Fantasy on my mind

I've had the biggest craving for the movie 'Labyrinth' the last week or so. I bought the soundtrack on ITunes and listened to it every night as I fell asleep, I bored my companions about wanting to watch it and I tried to recreate the movie in my head. This weekend Pinky kindly bought the DVD for me and I watched a fantasy movie trilogy Labyrinth, Legend and The Princess Bride. It was interesting watching all three movies one after the other. I like them all, but watching them in that fashion really highlighted their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their similarities.

So, what is the point of this post?

The first thing I want to say is that I think I'm going to leave aside writing dark horror for a while and get back to writing fantasy. Maybe even some lighter fantasy than normal. It's scary for me to admit it. I love horror, I'm not setting it aside, I'm just going to concentrate on fantasy for a while.

The second thing is that while I was watching Labyrinth I couldn't help from thinking about what a lovely place Jim Henson's brain must have been to live in. There is so much creativity in that movie. David Bowie's songs and acting, Jim Henson and his workshop, Brian Froud's artwork. It reminded me why I love cinema so much. The writer sets the initial note ringing by writing the script. No matter how fantastical, someone is found to act or make real what the writer has created from their imagination. Then come all the other players, each one as important as the next in their own way - the actors, set dressers, location finders, casting agents, directors of photography, cameramen, editors, composers, Foley artists, etc (I'm sorry for not mentioning them all, there are so many) and at the helm, like the master conductor, is the director, making sure that the combined vision of the entire crew is realised.

So, tell me, what movies are your guilty pleasures and why do you love them?

Writing Exercise #10

Ah yes, it is good to get back to my normal blogging routine. I feel like I have been away from it for a lot longer than two weeks.

Anyway, this week I am taking a leaf out of the excellent Pictures, Poetry and Prose (hope you don't mind Laura Jayne). I will be dedicating a post to PPP next month, but if you can't wait til then (and really, you shouldn't) pop over to the blog now and join in the fun. You might even win an Exceptional Writing Award!

Your assignment this week, oh dear blog readers, is to write a short story in the comment section based upon the picture above. I look forward to hearing what you have to say! Oh, and thanks to Valinora Troy for providing the photo.

Writing Exercise #9

This week's exercise is about how dreams can inspire your writing.

Dreams have always inspired my writing - whether they gave me a plot, a character or an atmosphere to recreate, they are woven through much of my work. I also have notebooks full of interesting dreams that I have written down to use when the time is right.

Have you had an interesting dream recently? Perhaps you had a dream years ago that has stuck in your memory. Even a nightmare can inspire writing.

The exercise is to write down a dream you remember clearly, making a point to highlight the part of the dream that struck you as most important.

After you have done that, read what you have written and structure a story from the inspiration your dream has given you. Remember your story can be as short as 50 words!

When you have finished your story, read it and the dream again to see how similar or different they are.

I don't expect you to post your dreams or stories in the comment section, but if you did the exercise, I would love to hear how you got on.

Writing Exercise #8

Think of your favourite character and/or world from fiction. It can be from a book, graphic novel, tv show or movie.

Now write a short piece using that character and/or world.

I don't mean fanfic. No stories about the firefly class spaceship Serenity stopping by your house to pick you up for adventures with Captain Malcolm Reynolds (or is that only my fanfic story?).

Ahem.

Anyway. Write the piece portraying the character and/or world as accurately to the source material as possible. This will make you appreciate how well written the original character is and the tricks the author used to make the character fleshed out, 3 dimensional and likable.

And remember - this story is for your personal writing file. I don't want to encourage anyone to be a plagiarist. :)

Writing Exercise #7

Today is...

This is a handy technique I discovered on Erica Hanson's blog for writers, readers and educators. What you do is take five minutes out of your day to write a paragraph on what 'today is'. You can write about your feelings, your surroundings, things that happened or will happen. You should focus on the five senses - remember to describe the colour, taste, smell, sound and texture of the day. Don't over think your paragraph either. Write it down as fast as you can.

If you keep a journal this is a wonderful place to put your 'Today is' thoughts, but typing it on your computer, into your phone or scribbling it on the back of a napkin works just as well.

My advice is to get a really pretty notebook, with a soft leather or fabric cover and crisp white pages. Write your entry in every day with a black ink pen. Over time you will have a lovely collection of thoughts that capture who you were at that moment. To make it extra special, write your 'Today is' paragraph at the start of the day at the top of the page and in the evening write three things that happened that day which you are grateful for at the bottom of the page. At the end of the year you will be able to look back and see how you have changed over twelve months.

Tell me what your day is like for you today. Is it full of velvet promise, or is it foggy with skunk rich activities? I look forward to reading about them in the comments section.

Writing Exercise #6

This week I want you to do some research and make up a story checklist.

Pick a short story or novel that you really enjoy. If you can, read through it again. If not, think about the story and what you like about it. Is it the characters? Perhaps the unusual setting or the action driven plot.

Next, I want you to write down the points that make it a good story. How do these points apply to other stories and novels you admire? Pick out the ones that apply in more than one instance.

Now stick your notes on the wall over the desk where you write or into your writing notebook. The next time you start a new story or novel outline, look at these points and try to apply them to your writing to improve your work.

If you want, post your story checklist in the comment section, or share what your favourite story or novel is. Maybe you found this exercise helpful or challenging. Whatever you want to say, I'd like to hear it.

Writing Exercise #5

This week I want to introduce you to a writing exercise I recently discovered. It is called F R E E writing. It stands for Fast Raw Exact but Easy writing. I was a bit skeptical when I read about it first, but I gave it a try because anything that can help boost your creativity is a bonus - right? Anyway, I've been doing it for a while now and I've found it very beneficial. I haven't got to the stage yet where my daily F R E E writing leaves me inspired, but it certainly gets rid of all my emotional negativity and busy-ness in my head, leaving me free to write and let the inspiration come.

Therefore I would recommend you head over to Orna Ross' site to learn about F R E E writing and to try out her tutorial. Try it once. You might find it helpful, or you might not, but you have nothing to lose.

Because of the nature of F R E E writing I don't expect you to post your results in the comment section, but I would really like to hear what you think of it if you tried it out.

Good luck and happy writing.

Writing Exercise #4

The exercise this week is to do with plot outlines.

Pick one item from each of the following topics and then write a short plot outline for a story incorporating all of the elements: -



1. Genre

Horror, Romance, Western

2. Location

New York City, An Island, An alternate dimension

3. Male Names

Abu, Ben, Chi,

4. Female Names

Daphne, Eithne, Fi

5. Object

Candlestick, Ham Sandwich, Spear

6. Point of Conflict

Betrayal, Competition, imprisonment


I have deliberately limited the choices and tried to make them as diverse as possible so they will spark your imagination. I look forward to reading the story outline you make out of them!

Writing Exercise #3

This week the theme is Character Building.

Here is a sketch of a character: -

Exercise:-

Write three things about this person's character based on the sketch.

1. What they do for a living

2. What they like doing best in the world

3. A nightmare they had as a child

oh, and give them a name as well.

As usual, please post your ideas in the comment section. I would love to see them.

Writing Exercise #2

OK folks, this week your mission, if you choose to accept it, is observation.

Exercise:-

Look around you today as you are out and about. Pick an interesting or unusual person you see on your travels and write a paragraph describing them.

Be warned, your computer will self destruct after five seconds.

Writing Exercise #1

When the DN's used to have regular meetings one of the staples was the writing exercise. We would set the clock to 5, 10 or 15 minutes, pick a word out of the ether (be it object, name or emotion) and construct a story within the time limit. Sometimes we would add more restrictions such as genre and tense. These exercises were to help fire the imagination, loosen up the creative muscles and sharpen the mind. Most of the time the results of the exercise were not worth anything but sometimes they would provide the kernel of a pretty good story.

With this in mind, I thought I would pose a writing exercise for the blog.

The exercise for today is:

Write 100 words (exactly, excluding title) on the theme DRAGON

Good luck, and please feel free to post your stories in the comment section. I would love to read them!