It's March!

"Red Fox Pup(s) Morro Bay, CA 27 May 2008" by Mike Baird

 

Hurrah for Spring! This month we're writing about reinvention.

 

Writing Prompt 1: Write a scene or a story with the following three elements: a fox, a birthday cake, and something new.

Writing Prompt 2: It's your job to reinvent Riverfront Park. What would you keep? What would you add to make it better? (Think big: you have the power to add a sports complex, a wildlife preserve, more rides.... whatever you want.)

 

These are the prompts we'll be doing in our in-person meeting at Spokane Valley Library on Thursday, Mar. 6, and online anytime. If you're participating from home, set a timer for seven minutes, and write! Email us your writing (twine(dot)scld@gmail.com) and we'll post it here on the blog.

 

Together, Forever?

"Togethr" by Luke Hayfield Photography on Flickr

This month's TWINE is all about love - from musing on the best-ever love scenes in books and film, to sending out some love to those who need it most. So let's get started!

1: You've no doubt seen J.K. Rowling in the news recently, talking about how maybe putting Ron and Hermione together in the last few Harry Potter books wasn't her best idea. What do you think? Let's consider other favorite couples in literature and movies. What makes them "work" (in terms of being believable). Which pairings don't work? Discuss by leaving a comment here!

 

2: Our next assignment is to think about love, especially all the different kinds of love that aren't necessarily romantic. Sometimes just showing appreciation for someone or giving a compliment on a rough day are ways to show love. Sometimes just sharing your story is a way to be loving. Think of someone you know or have seen that could use a really nice love letter. Now write them one! You can post it here, or if you're feeling extra daring, you could give it to them or leave it where you know they'll find it.

 

These are the prompts we'll be doing in our in-person meeting at Spokane Valley Library on Thursday, Feb. 6, and online anytime. If you're participating from home, set a timer for seven minutes, and write about couples in books and movies (and discuss why they work -- or don't!) or write a love letter to a stranger, or try both! Email us the results (twine(dot)scld@gmail.com) and we'll post them here on the blog.

 



 

...from our 1.2.14 meeting:

With this writing prompt and just 10 minutes to write, TWINE members produced some amazing pieces of micro-fiction! If you couldn't make it to our meeting, try this one at home. Set a timer and go (then email us what you come up with and we'll post it here!)

 

 





The Glow, by Licia

 

While running from crazed supernatural fans, Drew accidentally in his panic created another portal to another world. Seriously, it was not his fault. After his secret of sorcery leaked to the entire city, people had been following him like he was a boy-band member. Drew would've preferred to be hung and burned. So anyways, a few psychotic fans fell through his accidental portal after chasing him from the Wendy's on 5th and Parker. Usually he hated world-jumping, but he'd never harm a mortal. Unless it was his little brother, but his brother was a werewolf (if you wish to remain sane, don't ask.) Drew climbed into the portal and disappeared into the white. Then the portal slammed shut. This is why world-jumping is not fun.

 

 

Half Past Midnight, by Aisha

 

     "Jakob, I don't think we should be doing this," Christa said, walking slowly behind him.

     "Don't be a baby. It'll be fine," Jakob answered.

     Christa said nothing so they continued to walk through the snow-covered forest. It wasn't just that Christa thought it was a bad idea to be in a forest at half past midnight, but it was also cold.

     Jakob didn't seem to mind. With his fur-lined coat he walked briskly through the trail. Christa was much less covered with a dress that went only to her knees and a barely-there coat. She hadn't known they'd be hiking through the forest when she had gotten dressed earlier that night.

     Jakob had sprung it on her after they'd finished seeing Catching Fire in the cinema. It was their first date and Christa had wanted to seem brave. But now while she walked through the bushy woods, she was sure this would be their first and last date. They had only come out here because everyone at school was talking about an orb of light that seemed to remain in mid-air. Rumors had spread across the school like wildfire...

 



 



 

 

 

January Meeting Recap



"Villain" by stoneflower

We were a small but enthusiastic group this first meeting of 2014! We did the following writing prompts, which you are welcome to try at home:

1. Think of your favorite villains from fiction, TV, or film. Now choose one and write your villain's list of New Year's Resolutions. Extra: Read your list to someone and see if they can guess which villain it belongs to.

2. Now try the same exercise, but with your favorite hero or protagonist.

Here are a few of ours:

Online TWINE: Live Your Life, Freely

by Anonymous, Moran Prairie

LAX, by Drukelly



 

My short story features two elements: Lost luggage and a rainy day. 

“The winner of the Live Your Life, Freely contest sponsored by Nike Free Run 2013 is none other than… Kara Jenson! Kara, we hope you had your bags packed, your flight leaves at five! The winner will receive a call shortly informing her of where to pick up her ticket and how to live free! Thanks for entering, everyone.”
     I sat there in shock with this announcement. How could I have won? There must have been some mistake. I wheeled my pink suitcase fully packed for a trip to L.A. back to my room, only to hear my cell phone ring in my pocket.

                Call from: DJ Hot & Spicy
 

My heart skipped a few beats as my trembling fingers struggled to press the answer button.

     “Kara! I’m sure you heard, but you ARE the winner of the Live Your Life, Freely contest! Congratulations! In an hour a car will come to take you to the airport where you will begin your adventure. Additional Nike items will be provided in the car. Thank you for playing, and have fun!”

     I took out my suitcase and repacked everything. It seemed like only minutes had passed when a black stretch limo, emblazoned with the Nike symbol pulled up at my house and honked the horn. I ran outside and hopped in, to find enough Nike items to build a castle. I was in awe as I started looking through the items. Duffel bag, shoes, running shorts, sweatshirts, sweats, t-shirts tank tops and even socks had all been provided. I shouldn’t have packed.

     At 5 PM I boarded my nonstop flight to LA and sat down in first class to make myself comfortable. After we were safely in the air, one of the stewardesses asked me where my carry on was.

      I responded quickly. “I left it in the car, the driver was supposed to bring it!”
     The stewardess, Nancy, just shook her head. “Sorry honey, it appears none of your luggage made it on this flight.”
     My eyes watered as I struggled to compose myself. I packed nearly all my belongings in my suitcases! Nancy just handed me some water and left.
     As the plane touched down, a hard rain started pouring on the otherwise perfect Los Angeles day. Could this day get any worse? I thought. I neared my Nike limo and got inside, completely distraught. The driver smiled at me sheepishly and pointed at the trunk. I looked and to my amazement my luggage was there! My day brightened significantly, and so did the sky. The rain stopped just as we left the airport, and I couldn’t be happier. 

Next TWINE meeting is Thursday, Dec. 5!

Join us for writing, snacks, and maybe even a little gossip about upcoming books and movies! We'll meet at 4 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Library.

For those who can't make it to the in-person meeting, you can still participate in Virtual TWINE! It's easy. A couple of times a month we'll post a new writing prompt. Set a timer for ten minutes, follow the directions in the prompt, and then email us what you come up with. We'll post everyone's work right here on the blog, so feel free to read and comment on your fellow SCLD teens' work!

Here's a new prompt for December. Directions: Take ten minutes to write a scene in which a character is dealing with a rainy day, lost luggage, and/or tangled Christmas tree lights. Then be sure to email us what you come up with and we'll post it here!

Blind Date, by Jaelyn 11.7.13

This writer branched out from the original prompt (above) and
created a great inner dialogue!

This is going horrible! What should I do? Maybe I should find an excuse to leave, but when? I don't want him to know I'm desperate to leave, but I am! Hmmm, how could I leave without him knowing? Oh! I've got it! First I'll tell him I'm off to the bathroom. The bathroom is right next to the door. Then, I'll make a run for it straight out the door. But wait, what am I going to say to him the next day? It's not like I could just avoid him. OR COULD I? No. I'll need to make an excuse that I left or he'll know something's wrong. Wow. This is hard. Ok, I've got it. I'll tell him I had a horrible stomachache and I just couldn't face him. Yeah, that's the one! Alright, hopefully it works. Here I go!