NaNo Warm-Ups
Hey everyone!
I'm here with your first daily NaNo Warm-Up. This is a modification of the popsicle stick game we did these last two years. Instead of picking from the same old sticks, I'm going to troll the web for quotes that deal with writing. To save you the pain of going back and reading over the posts from last year and the year before, here's a quick run down of how this works:
The first two quotes will take the place of the "First Sentence" stick. Pick one. If you don't want to use the quote directly, then by all means paraphrase it, use the general idea behind it, or merely use it to prod your muse into writing something based off of it in some way. However you use it, you'll write non-stop for six (6) minutes.
The second two quotes take the place of the "Non Sequitur" sticks. These are your transitions, to help you take what you started with the first quote into a completely different direction. You can use one or both as you see fit, but you only write non-stop for three (3) minutes. (In the case of using both: uncover one, write for three minutes, uncover the second, write for three minutes.)
The final two quotes take place of the "Last Straw" sticks, our beloved "conflicts". Choose one, and once more using as you see fit, write for six (6) minutes, and conclude your piece.
I know folks have taken the format of "First Sentence, Non Sequitur, Last Straw, Non Sequitur" as well to great effect, so feel free to mix and match these to your heart's content.
N.B. Just do me the favour and only highlight the ones you're going to use when you are going to use them? No peaking ahead, or else you'll have time to plot and form plans.
That's not the point of the exercise! The point is to get you into practice for NaNo, when all you have time is to read the last line of your last session and then hit the ground running. The breaks that require you to pick the next quote simulate whatever breaks you might encounter during writing, whether it's a phone call that drives all previous NaNo-plot from your head and forces you to start from scratch, or a very urgent call of nature that refuses to respect the fact that you're writing dammit!.
We're working the Honour System here, so I'm trusting you all to play nice so as to reap the benefits of doing so by getting your mind (and fingers!) into shape for next month.
To claim your quotes, just left click in a box and drag the cursor over to hightlight it :)
Reply to this post with your answers. If your piece is too long for a reply, then post it in your journal and reply to this post with a link.
Also, state clearly any warnings/ratings in the subject line of your reply (or at the very top of the body of your reply) so that people can be forewarned. Consider it a bit of CYA tactics *wry*
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The First Sentence First and Second Quotes
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes
Quote #1: It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. - Mark Twain
Quote #2: A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. - Italo Calvino
The Non Sequitur Third and Fourth Quotes
Choose: One (OR choose one, write for time, choose the other, write for time)
Writing Time: 3 minutes
Quote #3: I'll publish, right or wrong: / Fools are my theme, let satire be my song. - Lord Byron
Quote #4: I try to leave out the parts that people skip. - Elmore Leonard
The Last Straw Fifth and Sixth Quotes
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes
Quote #5: All autobiography is self-indulgent. - Daphne Du Maurier
Quote #6: The wastebasket is a writer's best friend. - Isaac Bashevis Singer
[Disclaimer: The above quotes belong to their respective speakers. We're just having a bit of fun. Not profiting, no suing, please :)]
I'm here with your first daily NaNo Warm-Up. This is a modification of the popsicle stick game we did these last two years. Instead of picking from the same old sticks, I'm going to troll the web for quotes that deal with writing. To save you the pain of going back and reading over the posts from last year and the year before, here's a quick run down of how this works:
The first two quotes will take the place of the "First Sentence" stick. Pick one. If you don't want to use the quote directly, then by all means paraphrase it, use the general idea behind it, or merely use it to prod your muse into writing something based off of it in some way. However you use it, you'll write non-stop for six (6) minutes.
The second two quotes take the place of the "Non Sequitur" sticks. These are your transitions, to help you take what you started with the first quote into a completely different direction. You can use one or both as you see fit, but you only write non-stop for three (3) minutes. (In the case of using both: uncover one, write for three minutes, uncover the second, write for three minutes.)
The final two quotes take place of the "Last Straw" sticks, our beloved "conflicts". Choose one, and once more using as you see fit, write for six (6) minutes, and conclude your piece.
I know folks have taken the format of "First Sentence, Non Sequitur, Last Straw, Non Sequitur" as well to great effect, so feel free to mix and match these to your heart's content.
N.B. Just do me the favour and only highlight the ones you're going to use when you are going to use them? No peaking ahead, or else you'll have time to plot and form plans.
That's not the point of the exercise! The point is to get you into practice for NaNo, when all you have time is to read the last line of your last session and then hit the ground running. The breaks that require you to pick the next quote simulate whatever breaks you might encounter during writing, whether it's a phone call that drives all previous NaNo-plot from your head and forces you to start from scratch, or a very urgent call of nature that refuses to respect the fact that you're writing dammit!.
We're working the Honour System here, so I'm trusting you all to play nice so as to reap the benefits of doing so by getting your mind (and fingers!) into shape for next month.
To claim your quotes, just left click in a box and drag the cursor over to hightlight it :)
Reply to this post with your answers. If your piece is too long for a reply, then post it in your journal and reply to this post with a link.
Also, state clearly any warnings/ratings in the subject line of your reply (or at the very top of the body of your reply) so that people can be forewarned. Consider it a bit of CYA tactics *wry*
----------
The First Sentence First and Second Quotes
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes
Quote #1: It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. - Mark Twain
Quote #2: A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. - Italo Calvino
The Non Sequitur Third and Fourth Quotes
Choose: One (OR choose one, write for time, choose the other, write for time)
Writing Time: 3 minutes
Quote #3: I'll publish, right or wrong: / Fools are my theme, let satire be my song. - Lord Byron
Quote #4: I try to leave out the parts that people skip. - Elmore Leonard
The Last Straw Fifth and Sixth Quotes
Choose: One
Writing Time: 6 minutes
Quote #5: All autobiography is self-indulgent. - Daphne Du Maurier
Quote #6: The wastebasket is a writer's best friend. - Isaac Bashevis Singer
[Disclaimer: The above quotes belong to their respective speakers. We're just having a bit of fun. Not profiting, no suing, please :)]