Weekend Freewrite 2: First Sentence - November 11, 2017
Weekend FreeWrite November 11, 2017
Hello, Beautiful Freewriters.
We have been writing together for over three weeks now! Last week, I added a weekend freewrite for those of you who want to spend a bit more time on this.
If this is the first time you came upon one of our freewrite posts click here to read the original post.
If you just want to do the short prompt, click here and use one from the compilation.
But basically, this is the process. You get a prompt, set a timer and start writing right away, without thinking what you want to write, without stopping. Write for 5 min.
Throughout the years, I have been part of several freewriting groups and found The Writer’s Toolbox to have great prompts. Some are a bit far-fetched which makes it even more fun to use.
This is how the weekend free write is different: 3 prompts - 5 minutes each.
The first prompt, this prompt you are reading right now, is the first sentence for you to use. Write 5 minutes. The First sentence prompt will always have the green graphic you see in this post.
Then comes the second part- the interference. This is a new post. Use it and write for 5 more minutes. The second prompt will always have a graphic with a yellow background.
The third part is a dramatic twist. Write it down that sentence wherever your timer stopped you on the second 5 minute freewrite and continue writing where that prompt takes you for 5 more minutes. The Dramatic twist prompt will always have a purple background for the graphic.
As always, don’t judge your writing and just see where it will take you. If you have time and later want to polish your piece, feel free. But remember that part of the 5 minutes deal is to make it possible to do this on a regular basis.
If you rather just stick with one 5 minute freewrite, just choose any one of the prompts. If you do all three, please post your link in the comments of the third prompt. Use #freewrite and #weekendfreewrite
Prompt
Prompt First Sentence: "I like hats." That's what Donald said the day before he killed Sally.
Set timer: 5 Minutes
- Write down the prompt sentence: ""I like hats." That's what Donald said the day before he killed Sally."
- This is your first sentence. Continue writing the story presenting itself to you.
- Continue writing without stopping
- Look for the Second Prompt
Please write one story from all 3 prompts and post it in the comments of the last (third) prompt.
More Explanation
Last week, when we tried this for the first time, I was asked some good questions about this thing -
this weekend freewrite. That made me realize that if you haven't been around a writing community this kind of prompt writing might sound very weird.
Here is a bit more of an explanation: The several prompt approach to freewriting is an exercise to take us out of what our brains might come up with on their own and open new neuropathways - so to speak. When we start writing a prompt, we go write what is familiar on some level.
A second prompt makes us explore a completely new direction and connect that somehow with what we already wrote.
The third prompt forces us to once again shift directions and figure out how to bring this story together and to an end.
It is kind of like driving to work on a familiar road. But suddenly, there is a detour and we end up driving through new neighborhoods and seeing all kinds of amazing things we never knew were there.
We often get stuck in shoulds, meaning that we were told at one point that a story, or writing, needs to be like...... you fill in the blanks. Or we just write that what we are familiar with.
This kind of freewrite helps to open the creative forces and let go of any restrictions we put on ourselves..
I used prompts from The Writer's Toolbox for this exercise.
Some Examples from Last Week
The prompts were
- There she was, Amy Gerstein, over by the pool, kissing my father
- On the following Friday, We packed our bags and planned our escape
- the stain on the Wall
We had everything from murder to happy endings. Here are some examples for you to read.
But short prompts are great and you have 22 we already published to choose from. [Here they are]
If you don't feel like giving this 3 prompt exercise a try, check out what @improv did with this prompts.
If you like this and want more people to come out and play - resteem!
Remember to check your voting power. Do not vote for a while if you are under 90!
https://www.steemnow.com/
All images are my own unless otherwise cited.
My recent posts
A Good Day to Go to the Market - It's Market Friday
Day 22 Freewrite - Prompt: itching
Joel Salatin - Farmer-Author-Speaker
Day 21: 5 Minute Freewrite - Prompt: Books
looking forward to this, got no 5 minutes now to write and a head full of thoughts.
Hey. Can I write on all the 3 prompts for 5 minutes each but post them together as one story on the 3rd day?
Yes!! Tah is the idea. - make one story out of the 3 prompts. You got it!!
Wonderful! I love you for starting this.
Love you back! How can we get 20 more votes for you on the delegation thing. Got my husband to vote and put it into yesterday's prompt. Ideas?
Aww so sweet of you!! I don't know either. My husband has been helping out a lot. Got me about 30 votes but now he has run out of friends too lol. I think I'll have to happily accept the defeat this time. Hoping for some miracle though.
I can help with one vote!
Yayy thanks
First things first! (You're missing some links. Your bracketed words aren't linked...) e.g. "But short prompts are great and you have 22 we already published to choose from. [Here they are]" and "If you just want to do the short prompt, [click here and use one from the compilation.]"
thank you. going to fix it.
https://steemit.com/freewrite/@improv/donald-and-sally-5minutefreewrite-times-3
I absolutely love freewriting. I've done it quite a bit over the years. It's a great way to get the juices flowing, and you often find that what you write when you let thoughts roll, untamed, is very different and often more refreshing than what you write when you are thinking about all the aspects of plot, scene and character development.
I'm thrilled to find this and will tune in and start contributing some pieces. Thank you for all your work putting this together.
Thank you for joining !! Glad that you are writing with us!!
Me too!
Resteemed your article. This article was resteemed because you are part of the New Steemians project. You can learn more about it here: https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@gaman/new-steemians-project-launch
I don't understand how this one works.
The weekend freewrite has 3 prompts you combine into one story. But you get one at a time. You start with prompt one - the sentence in this post. That is the beginning of your story. You write for 5 min. Then, get the second prompt, set timer again, and continue the story incorporating that prompt. then get the 3rd which give a twist and end the story - using the prompt in another 5 minutes. Then post under the 3rd prompt.
I included several of the freewrites from last week in this post and the 3 prompts. That gives you an idea what people are doing with it.
It is a bit more challenging than the one prompt freewrite. That is why you always have the option to chose a past prompt you haven't done yet. I have those in a separate post on the same day.
Great idea! Didn't see this last weekend, just saw it yesterday evening. I would certainly try this but maybe not with this weekend prompts. I kinda don't like that Donald killed Sally in the first sentence (first prompt). As well, I'm not such a big fan of crime stories, although I have to admit that I still like to watch the "Mr. Poirot" series (made by the novels of Agatha Christie). 😉😊
You see how I am my own contradiction?! - lol -
hahaha - I love Agatha Christy and have read all her books. Are you watching the older Poirot or the one they just filmed?
and you know, it is your prompt. Donald could have "killed" her with kindness LOL
Yes, the old series with (for me) remarkable David Suchet in the role of Mr. Poirot.
Love that one!!! He is perfect for the role!