Writing Exercise

OK, bad joke.  Here's a writing prompt for you.  Dialogue between two characters can be the perfect launching pad into a good piece of writing.  So here's a scene for you...

Two women are in the group fitness room at their gym, laying out their mats and starting to stretch in preparation for a yoga class.  They are the only ones there, and after a few minutes, they find that odd, because the class is usually packed.  The instructor is no where to be found either.  Turns out they're the only ones who don't know the class was canceled.  Write the scene and their dialogue as they first wonder what's going on, are confused, then figure it out, and then does their conversation move on to something else?  What are they each going to do instead of the class?  Did they realize they know each other in some way?  Do they become friends?  Do they end up fighting?  Do they share their thoughts about the instructor, other people in the class?  Do something with the set-up.  Anything you want.

If you love your results, let me know or post a comment here.

Getting Local

You know, it's not all about getting your novel published.  There's a lot of writing to be done, down to the local level.  Are you doing any of it?  There's very small area local newspapers wherever you look.  Now there are even ultra-local web portals and blogs popping up.  There are regional periodicals and newsletters.  There are local charities and organizations that could use press releases and feature articles written about them.

Do you belong to any clubs?  Do they ever email their membership?  Are you involved in putting the email together?  Keeping their website fresh?  Do they have an event coming up that they'd like the region to know about?  Keep your writing chops sharp.  Volunteer to write for them.  Pitch article ideas to your local newspaper (don't offer to volunteer for that, charge!).  You don't have to wait for Alfred A. Knopf to come calling... besides he's dead.