Archive for the ‘Fiction’ Category

January’s meeting launched our first collaborative word list of the year with 35 words. This year I am upping the bar for our members. Once a month we will generate a collaborative word list and I am asking for final drafts of their stories in time for our next month’s meeting, in this case February 27th. Holding myself to task as well, I have been working on my story on and off, catching moments where I can.

Our meeting was on the 16th so, words fresh in my mind, I began writing the next day. I find, lately, that I am most prolific working in an inexpensive, spiral-bound quadrille notebook. My word list is on another piece of paper that I have tucked into the notebook for easy reference. Out of the 35 words, I have used all but 19 of the words so far and have hand-written about 28 lines on one page. Aside from that, for some reason, I started making dialogue notes on the back of the back of the word list itself.

Trying to use the word list is the most fun I think. It pushes me to expand my vocabulary; some months further than others as we are always trying to mess with each other and throw in a ringer or two. Using the words, finding creative ways to either change their meaning, or making myself find a way to use the word in the tense it was provided, knocks me out of my comfort zone which is good.

Writing, like life, is a constant learning process. Approaching things from new angles and forcing yourself to find new ideas is a real challenge but it keeps your writing fresh and entertaining.

Where are you at in your final draft? Leave a comment below and let us know how it is going!