Quotes as Writing Inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere. A thought, an idea, an image. Personally, my inspiration comes from life itself. I enjoy sitting alone at one of the many local Starbucks’, drinking coffee and people watching. I pretend to read – a textbook, novel, short story collection, or magazine – while paying attention to the nuances of body language, overhearing snippets of conversation and matching the gestures to the words. I look forward to discussions and arguments. Private phone conversations. Flirting. Even when I don’t understand the language being spoken, I almost always seem to understand what is being said; at least, what’s being said according to me.

But sometimes, the inspiration just isn’t there, and I look to writing prompts to help spark it. As I mentioned in some previous posts, I’ve been crafting writing prompts for a friend who asked me  to be her mentor so she can get over her writer’s block. Instead of struggling to come up with her own ideas, she bases her writing on assignments I give her, and aside from an extremely difficult one she hasn’t quite finished, it seems to be working for her.

Below is one of the assignments she was assigned. She came up with a very unique and interesting piece about lost love and future possibilities. It’s amazing what a little bit of inspiration can help produce. This prompt helped her; hope it can help you too.

I searched my old writing books and picked five unique and not-so-famous quotes. The assignment asked her to pick ONE quote, and craft a short story of no less than 300 words, and with no more than four characters, based that quote…

“All families build a Glass House, open to the world, and live inside it; these houses are our inheritance. My family’s house has the burden of being real as well. It needs to be heated and have its taxes paid.” – Dominique Vellay

“Huck just moves on. Alice just wakes up.” – Adam Gopnick

“Life, of course, never gets anyone’s complete attention. Death always remains interesting, pulls us, draws us.” – Janet Malcomb

“Men are always asking, “What do women want?” I think women mainly want men to cook and show up on time – you know, some of the basic stuff.” – Hans Ostrom, letter

“We travel into or away from our photographs” – Don DeLillo

Give it a try. Pick a quote and just start writing. You’ll be amazed what you come up with.

Write on!

The Accidental Blogger

The Six-Word Memoir

Everyone has a story to tell, but can that story be told in only six words? As SMITH Magazine has proved, it can. Taking a cue from Ernest Hemingway, who, according to literary legend, was once challenged to write a short story in only six words, SMITH Magazine set out to do the same, asking their readers to submit their own six word stories. Surprisingly, most of them are pretty interesting.

The six-word story that started it all, written by Mr. Hemingway:  “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

I first heard of the six word story in graduate school, although it was referred to as ‘the six-word memoir.’ It was an assignment that was given in a different section of a Fiction Writing class I was in. I was really hoping to be assigned the assignment  at some point during the program, but I never was. However, it stuck with me because I felt it was so unique. I love the thought of crafting a  memoir out of only six words. It seems easy, sure, but when I assigned it to my friend, whose writing I’ve been mentoring, she said it was the most difficult writing assignment she’s ever received.

Both simple and challenging, I feel this is a great prompt for any struggling writer, or those who have a brief block that’s keeping them from writing. It’s a good way to think creatively,  but short enough where it can be finished without too much hassle and agony. Below, I offer a few examples of the memoir (there are a few in the above pic as well) and challenge my readers to create their own.

#1 – Tracey Adlai is a Valley Girl.

#2 – Love (Almost Always) Leads to Heartache

#3 – Mrs. Cleaver meets Vivid Video vixen.

#4 – Then: Boys, Music. Now: Boys, Music.

#5 – Loved her family. Loved her country.

#6 – Sometimes lost. Sometimes found. Sometimes forgotten.

#7 – Eternally hopeful and madly in Love!

#8 – Fetching, loving, and just plain vicious.

#9 – They will say I was sweet.

#10 – Never really finished anything, except cake.

If you have any you’d like to share, please comment below or email me at theaccidentalblogger@gmail.com

Write on!

The Accidental Blogger

Finishing your thesis – get the job done

When I first started this blog, I was in the process of trying to complete my MFA thesis, a book of short stories. The more I wanted to write, the less I was able to write. I waited for inspiration to strike, but it never did. I felt I had failed as a writer, and as a human being. I started this blog as an outlet to let my writing out because the thesis process seemed to be restricting it. I thought that if I wrote for others instead of myself, I’d have an easier time writing.

Through this blog, I gave advice I didn’t always follow myself, but should have. I posted my thoughts on writing, and offered motivational quotes and feedback. I even started offering writing prompts, which I had picked up during graduate school.  I found myself becoming a writing mentor to some friends, giving them assignments or critiquing their writing, when my own needed help as well.

Now, almost four months after starting this blog, my thesis is finally done. It was approved in less than a week and sent out for printing last night. I’m finally free of the stress, although I know I can never look at it once it arrives, in fear of finding a million mistakes I hadn’t noticed in my rush to meet the deadline. I changed as a person since starting this blog, from someone who never thought he’d make the thesis deadline and was doomed for failure, to someone who not only made the deadline, but learned about writing, and himself, in the process.

I know there are others out there suffering the same block I did. They want to finish their thesis, but don’t know how. There’s a mental block keeping it from happening. A sort of fear about  what happens after the thesis is finished.  My colleague Vanessa Jubis calls this the writer’s slum. I think that’s a good way of describing it. This slum caused me more stress than I would have liked, and a rush to submit my thesis without being able to give it one last proof read. Of course, I need to remind myself that no thesis is perfect; that no writing is perfect. But, as all writers know, we’re our own worst critics.

This ’slum’ really isn’t worth it. All it does is make life more difficult, and stretches out the thesis process longer than it should take. So, once again I’m telling you, no matter how much you don’t want to, force yourself to write. Only good can come out of it. For every bad sentence, there will be three good ones.  A thesis will never be perfect, so force yourself to finish it, and move on to bigger and better things. Don’t let the fear of what happens next stop you from getting the job done. Only good things can come out of a completed thesis and a new degree. Prolonging it will only make things worse. Think positive and anything is possible.

Write on!

The Accidental Blogger

Writing Prompts for the Blocked Writer

About a month ago, I received an email from a friend who desperately wanted to write, but was having a difficult time with it. I was pleasantly surprised when this friend asked me to be her mentor, and give her a series of assignments each week that would get her brain buzzing and her hands writing. I crafted some fun writing prompts that I thought would challenge her to start writing, and keep at it. Each week, I email her a new assignment and she emails me back with fantastic pieces of fiction.

I wanted to include some of those prompts here, for other writers out there struggling to get their words out. Hopefully these will help strike some inspiration and get you writing!

1) Create a scene in which two friends are in love with the same person. One describes his or her feelings honestly while the other is unwilling or unable to do so, but betrays his/her feelings through appearance and action.

2) Choose one of the following topics and create a short story or poem around it:

Home
Watch
Blue
Forest
Warmth
Loss
Savage
Loose
Wrist

3) Pick a smell from your childhood/youth that is particularly evocative for you. Describe the smell and what memories it evokes. Try to avoid common smells we’re all familiar with (grandma’s cookies for example) and search your memory for specific smells that bring to mind specific events or people.

4) Choose a piece from a local or international newspaper and write a fictitious story of no less than 250 words, based on one or more people in the article.

5) Think back to your first love. Write a fictional story about that experience.

The Accidental Blogger

Finding the time to write

Being a writer requires time, patience, determination and skill. While the determination and skill are usually easy to come by, the time and patience can be the downfall of most writers. There are rarely enough hours in the day to get our responsibilities taken care of, let alone to make extra time for writing. For most of us, that will always be a struggle. With friends and family, work and a social life all vying for our attention, it takes willpower to make a writing schedule and stick to it. While there is no easy fix,  a writer can do plenty of little things to find the time and get those words on the page.

1. Make a Writing Schedule

Planning a schedule and sticking to it is essential for all writers. If you work full-time, it may actually be easier to establish a regular time each day in which to write. Find a time that fits into your schedule, perhaps right before bedtime or after you’ve put the children to bed. If you’re a morning person, wake up early and write for an hour or so before going to work. Make sure to write during this time, and avoid disturbances like email, phone or Internet. This schedule may evolve as your life changes, but make that time count, as you would with any job. Don’t let your busy schedule stop you, because a lot of quality writing can be done in a short amount of time, if you stay focused and motivated.

2. Carry a small notebook everywhere

Having a small notebook or notepad with you wherever you go ensures that when inspiration strikes, you’ll be able to take advantage of it. Jotting down a title, word, sentence or phrase that pops up at the most unlikely place can motivate you to revisit the idea later, and turn a simple thought into a complete piece of work.

3. Let “no” become your favorite word

A social life is important, but sometimes, we can let ‘fun’ get in the way of our writing. Time is limited, and we should take advantage of it when we can. While your writing time should not be the most important thing in your life, it should be sacrificed only for the most crucial things. Meeting a group of friends at the bar, for example, should not take away from your writing, especially if it is a frequent thing. A family birthday or gathering, however, can be an exception. You might disappoint some people, but they’ll get over it. In fact, it might influence them to spend time doing what they love too.

4. Take a writing class or join a writer’s group

Taking a writing class or joining a writer’s group is a good way to help you stick to a schedule and keep writing. A group or a class can force writers to submit their writing on a regular basis and receive feedback. Plus, there is the added benefit of forming a writing community, connecting with other writers and discussing ideas.

You can either start a writer’s group with friends, or advertise for one in the local paper or at the nearby community college. This group can act as support when you get stuck.

There are also online writing courses available through the extended learning programs of many universities.

UCLA Extension has a great writer’s program (uclaextension.com)–but for a cheaper and more fast-paced alternative, try the writing classes through National University extension (nu.edu).

Mediabistro also has a list of classes that can help motivate writers (mediabistro.com).

5. Treat Yourself

When you meet your goals, give yourself a reward. A movie from Blockbuster, a new CD from Amazon, a Starbucks latte or Baskin Robbins sundae can help you feel good about getting your writing done. Give yourself an incentive to write and you will write more.

So, what are you waiting for? Follow these simple steps and write on!

The Accidental Blogger

Writing isn’t easy…but it sure is fun…

It irritates me when people think writing is so easy, especially when they’ve never written a creative sentence in their lives. As I continue work on my thesis, and am very close to being done, I’ve been asked why it’s taking me so long to finish. Keep in mind, I’ve only been working on this thesis, a book of short stories, for less than 10 months. A project like this should take a year, at least, and here I am rushing through it to meet the deadline. But friends and family seem to think I’m using this thesis as an excuse to avoid them. They don’t understand the time and commitment it takes to write even one short story, let alone a whole book of them.

Writing is definitely a frustrating process, but a rewarding one. It takes time, patience, and lots of determination. I’ve learned not to take people’s criticisms personally, and not let them rush me. I write because I love it, and feel whole when I do. Nothing makes me happier than creating a new world with a bunch of characters I can see myself falling in love with. It’s not a simple matter of writing sentence after sentence to bring these characters to life; it’s making them seem real, giving the readers a sense of connection with them, and bringing authenticity to both the world and its inhabitants. God did that in seven days, but writers are not God, and this is a process that can take weeks, months, and more often, years. It’s not something that should be rushed.

So the lesson here is, never give up. No matter how frustrated friends, family, and colleagues are, know that writing isn’t easy and it takes time to perfect it. This is something non-writers will never understand. As long as you have the passion for it, nothing else matters. Have fun, don’t stress, and keep writing!

The Accidental Blogger

Little Armenia: In Search of Kim Kardashian

Although I started this blog to keep myself motivated to write, I thought I’d do something a little different and post a video I produced for PerezHilton.com.

It stars Perez, Kim Kardashian, and his new reporter, La Coacha, along with some of my family members. The Borat-style mockumentary follows Coacha through Hollywood’s Little Armenia as she tries to track down Kim for an exclusive interview.

Check it out for some laughs, and if you like it, help spread the word!

Writing Advice from Stephen King

Some great pointers for novice writers, from the King of Horror himself.

Reading for Inspiration

All writers should read.  We should read new writers, old writers, gay writers, black writers,  male writers, women writers. We should subscribe to literary journals. Pick up books on writing. Scan the best-seller list. Revisit the classics. Read the world. Travel in our minds. Get inspired by the writing of others.

I’ve known a writer or two in my life who say they hate to read, but love to write. This doesn’t make sense to me. What kind of writer can someone be if they don’t read? We need to read our own writing, don’t we, in order to edit and make sure our words sound good? So why not read the writing of others in the process and get inspired for our own work?

On the other hand, I’ve met writers who only read the specific genres they write in, and don’t branch out. This is also not good. It’s important to read all kinds of writing and get acquainted with different voices and writing styles. A writer can find out an enormous amount about themselves by reading and experiencing the lives of others through literature. Reading allows us to see what’s out there, and to get a better perspective on life.

There is nothing like a good book to inspire my own writing. I get a thrill at the thought of opening a new book and immersing myself in its chapters.  This usually allows me to get motivated to continue with my own writing. If we are what we read, then we must read constantly and get inspired continuously.

My advice to all writers stuck on their writing, or even those who just want new ideas: read. Read anything and everything you can, and inspiration will surely strike. Read things you normally wouldn’t, and authors you’re not familiar with. Reading can get creative juices flowing and open our minds to what’s out there. Exploring different worlds that already exist can surely help us create our own.

The Accidental Blogger

Writing What We Know

We’ve all heard the famous phrase ‘Write What You Know.’ This is the first piece of advice we learn in most beginner writing classes. As our writing advances, and we become better writers, we’re told not to follow this advice anymore, and branch out and try something different with our writing. While I agree with both methods, I think writing what we know brings an indescribable personality to our writing and makes it stronger. Why can’t we write what we know, and still try something different? Why not take our life story, or the story of someone we know, and give it a unique voice we’ve never given our writing before?

I feel that writing is strongest when the writer creates a world they’re familiar with. Why delve into a WWII romance if you haven’t studied that time and place and don’t know anything about it? Why recreate Paris if you’ve never been? There’s no point because the piece will feel stilted and fake.

We’ve all been in writing workshops where an overly ambitious beginner has tried to create a world h/she knows nothing about. We’ve all watched as h/she has failed miserably and gotten criticized for a piece that just doesn’t feel right. This kind of writing rarely works. So, if I may offer some advice, please do write what you know, despite what you’re told later in your writing career, but don’t take the easy way out. Take what you know, and make it unique. Try a different way of storytelling you’ve never tried before. Use a narrative voice you otherwise wouldn’t. Write what you know, but still be creative.

You might be surprised at the results.

The Accidental Blogger