience): The smells of springThe sights of springThe sounds of springThe touch of springThe tastes of spring Writing Prompt 3: What is your favorite spring memory? Writing Prompt 4: Write a personal poem about spring. Writing Prompt 5: Writing Prompt 6:
6 Habits of True Strategic Thinkers In the beginning, there was just you and your partners. You did every job. You coded, you met with investors, you emptied the trash and phoned in the midnight pizza. Now you have others to do all that and it's time for you to "be strategic." Whatever that means. If you find yourself resisting "being strategic," because it sounds like a fast track to irrelevance, or vaguely like an excuse to slack off, you're not alone. This is a tough job, make no mistake. After two decades of advising organizations large and small, my colleagues and I have formed a clear idea of what's required of you in this role. Anticipate Most of the focus at most companies is on what’s directly ahead. Look for game-changing information at the periphery of your industrySearch beyond the current boundaries of your businessBuild wide external networks to help you scan the horizon better Think Critically “Conventional wisdom” opens you to fewer raised eyebrows and second guessing. Interpret Ambiguity is unsettling. Decide
Free Creative Writing Prompts #66: Horror I love horror books and novels. These freecreative writing promptsbased on the horror genre draw from my many experiences of staying up late and watching bad or worse horror films till the wee hours of the morning. Horror films are often the dumping ground of screenwriting as the cheaper and easier they are to make, the better. But as we've seen this season with Paranormal Activity (at the time of this article), a good concept can go a really long way. Free Creative Writing Prompts: Horror 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. These free creative writing prompts about horror are perfect for writing late at night with the lights out during a thunderstorm :). Bonus Prompt - What is your favorite horror movie? Related Articles to Free Creative Writing Prompts about HorrorFree Creative Writing Prompts from the Heart, Part 1Free Creative Writing Prompts #2: LoveCreative Writing Exercises #2: Relaxation Done with this page? Written by Bryan Cohen Write a Story Based on These Prompts or This Article!