Category Archives: Weekly Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt — December 7, 2016 Edition

After years of doing this prompt, it’s amazing to see how many times our little reminder falls on a significant day. This is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. A day that will live in infamy. Having lived in a place where I could look over the harbor, this day has a notable meaning for me. How about you? What significant things in history have been woven into the fabric of your own life? Have you written about that? If not, you should. And that’s today’s prompt:  pick a significant moment of history and write an essay, a scene, something that expresses your emotions and revelations about that special day.

Don’t forget, holiday festivities and celebrating the end of “From Nano to Published” season of learning comes to a close on December 17 at 10:30 a.m. Bring a holiday treat to share, and your own drink (tea, coffee, water, mimosa, whatever). Bring your finished book if you have it to show off and give each other a pat on the back.
In January we’ll have a special speaker. More on that soon (my email fell over recently and the other author and myself have had difficulties communicating). But she’s got a handle on pitching and agents and marketing and you can pick her brain for the whole January 21st session at the North Bend Library beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Writing cafes are going strong throughout the month, so we hope to see you all there.
Now your moment of Writing Zen:  “Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”  ~ Misty Copeland


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — November 18, 2015 Edition

Writers:

Many of you are stuck in the mire of the middle that is a novel. Others of you are stuck in the middle of revisions. Some of you are just stuck.
It’s time to get unstuck.
I know many of you have heard it from me before that if you’re a writer, you write. It onefootinfrontdoesn’t have to be difficult. Laugh in the face of difficult and writer’s block. It doesn’t matter if what you’re writing is good, or a lot, or the next smash hit. It matters that you do it. Besides, that’s what revision is for. Kind of like the song from the old holiday television special:  One Word In Front of the Other. Ten words in the morning, 100 words in the afternoon, and before you know it you have 1,000 more by the time you turn off the lights.
Today’s prompt is to find some bit of nostalgia that has meaning for you and put it in whatever you are working on. It can be one sentence, a whole paragraph, or an entire scene. Just find it and then stick it in, kind of like my silly holiday song.
Time to change direction — charge forward!
Don’t forget, quick workshop with heads down writing time this Saturday at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m. until Noon. Hope to see you there.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

 

Weekly Writing Prompt — December 17, 2014 Edition

Blessed Holidays to you and yours, Writers!

Today’s prompt is simply to please plan to attend (hey! shopping can wait until after! 😉 our holiday potluck gathering / white elephant book trade on Saturday, at 10:30 a.m. at the North Bend Library. Bring a wrapped book to trade for our white elephant, bring a dish to share (nothing fancy, writers will eat anything and the library wants to keep down the “enticing” smells).
I have an announcement I need to share with all of you, and I’d like to do it face-to-face. 🙂
Please let me know if you definitively will attend, so I can make sure to have enough sundries on hand for all of you dear Sno Valley Writes! supporters.
Be advised that there will not be a weekly prompt until after the new year. Spend time with your projects and your friends and families.
See you Saturday!
And now for your moment of Writing Zen!
 
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 12, 2014 Edition

a9772aedfc4246e1eb4cd81272bc0145Writers:

In my morning pages today I was not happy with myself and the amount of writing I’m doing. It’s Wednesday and besides my freelance work, which requires much writing, sure; but, it’s not MY writing. I’m behind in NaNoWriMo goals. I have too many manuscripts that need varying levels of polishing. Then I have to remind myself that it’s a process. Creating is a process. It’s also cyclic. One day you’ll love what you write — I was giggling my butt off silly on Sunday writing, so pleased with what I wrote. Today, I’m frustrated with how much I’m getting done. Yet, I carry on. I keep trudging. Snap writing here. Editing there. It will get done. I can’t be a superhero about it. It’s unrealistic. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t push, I shouldn’t focus my energies and efforts.
That brings me to today’s prompt. You need to forgive yourself your creative missteps. Have something published you wish you could take back? Not satisfied with how often you write? Giving yourself the side-eye because your manuscript is not published? Are you beating yourself up because you haven’t sent out any queries?
Forgive yourself.
Then get back on that writing habit and rectify things. May we all live so long that our early work is an embarrassment to us. Find the hurdle that’s eating into your writing time and overcome it. Send out that query. Even more boldly decide you’re going to author publish.
Don’t forget our workshop is this week on Saturday, Nov. 15th, at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m.. I’ll have an abbreviated workshop so that the last 1/2 hour can be dedicated to writing. This month’s topic is on where to send your work. Please RSVP so I know to plan appropriately, especially this week as there will be handouts.
Now your moment of writing Zen:
“Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” ~Muhammed Ali.


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — November 5, 2014 Edition

Remember, Remember the 5th of November…

If you’re working on NaNoWriMo your word count at the end of today should be:  8,335 words.
If you’re not there, don’t feel sad. I’m behind, too, but I’m still plucking at it.
Today’s prompt, which can easily be put into a NaNo is to write at least 1,667 words on a memory. Things remembered. It could be your personal stuff; it could be from a character’s viewpoint. You decide. Be creative. You can make it prose or poetry, or a little rhyme like the Guy Fox poem, if you like. Memories are motivation oftentimes in stories. So what memory motivates your life today, or your character’s life? Write. Write like mad and don’t stop until The end.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose.
– Stephen King


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 29, 2014 Edition

All:

You got two days to decide.
Are you In? Or are you Out?
National Novel Writing Month is upon us and it’s the best exercise to prove so much to yourself. In the end you’re a winner with a completed manuscript in hand. Okay, it’s a rough draft, but still. The support you get for your writing muse this month is incredible and I highly encourage you to participate.
So, click this link:  http://www.nanowrimo.org
Sign up. Join the Snoqualmie Valley region. Make friends (be sure to include me in your friend’s list:  heroprotagonist, as well as your municipal liaisons:  Quinleeeee and Tam Borgia).
Get info. Go to the kick-off. Go to write-ins. Just 1,667 words a day throughout the month!
Do it.
Be Brave. Kill Your Fear. Do it.
Have you done it yet?
Go! What are you waiting for? An invitation? Oh, wait, you just got one. Accept it!
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“If I would not do something – right now – I would never get to live my dreams in waiting.”
― Gisela Hausmann “Naked Determination 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear”


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 15, 2014 Edition

Brrrr!

Who turned off the sun?
I have a rule in our house that we won’t start using the firewood supply until the earliest Oct. 15. Here we are and I’m dangerously close to striking up a fire.
Instead, I threw on an extra sweater and am writing about hellhounds, in order to stoke the creative fires.
Today’s prompt is to go out there and find a contest or market to submit a piece of work to and then, gasp!, submit it. Do it, don’t be afraid. Every step you take allows you to learn, and grow.
Don’t have an inventory of stories to choose from? Then you need to finish one! Get it done.
Need something to write about?
Here’s a prompt:
“Sally swore she saw a Zebra racing down main street….”
Go.
Write.
Don’t stop until it’s done.
Don’t forget:  Workshop on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the North Bend Library. I only have two RSVPs right now. Hopefully some of you just forgot.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone”
― Pablo Picasso



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 8, 2014

autumn_road_nice_leaves_pretty_landscape_colors-hd-wallpaper-469011Greetings all you word smiths you!

I hope this finds you revving up to write!
Without further ado, here’s your prompt:
“I heard footsteps in the leaves…”
Write between 1,000 and 1,500 word story beginning with that sentence.
Go!
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
See you at the cafes?



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 1, 2014 Edition

Wow! It’s October! Bringing in the harvest, football games, pumpkin-flavored everything, decorative gourds, oh and Halloween costume making.

How about writing? What are your plans for writing this month? Do you have a plan? Word count goals? Journaling daily? Snap Writing?
Don’t know what any of those things are? Perhaps you should check out one of our cafes? Or our upcoming October workshop on Oct. 18th at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m. until Noon.
Today’s prompt is about preparation for winter. I want you to write a short story (1,000 words is good) from an animal’s perspective while preparing for the winter.
In the meantime, we’re doing some winter prep here, too. If you’re receiving this email and would like to no longer do so, please respond with UNSUBSCRIBE and we’ll bid you a cordial farewell and you will no longer receive the weekly prompts/updates.
Now your moment of Writing Zen:
“If you believe you can accomplish everything by “cramming” at the eleventh hour, by all means, don’t lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining”
― Max BrooksThe Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron