Pick up the nearest book and flip to page 29. What jumps out at you? Start there, and try a twist: write in the form of a letter.
Pick up the nearest book and flip to page 29. What’s the first word that jumps off the page? Use this word as your springboard for inspiration. If you need a boost, Google the word and see what images appear, and then go from there.
Today’s twist: write the post in the form of a letter.
You have a number of options: you can write a letter to the word or an image, or an open letter to the world inspired by the word. You could pen a series of imaginary notes between you and a friend, or between two fictional characters, or between old you and young you.
Using a letter format can help you find new ways to build engaging scenes and stories. If your word was “Monday,” you could write:
I have a bad case of the Mondays.
But you could also write:
Dear Monday,
I admit it: I’m never happy to see you. I dread you in the morning, and on the drive to work, and from what I see on my Facebook feed, no one else likes you either.
Get it together, Monday.
Sincerely,
Me
(Hat tip to Cheri for this brilliant summation of Mondays.)
For more inspiration, check out some of our favorite letters published on WordPress.com. We especially love this one addressed to cancer, and this note to a pair of boobs.
Want some constructive critique or camaraderie? Head to The Commons.
I just wanted to tell you I love the help and prompts, and will try them. Thank you.
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I love your comparison of our choices on this. “I have a bad case of the Mondays” bores me. But a letter to Monday gets my attention and I want to enjoy the writing from a mind who went there.
Thank you!
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Reply To Writing 101: To Whom It May Concern – Dearest
http://impossiblebebong.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/dearest/
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A letter to Monday gets my attention too – thanks! From there, I would write about Monday the person, as a real character with an unusual name. A person that nobody likes – why? What have they done?
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Too short? Or vague? Please let me know.
http://eachdayprecious.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/writing-101-to-whom-it-may-concern/
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I really enjoyed writing a letter. I started writing it a month ago but never got a chance to finish it. Today, I finally put everything in words and it felt awesome! lol http://wp.me/p1OEbC-3N
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The word I got was “storytelling” so I twisted it to fit my audience.
http://convome.com/to-whom-it-may-concern/
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Thanks so much for the inclusion Michelle! My Open Letter to My Boobs got a spike in views and I wondered where it was coming from. I’ve been thinking about how they might respond…. 😉
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Alright, here’s mine. It’s part of the series I’m working on so I’ve linked all the clips on here leading up to this scene in order for those who want to read it all. Big question, do you get why the last sentence is such a big deal? More personal question if you feel like sharing, have you had an ex who’s name you simply could not say without it always feeling like a big deal? http://amiecuscuriae.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/writing-101-to-whom-it-may-concern/
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AAAA! Amazinggg! I couldn’t ask for more. I’m falling in love with these assignments!
Here’s my post for today!
Let me know, comments, errors or whatever. I like creative criticism 🙂
http://wordytale.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/to-whoever-it-may-concern-writing-101/
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https://stylepath14.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/melourne-spring-fashion-week-2014/
Please do have a look guys and leave your feedback!
Spring was the word that cached my eye!
(This post is inspired by two different assignments)
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Wow. The letters from @drkategranger to her cancer are so powerful and so well written. She is dying and yet I am inspired. They left me in awe of her writing, her courage and her humanity. My first thoughts were that I should skip this assignment and give up writing. Instead I opened a Russell Bank’s book to the word “swim”. I’ve been drifting with my cancer, time to start swimming. Thank you for this assignment and the introduction to Kate’s blog.
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Here is mine. The word was “Thing”
http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2014/08/17/a-letter-to-thing/
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“Tousled” was the first word that jumped out at me… my hair was the first thing I thought of http://wp.me/p4P21q-3b
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http://bluecrescentfading.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/dear-control/
This was a fun assignment. I tried to complete it quickly in keeping without much editing in keeping with with my” control” . Hope you like 🙂
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My word was “clown” 🙂
http://youaintspecial.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/clown/
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I had fun making this one. Here’s mine:
http://allenjambalaya.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/a-childs-letter-to-a-butterfly-flash-fiction/
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Thanks for throwing in a fun one! I only have cookbooks in the house and on page 28 (29 was a picture of dinner) it was Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. Love Tyler Florence! Now I am hungry for chicken.
http://smilinginsonoma.wordpress.com/learning-curve/learning-curve-in-writing-101/
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I got the word cadaver. Let’s see how this goes…
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Thank you for the prompt about writing to a fictional character, I have already done so picked up a word which stood out in a book and was fun writing as images kept flooding into my mind. I may make this my own style of writing because there was so much which I wanted to write about . Ideas kept flowing into my mind. It was really inspiring.I will see where this takes me. Thanks again.
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“A letter to Joy.” http://eadamsgrace.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/writing-101-to-whom-it-may-concern/
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This will be quite different. 😕
Daughter of the Prince of Peace
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Lessons from an 80 year old… http://mewhoami.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/youthful/
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I got a number: 365– so I began a journal instead of writing a post. It’s hard to maintain my style of writing and include the differing themes you have each week but I try in incorporate the stuff on occasion! Thanks for the inspiration. Check it out at: http://loveisnecessary.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/starting-a-new-page/
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Here’s my effort 🙂 Really enjoyed this challenge, haven’t written anything creative in over a month. This just kind of leaked out uncontrollably. “This is a woman’s resolve.” http://fairmountox.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/this-is-a-womans-resolve/
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I Hate mondays because waking up at monday mornings makes me realize that i have to wake up early for other 5 days.
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I’ll be honest and say I had difficulty with this one. Skuytercliff
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http://writerswritewords.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/skuytercliff/
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What a neat idea! I think I’ll go do it now.
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Short and sweet.
http://creatingcane.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/writing-101-to-whom-it-may-concern/
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Here’s my post for the day. This one seemed hard until I got going. These challenges are fun! http://livingwithlesslookingformore.com/2014/10/03/together/
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