Monday, March 23, 2009

BOASAS 2

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite to the BOASAS strip below. Click to enlarge.

Burn Up

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 6 minutes

Five things to throw in the fire.

Robot Wars

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

The Robot War of '76.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Her Morning Elegance

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite to "Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie.

Juice Box

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

He always had a juice box.

Color Test

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Four colors that describe you.

Monday, March 16, 2009

The Orange

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite after watching "The Orange" by Benjamin Rosenbaum and Nick Fox-Gieg below.

Perfumerie

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

She smelled like an odd mix of....

How-To

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Write a how-to in paragraph form -- meaning, no bulletpoints or numbered lists.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Origami

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite to the photo below. From Flickr.

Trends I Hate

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

The 80's Revival.

Titles

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Chicken Soup for the Roadsign Thief's Soul.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

A Softer World

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite to this strip of A Softer World. Click to enlarge.

Hermitude

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

You haven't left the house in twelve years.

Blood Vessels

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

If I travel my veins a la The Magic School Bus, zooming through arteries and flashing my red blood cells, how would I know me from anyone else?

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

American Girl

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "American Girl."

First and Last

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Your very first memory. Is it related to what you hope will be your last memory?

Stillwater

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

The water is blue and still. I wonder what I'd find at the bottom.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Graffiti Eye

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite with the photo below. From Photobucket.

Cans

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Three empty cans of Diet Dr Pepper later...

Insight

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

An epiphany you would have been happier without.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

BOASAS

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite to Boy on a Stick and Slither. Click on image to enlarge.

Limitations

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

He wondered when he had developed such limitations.

Disposable Camera

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

A disposable camera, found three years later shows ____.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Measuring Cups

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite to Andrew Bird's "Measuring Cups."

Your Map

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 6 minutes

On your map, please leave a space for me.

Had Enough?

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 10 minutes

"Are you done now? Have you had enough? It's time to give up. And there's nothing wrong with that."

Friday, February 20, 2009

Princess

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite with this photo. From Flickr.

4 1 10

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Four receipts, one paper cup of coffee, ten stale pieces of gum.

The Search

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

The search hit a breaking point.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Lapsana Apogonoides

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite to this photo. From Flickr.

Full Moon

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

A full moon.

Memory Objects

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

A physical object that best symbolizes memory.

Friday, February 6, 2009

I Summon You

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite to Spoon's "I Summon You."

Give and Take

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

The Good Lord giveth, the Good Lord taketh away.

Love Lost

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Looking for the place where warm feelings for her were stored.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Judy

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

Freewrite to the song "Judy" by The Pipettes.

Results

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

The results were not as you expected.

Professional

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

In the face of all things, stay professional.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Reach High

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

Freewrite using the photo below.

Sports

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

What is your least favorite sport?

Valentine's Day

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

"I took her to McDonald's for Valentine's Day."

Friday, January 30, 2009

Meet Me in the Morning

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to Everything But the Girl's "Meet Me in the Morning."

Bailout

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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"Booze is cheaper than bail."

Mentor

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Who is your mentor?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Offerings

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite using the photo below.


Seven Kisses

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Chart a character's life/growth in seven kisses.

Space Between

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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The space between what you wish and what is.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Panamarenko

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to this photo of Panamarenko's "Archaeopterix B."

Evangelium

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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"... a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief." -- JRR Tolkien, "On Fairy Stories"

Surprised

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Five times he took me by surprise.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tired of Waiting for You

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You."

Everything I Never Wanted

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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"It was everything I never wanted."

Precious Items

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Five physical things you can't live without.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Obi Best

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to Obi Best's "It's Because of People Like You."

Internet Network

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Do you use social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace or Twitter? Which do you use? Do they reflect aspects of their users' personalities/ideals or not?

Phone Call

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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The phone call was five minutes too late.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Lloyd, I'm Ready

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to Camera Obscura's "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken."

Cereal Straws

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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"Three things were scratched on the grocery list in pencil: tampons, frozen chicken breasts, and Kellogg Froot Loops Cereal Straws."

Time Goes By

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Time goes by but unchanging things exist.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Incense

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite to the photo below.

Reunion

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 6 minutes

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Describe your last family reunion.

Breakdown

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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You're in a car with one person you know well and two you've never met before. The car breaks down miles from town.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Willy Wonka

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Create a new candy. What's it called? What's your inspiration? What's it taste like? What's special about it?

Lens Flare

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to the photo below.

Past Homes

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Describe a city or town you used to live in -- specifically, a route you took to get from one place to another.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Little Victories

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite to Matt Nathanson's "Little Victories." Performance below.

Mythology

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Create a world mythos, including gods, ceremonies, legends, heroes, and rules of the universe a la Greek, Roman, or Chinese legends and philosophy.

Inauguration Fever

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Your thoughts on the MEDIA COVERAGE of Barack Obama's Inauguration.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Dickshakers Union

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite to Surf City's "Dickshakers Union."

Dreamscape

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Recount a dream in the present tense.

Love Story

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Write the beginning of a love story.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Muscle Beach

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite with the photo below. Venice Beach, California.


Resolutions

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Write three New Year's Resolutions for each of your characters.

Painterly

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Think of a place that is special to you. How would you paint it?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Austrian Cemetery

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Freewrite with the photo below. Cemetery, Salzberg, Austria.


Redo

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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If life had a reset button, would you use it? If so, when?

Character Profile

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 10 minutes

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Create a profile for a fictitious character. Follow the guidelines below, and add your own!

Name:
Age, Gender:
Physical Description:
Place Born, Place Currently Residing:
Favorite/Least Favorite Food:
Favorite/Least Favorite TV Show:
Greatest Wish:
Biggest Fear:
Pet Peeves:
Loves:
One Regret:
Favorite/Least Favorite Flower:
View on Marriage/Children:

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Dreidel Pyramid

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite with the photo below.

Cliff's Edge

GENRE: fiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 minutes

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Begin or end with this statement: "Sometimes one stands at the edge of a cliff, and must decide to jump or back away."

Deja Vu

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 6 minutes

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Recount a moment of deja vu.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

"How to See the Sun Rise"

GENRE: fiction, nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 6 minutes

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Freewrite with Ben Sollee's "How to See the Sun Rise." Performance below.


Timelines

GENRE: nonfiction
RECOMMENDED TIME: 10 minutes

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Take something from your past and trace how it influences your present and possibly your future.

The Beatles. Nirvana. Britney Spears?

GENRE: FICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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You're a musical sensation taking the world by storm. What is your music like and what is your typical day?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Po Lin

GENRE: FICTION/NONFICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Freewrite using this photo. Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

Travelin' Blues

GENRE: NONFICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 minutes

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Recount a trip you took that went horribly wrong.

Elevator Claustrophobia

GENRE: FICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 MINUTES

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You're trapped in an elevator with your ex-significant other -- not two minutes after you just broke up with him/her.

Fluency

GENRE: NONFICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 4 MINUTES

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If you could be fluent in any language in the world, what would it be? What would you say in that language and who would you say it to?

Magician's Secrets

GENRE: FICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 5 MINUTES

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Begin writing with this statement: "It was almost time for the big finale when the magician finally sensed that something was wrong."

Hollywood

GENRE: NONFICTION
RECOMMENDED TIME: 10 MINUTES

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A bigtime Hollywood producer has decided to make your life story a film. Write a short scene of the movie. What genre is it? Who would play you?

Superhero Origins

GENRE: FICTION

RECOMMENDED TIME: 10 MINUTES

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You are a superhero. Write your origin story. Don’t forget these things: What’s your superhero name? If you have powers, how did you gain them? What’s your costume? Who are your enemies?

Childhood Songs

GENRE: NONFICTION

RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 MINUTES

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What was your favorite song at the age of 7? Why was it your favorite? Would you listen to it now?

Untagged Dialogue

GENRE: FICTION/NONFICTION

RECOMMENDED TIME: 7 MINUTES

Write a dialogue between two people — without using speech tags (like "he said" and she said") or actions. Use accents, slang, dialects, subjects spoken about etc. to identify gender, age and location.

Fairytale Memories

GENRE: NON-FICTION

RECOMMENDED TIME: FIVE MINUTES

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Recount a childhood memory as a fairy tale beginning with “Once Upon a Time…”

Glamour

GENRE: FICTION

RECOMMENDED TIME: SEVEN MINUTES

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Begin or end with this statement:

“All we had for kindling were three copies of Playboy from 1955 and a year old copy of Glamour magazine.”