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The Long Island Writers' Guild Workshop Writing Exercises

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Writing Exercises from the May 5, 2005 Meeting at the Levittown Library

Write something that incorporates one, two or all three of the following words: Blue, Ice Cream, Birthday.

Writing Exercises from the April 21, 2005 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) Why did I get so many handouts at the Writers' Guild?

2) How many pages can you get out of a dead tree?

3) Symbols that are important to me.

4) Why I don't want to win the lottery.

5) My first published book will be about...

Writing Exercises from the April 7, 2005 Meeting at the Levittown Library

Write or rewrite a tale from Sesame Street. (Parable, Allegory, Satire, Parody)

Writing Exercises from the March 24, 2005 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) The room was dark but for one beam of light.

2) Green critters lined the window sill.

3) A man in a purple nehru suit approached me and said ...

Writing Exercises from the March 3, 2005 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) How I would rewrite xyz. i.e movie, book

2) Tell us the story about the boy/girl/teenager/adult alone in the Port Authority Bus Terminal / Penn Station.

Writing Exercises from the January 27, 2005 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) What you wouldn't do for a million dollars.

Writing Exercises from the January 16, 2003 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) I would like to participate in, volunteer, contribute to, organize the following activities with the LIWG: Writing Workshops, Coffee House Readings, Anthology Contest, Other Contests, Guest Speakers, Holiday Party, Jones Beach Night, Channel 21, Librarian, Quarterly Newsletter, Web Site Design/Content Maintenance, Guest Moderator/Lecturer

2) Wandering Characters: Conflicts - territorial, family, sexual, possession. Internal conflicts - next meal, self inflicted guilt, regrets. Occupation - migrant workers. Setting - Kosher Deli, US Highway 1 (Spatial, light, sensory). Objects that must be symbolic or flag something for the reader - bottle, magic lantern, broken locket, empty wallet, black arch.

3) Why I hate or like New Year's Resolutions.

Writing Exercise from the April 18, 2002 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) Tell us about the most remarkable / memorable town on Long Island.

Writing Exercises from the March 21, 2002 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) There ought to be a law.

2) Write a poem using these musical words: bellybutton, serendipity, triskaidekaphobia, loquacious, onomatopoeia, melodious, incomprehensible, harmonizing

3) If I could do one thing over...

4) The light at the end of the tunnel was a train.

5) The torture of the wait/weight.

6) Take four archetypes and build them into a poem, short story or essay.

Writing Exercises from the March 7, 2002 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) I opened the letter.

2) My barber is bald.

3) I found the wallet.

4) I lost my cool.

5) Where do the lost soul's go?

Writing Exercises from the February 7, 2002 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) Write a thank you note to yourself.

2) Tell us a story about an unspoken conflict.

3) The first day of school.

4) Why I joined the Taliban

5) Afraid / Fear

6) When I grow up (I will...)

7) Death

8) Joy

9) Bubble Wrap

10) A brief discourse on infinity.

Writing Exercises from the November 15, 2001 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) Write a story with 3 famous people having a conversation.

2) Create a story with 5 uncommon objects.

3) Create a story with 2 famous quotes.

4) Create a story with 4 curious or unusual verbs.

5) My deathbed confession.

Writing Exercises from the November 1, 2001 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) As he/she drank to the bottom of the glass he saw written on the base "You've just been poisoned."

2) What I always wanted to dress as on Halloween.

3) What I would be if I decided to grow up.

4) On my 18th birthday, I found out I was adopted.

5) What I did when I found out I lost the winning lottery ticket.

6) When I suspected my neighbor was a terrorist.

7) The times they are a changin': My reaction to the World Trade Center tradgedy.

Writing Exercises from the October 18, 2001 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) About the World Trade Center.

2) The romantic date I wish I could do over.

3) Small Pox and Anthrax.

4) When they asked for my help, I wondered what they really meant.

5) If only...

6) Observing rituals.

7) I should have backed out, but it was too late.

Writing Exercises from the August 2, 2001 Meeting at the Bethpage Library

1) Tell us a story that begins with a vanity or specialty license plate.

2) I did it! or I didn't do it!

3) It was the best of times.....

4) Two "regular Joes" on a blind date.

5) Tell us a story about an alternate lifestyle Barbie or a stage of life Barbie (e.g. Shuffleboard Barbie).

6) Locked up for something I didnt do.

Writing Exercises from the July 19, 2001 Meeting at the Levittown Library

1) My advice to new writers is...

2) Write the obituary of a famous person/author/literary figure/person in your community.

3) Two famous literary characters on a blind date.

4) You find yourself alone and disoriented in a foreign airport.

5) Write a scene as a developing conflict between an individual and a group.

6) What I see when I look out of my window.