Story Starters from Real Life

Mandy and I were exchanging stories about our lives today, and the writing exercises were everywhere.  Just a few good tidbits…

1. They were in sitting in their car when I drove into the parking lot.  I got out, unlocked the front door and turned on the lights before they came into the building. “Ma’am, we’re from the FBI…”
2. Let’s just say that his employees were not hired for their skill sets…
3. Shortly after I arrived, she gave me a tour of the house.  Walking into her bedroom, I said,  “Oh, I didn’t know you played the drums…”

And Now! Writing Group is Here!

What will we do tonight?!?  We could…

…write something that starts with “My life sucks…”
…compile a list of excusable reasons to miss writing group
…write about times you got by by the skin of your teeth
…an incident when the cops pulled you over
…write what we would do if we only had 12 minutes left to live?

And what did we do?  Look for postings on the skin of our teeth…and a few infrequently asked questions…and those precious last 12 minutes…

Writing Group is Coming Up!

Time to start collecting good writing exercises!  Like…

• Compile a list of infrequently asked questions (and their answers).
• Describe three (or five or twelve) distinct characters solely through the way they relate to the gap between reality and what is possible.
• What English writing assignments do you wish you’d been assigned in high school?
• List ten good reasons why a character would be convinced they couldn’t do something that they are, in fact, fully skilled in and able to accomplish.
• Invent a new sport, list its rules, and describe its typical fan.

Story Starters and Writing Exercises We Have Known

1.  The other day, my TV was frozen on the Wheel of Fortune…

2.  Write about a forbidden meal.

3.  Describe an unusual kind of boot camp.

4. Write about an experience with a fortune cookie.

5.  Write out a call to a radio talk show host.