Writer’s Workshop

What is Writer’s Workshop?

Writer’s Workshop is a weekly opportunity for you to participate in a writing activity that will hopefully inspire you to be creative and keep writing while connecting with other bloggers.

What inspired the Writer’s Workshop?

I created the Writer’s Workshop after a bout with the Writer’s Block…or blogger’s block…or whatever you want to call it. While doing my blog reading I noticed two things:

#1 I was not alone in the dark abyss of Writer’s Block. A lot of people blog about how they have nothing to blog about.

and

#2 Reading other bloggers life experiences inspired me to write about my own take on similar experiences.

Why I LOVE Writer’s Workshop!

As a former high school English teacher, hosting Writer’s Workshops is a great way for me to get my homework fix and believe me, if I could hand out tardy notes and detentions I would.

Encouraging writing and thinking and reading and learning are all things I’m passionate about and make my heart feel warm inside…not to mention it gives ME something to write about too.

When do the weekly writing prompts get posted?

I will always try to post the Sunday night

How do you start?

It’s never to late to jump in!! Here is what you must do:

• Choose a prompt that inspires you most from the list of prompts I provide each week and think about what you’re going to write.
• Write.
• Come back Thursday and paste the URL from the workshop post into the Mister Linky that will be up…this way anyone can click on your name and head over to your place to see what you wrote. Likewise, I encourage you to click on at least the three links above your name so that you can read what other people are writing and learn more about them.

Feel free to write on more than one prompt if you so desire and if you wouldn’t mind grabbing a button to display on your post, I will love you more for it.

And remember the more comment love you give, the more comment love you get so comment comment away.

Copy and Paste Code

<a href=”http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/” mce_href=”http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/poodle4.jpg” mce_src=”http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/poodle4.jpg” alt=”Mama’s Losin’ It” />

An ongoing list of all the prompts we’ve used in the ol’ workshop so far…I didn’t think them up all by myself. I’ve been inspired by countless bloggers, web sites, friends, and personal experiences. Can I be too lazy to site them all? Because I am:

1. Write about a time you hid from someone, or a time you disguised who you really were.
2. List 10 things worth saving then choose one of those things and write about it.
3. What did you do before we had the internet?
4. My 10 biggest fears.
5. When I’m upset…
6. Weave a poem that contains all these lines (in no particular order): “I tie the ribbon in a foolish way”, “the delicious fragility of this travesty”, “where we still laugh and wish”.
7. Write about a memory related to a holiday.
8. Recall a time when you did something to get noticed. Write about it.
9. Begin with “I wish someone told me…”
10. If you could rearrange three things about your life what would they be?
11. What do you love to create?
12. Complete the sentence “I’d walk a mile for a ________.” and continue writing about it.
13. Describe in detail a person who leaves no stone unturned.
14. When out to lunch with co-workers, you bump into a close friend who refers to you by a nickname.
15. Because of its unusualness, the nickname catches the interest of one of your co-workers who asks for the story behind it. Start your story with, “This may come as a surprise, but … ” and end it with, “And that’s how I got the nickname (fill in the blank).”
16. Write about an intense game of Scrabble that takes an ugly turn for the worse.
17. Write from the point of view of a glass at the edge of the table.
18. Describe a typical day during your Jr. High years.
19. Why do you write?
20. When I’m around too much negativity I…
21. You’ve been hired as a writer for “Late Show with David Letterman.” Your first assignment is to come up with a witty, nonpolitical Top Ten list for him to read on air.
22. Write a short essay about your child (and if you have more than one just choose your favorite and if you don’t have kids than just talk about your pet and if you don’t have a pet just talk about your significant other and if you don’t have a significant other than FREAK! Pick one of the other prompts this one is clearly not for you. ps go adopt a cat for crying out loud the humane society is overflowing with them.).
23. Name three people you last emailed and why.
24. How is life different for your children than when you were growing up?
25. Write a letter to the 10-year-old child you had been.
26. Write about a heart that wouldn’t quit.
27. Describe a childhood birthday.
28. Do you have reoccurring dreams? What are they about?
29. Close your eyes, open a dictionary, and point to a word. Does your word mean anything special to you?
30. Lost? How come?
31. If I could take tomorrow off work I’d…
32. Write a letter to someone you miss greatly
33. 10 things I believe in…
34. Put Shaggy (Scooby Doo’s partner) and Batgirl in an elevator and write a 200 word scene.
35. Write about a time you hid from someone, or a time you disguised who you really were.
36. List 10 things worth saving then choose one of those things and write about it.
37. What did you do before we had the internet?
38. You awaken with amnesia in what looks to be an igloo. You have $4 and a rock in one pocket, and a toothbrush in the other. Someone is staring at you. Write this scene.
39. Write a 16-line poem (rhyming or non-rhyming) about a moment from your childhood that changed your life for the better.
40. You’re sitting at work one day and receive a text message from an unrecognized number. The text says,
41. “I have the money and hid the body.” You think this is a practical joke from a friend, so you play along at first. But the more texts you receive, the more you realize that it isn’t a joke. Write the text conversation you have with this unknown texter.
42. 10 of my absolute worst pet peeves…
43. Fictionalize an event that happened to one of your parents, friends, or siblings.
44. Write a haiku about what you see out the window. (if you don’t know what a haiku is click here.)
45. Begin with “I thought I saw…”
46. If I could live in any era of history, what would it be — list 10 reasons why.
47. Write a light hearted piece on how to get along with an enemy.
48. The first time you…
49. The last time I laughed really hard…
50. Forgive and forget…I think.
51. I remember when…
52. Write about something that bothered you this week.
53. Write a poem about a favorite color.
52. Tag! Post and write about the 6th picture from (the 6th folder of?) your Flickr account and then do the same for the 6th picture of the 6th folder on your computer.
53. Are you still friends with you high school friends? Describe them.
54. If you had to star in a reality tv show, which one would it be and why?
55. Describe a time when your pet caused chaos.
56. Allergies much?
57. Worst dentist experience ever.
58. Describe a “new road” you’ve taken in your life.
59.What would you say to a mouse who could talk?
60. Who is the best listener you know? What makes him or her such a good listener?
61. Write or share a letter to Santa.
62. Describe a faovrite Winter memory.
63. Last night it snowed buckets and you are forced to spend the entire day at home with your family…what’s the plan!?!
64. What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten/given.
65. Describe a Christmas tradition that you have started with your own family?
66. Describe a New Year’s where you would have been better off just staying home.
67. What do you do that drives your mother crazy?
68. Share your favorite gluten free recipe (hey, so what if I rig the topics to suit my life…)
69. Close out 2008 with your own TOP 10 list!
70. Describe your latest obsession.
71. Ask a loved one to use 6 descriptive words to describe you and report your findings. How well do they know you?
72. Who was your first bloggy friend? How did you find each other? Do you still correspond?
73. Tell us about your pet! If you have a weird infatuation with your dog or cat we want to hear about it (or if they just plain drive you crazy)…but please don’t compare them to children. It’s just not the same.
74. Describe your significant other’s most attractive quality (on the inside).
75. Tell about a time you stole something.
76. Choose a poem you like. Take the last line and use it as the first line of your own poem.
77. Write about a scary encounter with one of your old professors.
78. Tell us about a memorable blind date.
79. Other than the birth of a child or your wedding, write about a joyous moment.
80. Write about one of the most difficult decisions you have made in your life.
81. Share the best picture you took last month and explain why it’s your favorite.
82. Tell us about a stray animal you took in.
83. Write a poem for your favorite teacher of all time.
84. Describe someone in your life you wish you saw more of.
85. Write a letter to someone who bothered you this week.
86. If you were starring on American Idol TONIGHT and HAD to sing, what song would you choose and why.
87. Take a picture of yourself right this minute without primping and explain to us why it is you have not washed your hair today.
88. I just asked Pat to help me with a writing prompt so here’s his: “What do you think about the NBA All Star game”…blech.
89. What’s your number one pet peeve? Develop a punishment for anyone caught in the act.
90. Write about something mean you did to a sibling growing up.
91. For your birthday a sibling has decided to have the first six months of your blog printed and bound. Write a forward for the book.
92. Write a 26-line poem using all the letters of the alphabet, where the first line starts with the letter “A,” the second “B,” the third “C,” etc., culminating with the final line starting with “Z.”
93. Start your story with, “In retrospect, I wouldn’t say it was my best idea.” And end it with, “And that’s how I attempted to make this world a better place.
94. What would the truth have done? Write about a time when honesty was NOT the best policy.
95. What made your childhood bearable? Write about it.
96. Discuss an intense game of Pictionary that you spent most of Saturday night arguing with your family, only to log in to your email account two days later to find 35 emails between said family regarding aformentioned game and rules.
97. Tell about a time you hurt somebody that still bothers you to this day.
98. The one that got away….spill it.
99. What inspired you? Write about a time when you were impassioned to write.
100. What happened in the last year? Write about something you can do now that you couldn’t do a year ago.
102. Write about the event that was the end of your childhood
103. Somebody I’m praying for….
104. I don’t believe in prayer because…
105. What are you putting off right now?
106. You can go back to your childhood for one day. What day and age do you choose?
107. Your friend tells you he can pick up any girl at the bar, no matter what he says. You bet him $100 he can’t. Create the world’s worst pick up line and send your friend off into the crowd. What happens?
108. Describe a moment when you realized you and your spouse were SO different.
109. What is your role in the household?
110. Write about how you felt when you discovered you were lied to.
111. Describe a hard time you gave a teacher…what would you say to them today?
112. What is an unpleasant experience you had eating? Write a poem, paragraph, or something else about the experience.
113. Book review!
114. When is it okay not to listen to the words? Explain about a song you really love that has lame lyrcis or lyrics you simply don’t understand.
115. Why won’t you forget? List six true sentences that begin with the words ‘I’ll never forget…’ Then use all six of your sentences in a paragraph, poem, or longer descriptive piece.
116. Write about an interaction you had with a salesman.
117. What’s for dinner? I’m starving.
118. Who really helped you get over something? Write about that person.
119. Is plastic surgery an option? Without being vulgar, write about the body part still attached to you that you would most like to dis-attach and replace with a better one.
120. Share an interesting email exchange you’ve had with someone lately.
121. Have you thought about shutting down your blog? Why haven’t you and what would cause you to make that decision final?
122. Today I will…
123. Define goodness…joy…sorrow…and anger using pictures you’ve taken.
124. Tomorrow I will do it differently. Here’s how…
125. Describe a ’sound’ from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to mind?
126. I remember when…
127. Right now is the best time to start. What’s your first step?
128. If I sent you four hundred dollars today what is ONE thing you would spend it on and why. ps I want my change.
129. What are your kids talking about?
130. Tell us about a local news story that’s all the buzz right now in your neck of the woods.
131. Share some blogging advice.
132. Tell us about that time at the playground when that thing happened.
133. Why did you do it?
134. What is a common misconception about you?
135. Describe a moment when you felt afraid.
136. In what ways are you turning into your mother?
137. Are you always right?
138. Create a video for your blog by talking about an emotion you’ve felt this week.
138. Do you want a baby?
140. Who got in big trouble this week?
141. Write a poem for your mother.
142. Time for a trip? Where are you headed this summer?…Or where would you go if you COULD.
143. Share a love letter.
144. Memorial Day Weekend plans?? Do share!
145. List ten things you are currently sick of.
146. Put an outfit together using pictures you found online and show us what you’d LIKE to be wearing today.
147. What have you been too busy to pay attention to?
148. What is your life’s anthem? You know…that song that is ALWAYS in your head. The one you’d go to sing first if someone told you to sing a song right NOW. What is it and what does it mean to you?
149. We love telemarketers don’t we!?! Describe a memorable experience you had with one.
150. How much does focusing on weight affect your daily life?
151. Describe in what ways you expect too much from your significant other. Do they deserve an apology?
152. List ten things that make you HAPPY.
153. Share a sleep walking story of your own!!

6/06/09 “assignment”