Today, write about a loss. The twist: make this the first post in a three-post series.
Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more.
This doesn’t need to be a depressing exercise; you can write about that time you lost the three-legged race at a picnic. What’s important is reflecting on this experience and what it meant for you — how it felt, why it happened, and what changed because of it.
Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.
Our blogs are often made of standalone posts, but using them to take readers on longer journeys is an immersive experience for them — and you. It allows you to think bigger and go deeper into an idea, while using a hook that keeps readers coming back.
A series can take many forms:
- Recurring features of the same type of post, like The Stakes’ Game of Thrones recaps or Chronicles of an Anglo-Swiss’ responses to daily prompts.
- Posts on the same topic, where each builds on the last, like Literature and Libations’ multi-part posts on becoming a beer writer.
- Fiction, where each post gives readers the next chapter or a new story, like the work at Flashes in the Pan and 300 Stories.
We also have advice that might help. If you decide to go serial, we’ve got days scheduled for parts two and three, so don’t worry about writing everything now or having to shoehorn the other posts in.
Looking for feedback on your new trilogy? Head to The Commons.
I already know what I’m writing about. It’s a very touchy topic, but I’m ready to share it with all of you.
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I’m thinking to write on something touchy as well – do you think people will be interested/ready for it? This is just something very close to my heart, and I wonder if I’m ready…
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I’m interested and ready! 🙂
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… and yours too! Writing from the beloved parts of our heart can be very releasing as well make for wonderful pieces.
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I would love to read something from the heart. I’m thinking of writing about something close to my heart. This is going to help me push through a tough time in my life.
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I’m with you. I’ve written something, but I don’t know if I want to put it out there.
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Well, did it. You brave people who clicked publish first gave me the kick on the bum I needed.
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I’m new to blogging and posted my first post last night. I have a drafted post on the loss of my parents. It was definitely releasing writing the piece.
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I think successful blog posts can be broken into three categories, informative, entertaining, and honest. I think touchy/emotional topics are hard for us to write about sometimes, but they are incredibly compelling to read. Look forward to some great posts with this topic.
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Yeah I went touchy too
its coming out very shortly…
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Can’t wait to read it! 😀
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I’d love to read it!
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I don’t even know where to start! Truly challenging!
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Exactly! I’ve got a confusion of ideas!
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Love that, “a confusion of ideas.”
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As long as you have ideas that’s good and adding confusion of ideas. just write it down, confuse yourself and us as well. don’t take loss as a sad thing, sometime you need to be really creative and insane in doing things to make it more interesting.
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And keep the title attractive, i choose what i read based on its title. be creative, be insane just release it all into this world.
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Done! Also in case you’re wondering, I can type again.
http://dumbifyisnotaword.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/not-blog-4-its-a-joke/
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Hm… I know what I will be writing about, too, but it is depressive. Let’s see if I can make it work without getting too upset.
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That’s the problem I’m having! So I guess the trick is how to make it.. I don’t know. One of those depressing things that people get something out of. Good luck! I look forward to seeing yours!
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Thank you! Same here. Let’s hope we’ll make it… 🙂
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I guess one way to work with that is to include whatever you might have learned from the experience. Or what helped you get through it. That way, even if it’s a depressing topic, it might help someone else going through something similar. Or think about what you wish someone had said or done to you at the time.
I don’t know–just a thought.
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It’s a crazy concept that some successful comedians have learned to do and those that were oppressed do too – laugh through the tears and smile through the hate. Hope this helps both you Angie and Sahara. You’re still here and possibly on the other side of the pain. So when the tears fall…tell us; when the story enrages you within…describe it. Enjoy your healing and your freedom. We salute you in advance – life soldiers
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What awesome advice! Wow – I will take that to heart (even though I was not a part of it). I actually did a 2nd write after my first which was a little too flippant for me, so I chose something more heart-wrenching.
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Yes, I guess you are right. I did actually write about losing my mum shortly after it happened, buy never punished it. It did masochistically help healing. Today I chose the coward’s approach though by writing about another type of loss. Maybe one day I will pluck up the courage and write about my mum after all!
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Be Inspired – Thank you for your encouraging words. I dove in, and found I may be onto something. Thanks again for your support. 🙂
http://creosomnium.org/2014/06/05/pale-whisper-the-loss-trilogy-pt-1/
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Mine is depressing as well, it was hard to write so I kept it short. Sometimes less is more.
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I looked but did not see the entry.. did you publish it yet?
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Yes, it is the letters to my angels part 1, I didn’t put writing 101 in it anywhere
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OH! And it is on my http://www.raphsodibreece.wordpress.com
Wrong blog lol
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You are right…
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When will we be able to post the second and third parts of the post?
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We’ll prompt you for part two and three a little later in the month. The exact dates are a state secret. 😀
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Awww… That’s mean! 🙂 I have already planned my other two stories accordingly. I am far too organised, am I. :-))
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So thought provoking! I need to take some time on this one!
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I’m going to write about loss of a parent who has vanished and the effects of that.
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This prompt is literally a riff on what is already the ongoing theme of my blog. So how do I do this without repeating myself? Hmmm …
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can anybody please make me understand this in a simple language….:Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.
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You have to make a sort of a trilogy. Part 1, part 2 and part 3.
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but a trilogy of what?? please help
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It’ss up to you. You choose!
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so are they asking to create a post in 3 fragments.. OMG it’s making me crazy. i am not still able to understand
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Yeah something like that. You could start a story and break it down into three parts.
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Or you could write 3 stories which are related, and link them at the end.
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Yes, I agree with thishideousheart, re-tell the story from the beginning but in a way that can be broken into three parts. It may give you an idea that is a fresh new view on the story you have already been working on and force you to condense it into three parts.
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thanks for that much..:) appreciated
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The overall topic is about loss.
Optionally (as part of the “twist”) you can do a trilogy. Part 1 would post today, and then part 2 tomorrow, and then part 3 the day after.
Hope that helps 🙂
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thank you so much for helping me..:)
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@aiman peer, you’re very welcome 🙂 It takes me a couple times of reading to really figure out the assignments XD
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So wait, can I write all three today itself, or should I save the other two for day five and day six?
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You only write part one for today’s post. The instructions say they have days scheduled for parts 2 & 3. Good luck.
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Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
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I’m too resentful to write a post on the living people who disappeared from my life, and too sad to write about the dead ones. So, I’ll focus on lost stuff. Inanimate objects often have a story to tell.
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That is a really good idea, and helps draw away from the negative aspects of loss.
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Wow, great idea.
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Yes! Reminds me of a great novel by Lauren Beukes called Zoo City — the main character, Zinzi December has a sixth sense of sorts, the ability to find lost objects for people. I highly recommend it. (It’s a bit dark at times, but it’s a fantastic read.)
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So does this mean that you have days in the curriculum for parts 2 and 3? Or do we schedule them out ourselves from here? I just don’t want to write 3 parts only to find out that you’ve already written them into the curriculum later on.
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If I remember right, in the directions they said they had part 2 and 3 built into the curriculum so it wouldn’t be a matter of having to write an extra piece.
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Yep, parts two and three are upcoming assignments.
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But if we chose not to embrace the twist, those prompts will also be able to be written stand-alone, I presume?
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@Alison, yes — you’re more than welcome to do this as a stand-alone — going serial is optional.
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This is gonna stress me out . . . but here goes
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You can do it!
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Thanks for the encouragement. You were right I could do it. Wrote about losing Madagascar when I leave 😦
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http://maryteacherisat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/06/loss.html
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Hm, this is hard. D: I have no idea what to pick. I don’t want to go for depressing but an idea keeps popping up that won’t let go so I’ll work with it! Maybe it will help me let go of the hurt.
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Sounds tricky, but I think I have an idea coming on and the fact that we can work on it over several posts helps
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Trying to think of all the ways a loss can be positive…This is a tricky subject, and if I’m going to write on it three times I want it to be upbeat!
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It is tricky indeed..I don’t want it to be too depressing either but how could you possibly make loss sound upbeat- loss of life that is! I suppose if we talk about inanimate things i suppose we could inject humour into it.
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I’m hoping to be able to replace the original lost subject with something even better. We’ll see! Good luck to you.
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This could be a good one. Just this morning I was telling some friends about a particular recurring loss in my life that has happened 3 times. Hmmmm…..now to get it “on paper” and stay true to the theme of my blog 🙂 thanks for the challenge…
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I’m trying to figure out the same thing. So blank lately.
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Sounds like a great assignment. I’ll start it later though as it’s quite late here and I’m very tired and unable to concentrate enough to get this started just now.
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*sigh*. Thank you ‘Writing 101’ for this. I really like good memories 😀
http://pizzasandthat.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/remembering-that-smile/
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The link says that post is missing?
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yeahh… I had to set it to private for a moment there. It should be okay to open now 🙂
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http://mysteryboxesandmoviemagic.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/sometimes-things-just-dont-work-out/
I appreciate any feedback!
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I decided to go with a poetic metaphor of what I’m writing about. And chopping up the poem in 3 parts. So it’ll get to the loss, eventually, here is part 1, look for the rest soon: http://poeticbrew.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/writing-101-day-4-the-serial-killer-i-the-trees-spring/
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Perfect!! This works brilliantly with a draft I’ve been working on. My toddler recently befriended a pumpkin and carried it around for a week. I’m focusing more on the trilogy twist than the main directive – although there will certainly be discussion of loss.
http://lookingglassmama.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/the-pumpkin-and-the-boy/
How did I go with making you want to read the rest of the story?
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It’s time to talk a trip down memory lane.
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http://thoughtsofajunkiemisfit.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/the-serial-killer/
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Michelle, I know exactly what I want to write about which is great. But, does this exercise need to be in story form or can I write based on my blog style which is in rant form? Does it matter?
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You can rant, you can rave, you can write in any style or format that intrigues you.
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However you like it, and add some crazy things with it then it will be good. it will depend on your title.
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http://dx0330.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/the-serial-killer/
My Interpretation of today’s … topic!
If you read it, I sincerely hope that at the very least it makes sense, even if it’s not your cup of tea (or if you just don’t like what I’ve written)
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Well, today I make use of a blog laying in waiting, previously written. It’s here, and called “What If”. http://www.buddycushmanart.com
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In life, you gain some and lose some but certainly there is someting to pick along th way. Do you agree with that? “loss of time is not loss of life, move on”. My today post http://keempres.wordpress.com/writing 101,Day Four:Serial Killer/2014-6-5/
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I know the feeling, but common! this is your terrain. warm regards
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