Day Two - 1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas Write Christmas Challenge

HAPPY 2nd DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

I hope, no matter what you celebrate, that the 25th brought peace and good will! If you have some time to write on this Boxing Day, I hope today's post will help you along.

As writers, we all recall days when we finally sit down to write and can't find a thing to write about.

When this happens, don't panic or even mention the word "writer's block." Just grab a pen or go to your computer, choose a writing exercise and begin writing. Writing exercises, such as the one featured here, will warm up the imagination, stretch the creative muscle and massage your muse.

"Word Weaving" is a random word exercise that's quick, challenging, motivating and best of all--fun. Both writers and poets can utilize this form of warm-up to begin their writing sessions or to write their way through a temporary block.  You'll be surprised at the results.

To begin this "Word Weaving" exercise, let your favorite dictionary fall open to any page. Close your eyes and land your pointer finger randomly on that page to choose a word. Write down the word. Repeat the process. Pick ten words and one bonus word in this fashion. Then, challenge yourself to use ten of the words in a story excerpt or poem of no longer than 200 words.

You can even choose words from "The Children's Writer's Word Book" or similar resource, or even grab a picture book from your shelf, rather than the dictionary. You can even apply the exercise directly to your "work-in-progress" by relating it to those characters, if desired. 

For those who have less time, I did this for you, using  picture books from my extensive "To Be Read" pile onmy desk.


Here are the words for your challenge.

PRESENT
WHISPER
BELIEVE
MEAN
PAPER
BROTHER
GLITTER
DOUGHNUT
HAIRY
WINDOW



Feel free to replace any of these or leave any out that do not suit you. The main thing is to write today!

I got these words from flipping through HANUKKAH HAMSTER BY Michelle Markel and illustrated by Andre Ceolin and SANTA KNOWS by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman. By all means write something other than a holiday story with them!

Have fun and write on! As always please leave your thoughts below!

And please feel free to share this post on Google Plus, Facebook, Facebook Groups, Twitter and Pinterest to spread the word so that we can have an even bigger and better challenge next year!

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PLEASE feel free to follow this blog so you don't miss any tidbit of information and please feel free to leave any comment or question you may have. I will do my bes to answer all! 

Lynne Marie is the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, pending) and Let's Eat! Mealtimes Around the World -- illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019). You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com. 

To order the Star in the Christmas Play, click the title.