tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37581977184847997252024-02-18T23:53:56.838-05:00The Lightning and the Lightning-BugThe difference between the right word and the wrong word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning-bug. -Mark TwainKatie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-26910075036732778572012-11-04T17:45:00.000-05:002012-11-04T17:45:33.578-05:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt and Linkup #63: StormAfter soliciting ideas for prompts last week, you guys really came through! I'll be using each idea proposed in the coming weeks. If you have any more ideas, please feel free to let us know in the comments section. This community started off small and intimate with a focus on its members and community, and what better way to reflect that focus than by letting our members choose the prompts?<br />
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As we attempt to get back on track, I'll be posting a prompt and linkup every Sunday. You'll have through Wednesday to post a response.<br />
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This week's prompt comes from community member Allison of <a href="http://www.ramblingfollower.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rambling Follower</span></b></a>. In light of the Super Storm Sandy and her victims on the East Coast, Allison proposed that we tackle the following prompt:<br />
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<b><u>Storm.</u> </b><br />
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I believe this prompt also fits in with the rainy season that this blog has been through lately, so I think it's pretty darn fitting. We'd like you to take the word "Storm" and write a blog post around it. It can be a response to the devastation of Sandy or a reflection on the stormy days of life. You can share fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.<br />
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Remember, you have until Wednesday night at midnight Eastern Standard Time to linkup.<br />
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Hope you'll join us!!! And thanks for the prompt idea, Allison!<br />
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<br />Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-82739845424970165802012-10-28T17:58:00.002-04:002012-10-28T17:58:53.082-04:00We're Not Dead!Hi, bugs! It's been awhile. Too long, I know. I thought it was high time I posted something to let you all know that we're still alive and that The Lightning and the Lightning Bug is still alive as well. Just taking a hiatus of sorts.<br />
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The Summer and Fall of 2012 have been long and eventful, and Jeremy and I lost much of our focus towards our blogging endeavors. Jeremy's in school and has a better excuse than I do. My excuse consists mainly of an extended period of writer's block coupled with a depressing few months. Can't seem to snap out of the mulligrubs. Y'all know how that is.<br />
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Anyway, we do plan a triumphant return, and I do appreciate anyone who has hung around through our silence. I love this community and hate that we've let you guys down like this.<br />
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If anyone has any suggestions for prompts, please feel free to let us know. We'd love to hear from you!!<br />
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<br />Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-35681749072557245012012-08-05T09:05:00.000-04:002012-08-05T09:05:13.144-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt and Linkup #62: Lost and FoundA deaf cat wandered onto our porch several months ago. She's now a part of our family, but I often wonder where she came from, if she was lost when she showed up at our house or just dumped there by someone who no longer wished to care for her.<br />
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What kind of journey had she been on when she happened across my family? If she was lost, what was it like for her to be found?<br />
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This mystery made me think of this week's prompt: Lost and Found. For this prompt, we'd like you to tell the story of something that was lost (an animal, an item, a person) and then found. Use 500 words to take us on a short journey of discovery. You can share fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-10867478113390309112012-07-29T08:40:00.001-04:002012-07-29T08:41:12.120-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #61: Flash FinishHey all! The prompt this week is a Flash Fiction challenge! Get to writing now! Your goal is 300 words! Start with the word "Finish"!<br />
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Then link up! Same rules as always! Don't forget to comment! GO! Get writing!<br />
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Well, today, I've learned about the solution. Well, a solution.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UTnOmCBN9CE" width="560"></iframe><br />
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(the relevant part is :50 in or so, but the whole thing is great.)<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The site mentioned is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://writtenkitten.net/" target="_blank">Written? Kitten!</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and it rewards you for writing by giving you kittens! With a tool like this, you can resolve that pesky "motivation" problem instantly. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/funny-pictures-writers-block-explained.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/funny-pictures-writers-block-explained.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're doing it wrong!</td></tr>
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Use cats to power your writing engine! It worked for Hemingway, it can work for you too!!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-81026948577277006262012-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-22T00:00:08.594-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #60: I LikeI like fishing and camping, video games and comics, building things and fixing things, grilling and baking, music and movies, cards and dice, pie and more pie. I like a lot of things; I like liking a lot of things, and I like to think about the things I like. It's all very positive; it can be very engaging to think and talk about things you dislike or hate, but I wouldn't call it "fun" generally. It's a lot of fun to talk with friends who like some of the things you like, or sharing things you like with people who didn't know about it. I just discovered the web comic<a href="http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/" target="_blank"> Dresden Codak</a> - have you read it? Sci-fi comic fans out there? just me? Allrighty then.<br />
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Back on topic, the theme this week is "<b>I Like</b>" and your task is to start your post with those words. Pretty straightforward; tell us about something you like. Not "like" as in Facebook; "like" as in "ooh, yeah, that's cool." Facebook is trying to steal one of the basic words of the English language for their own evil purposes, and we need to keep that from happening. So link up and share your "like" story with us and keep it alive and healthy!<br />
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-72275954321613668782012-07-19T02:00:00.000-04:002012-07-19T02:00:06.210-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #60: I LikeDo you like us? Of course; we're very likable, and the fact that you're here implies that you probably like us. But do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LightningandLightningBug">like</a> like us? You ought to; it clues you in whenever we post something on our Facebook.<br />
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But to me, as popular as the "like" button is now, it doesn't really mean "like" the way I mean it. When I like something, I just like it. I don't necessarily need to publicize my liking of it, but I often do; that's what the "like" button used to be for. Now, when you "like" something like a brand name or a company's page or whatever, it's usually because they're giving away free cars or something to people who go on and like their page (leading to a meaningless inflation of their supposed status and a lot of ads in your news feed). That's a different thing entirely. I still hit the button on posts I think are fun sometimes, but it feels empty now.<br />
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So what I want you all to do this week is re-take the word "like". Take it back from Facebook and their corporate advertisers; take it back from teenagers who, like, use it as random, like, pause breaks in the middle of, like, sentences. Use the word as it should be: a vague but entirely positive feeling! (or in a simile, because that is also valid, but not the meaning I'm necessarily looking for)<br />
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Start off your post for Sunday's linkup with the words "<b>I like</b>" - write about something you like. Or several things. We'll set a word limit at about 500. See you here Sunday for the linkup!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-30469203923409739352012-07-15T15:21:00.000-04:002012-07-15T15:21:22.899-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #59: WishingMaking wishes is fun, and it's something I think we've all done at least once or twice. Even the sarcastic, skeptical adults among us still have things they want and wish for; it's nothing to be ashamed of, it's part of being a person. When we stop wishing, we stop dreaming, we stop striving, and we stop trying. That's no way to live. So wish on, lightning bugs!<br />
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"Wishing" is the theme for the week, so share your "wishing" stories here! We're open until Wednesday; don't forget to read and comment as much as you can, and share our linkup on facebook and twitter! We'll be back again with another prompt later this week.<br />
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-10433510953970580232012-07-14T12:57:00.000-04:002012-07-14T12:57:30.193-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #59: WishingWhen I was a kid, one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving, other than the food (obviously), was breaking the wishbone. I also loved blowing out the candles on my birthday cake. I loved being able to make wishes and kind-of believe that they might come true. I don't think many did, until I started wishing for things like "I wish I had some pie and/or cake for dessert" (a wish I often make to this day). I still enjoyed wishing, though.<br />
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The theme for this week is "<b>Wishing</b>" - write us a piece, 800 words or less, about wishing. We link up Sunday, so we'll see you then!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-78022188605167381072012-07-08T16:46:00.000-04:002012-07-14T12:57:40.833-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #58: ElevenHey all! Linkup's late going up today; the CEO of Lightning Bug was stung by 11 yellow jackets. Coincidence? No, it's a lie; it was actually 7, but 11 would have been more on theme. Still, delay ensued. So I'll dispense with further cleverness and let you get right to the linkup! Standard procedure, link, read, share, comment, etc.<br />
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<b>Eleven</b><br />
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Like the number. Just like the number, actually. Exactly, even. You might go so far as to say that the number (11, that is) is in fact the prompt. Because it is. That's what's going on.<br />
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The theme for this week is <b>eleven</b> and <b>eleven</b> is the theme for this week. It comes before 12 but after 10, is half of 22 and about 11% of 100.<br />
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Can you tell a story in 11 words? Can you tell 11 stories in one word? Can you tell a story using only words with 11 letters? Can you tell an 11 using only letters of word story?<br />
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Go with that first one. Tell a story using exactly 11 words; if you like, write another short story (121 word limit - 11 x 11, we're very on-theme this week) to also fit the theme of <b>11</b> (they don't have to be related). We'll link it all up this Sunday, so good luck and we'll see you then!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-42989149385202016622012-07-01T10:50:00.000-04:002012-07-01T10:50:06.720-04:00Flicker of Inspiration #57: Speed Photo Prompt and LinkupHi, bugs! Hope everyone's having a good weekend.<br />
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This week we're bringing you another speed prompt, but this one has a twist. This time we're mashing up a photo with speed. We want you to look at the photo below. Let it take you somewhere. Let it tell you its story. Then, for ten solid minutes, write down words inspired by that photo. You can give us fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. Whatever the picture below stirs within you.<br />
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The linkup is just below the photo, and you'll have until Wednesday to link up your post. No word limit this week. Your only limit is time.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6685099416382041/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/6685099416382041_9xPOnG7R_c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcmorr/2388666320/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">flickr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/courtneygcooke/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Courtney</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-17001229801988254952012-06-24T08:11:00.001-04:002012-06-24T08:11:53.533-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #56: The Thing With FeathersThis week you were asked to bring us Hope in 500 words or less. For a look at the original prompt, please <a href="http://thewriteandthewrongword.blogspot.com/2012/06/flicker-of-inspiration-prompt-56-thing.html" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a>.<br />
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I can't wait to read your entries. Simply link up below, and if you do link up, don't forget to visit and thoughtfully comment on at least three other entries. You have until Wednesday at midnight to link up.<br />
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Have fun!<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283726845244460062/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/upload/283726845244460062_Zi6L6Q9U_c.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://couragehopestrength.tumblr.com/post/19099193845" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">couragehopestrength.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/hemabobema/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Hema</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<i>Hope is the thing with feathers</i></div>
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<i>That perches in the soul,</i></div>
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<i>And sings the tune--w<span style="background-color: white;">ithout the words,</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>And never stops at all,</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">And sweetest in the gale is heard;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">And sore must be the storm</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">That could abash the little bird</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>That kept so many warm.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">I've heard it in the chillest land,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">And on the strangest sea;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;">Yet, never, in extremity,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>It asked a crumb of me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>-Emily Dickinson</i></span></div>
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I don't remember ever hearing a metaphor that I love as much as this one about Hope. From Dickinson's words, I imagine Hope as a beautiful, exotic bird carrying with it the secret to life.</div>
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Hope can harbor many desires and needs and dreams. It can represent salvation and change. It can carry on its back an entire soul, lifting up sorrow and bringing back joy. </div>
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This week your prompt is to take the word Hope and build a story around it. Like Dickinson, I'd like you to start your piece with the word Hope. Let that one word carry you and your piece to great things. You have 500 words to give us Hope. Choose them well.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-9530591000669876572012-06-17T08:33:00.000-04:002012-06-17T08:33:22.827-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt and Linkup #55: To DadsHappy Father's Day! This week you have another surprise/speed prompt, and it's all about Dad.<br />
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Your goal is to write in 400 words or less a fictional, nonfictional, or poetic piece describing a father. It can be a memory or moment with your own father or your children's father. It can be a fictional tribute to the father you always wished you had. It can be a poem dedicated to the importance of dads.
The only requirement is that it includes a father in some way.<br />
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You have until Wednesday at midnight Eastern to link up, and if you link up, remember to read and thoughtfully comment on at least three other writers' pieces.<br />
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We look forward to reading your short and sweet post dedicated To Dads.
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</script>Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-90026549357516669282012-06-10T11:43:00.002-04:002012-06-10T11:44:06.148-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #54: Gone Fishin'It wouldn't do for a linkup for a prompt about an absent-minded character to go up at a decent time, now would it? Yep, that's my excuse for being late, and I'm sticking to it.<br />
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This week your challenge was to include an absent-minded person/character in your piece, be it fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
I can't wait to see what everyone came up with!<br />
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The linkup is available until Wednesday, and remember, if you do participate, try to visit and thoughtfully comment on at least two or three other posts.
Have fun!
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<br />Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-50449960230567128552012-06-07T23:41:00.001-04:002012-06-07T23:41:26.684-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #54: Gone Fishin'Lately, it seems like my mind is completely checked out when I need it. I've already spent half an hour on this prompt. The good news is, those two sentences look fantastic.<br />
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You should try to make use of my blankness. Someone needs to.<br />
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The theme this week is "<b>Gone Fishin'</b>" - write a story with an absent-minded character. The name doesn't exactly fit, but that's always what's written on the sign hanging in the empty brain area in cartoon characters' heads, often following a scene where the "mental bureaucracy" closes up for the day and all the parts of the brain put on their hats and go home.<br />
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So that's your prompt: write a story with a character whose brain-office isn't fully staffed, so to speak. No lights on in the attic. Twenty-six cards short of a full deck, a few ticks slower than a minute, you get the idea. They don't have to be outright stupid, just a bit absent-minded, but your character is your business; all I ask is that you write something to share with us this Sunday for the linkup. See you then!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-20803627459201780962012-06-03T08:52:00.000-04:002012-06-03T08:52:13.735-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #53: Pitch PerfectToday's the day! Pitch us your novel or book idea in 250 words or less. We're looking for a descriptive paragraph or two that introduces us to a story or idea. Try to avoid sentences like "this book is about..." and really make us buy into your book.<br />
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Linkup is available through Sunday. Remember, if you link up to visit and thoughtfully comment on at least two other blogs.<br />
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Have fun!<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-68606005082127444242012-06-01T10:59:00.001-04:002012-06-01T10:59:27.968-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #53: Pitch PerfectHere's your chance, your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A literary agent has discovered your blog. She's captivated by your writing. She wants to sign you. But first, you have to prove yourself. She wants to hear the pitch for your book. You have 250 words to captivate her, capture her imagination, convince her of your amazing talent and that your book is going to be THE book that sells millions. <div>
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This week your Flicker of Inspiration prompt is to give us a pitch. A perfect pitch. Think of the description on the back of your favorite novel, the words that make you buy that book for your Kindle, the short paragraphs that let you know you MUST read that book. </div>
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Take the description of Cormac McCarthy's The Road:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food-—and each other."</span></b></span></div>
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So give us your novel, your memoir, your non-fiction masterpiece in 250 words or less. Make us want to pick your book up; make that literary agent know she wants to represent you!</div>
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The linkup will be posted on Sunday. Come back and share your pitch!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-86623984548861103112012-05-27T09:50:00.000-04:002012-05-27T09:50:00.267-04:00Flicker of Inspiration #52: Speed Writing Prompt and LinkupThis week your Flicker of Inspiration prompt is all about speed. With the holiday weekend, we know you don't have much time to devote to writing. You have cookouts to go to and lakes to fish, but we don't want you to miss out on an opportunity to write.<br />
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So your prompt is this: Write. Write for ten minutes without stopping. Your topic can be anything. You can write about your weekend plans. You can write a short story about a chipmunk named December (which is what I plan to do). The important thing about this prompt is just writing. Get your thoughts down on paper and share them with us. Don't edit. Don't polish. Just write.<br />
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For those who might need an extra push, use the word "speed" for inspiration.<br />
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Happy Speed Writing! The linkup is available until Wednesday.<br />
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<br />Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-29382870042657885192012-05-20T08:18:00.000-04:002012-05-20T08:18:10.253-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #51: Now What?Your prompt this week was to write a story that begins <i>after</i> the established end of a different story that already exists. For example, you could write about what happens after Thelma and Louise go for their last drive together - granted, they might not be in that story, but the fallout of that scene is probably full of potential drama.<br />
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Write your piece to link up; we stay open until Wednesday night. Once you're linked up, go ahead and read the other linkers and try to leave a few comments. There's always a chance that more folks will come by later, especially if you help us advertise on Facebook and Twitter, so you might check back over the next few days to see if anyone else links up.<br />
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-84767204311914699492012-05-19T08:04:00.002-04:002012-05-19T08:04:47.973-04:00Dare to Share: GraduationAs I set off to watch one of my cousins graduate from high school, guess what's on my mind?<br />
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This week's Dare to Share theme is graduation. Now, you can use this in the very literal sense and share any post, old or new, about an actual graduation, OR you can share any post, old or new, that reflects some kind of moment of moving on, growing up, getting to that next level in life.<br />
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I can't wait to read your posts! Have fun! Linkup goes to Thursday, and if you link up, try to visit and thoughtfully comment on at least two other posts.<br />
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<br />Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02852793993330125727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-23338758803909181762012-05-17T22:47:00.000-04:002012-05-17T22:59:01.628-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #51: Now What?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPtN-Mi4hAKo3-SBtetGJeUXmy9eSPrIxH8GYH0VcSLcQKXGB-pfwHg-In-PPV7lEziTHpVmfItTzHkl5FFazD4H34WWEzbhyphenhyphenODcG3y1-ZVn09IEeXo6HtSLCFSbBNz3iXyBnl3DS-HHU/s1600/skeptical+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPtN-Mi4hAKo3-SBtetGJeUXmy9eSPrIxH8GYH0VcSLcQKXGB-pfwHg-In-PPV7lEziTHpVmfItTzHkl5FFazD4H34WWEzbhyphenhyphenODcG3y1-ZVn09IEeXo6HtSLCFSbBNz3iXyBnl3DS-HHU/s200/skeptical+cat.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let me know if you get to 60"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, Flicker of Inspiration has hit and now passed its first major milestone, leading everyone - journalists, pundits, world leaders, civil war veterans, bas reliefs, lolcats - to speculate on its future.<br />
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We're going to keep going, basically. Life is like that. You go on, and sometimes you get to a point and it's like, "huh, that's neat," and then you keep going while you can.<br />
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Stories aren't like that. They end, for good or for ill, while things are still more or less interesting. The prince and the princess live happily ever after; Pinocchio becomes a real boy; the cat and the mouse aren't friends but they both live to fight again tomorrow.<br />
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But "Happily ever after" is whitewash; nobody can really be happy and nothing else forever. The old king must one day die, leaving the prince to become King in his place, which is all kinds of tragedy and drama. Further, the former prince has to govern the kingdom and struggle with the demands of his new role. This is a totally different story than what has preceded, but equally important to the characters and potentially equally interesting to the reader.<br />
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I want you to take any well-known story - book, movie, legend, fable, limerick - and begin a new story that begins <i>after</i> the end of the original. What does Pinocchio do once he's a real boy? How does the Frog Prince deal with the psychological after-effects of his condition? What goes on in Candy Castle?<br />
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You can do anything you want with your story, introduce any new characters or plot points, even aliens. Just begin where another story ended, and come back Sunday for the linkup!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-45559957055448880782012-05-15T04:20:00.000-04:002012-05-15T04:20:00.413-04:00Spark Notes #8: Guest Post by M.x<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fantasystoryproject.blogspot.co.uk/"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p630/exodus238/flowerhair-1-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
We encourage our readers, when they find something helpful or interesting or just inspiring, to share it with us here at The Lightning and the Lightning Bug for Spark Notes, our irregular advice/inspiration post series.<br />
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This week we have indeed received our first reader-submitted Spark Note, from <a href="http://fantasystoryproject.blogspot.co.uk/p/strange-rant-in-which-i-tried-to.html">M. x</a> at <a href="http://fantasystoryproject.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fantasy Novel Project</a>. She emailed us last week to ask if she could submit, and we said, "Of course!"<br />
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We'll put it behind a break because it's a bit longer than our usual, but do give it a read and send your thanks to M. x<br />
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<a href="http://fantasystoryproject.blogspot.co.uk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbgv37s7NVV4nu7k9FMaEMFGwb7RUg6WMnJ0qnGkaW-Yef-hI17i2wQgOiajKmaYgbUDMPyn7I4RqpnmOvx2rpFZ0sQJyHHPfd-JEY0GzjRUFSjzBtwTQ16R0LVqjucqWetUOiEFB_ec/s400/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-GB">What
Am I - As A Writer - Influenced By?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-GB">How
do I Deal With Writer’s Block?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Hi there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Here are the ways in which I become
influenced to create and write (for anyone who is genuinely interested) and here
are 7 top tips I’ve come up with for anyone struggling with writer’s block. (If
you’ve read my A-Z posts, you’ll understand my fascination with the number 7,
expressed in my ‘S’ post!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">If you’re stuck when writing or
have lost the spark in a story you are desperate to finish, get a prompt and
just write anything that comes into your mind! Recently, I had the worst writer’s
block! Okay, I’m very busy with A Levels and the rest of my life so I could say
that I’ve had other things on my mind, my, truthfully, whenever I went to look
at the story I’m writing, (a fantasy story, created by my little brother and
I), I felt physically ill. The amount of work that would have to go into it
didn’t really faze me when I started it, but it all suddenly rushed out of
nowhere and gave me a harsh whack in the stomach!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB">So to free myself of my
predicament, I went to look for inspiration and prompts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br />Firstly, I
searched up things on Google Images. For example, ‘fantasy’, ‘incredible’ or
‘fascination’: things that would come up with abstract or random images, rather
than a specific thing like ‘rainbow’ etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br />Here are some
examples of what I found:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb6D6rsUSgQrQfHwX4A9XN0V7ws5nu7MImpDFY36uwae3phUZJBL9wkb4ElJmfN15U7tiMlOzfLuXKyT6zGFjGJOHtwTfdMWw2uIhfYx12XMORK9CU_4uL3_9HriX2Rqndl2K8LclfIZR/s1600/10098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBb6D6rsUSgQrQfHwX4A9XN0V7ws5nu7MImpDFY36uwae3phUZJBL9wkb4ElJmfN15U7tiMlOzfLuXKyT6zGFjGJOHtwTfdMWw2uIhfYx12XMORK9CU_4uL3_9HriX2Rqndl2K8LclfIZR/s200/10098.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG41CZKm615aGGp_9_cOwpY5aJeAdc4HJeF6AR9bzN3GnRLWsjpOc6xyDT2GNMSTCA2E8vI9YeVxKQYJgVD1M3ktAZAv8iFRLIAesDpTH3v72uKWkZAslqt1tm9qhzgoLR5ia1vuzgQndQ/s1600/24077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG41CZKm615aGGp_9_cOwpY5aJeAdc4HJeF6AR9bzN3GnRLWsjpOc6xyDT2GNMSTCA2E8vI9YeVxKQYJgVD1M3ktAZAv8iFRLIAesDpTH3v72uKWkZAslqt1tm9qhzgoLR5ia1vuzgQndQ/s200/24077.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJByGVHXm1DQA8YEN5x-EeGV2tR-vak-SUacV0LTwgjP2wzNdNec8og4giwVhHr9mb4OGWz6V7-NZdjgnp6lR7yEegqJr9yV5hF4M0E35-NkvRvAN5EOEr8I73sKrCUh3TfvgQKMeifyaf/s1600/AB6349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJByGVHXm1DQA8YEN5x-EeGV2tR-vak-SUacV0LTwgjP2wzNdNec8og4giwVhHr9mb4OGWz6V7-NZdjgnp6lR7yEegqJr9yV5hF4M0E35-NkvRvAN5EOEr8I73sKrCUh3TfvgQKMeifyaf/s200/AB6349.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcJ3PNa0noSaZ15de0vFpCkEbxc2z0VcMf4AHYrz2F74qBHHGcXa7IncUWtPSPaYPHYBYvlOQ2GvDcyNEaQ8LIthsUvEXna9XIm5-GvxEGdMawem48N0GMA2n6uj2_KLUew6K6KuRLzrp/s1600/door-to-imagination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcJ3PNa0noSaZ15de0vFpCkEbxc2z0VcMf4AHYrz2F74qBHHGcXa7IncUWtPSPaYPHYBYvlOQ2GvDcyNEaQ8LIthsUvEXna9XIm5-GvxEGdMawem48N0GMA2n6uj2_KLUew6K6KuRLzrp/s200/door-to-imagination.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8APp5GknNNh4Xj8PFJd1TbDHjnaQ0e-g3sYchlgqcuFAM8gIBCGl4criAvkuj3jrATcHtDv9YpLGmvqAdUwTgeNNwniNey6DmSN-5d4K6DtyPhz0Kr60bdrCwMOO3fdFsvouY9kNQJpB/s1600/fantasy-art-3d-wallpapers-1280x800-0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8APp5GknNNh4Xj8PFJd1TbDHjnaQ0e-g3sYchlgqcuFAM8gIBCGl4criAvkuj3jrATcHtDv9YpLGmvqAdUwTgeNNwniNey6DmSN-5d4K6DtyPhz0Kr60bdrCwMOO3fdFsvouY9kNQJpB/s200/fantasy-art-3d-wallpapers-1280x800-0318.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeHMbgy1W2vfWAaiUVJltUTNcLCODcLh-MhO0yrf5X20Zefj-VPIn2rWncWYOODcgIroSGPBeWSqEZoAYC7XLLK0p2P0AkEpR1LZ-XPznTrumhb9CFi7biTjxa6Prii4sUUoO9Uwnabid/s1600/fantasy-wallpapers-0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeHMbgy1W2vfWAaiUVJltUTNcLCODcLh-MhO0yrf5X20Zefj-VPIn2rWncWYOODcgIroSGPBeWSqEZoAYC7XLLK0p2P0AkEpR1LZ-XPznTrumhb9CFi7biTjxa6Prii4sUUoO9Uwnabid/s200/fantasy-wallpapers-0033.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDwyI56bDmvYp2KCy6Qx6wpW6xpXk2OQIDYfVpjg1P9tCurShW9gjYncaJywh_V0z2zn23A6stNgjq2tuvN9jLDgXpRtDmnQvD93PC1uvfvwv3YJpaP3amI2aoDnWKjdyMgzi3DUJD4nW/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDwyI56bDmvYp2KCy6Qx6wpW6xpXk2OQIDYfVpjg1P9tCurShW9gjYncaJywh_V0z2zn23A6stNgjq2tuvN9jLDgXpRtDmnQvD93PC1uvfvwv3YJpaP3amI2aoDnWKjdyMgzi3DUJD4nW/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Another way in which I freed
myself was by reading through blogs and picking an interesting sounding word
and developing an idea from it. I didn’t even need to write it, I just planned
it out in my head and it would start to influence the rest of my writing. (Such
as the name ‘Dawnie’ from thedawnieproject.com <a href="http://www.thedawnieproject.com/">http://www.thedawnieproject.com/</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">A really useful thing for me is
to listen to music, especially classical music, and let myself imagine a
situation in a film in which that music would be used. I would then come up
with some crazy story that probably made no sense, but, nevertheless, helped to
undo my writer’s block. My Mum is a singing teacher, choir master (of many
choirs) and also attends choirs herself. One evening, she asked me to go to a
concert of hers that was really important to her. Now, I usually like classical
music, but I really <i>don’t</i> like
operatic music where four singers, the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Base, just sing,
sing, sing and never seem to stop. I had to sit through a whole two hours of
this! My Mum only sang (along with the rest of the choir) once or twice!
Anyway, the point of this story is that I ended up listening to the violins
playing in the background of these top yodellers and created images in my mind
that would fit the music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Happy, sunny day, along with
happy, bouncy music like that in Tchaikovsky’s <i>The Nutcracker</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Suddenly drastic music!
Something has happened, someone died. We must escape!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span lang="EN-GB">And so on. I can even create
characters using this technique!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Here are some
links to good classical songs on Youtube:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o</a>
– Claude Debussy with Clair De Lune (A personal favourite)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1dMpu4v7M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1dMpu4v7M</a>
–Tchaikovsky’s Waltz Of The Flowers from The Nutcracker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA&feature=related</a>
– Vivaldi’s Four Seasons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">You could also
look up some Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert and loads more! (They’re also
great for A Level revision!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s actually
quite fun when you’re <i>that</i> bored!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">4)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><br />Here is a trick
that many must use: go and look at some art! Last Tuesday, I went to Tate Modern
in London and saw Damien Hirst’s Diamond Skull:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.boingboing.net/images/_images_2007_05_29_magazine_03matter450.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.boingboing.net/images/_images_2007_05_29_magazine_03matter450.1.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He’s known to be a
serious atheist and called the piece <i>For
The Love Of God</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Since then, I’ve
become really interested in his work and how his mind works and I want to use
his themes – beautifying death, questioning God, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Seriously! Just
take a day out of your busy schedules and go to the closest art museum! Even if some art angers you, irritates or bores
you (I get <i>very</i> het up about the argument
around ‘What Is Art?’), it will influence you in some way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">5)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">When I’m really stuck for
ideas, or am tired of being cooped up inside trying to thinkthinkthink, I take
my dogs on a walk in the countryside. (You obviously don’t have to have dogs to
do this) Woods are incredible places. They are silent (apart from the birds)
but team – even overflow – with wildlife! Animals, insects, plants, trees etc.
What I love to do is take an unknown path through the heart of the woods and
try to get lost. I remember the paths I’ve been on and the directions I decided
to take but I do genuinely become lost sometimes because everything looks
practically identical in the woods! But this experience gets your mind racing,
with either excitement or genuine fear of being lost. Both of these are very
healthy for your brain in my opinion! These days, our brains don’t get enough
stimulation! We learn, we read, we watch, we create, but we never test our
instincts! We never have to use our natural survival instincts, so simply getting
lost and having to work it out using your senses and memory is a really good
mind exercise. So get out there! (Bring a phone with you in case you truly are
lost!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">6)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Now, a typical writer would
tell you to just read, read, read. But I’m not very typical. I’m odd and quirky
and I do things my own way. Of course it’s very good to read a lot, but
whatever you do, try not to be too influenced by the books you discover! I
guess, what lead me to my writer’s block recently was the realisation that <i>The Hunger Games</i> had blew me away, so
much so that I started copying everything in it! For example, I’d write short
stories about a girl who had to hunt in the woods! The same thing happened a
few years ago when I read Hardy’s <i>Tess of
the D’Urbervilles</i>. I wrote a short story about a dairy-maid that was set in
Tess’ times, almost parallel to her life and resulted in execution after
murdering her husband. Ring a bell? So that is my main advice. By all means, use
other’s writing techniques etc. but try as hard as possible not to get strung
up in their plot instead of making your own!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">7)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">And very lastly (and most
obviously): do things, go places, and meet people! People are fascinating, and
the more people you get to know, the more personalities you can successfully
develop! Characters seem to be the hardest thing to create when planning a
novel if you want them all to be diverse, developed and deep (Excuse my alliterated
sentence!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the long run, experiences
are really important because it means that you will be able to write better
about those moments you know well or have experiences/witnessed at least once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I hope this
helped!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">M. x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">P.S. Feel free to
ask me for advice on anything (to do with writing – or anything else if you
really want) by commenting on something on my blog or by emailing me (my email
is on my blog on the page titled <i>A
Strange Rant In Which I Tried To Introduce Myself</i>). I try to answer every
comment I get but that, inevitably, cannot always be accomplished. (I also may
not be able to answer every question you have and will tell you when I
truthfully don’t know the answer!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11463669760555092936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758197718484799725.post-47114671135915347402012-05-13T00:36:00.000-04:002012-05-13T00:36:09.646-04:00Flicker of Inspiration Linkup #50: MilestoneTime to link up for the 50th Flicker of Inspiration prompt! Your assignment was "<b>Milestone</b>" - like ours! What a coincidence! Write a story that's about or at least involves a milestone of some kind. Suggested word limit is around 1000.<br />
<br />
It's been a great 50, hoping for 500 more!<br />
<br />
Link up your post below! As has always been the case for nearly a year, the linkup will stay open until Wednesday night. Try to read as many other linkup posts as you can and do leave at least two or three thoughtful comments. We welcome any free publicity you feel like throwing around on Facebook or Twitter to help us grow the linkups and get a lot of positive participation, which is really the goal around here. Remember that the linkup stays open through Wednesday, so there may be posts added later in the week that you might like to check out.<br />
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