Why Not Write? Wednesday: Script Writing

Do you like movies? Television shows? Plays? The minds behind some of our favorite things to watch are writers! Writing for television and film, and theater is called scriptwriting. How fun would it be to experiment and see if scriptwriting suits you?

Here are a few prompts that'll get you started writing your scripts:

What are you writing? A Comedy? Tragedy? Love Story? Drama? New Broadcast? Kids Show?

How is the story set up? How are the characters introduced in the script?

What is the conflict in the script? How does the conflict develop?

What is your setting?

Who is the protagonist? Antagonist?

Write a scene of dialogue between  two characters. Add in their actions in parentheses. You'll want to focus primarily on dialogue and action because that is how actors are able to convey a story in theater, TV and movies.

Once you've finished, grab some friends and act out your script!

Why Not Write? Wednesday: Bronte and Gothicism

Happy Why Not Write? Wednesday and Happy Birthday to Emily Bronte!  

Emily Bronte, the author of the classic Wuthering Heights, was born on this day in 1818. She, along with her sisters, were brought up in the moors of England--a spooky yet idyllic space that set the tone for many of their novels. (Another classic, Jane Eyre, was written by Emily's sister, Charlotte.)  That eery tone is called "Gothic."

Gothicism is a school of literature, written in a way that describes strange or frightening events that take place in mysterious places. (Other books like Frankenstein and Dracula are considered Gothic Literature, and most Tim Burton films like Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline could also be put into this category as well.)

What if you were to write a gothic? Start with a setting, be it a creepy old house, railroad tracks, a haunted Hospital, and then come up with characters and action that is taking place.  Make it a little be mysterious and have fun with it!

Why Not Write? Wednesday: Super Moon to the Rescue!

Happy Why Not Write? Wednesday!  

Have you noticed that big Super Moon lighting up the sky the last few nights? NASA says all three full moons this summer (July 12, August 10 and September 9) will be Super Moons. This means that it appears 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon because it's orbiting closer than ever to earth. Pretty cool, huh? Why don't we use this phenomenon for inspiration?

Write a story personifying the super moon as a superhero (or super villain) explaining the evil it is fighting against, its super powers and other details you can think of.

Here are a few prompts to start you out:

What would be the super moon's super powers?

If the super moon could speak, what would it say?

If the super moon was a super hero, who would be the super villian? Why would they be against one another?

What would be a problem that the super moon would have to fix? Who would she/he need to save?

Why Not Write Wednesday?...Invent a Sport!

Every Wednesday our creative writing prompt challenges you to pick up your pen and indulge your author self! 

Wednesday again...it's time to write!

The days of summer are in full swing, friends are playing one-on-one basketball on the park courts, golfers are out with their carts and clubs, and World Cup soccer has been blaring on the TVs all around us. Beautiful weather is a good reminder of which sports and activities we love best!

But,what if you could make up your own sport to play or watch?

What would the rules be? What would it be called? Would it be played in teams or individually? What would be the object of the game? Would there be winning and losing? Would you use a ball, a puck, a frisbee, or some other object? What would you wear? How many people would play at a time? Where would you play? Indoors, outdoors or both? Is there water involved? Snow? Grass?

Write a how-to for your new sport, and maybe you could even get some friends together and try playing it! Let us know how the game/match goes for you all! Post your descriptions in the comments section of our blog.

Why Not Write Wednesday in honor of Herman Hesse!

It's Why Not Write Wednesday and it's also the birthday of German-Swiss author, poet, and Nobel Prize laureate, Hermann Hesse! Hesse was a man who wrote a lot about spirituality. especially about understanding his own and other peoples' beliefs. So, in honor of him, why don't we do the same?

What do you believe in? This doesn't necessarily have to be tied to religion, though it can be! Are there ideas, attitudes, and/or actions you use to live and make decisions in your everyday life? Whatever it is you believe, we think it is worth writing down!

Here are some more specific prompts to get you started:

Describe what you think a belief is.

Do you believe that someone or something watches over our lives on planet earth? If yes, tell us about it. If not, tell us why not.

Do you have friends that believe different things than you or the same things as you? Explain how your beliefs are similar and different. How do the similarities and differences make you feel?

Or to take the idea of belief in a slightly different direction:

Do you believe in aliens? Ghosts? Bigfoot? Nesse? What about wizards or witches? Tell us why, and if there was a specific circumstance or event that solidified those beliefs, write about it using the 5 senses! (Have you ever seen or felt a ghostly presence?)

Why Not Write Wednesday?: Personification

It's Why Not Write Wednesday? again!...

This week is all about personification. Pick and inanimate object and write a story from its perspective.

For instance, what do your shoes see everyday, what do they do, who do they talk to? What about your bed? Or you car? Or your favorite necklace?

Or, for a different angle, write about your body parts as if they were their own beings, separate from you.

What are your feet named? What do your hands like holding the most? What's your heart's favorite dance?

You get the drill...go wild with this one!