Friday, March 21, 2014

A to Z Blogging Challenge—Theme Reveal!



Hello stories or novels; goodbye writer’s block! My theme for April’s Blogging Challenge is to give you story ideas from A to Z, using the alphabet to nab one-word prompts. And get this—since ideas can’t be plagiarized, you are free to use any of them you.

You can twist them into any shape you want. You can use them as starting points to bring an idea simmering in the back of your mind into a more concrete form. You can print them out and paper your writing room with them.

 
The ideas will work for more than one style of writing: literary, romance, mystery, or children’s stories.

It isn’t a bad idea to pull up the first word that comes to your mind for any given letter of the alphabet. I actually wrote an entire novel this way. Seriously. I had the goal to write it in thirty days, and I had a day job besides. So, many mornings I would wake after my two hours of sleep, and I would use the first item that caught my eye in my next chapter. It was actually fun to write off the top of my head, grabbing ideas from either the first word I spotted when I flipped the dictionary open, or the first item I saw in my kitchen, bathroom, or garage. It was not only an inspiring challenge to weave different ideas together into a plot, but it also got my creative juices going on high-speed.

The ideas I’ll be offering you can also trigger unique ideas of your own, or at least get you in the spirit of looking for them. It exercises your creative brain. It’s better than staring at a blank screen, and if you follow this technique for yourself, writer’s block will be something of your past. Still, just in case you have a dry moment, check out my free ideas that will be posted throughout the month of April, just for you.
Happy writing!





 

17 comments:

  1. I love ideas that can trigger ideas of my own, Deb. You know I'll be here, every day, ready to devour your ideas whether on bathrooms, kitchen, or whatever you'll share.
    Let the fun begin, oh, wait, we still have a few days. :)

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  2. "after my two hours of sleep" Hahaha oh yes, I have a feeling my life is just about to hit that tipping point! Great idea for morning prompts; I hadn't thought about that. Good luck good luck finishing the challenge! Thanks for being a visitor to mine!
    Conlee

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    1. Thanks for stopping by here too. I'll be back to your blog throughout the challenge to see how you're doing – I can't wait!

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  3. Sounds like an interesting idea for the A to Z, and it might take you in all sorts of directions . . . . I will do my best to call by on a regular basis....

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  4. This is a great idea for A2Z and would be so helpful! Aditi, A2Z participant

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Aditi, and I hope you do find my blog helpful.

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  5. This sounds like a really cool idea! I love your 30 day challenge where you wrote a novel with prompts. I've never thought of doing that! Looking forward to reading more in April! :)

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  6. Thanks, Kristin, for your comment in joining my blog. I look forward to reading yours as well.

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  7. Nice. I wish my problem was my lack of prompts. Alas, I have about 30 story folders with concepts I LOVE just waiting for their time. There are definitely times when my writerly brain doesn't want to work, but usually only when I've been on the marketing trail too heavily. Here's to freeing the creative beast within!

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Crystal. And about marketing... that's a beast in itself, huh. :-)

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  8. You can do it. Yes, you can! (Just a little cheering from the sidelines to boost your confidence!)

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  9. Freebies? Who doesn't love them?
    Free + ideas... a win-win situation!

    My theme is “If Books Could Speak, What Would They Say” and is guaranteed to be LOTS OF FUN! It is interactive, and bloggers are invited to play along!
    See you around on the A to Z circuit!

    Writer In Transit

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    1. I love your theme for the challenge. I'll be sure to join as follower. Going to check it out now. Thanks for stopping!

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  10. What a great idea for A-Z! Love it. Can't wait to see what prompts you come up with :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping, Melissa. Most prompts are going to be off the top of my head. :-)

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  11. Thank you for stopping by my blog! You've a great theme going on here, and it's a pleasure to read your posts & writing ideas. I know I'll be checking back regularly.

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