RATS! Writing & Dreams & COVID-19
Posted by David Duhr in 
Discussion questions: Have you been having strange dreams since COVID-19 came along and created all this uncertainty in our lives? Do your dreams ever lead to new writing, or even appear in your writing? What’s the most bizarre and/or vivid dream you’ve ever had? Let’s talk in the comments about the connection between dreams and writing. read more
Reading & Writing Burnout
Discussion questions: Does your working life consist of a lot of reading and writing, and if so, how does that impact your literary life? Do you sometimes find it difficult to read and/or write for pleasure after a long day of doing those things for work? Does technology have a similar impact on your ability to read and write for pleasure? How do we combat these things?
Micro Fiction Contest: You Shouldn’t Have Waited This Long
“You shouldn’t have waited this long… idiot”
Discussion questions: Using fifty words or fewer, write a short story or scene that includes the line “You shouldn’t have waited this long.” Write or past your story (or stories — enter as many times as you wish!) into the comments. read more
Writing & Reading Goals 2020: 50-Yard Line
Discussion questions: Are you on pace to hit the 2020 writing and reading goals you laid out at the beginning of the year? In what ways has the COVID-19 situation affected, or even altered, your goals and your approach? What’s your plan for the rest of the year, reading- and writing-wise? What are the biggest roadblocks in your way? Let’s discuss in the comments.
The Best Passage You’ve Written in 2020 (So Far)
Discussion questions: What is the best thing you’ve written this year? A line or passage that made you sit back and think, “Wow, I’m a talented writer!” And are you willing to share it with us? If so, copy/paste it in the comments below. Provide some context if you want, or let your words speak for themselves. Fiction or non, poetry or screenplay, even text message or email, let’s see an example of your best work of 2020.
My Monday-Morning Quarterback is an A**hole
Discussion questions: There are many more at the bottom of this unfocused, winding post, but here are a few: Do you ever feel exhilarated during and/or after a writing session only to crash hard the next day? Do you read your WIP as you go, or do you forge ahead without looking back? Do you like to write? What’s the worst thing your internal critic tells you?
Protests & Pandemic: General Discussion
Discussion questions: No specific questions, although there are a few suggestions below. I want this to be a space where we can keep in touch with each other during this unsettling time and talk about whatever we want to talk about, whether related to the protests, the pandemic, our writing, or none of the above. read more
Micro Fiction Contest: Take Your Accordion and Buzz Off
Discussion questions: Using fifty words or fewer, write a short story or scene that begins with the line “Take your accordion and buzz off” and ends with “I should think so.” Write or past your story into the comments. read more
Why Do You Want to Publish a Book?
Discussion questions: Why do you want to write a book? Why do you want to publish a book? Between process (writing) and product (publication), which is more important to you, and why? Let’s talk about it in the comments. read more
Recommended Reads: One-Sitting Books
Discussion questions: What are some of your favorite one-sitting books? What do you find appealing about one-sitting books? Have you ever written one? Let’s talk about it in the comments. read more
Micro Fiction Contest: “Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt”
Discussion questions: In one hundred (100) words or fewer, write a scene or story that includes the phrase “Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt.” Write or paste your story into the comments.
Can Creativity Be Forced?
Discussion questions: Do you ever try to force creativity, and does it ever work? Can movement and/or a change of scenery help you? What methods do you have for clearing the mental clutter? Let’s talk about creativity — and ways to foster it — in the comments. read more
- RT @aravosis: Louie Gohmert would be fine today if only he hadn’t been tested.
- RT @BillCorbett: The @DNC: VOTE! Democratic voters: Please give us this thing most of us want and need, to survive? @DNC: No way, fuck…
- RT @Millicentsomer: that does sound dangerous. like, a guy w/no identifying information on his uniform could come and beat him or throw him…