Lighthouses Through Life Writing Prompts Free PDFThe writing prompt posts on the 15th of each month are for writing groups, quick writes, flash fiction, and class for teachers.
People need "lighthouses" through life in areas such as friendships, mentors, teachers, relatives, and helpers. Let your light shine! Help someone!
“Don’t forget that maybe you are the lighthouse in someone’s storm.” – UnknownPerhaps an physical lighthouse has helped a ship or boat you were traveling on at some point. Did you know a "daymark" refers to the colors of the lighthouse to help mariners tell the difference between them during daylight? Did you ever wonder why they were different colors or had stripes? I did but I thought people had different ideas at different times through history. This is the link is to the free instant PDF download for this month's prompts.
Have you seen "Up" the movie? One quote from it is
"Adventure is out there."
— Up (Movie) Simple yet profound. I never thought about hot air balloons finding lighthouses. What else might rely on lighthouses?
Lighthouses themselves take quite a battering during storms, but stand strong. Sometimes a friend who helps us might be experiencing some sort of storm, yet they are able to carry on and help another. Did that ever happen to you?
Did you ever think about how the inside stairway in a lighthouse has the same shape as a nautilus shell? I'm sure you have heard the phrase that progress is not always in a straight line or orderly fashion. Is climbing a stairway like this something that makes you think? If you didn't know what was at the top, what would you think might be there?
What desolate places lighthouses might be, such as this one on top of lots of rocks. Just think of working in such a location, back in the day when a lightkeeper had to keep the fire burning. Now people don't have to live in lighthouses, but can rent, perhaps.
There are six text prompts, and eight picture prompts. As always, there is a coloring page for any children who might attend writing group with a parent, for whatever reason.
Good luck with your writing! These prompts may be used for quick writes, beginning, ending, or actual full writing pieces depending on where the winds may blow.
Happy day,
The prompts are on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers and Readers Blog and post the 15th of each month.
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
EVERYBODY'S A CRITIC!
Get Your Writing Noticed by Top Critics -
Or Become One Yourself
Wednesday, May 25
7 pm Pacific on Zoom |
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The old saying that "everybody's a critic" is more apt than ever.
Writers must maneuver a world of hidden dragons that impact how their novel, script, or essay is received. Trends, platforms, inclusion, diversity equality / equity, social media presence, political polarization, and cancel culture influence our work in ways we can't avoid. Look at recent firestorms over J.K. Rowling, Woody Allen, Dave Chappelle and others. No one's work stands above the fray!
In addition to pleasing the critics, we'll also discuss the qualities that separate top critics of books and other media from the mediocre - and what you need to know if you aspire to join their ranks. Here are some of the issues our panelists will address: - How does diversity, equality/equity, and Inclusion change the game for writers and their stories and films?
- How do writers get the attention of the critics that matter?
- What are the ethics of fair and unfair reviewing?
- Regarding cancel culture: is it possible (or even desirable) any longer to separate the art from the artist?
- Is there even a role for the professional critic in today's world?
- How can we break in and become a professional critic ourselves?
IWOSC's panel of experienced writers are: |
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RAY RICHMOND is a leading entertainment journalist, critic, columnist, and author. His most recent bestselling book: the coffee table bio Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life. |
HERBIE J PILATO is a writer, producer, director, singer/
songwriter, and entertainment executive. He's written many books on iconic TV shows and personalities, and hosts his own TV show, Then Again with Herbie J Pilato. |
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DEBRA LEVINE is an internationally published arts journalist and commentator for institutions and television. She's also the founder and publisher of arts•meme, the fine-arts blog. |
SAM BUNTZ writes in many venues:  essays and think pieces for media outlets and his blog (The Muted Trumpet) as well as books, short stories, and songs (His group is the Carmelittles). |
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MEKEISHA MADDEN TOBY is a  seasoned TV critic and journalist who writes for outlets like People, CNN, Shondaland, more. Her podcast TV Madness with Mekeisha Madden Toby has been broadcast since 2010. |
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Free to IWOSC Members; Non-members $15
Deadline for advance registration is noon the Tuesday before the meeting.
We will not accept RSVPs after this time! |
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IWOSC Wednesday Panel
Monday, May 25, 2022
7 to 9 pm Pacific
The Zoom link will be sent to you after your RSVP & payment (if needed) is received.. Please allow up to a week for this, as the process is not automated. Save the link, or put it in your calendar. |
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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
By Karen Cioffi, Children's Ghostwriter
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to make the reader wonder. It gives the story a sense of mystery or anticipation. It can also create tension.
According to Literary Devices (1), using this device, “a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story."
Foreshadowing is a great device to keep the reader involved in the story and the characters.
There are a number of foreshadowing strategies. Below are four of them.
An Approaching Event
An example of this type of foreshadowing is in “Walking Through Walls.” Wang (the protagonist) listens as his friend, Chen, tell how neighboring warriors kidnapped his sister.
The reader surmises or anticipates that there will be an upcoming battle to rescue Chen’s sister.
The Pre-scene
A pre-scene hints at something on the horizon.
Another example might be a new student entering a classroom and another student eyes him up and down. Nothing else happens in that particular scene.
The reader automatically anticipates there will be trouble between the boys down the road.
In an article at Novel Writing Help, “a pre-scene is simply a smaller version of a larger scene to come. They are not significant by themselves, but they imply that there is something more spectacular waiting to happen right around the corner.” (2)
The Loaded Gun
This strategy is attributed to Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov.
He said, "If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on a wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there." (3)
This type of foreshadowing doesn’t have to use a gun; it could be any object.
For example, suppose a boy is cleaning out the attic of a hundred-year-old home for a neighbor. He finds an old corroded coin. He absent-mindedly shoves it in his pocket.
The reader knows the coin is significant and expects something to happen pertaining to it in the story. If the writer is smart, she will fulfil the reader’s expectation.
The Prophecy
With this type of foreshadowing, a glimpse of misfortune to come from something that happens is given to the reader.
As an example, the albatross is a sign of good luck if seen by sailors. With the reader being privy to this knowledge, a sailor sees one fly over his ship at the midway point on every voyage he’s on. But, on this particular voyage, there is no albatross to be seen.
The implication to the reader is that there is going to be trouble for this sailor and this voyage.
Don’t Overdo It
While adding foreshadowing to your fiction story is an effective writing device, you don’t want to overdo it.
In an article at NY Book Editors, it explains that “to balance your story, there needs to be revelations and circumstances that catch the reader off-guard. If your reader is in a constant state of analysis [over foreshadowing], your pacing will suffer. To strike the perfect balance, introduce hints but then jolt your reader with something unexpected.” (4)
If you’d like to read more about foreshadowing and your fiction writing, check out the references below.
Foreshadowing is an excellent literary device when used properly. As mentioned early, it creates reader anticipation among other things.
This post was originally published at:
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/2018/04/08/writing-fiction-what-is-foreshadowing/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 is an award-winning children’s author and children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move, and an author online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing.
Karen’s children’s books include Walking Through Walls and The Case of the Stranded Bear. She also has a DIY book, How to Write Children’s Fiction Books. You can check them out at: https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/karens-books/. If you need help with your children’s story, visit: https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com.
A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.
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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (http://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
Interview Your Characters
Guest Post By Donna Schlachter
"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. . . "
When I sit down to create characters for a new project, this tune runs through my head. This is one truth writers ought to embrace: we need to know our characters better than anybody in our book does. Better than our readers will know them by the time they finish reading.
If we don't know our characters, we'll tend to write flat, one-dimensional people, like paper dolls who are simply wearing an outfit called "their story", and are as interchangeable as--well, a paper doll.
Another danger in not knowing our characters is we'll write three chapters getting to know them, wasting paper and the reader's time as we plow our way through their back story, their history, until we finally get to the point where our story really starts, about halfway through Chapter 4.
There are many methods to get to know your characters. Some of these require you to sit down and fill out a questionnaire that would cause most of us to lose our minds or at the very least, our excitement about our stories. While the details and minutiae of these questionnaires might work for some, many of us will struggle to answer what our character's third grade teacher said that made him decide to become a private investigator twenty years later.
Bored with filling out forms, making up answers to questions I hadn't even thought of, and wanting to get on with the process of writing, I came up with a faster and more direct way to get to know my characters--I interview them.
I pretend I'm a famous talk show host and my character is a guest on my show. As a famous talk show host, I know everybody in the world will want to hear what I have to say and how I can make my character squirm on live TV. So I come up with questions will cause said squirming because I know how the story goes and what secrets my character is trying to keep.
Go ahead. Be catty. Be devious. Dig up the dirt. What would someone who reads one of those supermarket tabloids want to know about your character? And why would your character not want to tell the truth, not want to break a confidence, not want you to know everything about them?
Because characters are real people, and real people rarely tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Even good people hide some things, hold back some things, try to make themselves look good perhaps at the expense of another.
Here is a list of questions I typically ask to get started:
1. How did you get the job you have?
2. What's your background that qualified you for that job?
3. Tell me about ___________ (the inciting incident in the book).
4. Tell me about ___________ (could be the love interest, the villain, the hero/heroine. Whoever is making this character's life difficult or messy in some way)
5. Tell me about ____________ (whatever you know your character doesn't want to talk about. A past hurt, a secret, a rumor, an innuendo – anything that will make it look like this character isn't telling all)
6. Bring up a topic that's in the news now, and tie it into this character and the plot in some way. For example, if the character is a forest ranger, and poaching by forest rangers is in the news, ask what he thinks should be done to poachers and then what should be done to poachers who are also guardians of the woodland. Watch him squirm.
7. Ask what the character sees in his/her future.
By the time you ask and your character answers these questions, you should have a good idea of what motivates your character, what scares your character, what your character is trying to hide and why, the lie your character believes, what the internal and external conflicts are, and the growth arc of your character.
Takeaway: Finding out your character's deepest secret so you can blab it across the pages of your book is a good thing.
Exercises:
1. Choose one character from your current work in progress and interview him/her.
2. What questions didn't he/she want to answer? Why? Add this to your back story for this character.
3. How can another character capitalize on knowing this information? Does this change your story in some way? Write in that new plot line.
MORE ABOUT DONNA
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both.
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
www.DonnaSchlachter.com/blog
Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=donna+schlachter
Etsy online shop of original artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dare2DreamUS
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
Bridges Writing Prompts for Writing Groups and Teachers 
 Just when I think I am out of writing prompt ideas, my friend Crystal shares another one of her paintings. This one is of the rope bridge in Northern Ireland. She is a plein air painter. Her beautiful homeschooling blog is Castle View Academy, which is very close to the Game of Throne locations. We saw several when we visited her and went on a local tour. The day we were there (thankfully for me) it was too windy to cross the bridge. It was also raining but that did not stop the busloads of people dressed as Game of Throne characters who were touring the area. Anyway, terms such as crossed that bridge, we'll burn that bridge when we get to it, there are people on both sides of the bridge, or bridge the gap are metaphors. The idea of a people bridge is a metaphor.
Metaphor is often regarded just as a device for embellishing discourse, but its significance is much greater than this. The use of metaphor implies a way of thinking and a way of seeing that pervade how we understand our world generally. I hope some writing groups or teachers might find the bridge free prompt PDF instant download helpful for quick writes, group exit writing pieces, or individual writing practice. Just as an artist begins to paint an image, writers have to start somewhere, as well. Photos, art, and images help provide inspiration.
The first photo is of a rope bridge. Cross the rope bridge they said, it will be fun they said is the text prompt. Of course, one page has the image only for those who like to think up their own ideas from pictures.
Next is an image of a long bridge, both with and without a text prompt. Long bridges might bring some thoughts to mind. I didn't include the quote but it might be an idea. For some reason, I also though of (but left off) the rainbow bridge. Brainstorming bridge ideas will be easy for a group prior to writing.
"A bridge is like a relationship. You work hard and for a long time to make it strong and then you can expect nothing to change."
Sometimes people are happy to burn a bridge. Maybe a bad job, bad relationship, or experience would be good to leave behind. This image has a text prompt, and also a page with the image only.
This looks like a bridge to nowhere. What might that be about?
There are more pages with and without text prompts, and a coloring page for the littles who might be tagging along to writing group.
Good luck with your writing! These prompts may be used for quick writes, beginning, ending, or actual full writing pieces depending on where the winds may blow.
Happy day,
The prompts are on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers and Readers Blog and post the 15th of each month.
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
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IWOSC’s Director of Programs, is also a film and television reviewer. He's written 
