Tag: Short story

Writing Prompts

Wednesday Writing Prompt: Food, part 1

Mandy Webster
Ready prompt at startup
Ready… set… write! | Ready prompt at startup (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While reading an article in Teaching Life Writing Texts for class, I came across an interesting writing prompt that I thought I would share with you. I’m going to present this in two parts: the first will probably be one of the easiest writing assignments you have ever been given, while the second will require some thought.

Part One

“Describe a cuisine experience that was personally significant to [you]” (288).

This should be an easy assignment, don’t you think? Just reflect on a significant experience in your life that was in some way connected to food. Write an essay about this experience, share it on your blog (or in the comments below), and post a link to your blog post below. Then come back next week for part two of the assignment. Continue reading “Wednesday Writing Prompt: Food, part 1” →

NaNoWriMo, Novel Writing, Romance

2014 NaNoWriMo Trashy Romance Challenge: And now to get them back together again

Mandy Webster

You tore your happy couple apart. Now, how to put them back together again? Don’t make it too easy for them. What has to happen for them to regain their trust in one another? Make a list. Then get those scenes written, because YOU are RUNNING OUT OF TIME!


Embed from Getty Images

Continue reading “2014 NaNoWriMo Trashy Romance Challenge: And now to get them back together again” →

NaNoWriMo, Novel Writing, Writing Prompts

NaNoWriMo Writing Prompt: Rock ‘n Roll Zombie

Mandy Webster
rock n roll zombies
In case you wondered, this is the image that launched today’s NaNoWriMo writing prompt. I saw it on Facebook. I don’t know who it belongs to. If it’s yours, please let me know so I can add an attribution and throw you a link from my site.

What do you do if you want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year but you don’t know what to write and trashy romance novels just aren’t your thing? Why not try a writing prompt? I came up with one this morning that is completely different than the romance novel prompt I gave you a few days ago. If you like zombies, this one might be right up your alley! Continue reading “NaNoWriMo Writing Prompt: Rock ‘n Roll Zombie” →

Memoir, Short Story

Born in ’76: A call for submissions

Mandy Webster
Born in 1976
Go check out my “Born in ’76 Collection” on Medium.com and share your own stories from that era.

I come from a family of storytellers. Whenever a few members of my dad’s family get together, you can pretty much count on it turning into a storytelling session. One story sparks a memory of another until everyone at the table is clamoring to tell their own. Sometimes I wish I had been carrying a tape recorder with me all my life so I could capture those stories of everyday life and put them together in a book.

No matter what year you were born, you probably have your own “growing up” stories that are unique to your age group. My dad’s stories are different from mine. Even though I grew up about a mile from where my father grew up, we grew up in different times. While we share some experiences, each of our stories are compelling in their own way. Continue reading “Born in ’76: A call for submissions” →

Novel Writing, Writing Prompts

Free novel idea: Three-Quarter Classified

Mandy Webster
A Novel Idea
Let me lend you a novel idea. | A Novel Idea (Photo credit: Jennifer Pickens)

I don’t know about you, but I get far more novel ideas than I could ever hope to write in one lifetime. I get so many story ideas, sometimes I just let them fly by and disappear into the never-written without ever bothering to stop and write them down. This morning, while reading a blog post on generating story ideas, I couldn’t help wondering if someone out there might one day be interested in taking one of my extra ideas and running with it.

Right now, I have four different novels in progress that I am determined to complete before starting any new projects. My notebook of new ideas is filling up as fast as my novel notebooks are. I couldn’t possibly write all of these novels, even if I lived three extra-long lifetimes. So, why not share some of my extra story ideas? Continue reading “Free novel idea: Three-Quarter Classified” →

Blogging, Flash Fiction, Short Story

The second 200 words: A Real Live Corpse

Mandy Webster
I took this photograph.
Today’s protagonist was staring down the barrel of a lit cigarette when she discovered the corpse. | Photo credit: Wikipedia

Last week, I posted the first 200 words of a short story as part of author Chuck Wendig’s latest flash fiction challenge. So far, I don’t think anyone has picked up my story where I left off, but there is still time to jump in. Even if you did not write a 200-word story start last week, you can still participate beginning in phase two. I would love to have someone pick up my story so I can see where it ends!

The first 200 words of this week’s story were written by Ken Crump from the Brickhouse Piggy blog. You can find his original post here. Ken did not title his first 200 words, but I really like his “real live corpse” concept. I think it would make an excellent title, so I am running with it. Of course, the next person to work with this story might think otherwise and decide to change it. But that’s half the fun!

I am going to attempt to write the second 200 words in a similar voice, so it (hopefully) will read is if written all by one person: Continue reading “The second 200 words: A Real Live Corpse” →

Blogging

Keeping tabs on my online activity

Mandy Webster
Coloreando en Amistad
This picture has nothing to do with tabs. Zemanta suggested it. I thought it was pretty. There you go. | Coloreando en Amistad (Photo credit: PatWH)

Author Charlotte Rains Dixon recently ran a blog post in which she listed all of the tabs she had open on her internet browser. I thought it was interesting to see what all she has open for research and such, so I thought I would do a “my tabs” post of my own. So, these are the tabs I have open in my browser at this time:

Book Reviews

As if Hugh Howey needs more publicity

Mandy Webster
Hugh Howey's Wool, in the wilds of a brick and...
“Dust” provides a fascinating conclusion to Hugh Howey’s Wool trilogy. | Hugh Howey’s Wool, in the wilds of a brick and mortar store (Photo credit: martin_kalfatovic)

I finally got my hands on a copy of Hugh Howey’s Dust at my local library last week. I didn’t have time to start reading it until Saturday. But once I opened that book and started reading, it didn’t matter what I had time for. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. At the end of the day, I kept trying to put it down so I could go to sleep. I didn’t manage to close the book for the night until after I had read the last page. It was that good.

One of my favorite things about Hugh Howey is the way in which he shot to fame. He basically self-published a short story, then went on about his business and forgot about it. Then one day, he realized that short story was a bestseller. He rushed to write a few more stories to capitalize on that interest. Those first stories later became the Wool omnibus that is now being published around the world. Continue reading “As if Hugh Howey needs more publicity” →

Short Story

Love photography? Want to collaborate on a story? Join The 52.

Mandy Webster

Do you take a lot of pictures? If so, author Richard Wright is doing something over at his blog that I think you should check out and possibly help out with. He’s calling it The 52.

Here’s the deal. Richard is planning to write one short story per week in 2014. Each short story will be based on one of many pictures that he is asking his readers to submit. To join, all you have to do is send him a picture. He writes a story based on your image, then posts it to his blog sometime next year. You maintain the rights to your image, and he gives you full credit on his blog.

Sound like fun? I thought so. Here’s my entry:

The 52 - Image by Amanda L Webster - WriteOnTheWorld dot WordPress dot com
This is the image I submitted to Richard Wright for The 52.

Want to join in? Visit Richard Wright’s website for details.

Challenge: Write your own short story about Continue reading “Love photography? Want to collaborate on a story? Join The 52.” →

Blogging

10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge: Day 3

Mandy Webster

Day 3 - 10-day-write-blog-challengeDay 3 Prompt: Introduce yourself with your writing bio.

This is the (very) short bio I send with a lot of my short story submissions:

Amanda L. Webster has an MA in English, with a concentration in creative writing, from Mount Mary College. She won the 2013 Sigma Tau Delta Individual Blog Award for her blog located at writeontheworld.wordpress.com.

I wonder sometimes if it is a little too brief. What do you think? How can I improve my writing bio? Do you think I should include more personal info, or will that distract from my professional accomplishments? Continue reading “10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge: Day 3” →