Meeting October 28, 2018

Be sure to attend this year's WOW event beginning at 1:30pm on Saturday, November 10th, at the Orangeville Public Library (as shown above). Bring your published books to sell at our table. (click on the above pictures to see a larger version).

A reminder that our Christmas gathering will take place on Saturday, November 24th, following the writing workshop. HWG members should bring snacks for this social. If you are not attending the workshop, arrive at 3pm for some good cheer.


Writing Prompts:

1. Rowena was different from the rest of the family.

2. She watched in horror as the man threw ________________ into the river (dumpster, trunk of his car, pot of stew, alley, ravine, etc.)...

3. Being the oldest in the family, Rita was expected to...

4. This must be my 15 minutes of fame, he/she/I thought....

5. Looking back, James could see that it was a major turning point. How might his life have been if....

6. He hated the scrubbed sterile corridors, and the smell of the hospital. It reminded him of....

7. The clock struck 13, she was sure of it. She tip-toed down the stairs. The very air seemed different, and when she opened the back door she saw...

8. Emma's illness had changed her.

9. Everyone has a great fear in life. It could be loneliness, rejection, snakes, saying "I'm sorry", etc. Write about how a fear can pop up in times and places, and set up unexpected obstacles for you, or for a character you are writing about.

10. Write about what makes you angry, or a particular time or event that made you angry. Did you express your anger? Hold it in? How did that make you feel in different parts of your body?

Next Meeting Sunday, November 4th, 1:30pm

Patricia is leading.

Sunday, October 14th Meeting

Patricia announced that she did not post notes from the last meeting as it was the Biblioboard presentation by library staff. It is hard to explain. You really had to be there. All I can say it is a wonderful opportunity to start you on the road to e-publishing and hopefully, eventually, book publishing. To check out the Biblioboard you must be registered with the Orangeville Public Library (Caledon Library also has this program), go to the library website and click on library services.

We apologize for not providing more information. The presentation was announced months in advance and informational hand-outs had been provided. If you would like to know more about this program, library staff (particularly Kim) are willing to help you out. Just make an appointment. Major point: It's all free!

Virginia announced that her poem and a short story have been accepted for publication by Polar Expess. Congratulations Virginia!

And now for something completely different.... the prompts!

39 Really Awful Writing Prompts

These prompts were taken from the blog Listing Beyond Forty by Kim Z. Dale November 13, 2013. Originally, there were 40 but I removed number 18 as I thought it might be a bit vulgar and/or offensive to use at the writing group. You can visit http://www.chicagonow.com/listing-beyond-forty/2013/11/40-really-awful-writing-prompts/ if you really want to see it.

If you dare, pick a prompt and try to write a story from it.

Or

Transform an “awful” prompt into a “good” prompt and write a story from that.

Write a story set on another planet exactly like our own. Call that planet "Earth.

Tell the story of a man who must decide whether he wants fries with that. 

I am thinking of a number between one and ten. What is it?

Describe purple from the first person viewpoint of purple.

Tell the story of an aardvark that is possessed by the devil.

Tell the story of a six-inch ruler that is possessed by the devil.

Tell the story of a single raspberry that is possessed by the devil.

A man awakes to find that all his socks are gone.

Think about the play Hamlet. Write something good like that.

Describe your most recent bowel movement. Use all your senses.

Grab the nearest book. Open it to a random page. Close your eyes and point to a word. Write a story using only that word.

Write a grocery list in iambic pentameter.

Image that the object closest to your left hand contains JFK's soul.

What if showers were what made you dirty?

A man makes a sandwich. Describe what happens next.

Write about your earliest memory but describe it as though it is happening right now with you at your current age.

Write a story consisting only of adjectives and exclamation points.

Pretend you are a writer with a really great idea. Write that idea.

Write the story of a writer whose characters come to life and interact with her.

Write a love letter to your favorite toenail.

Begin with the line: Let me start at the beginning.

End with the line: And that was all.

Incorporate the line: You had me at Jell-O.

Write a story that includes this line: Inevitably the incongruity exacerbated Her Excellency.

The musical Cats but with electric eels.

Write a story set in a world where windows are opaque and walls are transparent.

What if a mime were actually trapped in an invisible box, it was shrinking, and no one would help him?

Write a story about Kurt Cobain rising from the dead to attend a Josh Groban concert and eat a cronut.

Rearrange the words in Green Eggs and Ham to tell a story that doesn't rhyme.

A woman watches a lot of television. It is her only interest.

A couple has a misunderstanding. Hilarity ensues.

Two people with the same name are constantly getting each others' mail. Hilarity ensues.

Due to a technical mishap a talking pickle is elected president. Hilarity ensues.

Something happens. Hilarity ensues.

What if spiders only had seven legs?

What if all Target stores were underwater like Atlantis?

Write what you know.

Write about how other mothers are inadequate.

Write a list of really awful writing prompts.


As always we would like to see what you come up with for the prompt you chose. Please share it here.

Next Meeting is Sunday, October 28th, 1:30pm. Sonja is leading.