 Short Stories: June 08, 2005 Issue [#414] |
 
Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Diane  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
Welcome to this week's edition of the Short Story newsletter. Each edition of the newsletter highlights issues of concern to short story writers.
~ ~ Diane ~~
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Writing Exercises
Just like all of the other muscles in your body, your mind needs to be exercised in order to remain in top form. Creative endeavors, such as writing, are wonderful ways to keep your brain in shape. Writing exercises not only keep the dreaded writers block at bay, but they generate opportunities for fresh ideas.
Writing.Com offers many different venues for mental workouts. One way to keep yourself in top shape as a writer is to review others. Another would be to join an interactive story where you can't control the plot. Still another would be to enter a contest that isn't within your normal comfort zone. I entered an erotica contest once and found that, while it isn't my forte, it certainly did challenge me to be creative!
There are a multitude of ways to challenge your creativity and flex your mental muscles. I own a prompt a day calendar that gives me ideas for new stories. I also belong to a journaling group that hands out prompts like candy. I can't keep up with all of the prompts from these two sources, but I do try to participate often.
The latest prompt in my journaling group was inventive. Look out the window and use the first person you see as a character in your story. Now keep looking out the same window, the next person you see will be in a relationship with the first. How did they meet? What did they have in common? How were they different? This random selection of characters can prompt many different tales.
Not every writing exercise will fit your needs or spark your imagination, but there is an enless supply of inspiration out there. Find a way to flex your mental muscles and design a writing exercise regiment that works for you.
Until next time,
Diane
I've selected a few short stories below for your reading pleasure. Enjoy, and remember to send a review to the author.
Featured Contest:
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The editors work hard to make sure the newsletters are informative and enjoyable and appreciate your responses.
 billwilcox "Just a great newsletter, Diane. Emotion is the key to your readers memory. Wonderful PICKS too."
Vivian  "Good newsletter, Diane. If the reader can't connect with the characters in a story, the author has failed."
spiral kinetochore "Thanks for the enlightening letter, Diane! It is surely a big help for prose writers who find it hard to tug at the readers' hearts if necessary. More power to the Short Story Newsletter team!"
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