Writing Exercise
Written As A He
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: Write a page in the first person, assuming the voice of someone of the opposite gender. This can be a description, a narrative, or a segment of autobiography. The main point is to completely lose yourself and become another. The Objective: To learn how to draw convincing verbal portraits of characters different from yourself and to make them sympathetic, rounded, and complex, even though you don’t especially “like” them or admire what they represent.
By Denise E Lindquistabout a year ago in Writers
Dollar Challenge - Country Roads Challenge (September edition)
Here's the challenge I set for June Dollar Challenge - Invention Edition If you're familiar with these little prompts from me, they are quotes that inspired or stuck with me in some way. They might be from books, songs, films, or, not to put too fine a point on it, memes.
By L.C. Schäferabout a year ago in Writers
Marie Curie: A Woman Who Changed Science. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Childhood in Poland: Marie Curie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. Her real name was Maria Sklodowska. She grew up in a family that loved learning. Her father was a teacher of mathematics and physics. He often showed his children scientific tools, like magnets and glass instruments. But life was hard. Poland was under Russian rule, and education for women was not welcomed. Universities in Poland did not accept girls. Maria loved to study, but she could not go to a normal university. She joined a secret school called the “Flying University.” There, students met in hidden rooms and learned science and philosophy. It was risky, but Maria wanted knowledge more than anything. Journey to Paris; Maria dreamed of studying in Paris, where women were allowed to enter universities. To earn money, she worked as a governess for many years, teaching children of rich families. She studied by herself at night, saving every coin... In 1891, she finally went to Paris. She changed her name to Marie. Life there was very difficult. She lived in a tiny room, often cold and hungry. Many days she only ate bread and tea. But she worked hard. She studied physics and mathematics at the Sorbonne University. At first, many male students did not believe a woman could do well. But Marie was determined. She studied day and night and soon became one of the top students in her class. Meeting Pierre Curie; In Paris, Marie met Pierre Curie, a quiet and brilliant scientist. They shared the same passion for discovery. Soon, they got married and started working together. Their love was not only personal but also scientific. The Great Discovery; At that time, a scientist named Henri Becquerel had found that some rocks gave off mysterious rays. Marie and Pierre decided to study these rays. They worked in a small, broken shed that was cold in winter and very hot in summer. They stirred heavy pots of a black mineral called pitchblende, hoping to find something new. The work was very hard. Marie often worked until her hands were red and blistered. Finally, in 1898, Marie and Pierre discovered a new element. She named it polonium, after her homeland, Poland. Later that same year, they discovered another element, radium. Radium gave off a beautiful blue-green light in the dark. The discoveries were amazing. Doctors soon learned radium could be used to treat cancer. First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize!!!!! In 1903, the Nobel Prize committee wanted to give the prize only to Pierre and Becquerel. Pierre refused and insisted that Marie’s name must be included. Finally, Marie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Physics!!!!!
By MUHAMMAD UMAIR KHANabout a year ago in Writers
The Arrival of 2000 year . Content Warning. AI-Generated.
The Arrival of the New Year.., When the year 1999 was coming to an end, people all around the world were filled with excitement, curiosity, and also a little bit of fear. The arrival of the year 2000 was not just the beginning of a new year. It was the beginning of a brand-new century and, even more, the start of a new millennium. For many, it felt like stepping into a doorway that led to a different world. The Final Days of 1999!! In the last weeks of December 1999, cities across the globe were preparing for grand celebrations. Colorful lights decorated streets, shops played cheerful music, and television channels counted down the days and hours left until midnight. Families spoke with joy about what the future might bring, while children dreamed of flying cars, robots, and magical technology that could change their lives. But at the same time, many people felt nervous. There was a popular worry known as the “Y2K problem.” Some experts said that when the clock struck midnight, many computers might fail because they were programmed to read only the last two digits of a year. For example, the year 2000 could be mistaken for 1900. People feared airplanes might stop in the sky, banks might lose records, or even power systems might fail. Newspapers were filled with reports, and governments worked hard to check their systems. The Moment of Change!!! Finally, the night of December 31, 1999, arrived. The whole world seemed to hold its breath. In Sydney, Australia, fireworks lit up the sky first, as it was one of the first major cities to welcome the new year. Soon after, Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow, Paris, London, and finally New York followed. People hugged, kissed, and cheered in the streets. Church bells rang, music played, and fireworks painted the skies with brilliant colors. To everyone’s relief, the world did not collapse. Computers continued to work, planes kept flying, and banks remained open. The fear of the Y2K problem slowly disappeared, and laughter replaced worry. People realized they had entered the new century safely, and now they could focus on their hopes and dreams. A New Century, A New Dream!!! The year 2000 felt like a fresh page in history. Leaders spoke about peace and cooperation. Scientists dreamed about medical discoveries. Environmentalists hoped for a cleaner planet. Technology companies promised inventions that would change human life forever... Young people, especially, felt inspired. They were the new generation stepping into the 21st century. Many believed that this would be the age of knowledge, creativity, and global unity. The internet was still new to most homes, but it carried the promise of connecting people from different corners of the earth. Mobile phones, once rare, were slowly becoming common. The sense of possibility was in the air. The Symbol of Hope! For ordinary families, the year 2000 was a symbol of hope. Parents told their children that they were lucky to live at such a special time, a time that people in history had dreamed about. The year “2000” was written everywhere with golden decorations, on calendars, T shirts, and souvenirs. It became a mark of pride, a way to say, We are part of something big... Some people looked back at the past century, the 1900s, and remembered its wars, struggles, and great achievements. They thought that humanity had learned many lessons and that the new century would bring more wisdom and kindness. The word “future” did not feel far away anymore it was here, beginning at that very moment. The Feeling That Remains; Now, many years have passed since that midnight. The year 2000 is no longer new, yet the memory of its arrival remains bright. People still remember the joy, the fireworks, the music, and the feeling of stepping into something unknown yet full of promise...... The arrival of the new century was more than just a date on the calendar. It was a reminder that time keeps moving, carrying both fears and dreams with it. But when people stand together, share hope, and welcome the future with courage, every new beginning can feel like magic!!!!
By MUHAMMAD UMAIR KHANabout a year ago in Writers
Notebook Entries. Top Story - September 2025.
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: Write one page a day. Concentrate on observation and description, not feeling. For example, if you receive a letter, the ordinary reaction is to write in the diary, “I received a letter that made me happy.” (or sad). Instead, describe the size of the envelope, the quality of the paper, and what the stamps looked like. Keep your diary without using the verb to be. Forms of the verb to be don’t create any vivid images. By avoiding its use, you get into the habit of choosing more interesting verbs. You’ll also be more accurate. For example, some people will say “John Smith is a really funny guy,” when what they really mean is “John Smith makes me laugh,” or “I like John Smith’s sense of humor.” Experiment with sentence length. Keep the diary for a week in sentences of ten words or less. Then try writing each day’s account in a single sentence. Avoid use of “and” to connect the long sentence; try out other conjunctions. Switch your diary to third person for a while, so that instead of writing I, you can write about he or she. Then, try mixing the point of view. Start the day in third person and switch into first person to comment on the action. By interspersing first and third-person points of view, you can experiment with stream of consciousness and the interior monologue. Try keeping your diary in an accent — first the accent of somebody who is learning how to write English, then the accent of somebody learning to speak English. Keep it in baby talk; Baby want. Baby hurt. Baby want food. Baby want love. Baby walk. Try making lists for a diary entry — just a record of the nouns of that day: toothbrush, coffee, subway tokens, schoolbooks, gym shoes. The Objective: To enhance your powers of observation and description without having to juggle the demands of characterization and plot.
By Denise E Lindquistabout a year ago in Writers
Unforgettable Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
Chicago this weekend? Oh man, where do I even start. The city has this... buzz. Like, even when it’s freezing and the wind is cutting your face in half, there’s still a pulse under it all. And if you’re lucky enough to be in town, you’ll see it. Feel it.
By Emma Stone about a year ago in Writers
The 3 A.M. Writer: Why Inspiration Comes at Night
There is something about three in the morning that feels like it belongs to no one but you. The world outside has quieted down. Cars have stopped rushing. Neighbors are finally asleep. Even the air feels different—thicker, slower, more private. And somewhere in that stillness, when most people are tucked beneath their blankets, writers like me find ourselves wide awake, fingers hovering over keyboards or pens scratching furiously across paper.
By Saqib Ullahabout a year ago in Writers
