Writer Wednesday - Taking a Trip

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's midweek and you know what that means? We are three days away from the weekend! I know, I can't wait too.

So, we had an amazing turn out last week! Here are the stories we received:

Clothespin Commitment by Jack Carlson

A Child's Path and Escape by Scott Taylor

Murder at the Amusement Park (the ongoing story that inspired my own) by Tena Car

Lost by Landa

Summer of 1962 by Anne

I Love a Good Curse by Me

It's my turn this week! And it's my favorite part of the whole week because I get to choose the photo! Yay!

First a special shout to Carrie K. Sorensen and Jane Bussey for being awesome co-hosts. Also, if you enjoy the blog hop and want to help promote it, feel free to grab a button:

Click and copy this code

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Two more bits of news before we get into the blog hop:

1) If you are interested in being a co-host for the blog hop, let us know in the comments! It's fairly easy, just making sure you are posting the blog hop post each week!

2) Also, Carrie is starting a new blog story hop! It's a lot of fun and it's so exciting to see where the story goes according to each blogger. She has a post about it on her blog. Or contact me via Google Plus. Or email or Twitter.

So, without further ado! Here is this week's writing prompt. Real quick, here are the rules:

1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.

2) There is also a 500 word maximum.

3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post.

4) When you have finished your post, come back here and link up below and let me (Or whoever your blog host is) know in the comments that you have done so!

5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

The Photo - Taken from...I have no idea to be honest...

Five Words - Generated with this Website

zip

hymn

computer

false teeth

peacock

Alright! Once you have your story created, post it below!

What if?

 This morning as I was baking turnovers, the title of a book I am reading popped into my head.  The book is "What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers" by: Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. I will post a full review after I have worked through more of the exercises.   The first exercise caught my attention right away. "First Sentences: beginning in the Middle" This exercise challenges the writer to to think of a line that will grab the readers attention. Just for fun, I pulled three books from very different genres from my shelves and looked at the opening lines.

Mystery fiction "Cover Her Face" by P.D. James: Exactly three months before the killing at Martingale Mrs. Maxie gave a dinner party.

Historical fiction "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Phillipa Gregory: "I could here a roll of muffled drums."

From the self help section, "The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: " A year ago, my life had collapsed around me."

Think a moment about the reasons you might want to read these books. I bought "Cover Her Face" in an airport book store. That first line and the remaining paragraph are what prompted a five minute decision on a book to read during my flight and subsequent layover. "The Other Boleyn Girl"  started a love affair with all things Tudor. When I read the first line of "The Secret", I thought, Your Poor Lady. Like most others whose lives are not perfect though, I went on to read this book and the following two books by Rhonda Byrne.

I learned from this lesson to make that first line, in that first chapter, on that first page, really grab that reader. I want the reader to feel something or to arouse their curiosity until it cannot be contained. The three authors above demonstrate the ability to engage their readers. The "What If" techniques will give us the ability to form a great and memorable story.

So this morning, as I sit outside eating said turnovers, I will continue to think "What if?" I will ignore the obvious answer to "What If I eat too many turnovers?"  This is research and they are fuel for the machine. Have a great day!