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Practice-Writing Story Starters and One Liners
Remember the Rules of Writing Practice
(from Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind: Living The Writer's Life)
1. Keep your hand moving.
2. Lose control.
3. Be specific.
4. Don't think.
5. Don't worry about punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
6. You are free to write the worst junk in America.
7. Go for the jugular.
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1 |
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I remember ... |
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2 |
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I don't remember ... |
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3 |
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I feel ... |
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4 |
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I wish... |
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5 |
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My life is like... |
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6 |
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I am ... |
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7 |
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It was the best one in town. I knew that for a fact. Everyday I'd stop and admire it, thinking how wonderful it would be if it were mine. |
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8 |
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My twin stepped from the lightship; he hadn't aged at all, and I, crippled with years, leaned forward in my wheelchair and hated him for his youth. |
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9 |
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It was an ancient book, bound in cracked leather too thin to be animal hide, and it gave off a faint aroma of sulphur. |
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10 |
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The met below the snow-covered bridge for the last time, each not daring to speak the truth to the other. |
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11 |
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Gertrude Harvester caught the last bus for Hollywood after saying a prayer over her African Violets. |
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12 |
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Daggarth shifted the iron spear to his lower hands, rocked forward to rest his weight on his forefeet, and at no time did he dare to take his eye off the enemy before him. |
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13 |
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Howie weaved down the slush-covered sidewalk, stopping every few feet to rest against the empty storefronts. |
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14 |
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You may have heard the expression "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." Tell a true story about a time you were a leader, a follower, or decided to get out of the way. |
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15 |
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Think of someone- either in public life or someone you know who may not be well-known or famous- for whom who have felt admiration or respect. Exaplin who that person is and why you like or respect him or her. |
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16 |
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A popular feature of the classical theater was the use of a last-minute heroic rescue when all hope seemed to be lost. Write an imaginative story about a last-minute attempt to make a rescue. |
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17 |
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You are a 747 pilot, explaining to your passengers that your are going to try for the first time ever- a flip. |
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18 |
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You are the manager of a Burger King, explaining ot the Health Department Inspector what is really in the Whopper. |
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19 |
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You are a farmer, explaining to a city-slicker how to milk a cow. |
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20 |
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You are a police sergent, explaining the use of night sticks to your men. |
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21 |
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You are the new President of the United States. What are your first orders? |
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22 |
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You are Superman, explaining ot the jury why you were in that phone booth taking off your clothes. |
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23 |
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Whirling winds on this colf October evening send chills down my spine... |
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24 |
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They claimed the house was haunted, but it looked okay to me, so I... |
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25 |
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If you could be any person in the world, who would you be, and why? |
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26 |
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How did you meet your closest friend? |
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27 |
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What would have happened if you didn't leave the house this morning? |
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28 |
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What's the nicest thing you've done for someone? |
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29 |
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If you could invent anything new, what would it be? |
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30 |
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Tell your life's story from someone else's point of view. |
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31 |
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If you could have three wishes, what would they be? |
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32 |
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If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? |
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33 |
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What is your favorite day of the week, and why? |
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34 |
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How old would you be if you didn't know your real age? |
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35 |
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Describe your favorite childhood toy. |
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36 |
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Did you ever stick up for someone? |
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37 |
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Describe your neighborhood bully. |
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38 |
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Did you ever hitchhike? |
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39 |
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Did you have a paper route? |
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40 |
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Write about an enemy who eventually became your friend. |
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41 |
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Write about a time you cheated and got caught. |
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42 |
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Describe an event that made you realize you were growing up. |
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43 |
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Did you ever prove yourself to someone older? |
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44 |
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Write about a time you found out something about yourself. |
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45 |
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Did you ever get lost in a strange town? |
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46 |
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What was it like to spend your first night away from home? |
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47 |
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Write about something minor that turned into a big deal. |
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48 |
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Did you ever run away from home? How far did you get? |
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49 |
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Did you mom or dad ever make you wear something you hated? |
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50 |
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Write about a time you were talked into something and regretted it. |
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