nanowrimo_lj | Popsicle Stick Writings

Okay, so it seems like at least some folks want to do this, and I can't wait until tomorrow to post this. Tomorrow, I'll 1) be at work all day and 2) probably forget. So let's begin, shall we?

Those that were around last year will remember this game. We all had gobs of fun with it. If you'd like to see how the sticks fell last year or are interested in revisiting the other warm-ups we did, you can still find them (here).

Posting frequency will be every 3 days or so :) And the post size will be much, much shorter after this, since explaining it all gets really ~~verbose~~ wordy.

Ali, if this is not cool, let me know and I'll cease and desist.
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This is, if you recall, a three-stage exercise. Once you have completed all three stages, (reply to this post) with your final product so we can all gush over your literary prowess. Also, this works best if you do each stage one at a time, so no uncovering the next stage until you've completed the previous one.

Stage One: The First Sentence

So, you have your word-processing program of choice open and are staring at a blank document. Where on earth do you begin writing???? That first sentence is always the toughest, as it can make or break your story in the span of a few words. Allow me to put you out of your creative misery and give you your First Sentence! You can ~~kill~~ thank me later.

Now, the easy part: Pick a box, any box, then highlight the contents (click and hold inside the box and then drag your mouse over the entire thing to highlight the text.) after the words "First Line #x" and copy/paste it into your document. There, that's your first line.

Write from that line for 6 minutes.

The First Sentence
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes

First Line #1: My brother did this weird thing with turtles.

First Line #2: He swore on his mother's grave, but then he swore on just about anything.

All done? Right, on to stage two...

Stage Two: The Non Sequitur

We learned from last year that non sequitur means "an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises" or "a statement containing an illogical conclusion." This is all swell, because I'm about to toss a horrendous monkey wrench into your nice little story that you've begun to write. These next sticks have statements on them that possibly have no connection to what you've got. Or maybe they do, I don't know. Point is, this is your transition, where you move from one point to the next. And let me tell you, some of these will take you on tangents that you really were hoping to avoid.

Same deal as above. Pick one (or pick one, write for the allotted time and then use the other) and highlight the text to reveal your transition.

Write from this line for 3 minutes. If you choose to use both do not uncover the second until you've done your 3 minutes with the first.

The Non Sequitur
Choose: One
Writing Time: 3 minutes

Non Sequitur #1: Eloise was my half-sister, but everyone thought she was my cousin.

Non Sequitur #2: "You could make a living doing that kind of thing." I suppose I could, but I had never thought about it, until then.

Time's up! Stage Three, next.

Stage Three: The Last Straw

Into every life a little conflict must fall. Stories are no different. I don't have much to say about this, really, save for how you choose to resolve the conflict suggest by the following is really up to you. Same deal as above: uncover, cut/paste, and write. 6 minutes is your time for this one.

The Last Straw
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes

Last Straw #1: the time Leslie called me a leech

Last Straw #2: the way Herb deforsted the refrigerator

And that's it! You're done! How'd you do??? If you're having a bit of difficulty on how to work this, don't worry. Let me know and I'll try to help you out! Also, if you have problems getting the above sentences, please email me and I will send you today's exercise without the funny table-highlighting stuff.

If you liked this, please pick up "The Writer's Toolbox", which is where I got the sticks from.