LET'S WRITE: Day 2 - The Spirit of a Clown

Let's write for a week. Maybe you create a short story. Maybe the beginnings of a writing routine. Whatever. Just write!

LET'S WRITE: Day 2 - The Spirit of a Clown

By Matthew L. Hart

Writer & Humorist

Author of:

Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes

"You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page."

- Jodi Picoult

Sixth-Sense Card: ripped upholstery

      The Bowie Knife only plunged a few inches into the rear seat cushion of the old Chevy Blazer. Dried upholstery should be no match against polished steel. However, Burt found the cracked fabric still gave some elastic resistance against the dull point of his persuasive blade. 

      Disappointed, he discovered the edge was practically useless for cutting. Just too damn dull. Too abused. Probably thrown in the dirt while waiting. A toy. It just seemed so opportunistic after he found it inside the glovebox of the Sheriff's abandoned vehicle.

      Burt felt the blade come to life. The point jumped and chattered as it disagreed with something metallic. He flung the useless scrap behind him and it twinkled against the blue, Nevada sky. 

     Burt sunk his thumbs into the shallow laceration and ripped open the upholstery. Each thread in the sun-baked tapestry gave way like the teeth of a zipper. Folds of orange foam parted to reveal a scratched, green ammo can. 

      Burt had never grinned. He had never smirked. Never had he smiled. Never tittered, chortled, or chuckled. Save for that one night in Reno, three years ago. That was when he first heard the rumor, in that shit-kicker bar downtown. But, in this very moment, Burt gained the spirit of a clown. 

I'll primarily be using The Writer's Toolbox by Jamie Cat Callan to prompt my 7 day writing challenge but feel free to do yours however you'd like.

Writing everyday is a great step towards becoming a Master Storyteller.

Do you want to share your own writing during this 7 day writing challenge?

ADD YOUR BLOG ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Continue your journey:

This Wireless Keyboard Just Topped My Wish List (blog post)

Learn To Write Funny (Blog Posts)

Or, hop over to my YouTube Coin Channel:

Matthew The Great Coin Roll Hunter

*I am an Amazon Affiliate
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.

LET'S WRITE: Day 1 - Breakfast at Tiffany's

We are told to write every day. But, how many of us actually struggle to do this? Let's write for 7 days! Let's write, today.

LET'S WRITE: Day 1 - Breakfast at Tiffany's

By Matthew L. Hart

Writer & Humorist

Author of:

Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes

"Write every day even if it is just a paragraph."

- Michael Connelly

Protagonist: Angelo, with the lover in Long Island

First Sentence: I had this system for getting exactly what I wanted out of people.

      I had this system for getting exactly what I wanted out of people. It's, 11:35pm. Did I set the clock back an hour? I'm sure I did. 

      Angelo's six-cylinder, twin-turbo engine cycled up a few more RPM's and his headlights struggled to keep pace ahead of his black Porsche 911. 

     Not a lot of traffic coming out of Long Island, tonight. Good. I should be home by midnight. Ann won't be off her shift until midnight, anyway. I'll be showered and in bed by the time she comes home. She'll probably even kiss me for starting a load of laundry.

Sixth-Sense Card: sticky raspberry yogurt

     I could have my cake and eat it, too. Well, maybe not cake, exactly. It was raspberry yogurt. Sticky raspberry yogurt. I never really liked breakfast food before. I mean, I never really liked breakfast food for breakfast. Breakfast for dessert. That was pretty amazing. Creamy. Smooth...Thick. Why raspberry? Who chose raspberry? Who chose yogurt? She already had the yogurt. Maybe she liked rolling those little seeds around on her tongue. She was pretty good with her tongue. I should get Ann to pick up some yogurt. After all, it is the most important meal of the day.

I'll primarily be using The Writer's Toolbox by Jamie Cat Callan to prompt my 7 day writing challenge but feel free to do yours however you'd like.

Writing everyday is a great step towards becoming a Master Storyteller.

Do you want to share your own writing during this 7 day writing challenge?

ADD YOUR BLOG ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Continue your journey:

This Wireless Keyboard Just Topped My Wish List (blog post)

Learn To Write Funny (Blog Posts)

Or, hop over to my YouTube Coin Channel:

Matthew The Great Coin Roll Hunter

*I am an Amazon Affiliate
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.

LET'S WRITE: 7 Day Writing Challenge

You've heard it before, "Write every day." How many of us actually struggle to do this? Let's write for 7 days!

LET'S WRITE: 7 Day Writing Challenge

By Matthew L. Hart

Writer & Humorist

"Speak softly and
carry a big fish"

Author of:

Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes

Starting your own blog is a great way to inspire your daily writing routine.

During this 7 day writing challenge, I hope you do just that!

Start your own blog for free, here on Blogger.com!

Join me for 7 days where we can start a writing community and encourage each other to meet this 7 day writing challenge.

Let's write!

I'll primarily be using The Writer's Toolbox by Jamie Cat Callan to prompt my 7 day writing challenge but feel free to do yours however you'd like.

Writing everyday is a great step towards becoming a Master Storyteller.

Do you want to share your own writing during this 7 day writing challenge?

ADD YOUR BLOG ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Continue your journey:

This Wireless Keyboard Just Topped My Wish List (blog post)

Learn To Write Funny (Blog Posts)

Or, hop over to my YouTube Coin Channel:

Matthew The Great Coin Roll Hunter

*I am an Amazon Affiliate
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.

1 Revealing Question You Can Ask to Find Your Character's Story Goals

Revealing your character's story goals helps you to create more challenging obstacles against them and more powerful conflict. 

1 Revealing Question You Can Ask to Find Your Character's Story Goals

By Matthew L. Hart

Writer & Humorist

Author of:

Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

- Abraham Lincoln

On my journey to becoming a Master Storyteller, I've noticed just how difficult it is for me to create challenging obstacles against my Protagonist.

You may have had this same problem. But, I think I've solved it!

Over the course of late night writing marathons and several gallons of coffee, I have found I can make it easier for myself, and make things harder for my characters, once I've clearly identified what my character's story goals are by answering this 1 revealing question.

I hope it helps you find your character's story goals, too.

Here is the 1 Revealing Question You Can Ask to Find Your Character's Story Goals

THE ONLY QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK IS: What does my character think they need to make them happy, right now?

This question reveals the outer character's story goal and hints at the inner character's story goal. 

The outer character story goal, or "A" Story, is something that the character (Protagonist) wants to have, or do, but thinks they actually need, to make them happy, right now. 

The inner character's story goal, or theme, is what the Protagonist actually needs to become truely happy. It's what the story is "really" about.

The want in the "A" Story, should be disguised as a need to the Protagonist, so they will throw all their ambition towards attaining it. Even better if it is high risk and a detriment to themselves or others around them. 

The Protagonist will do whatever it takes to get that car, that promotion, that super model, or rescue that kitten. Even if it means compromising their personal values.

Now, my goal as the author is to use what the Protagonist wants as a trap to give them what they actually need.

Pretty twisted, right? Kind of puts religion into perspective. 

As the author, I don't want to give my Protagonist what they want because, what they want is actually going to be bad for them.

Use the seven deadly sins as a model for your outer character story goal. Envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath.

For Example:

There is a child. (Protagonist)

There is a parent. (Antagonist) 

The child's story goal is to eat candy for breakfast. (gluttony)

The parent's story goal is to keep the child healthy. 

So, the parent will do everything in their power to prevent the child from eating the candy for breakfast. 

The parent will:

•  hide the candy in a cabinet, up high out of the child's sight and reach. 
• Put up a baby gate to block the child's entry into the kitchen. 
• Even put them in a playpen and 
• hire a babysitter to watch their every move.  

"Try as they might, the child will never get to eat that candy for breakfast!"

But, the child will do whatever it takes to eat that candy for breakfast.

• They will see their chance to escape when the cat breaks something in another room and the babysitter is distracted.

• They'll make a rope out of their bedding and climb out of the playpen.  

• Use the bouncy chair to knock down the baby gate and 

• catapult themselves onto the counter. 

• where they'll open the cabinet, and access the candy. 

At this point, there are three endings possible.

1. The babysitter catches the child right before they eat the candy. (foiled)
2. The child falls off the counter, bumps their head and realizes that the candy wasn't worth it after all. (fails)
3. Or, the child gets the candy, eats it for breakfast and feels sick. Only to discover that the candy wasn't what they hoped it would be. (succeeds)

Ultimately, no matter which ending the story takes, and because I'm a benevolent author, the child will be getting oatmeal for breakfast. We will all feel satisfied because eating oatmeal for breakfast will give the child the greatest, long-term, positive growth.

Think of your reader.

Your character's outer story goal is the reason they want to read your story. Your character's inner story goal is what the reader will take away from having read your story.

Hopefully this 1 revealing question you can ask to find your character's story goals will help you to write better obstacles against your Protagonist.

Which one of the seven deadly sins do you find yourself writing the most about?

SHARE YOUR BEST OBSTACLES CAUSED BY YOUR FAVORITE DEADLY SIN IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Continue your journey:

This Wireless Keyboard Just Topped My Wish List (blog post)

Learn To Write Funny (Blog Posts)

Or, hop over to my YouTube Coin Channel:

Matthew The Great Coin Roll Hunter

*I am an Amazon Affiliate
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.

3 Quick Tips You Can Use Today That Will Help You Write Faster

Learning how to write faster today will help you increase your daily word count and create more emotionally engaging content.

3 Quick Tips You Can Use Today That Will Help You Write Faster

By Matthew L. Hart

Writer & Humorist

Author of:

Uncle Matty's Halloween: Jokes, Bits & Anecdotes

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

- Ernest Hemingway

Having enough time to write is the greatest obstacle for most writers. Today, you will learn how to write faster to get the most out of your limited writing time and meet those deadlines.

Here are 3 quick tips you can use today that will help you write faster:

TIP #1: Prime Your Writing Session

Get your mind ready to write faster by using an anchor. 

An anchor is a physical object that you will use to trigger your subconscious mind when it's time for you to write.

Using an anchor is a fun way to shift your mindset so you can write faster. 

If you only have ten or fifteen minutes to write, you don't want to waste any of them 'getting in the mood' to write. Take out your anchor, set it on your desk and get to work. You may find that your word count increases during this small chunk of time as you begin to write faster.

Finding the right anchor for your project can also be a fun artist date for yourself. 

Look for a physical item that might represent a character in your story or match the mood or style of your story. But, make sure your anchor is small enough for you to carry around with you easily.

One of my favorite anchors to use is a sand timer. 

Most small sand timers will easily fit into your pocket and are perfect for the second quick tip that you can use today to help you write faster. 

TIP #2: Use A Timer

Using a timer will give you a sense of urgency. 

When you sit down to write, set a timer or select a sand timer, that is between three and fifteen minutes. Challenge yourself to write from your stream of consciousness. This will help you to write faster and create more emotionally engaging content. 

This tip gets you to write faster by giving you a safe place to start.

Any writer can write something for three to fifteen minutes. Even if you're writing something like, "I can't think of anything to write. This is so silly. What am I supposed to write about? I can't think of anything at all."

Eventually, the act of writing will turn into productive writing.

Write yourself questions about your project and then try answering them with as much detail as you can before time runs out. You may find that you hit a flow and forget about that writing timer all together. 

TIP #3: Create Writing Sessions and Editing Sessions

Keep the Editor out of your writing sessions.

Nothing slows you down faster than going back to fix something. Whether it's spelling, grammar, or just reading what you just wrote, these bad writing habits slam the breaks on your ability to write faster.

Setting aside separate times to write and to edit will make you better at both.

When you give each writing activity their own space, you will become much more focused on each task and become better at it. Once you start practicing this quick tip, you will stop being interrupted by your editor and start to write faster.

Start right now! Practicing these 3 quick tips you can use today that will help you write faster.

I hope you learned how to write faster with these 3 quick tips.

What else do you do to help yourself write faster?

SHARE YOUR TIPS TO WRITE FASTER IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Continue your journey:

This Wireless Keyboard Just Topped My Wish List (blog post)

Learn To Write Funny (Blog Posts)

Or, hop over to my YouTube Coin Channel:

Matthew The Great Coin Roll Hunter

*I am an Amazon Affiliate
and this blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.