I feel I can safely broach this subject on a Saturday, since most people won't experience it again until Monday...
Today's writing warm-up for my A to Z Blogging Challenge is: R for Rush Hour.
1. You've had the day from hell, and all you want to do is get home, have a long soak in a scented bubble bath, and eat something stodgy and comforting in front of some trashy TV. But you're stuck in traffic. The motorway signs say "SLOW FOR 8 MILES" and you realise it's not just normal rush hour traffic. Vehicles come to a complete standstill and people start beeping horns and even get out of their cars to confront other drivers (use the 5 senses to conjure up the scene). Whatever happens next is going to change your life. Has a loved one been in the accident that's caused all the chaos? Does a dashing gentleman come to your rescue from a furious driver who wants to take out their anger on you? Does someone require immediate medical attention (heart/asthma/hypoglycemic attack?). Delve further...
2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).
3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:
- It was the worst possible time for her engine to cut out...
- I could feel a pair of eyes staring at me from the next car...
- He couldn't even call to let her know he was going to be late...
I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.
Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?
Take care,
Catherine x
Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)
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3 comments:
Thinking of rush hour and traffic jams always gets the blood flowing.
Is Anyone There
I was thinking zombie apocalypse! Heard screaming in my head and hoards of people fleeing from their cars...! Conjured a flesh eating frenzy.
Well I am a writer... ;-) Have a good weekend Catherine.
I hate rush hour traffic. It's like being a prisoner in your car that represents freedom.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
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