Your exercise today is to incorporate all of the following words into an article, short story, poem or whatever comes to mind. You must use all of the words (in any order) to complete the exercise, but the context in which they are used is up to you. Think about the words for a few minutes before you start to write and see what pictures come to mind - then see if you can weave them all together into a piece of writing.

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If you could choose one memory that will stay crystal clear in your mind forever, which one would you choose, and why is this one so special for you.

Idea Seeds! Start your page with any of the following and see where your creative muse takes you:

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Show and not tell is the topic of today’s exercise. The words you use can set a scene firmly into a time frame. Buzz words from a generation, fashions, even a menu, can all play a role in showing your story to the reader without constantly having to remind them of the date.

This morning, write a scene where one of your characters goes out on a date. Set this in a contemporary time-period. Put a ring around the words that show, rather than tell, your readers that this is set in the “now”. Next change these words and place the scene in the 1970s.

Type or write the title “The Biggest Surprise of All”at the top of your page, set your timer for 20 minutes, and then start. Keep the writing going until your timer goes off. Fiction, non-fiction, personal memory - it doesn’t matter. Whatever the title brings to mind, write it down. When you timed session is over, read through what you’ve wrote - maybe there’s the start of a new work in progress there, or the bones of an article just needing some meat on it!

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Your exercise today is to incorporate all of the following words into an article, short story, poem or whatever comes to mind. You must use all of the words (in any order) to complete the exercise, but the context in which they are used is up to you. Think about the words for a few minutes before you start to write and see what pictures come to mind - then see if you can weave them all together into a piece of writing.

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Describe your sleep pattern. Are you someone who needs a lot of sleep, or do you function very well on only a few hours of quality sleep? Do you go to bed and stay there until morning, or are you up and down all night? Do you have a regular bed-time routine? Do you fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow, or do you lie awake for some time thinking over events - and wishing you could go to sleep! This morning discuss your normal routine as regards sleep.

Idea Seeds! Start your page with any of the following and see where your creative muse takes you:

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The right choice of words can pull your reader into your story and hold their attention so that they not only turn the pages to see what happens next, but perhaps even hold their breath in anticipation of the next scene! The words you use can even change the entire tone of your writing.

Today, write a scene where you have a character listening to a strange sound above them. Use words that will invoke a feeling of fear and dread. Then rewrite the scene with words that will lead the scene a humorous twist.

Write the title “Ocean Breezes” at the top of your page, set your timer for 20 minutes and then start. Keep the writing going until your timer goes off. Fiction, non-fiction, personal memory - it doesn’t matter. Whatever the title brings to mind, write it down. When your timed session is over, read through what you’ve wrote - maybe there’s the start of a new work in progress there, or the bones of an article just needing some meat on it!

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