Week #10: 1/2 Way Mark

This week, set a simple writing goal that you can achieve during the week. Also, set one writing goal that will carry you into the future.

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #9

Monday, August 17 - Sunday, August 23 * Days 41 - 45 (We're almost to the half way mark!)

This week's challenge is to write while listening to music. Choose a favorite album or playlist or even a single song, and write, letting the emotions in the scene be influenced by the music.

If you're up to it, post a snippet for us to read.

Happy writing!

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #8

Monday, August 10 - Sunday, August 16, 2009 * Days #36-#40

This week, cut a scene (or a section of a scene, if you're so brilliant that you don't have an entire scene) that doesn't advance the plot or really belong in your story.

Thanks to Heather for the brilliant 100 Days illustration.

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #7

Monday, August 3-Sunday, August 9, 2009 * Days #31-#35

This week focus on making progress on your project: write for at least 15 minutes a day, on 5 separate days during the week.

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #6

Monday, July 27-Sunday, August 1, 2009 * Days #26-#30

Choose one of your characters, preferably one you need to develop. Take 15 minutes in a quiet setting to sit down with your character and interview her/him. You may do this however you best can: writing everything down cold, thinking through the interview and jotting down notes, speaking aloud in the voice of your character (you may get strange looks from other people if you do this in a public place), etc. Be sure to ask her/him important questions (such as goals, desires, and fears) which will deepen your novel and further plot development; but don't forget to ask silly questions too!

Then, post either part of the interview, or what your most startling discovery was. Don't forget to post your points!

Successfully complete this prompt and you earn the rank of Journalist. (Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film, 4. Mad Fish, 5. Shrinking Adverb.)

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #5

Monday, July 20-Sunday, July26, 2009 * Days #21-#25

Revise one paragraph of your novel or story so that each sentence does the following:

1. relies on strong, specific nouns and verbs

2. varies in structure

(Read the first page of Louise Erdrich's novel for a good example of this.)

Successfully complete this week's challenge and you earn the rank of Shrinking Adverb. (Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film, 4. Mad Fish.)

Remember to post your points at the end of each week.

And keep writing! Even one day is better than none!

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #4

Monday, July 13 – Sunday, July 19, 2009 * Days #16 - #20

Pick a scene from a book that has a particularly high amount of emotion or passion. It can be your current project, but I suggest not using your end climax. Then rewrite the most intense part, but switch the mood. example: Romantic=Horrific, Sad=Happy, Anger=Joy, vice versa, etc. You may change words around, or tweak what is said, as long as it is done so in the same style of said book. And then, somewhere, include a fish as a prop.

Successfully complete this week's challenge and you earn the rank of Mad Fish. (Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film.)

Remember to post your points at the end of each week.