Add to your NaNo novel!

Add these items to a scene in your novel:

An empty tissue box, a dog leash, a hot cup of apple cider

NaNo prompt

Your character wakes up in a dark , damp cellar, filled with broken cell phones!

Are you writing a novel this month?

I am and so are thousands of others! NaNoWriMo fever, baby!

 

So, to help boost your word count, I thought I’d give you some off beat prompts to take your novel in a new direction. Send your NaNo buddies here!

Your character finds a little lost sheep.

Ready, Set, NaNo!

OK, I’ll make this brief, I’m saving up all my words for NaNo, ya know!

On Tuesday, November 10, stop in and talk to published author, Fiona Ingram. Fiona will give you writing tips and use examples from her newest novel: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. And if you like Egyptian themes, you’re in for a treat! Fiona will also provide a long list of sites and books to check out to feed that Sphinx craze!

Then come back here throughout the month of November for some rockin’ novel prompts.

I’ll have quick, intriguing ideas on how to take your novel in a new direction. Some prompts will be silly, some scary, some just absurd. It will depend on my coffee level that day : )

Feel free to add your own prompts – you may help another NaNo’er push past a block.

Bring your friends! Bring your Teacher! Bring your Teacher’s Friends! And let’s NaNo!

Terrifying Tuesday

Illustration by Robert P. Hernandez

Alright, young writers, let’s get the ghouls to come out and scamper on our pages.

Your Terrifying Tuesday prompt:

While babysitting your 2-year-old nephew in the park, he runs back to you covered in mud and carrying a severed finger. Someone else’s severed finger. Write!

5 Prompt Friday

No excuses! Now get writing!

Play the 5 W’s game: on 5 post it notes (or torn slips of paper) write at least 3 of each:

Who: (can be as basic as “girl” or as detailed as “5th grade teacher – male”)

What: write out 3 different scenarios unrelated to your “whos” like: Running in a 5 k; tasting sushi for first time; just lost best friend

When: this could be a time of day, month, year or historical period

Why: this would be based on the struggle or villain or an emotion: because she was selfish; to get revenge; always the underdog; greatest fear is public speaking

Where: could be a basement, outerspace, a closet, on  hiking trail – use your imagination: create a place!

Now, toss all these W’s in a bowl, hat, bag, what have you – and select as many or as little as needed to get an idea flowing. Try it – and report back here! That’s an order, soldiers!

WaCkY WeDnEsDaY

Are you ready to be Wacky?

Write about a time when you were caught doing something gross or embarrassing (picking your nose)

Imagine if your character had a “mocking” disease: he is sitting in class taking notes on a lecture and begins, beyond his control, to mock and sneer at the teacher. What would cause this disease? What consequences would your character face?

Create a story where kids are considered model citizens if they can train a chicken to walk on a leash.

Can you come up with Wacky Writing Ideas? Share them here!

And the Winner is…

…Anna!

Congratulations, Anna!  You’ve won a copy of Adam Dustus’ High School Asylum!

Please email me at mjcwriter”at”comcast”dot”net with your mailing address so the book can be shipped.

Thanks to all who stopped by for Adam’s guest post and book giveaway!  Stay tuned for more author guest posts. And don’t be shy! Let me know which of your favorite authors you’d like to see here on WriteLikeCRAZY.

Till then, keep making a list of your writing goals and push forward to reach them!

The Authors are coming…the authors are coming!

OK, I’ve been feeling a little guilty about something and need to come clean.

Ready?

I’ve been cheating on you.

Well, it’s not what it seems. Really.

Hear me out.

My other blog, Writers Inspired, was created first, about a year ago. I created that blog as a means to  communicate with fellow writers who took a Christina Katz on-line course with me. This was were we’d keep each other on track with our goals and post upcoming contests and editors or markets to stay away from.

Then, you were born. Well, not you, but WriteLikeCRAZY. I began this blog as a way for my own writing students to keep in touch, share their work and gain writing prompts, tips and links to contests. Plus, some silly stuff along the way.

I feel guilty that I’ve been reeling in authors, interviews and book giveaways for Writers Inspired, yet leaving my young readers high and dry. Say it ain’t so, Mary Jo.   *sigh*  It’s so.

So… how about I invite authors of young adult and teen novels to guest post and giveaway books here?! Yeah? You like that idea, right?

But, I need your help:

First, tell me some of your favorite NEW authors and their book titles.

Then, tell me what you’d like to know from these authors: how many hours a week they write; how many drafts until they feel confident that their manuscript is complete; do they drink pots of coffee and stay up all night to get their ideas on paper; how did they first get published – even ask them to describe their desk or work area.

I’ll start bringing in the authors – you start giving me some questions for them. Deal? Deal! Good, now I don’t feel dirty.

: )

5 Prompt Friday!

1. Write about a land where everything you say is taken literally! For example: “I’m starving to death!” Or “You just gave me a heart attack!” How would this effect the characters’ speech?
2.  Write about a lost puppy, a man who wears green shoes and chocolate ice cream. Go!
3.  What if your character could hear phone conversations somehow through his ipod?
4.  “I was never one for taking risks, but today seemed like a day to start!”
5.  “When he touched my hand, a bolt of lightening charged through me.”

What writing prompts have you created or discovered? Don’t be stingy! Give ‘em to us!