"FAST FICTION, CREATING FICTION IN FIVE MINUTES" –
By: Roberta Allen
Roberta Allen is an artist and art instructor turned writer and writing instructor. She realized her art students could draw from a list of written subjects and when she became a professional writer she discovered that if she drew a picture for her writing students they wrote a story. She then decided that if she gave her writers a list of subjects they would write stories for her, much the same way her art students drew pictures.
There are over 300 writing exercises (or prompts) in "Fast Fiction." The idea is to set a timer for five minutes, pick a subject and write until the timer goes off, then stop. Guess what ... it works. As I got more familiar with the book I realized that many of the subjects peaked my memory and not only could I write fast fiction, I could also write fast nonfiction, vignettes from my life that I hope to finish and turn into a book for my children and grandchildren.
I'm not saying all 300 exercises are excellent, but they certainly activate the writer's
imagination. These five minute stories, or works in progress as I call them, can be turned into "real" stories at any time. I highly recommend "Fast Fiction" as the perfect medicinal fix for writer's block which we all suffer from occasionally, and writing for fun.
"A WRITER'S BOOK OF DAYS, A SPIRITED COMPANION & LIVELY MUSE FOR THE WRITING LIFE"
- By: Judy Reeves"A Writer's Book of Days" is just that. It's a daily journal with a subject to write about for every day of the year. Each page is filled with timely facts and tips for the writer along with inspiration and encouragement. A wonderful teaching book. If a writer does not want to work the exercises, I suggest reading the book for the learning experience.
BY: Jan Greenberg (aka g.j.; aka Granny Janny)
I highly recommend Fast Fiction as a great jump start to the ‘what do I write next’ blues, as well as a hard case of writers block!
Mary Rosenblum, Web Editor
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