6. Hot Water

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100 words, acting, chorus, coffeeshop, creative writing, drama, exercise, finances, http://ibecameashepherd.blogspot.com/, money, one hundred words, play, prompt, Starbucks

Just a cup of hot water for me, said she.

What for? the chorus, cheerfully, from rafter beams.

I have that Via coffee packet from Starbucks, she explained, hands drawing stick figure pictures in the space between. Casually gesturing toward her things. The chorus transitioned from listening to snickering as she blahblahblahed about baristas and markout coffee, explaining these actions of anomoly to the air.  Words on mute floated towards high ceilings.  The chorus departs; she remains there.

Surely they could not see. The facade hidden beind her, behind me. A free cup of hot water and no money.

Week #5: Waiting (17)

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creative writing, exercise, lines, music, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, waiting, writing

Date: Thursday, February 24
Consider the last time you waited. Waited for the train, waited in line, waited on a call, waited for the end. If the last time you waited was boring, rewind the tape a bit.

Was there value in the waiting? What did you consider, contemplate or observe while you waited? Of all those details, consider which ones are worth hanging on and give them more time in your lyrics or paragraphs. Build scene or story around these images.

Week #5: Photo Prompt (16)

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creative writing, creativity, exercise, music, photo, pictures, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, writing

Date: Tuesday, February 22
Take a look at this photo.

After viewing the photo, write about whatever comes to mind (at least 500 words, or two written pages) that is conjured up by something in the image. Feel free to use the image as only a starting point for themes, characters, emotions, questions, a personal experience. Allow the picture to remind you of something or someone. If you have trouble getting started, begin by asking a series of questions and break to answer some of your own meanderings.

Week #3: Voicemail Edit (12)

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creative writing, drafts, editing, exercise, image, listening, message, music, phone call, practice, prompt, revision, songwriting, story, voicemail, writing

Date: Saturday, February 12
Choose a song/short piece the progress with which you are relatively happy (medium to high level of happiness is just fine.) It need not be finished in order to be used for today’s prompt.

Call your own voicemail and read/sing acapella the piece to your voicemail. If convenient, wait until later in the day and listen to the piece via your messages.

Write down your responses: how does it sound out loud? Which phrases run together especially well? Are there parts that sound awkward or forced—what are some alternative words or phrases that you may be able to work in? Which images are strong? Do any other images come to mind when you hear yourself? How are, as the listener, left feeling? Is that feeling you want your piece to create?

Week #3: Imagining Fear (11)

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book, children, creative writing, exercise, music, practice, prompt, Sendak, songwriting, story, vocabulary, Where The Wild Things Are, writing

Date: Thursday, February 10
Obtain a copy of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and read the children’s story. The text can heard in audio online here.

Take some time make a list of at least six things that terrified you as a child. Choose one item from the list and write about that fear from a child’s point of view. Use child-like vocabulary and awarenesses to create a vivid sense of imagination in your writing.

Week #3: Responsibility (10)

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creative writing, exercise, music, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, writing

Date: Tuesday, February 8
Think of a time when you weren’t doing your job. When you were a child or when you were an adult, meant to be doing one thing and found yourself better occupied doing another. What compelled you to leave your duties? Were you justified in the neglect of your responsibilities? How important is it for us to do what we are meant to be doing? How often are we right to defer to other, more important things?

Week #3: Argument (9)

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argument, creative writing, disagreement, exercise, music, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, stubborn, writing

Date: Sunday, February 6
Describe a time when you disagreed with someone else over something that didn’t matter. Give the reasons that your position made sense. Why did you remain stubborn? Describe the results? What did you learn?

Use this flash non-fiction piece as an aide, if you desire.

Week #2: Take A Walk (8)

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concrete images, creative writing, exercise, five senses, music, notes, observation, outside, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, walk, writing

Date: Saturday, February 5
Take a walk for at least 20 minutes. While walking, let yourself freely observe the things, places, and people happening around you. Allow yourself to experience the “right now” as fully as possible with your five senses. Hear as many sounds as possible, see everything that moves and everything that stands still, smell the potent and the subtle odors, touch various textures that you pass, feeling the differences between your fingers, and taste anything that might be available to you, or imagine the tastes of things you observe. Take with you a small notebook, but only write down words or brief phrases that can serve as reminders of things from your walk.

When you return home, refer to your list and expand in short paragraphs on at least three concrete images or senses from your time outside. Give as much detail as you are able. Use metaphors and other comparisons that are unknown and unlikely. Do not resort to clichés.

Week #2: People of Impact (7)

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creative writing, exercise, influence, memory, mentor, music, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, teacher, writing

Date: Thursday, February 3
Think of a person who changed or impacted the course of your life. Describe in detail the time you first met this person or a specific interaction that you vividly remember with him/her. What was said? Where were you? What was important about this specific time? Why has this person’s impact been so heavy on your life?

Week #2: Headline (6)

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annotation, article, creative writing, exercise, headline, music, newspaper, practice, prompt, songwriting, story, writing

Date: Tuesday, February 1
Buy a newspaper or a magazine that you would not normally read today. Flip through the pages and copy down the headlines, skipping a line between each. Fill at least a page. Annotate the headlines with your initial thoughts and observations. Draw arrows, underline, highlight, make margin notes. Spend at least 10 minutes working on annotating.

When finished, take a look at your marked-up headline notes and draw out a question or universal truth about mankind. Is there an image or illustration that sticks out? Describe in detail what conclusions you’ve made, how it relates to your life, or something with which you are familiar. Focus on making concrete connections.