First 50 Words - Writing Prompts for Writing Practice

The auction

first50 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:24:52 +0000

I had my eye on a some straight backed chairs. It was my first auction and I wasn’t sure how bidding on those chairs was going to work, but my son had no chairs (well, basically, no furniture) and I wanted those chairs! I sat next to a woman who had the composed look of an veteran auction denizen and hoped she’d be friendly enough to fill me in.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “the auction” or on some topic suggested by the image

Write to me

first50 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:33 +0000

Hello to all those readers out there who are subscribing to this blog by email. I hope you find the writing prompts useful. I invite you to drop by the blog to write with me. I’d love to see your first 50 words in the comments on the blog. Getting to read the different responses to the prompts is a big part of the fun.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “write to me” or on some topic suggested by the photo.

Bad Hair Day

first50 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:06:07 +0000

I wore a scarf that day. It was just a trip to the supermarket on a bad hair day– who could know such a small thing would change everything in my life?

Perhaps I should describe my appearance that day in more detail . . .

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “bad hair day.”

The Kids

first50 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:35:49 +0000

The kids are outside at the preschool down the block from my house. I like to take a coffee break on the patio during their outside playtime, so I can hear their laughter and their childish voices raised in pleasure–and sometimes tears. The sound makes me happy. In a world where so few things create happiness, the voices of children are a balm.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “the kids.”

Favorite

first50 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:14:20 +0000

“What’s your favorite meal?” he asked.

Well, how could I answer that? Thousands of meals have passed through my lips. I immediately thought of eating in Italy, where the food is always amazing. No. I couldn’t mention Italy. How about that time I had an ice cream sundae for dinner while listening to a steel drum band in The Bahamas? No, not that. I know . . .

“Any meal I have with you is my favorite,” I said.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “favorite.”

Felicity

first50 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:07:54 +0000

Image by ouec via Flickr
I’ve been following the journey of Felicity Aston as she skied across Antarctica by herself. She made it in 59 days. Much as I’d like to see Antarctica myself, I can’t imagine having the courage or determination to do it that way. Here’s to Felicity! Brava!

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “Felicity” or on some topic suggested by the image.

Free

first50 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:40:26 +0000

“Where can I get a music stand?” he asked the fellow next to him. They were sitting in metal folding chairs arranged in a semi-circle with ukuleles in their hands.

“I got mine free from freecycle,” the man answered.

I heard the answer and thought, Damn, I paid $25 for mine. Why didn’t I think of that? But I still showed him how to play a Bbm.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “free.”

Character

first50 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:54:22 +0000

I’ve been watching Downton Abbey on PBS. A huge cast of characters, all of them distinct. It got me thinking about all those basic rules you learn in fiction writing workshops about how to define character, how to help readers (or viewers) keep your characters straight, and how to incorporate those cues into your plot. Of course, on television you are seeing faces, not mentally constructing characters off the page. Nevertheless, Downton Abbey seems like an instruction manual for those who are working to build characters in their writing.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “character.”

Hi, Honey, I’m Home

first50 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:39:02 +0000

The surprise party wasn’t ready. I still had to frost the cake and hang up the banner, but I was running out of time. I knew she would come through the door to the garage calling out, “Hi, honey, I’m home,” within moments. I tossed the banner on the floor in front of the garage door like a red carpet. I threw off my clothes and posed in front of the cake holding the tub of frosting and a spatula. That would have to do.

Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “hi, honey, I’m home.”

A Favorite Author

first50 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:41:09 +0000

Nevada Barr was in my city last night, talking about her newest Anna Pigeon mystery novel, The Rope. She’s an excellent speaker–funny and charming. I’m looking forward to reading the new book.

But this is a story about social media.

I tweeted that I was going to hear @nevadabarr speak and a friend in Wellington, @miraz, tweeted back asking me to let Nevada know she had a fan in New Zealand. So I made this hokey looking sign for Miraz, and Nevada happily posed with a greeting to her far-away fan. The last thing she told me after signing my book, was, “And hi to Miraz.”

Please leave your first 50 words on the topic “a favorite author” as a comment. Or write about some topic suggested by the photo.