Using a well-established form of writing that is not straight narrative prose can catch the eye of a casual reader and force the writer to improvise to adopt the conventions of the borrowed form.

For today’s ten-minute writing exercise:

Write a series of horoscopes that tells a story. They don’t all have to be from the same day, or the same sign. The story can be about the astrologer, the reader, the publication, the metro area, the reader … or whatever you choose.

Our themes this month are:

• First lines and beginnings
• The 3am Epiphany by Brian Kitely
• Sparks from Japanese literature
• Borrowed forms

We’ll also be writing a complete work of flash fiction together the week of Monday, January 20 – Sunday, January 26. We’ll spend just ten minutes a day writing, and exit the week with a complete work of flash fiction of ~900-1200 words. No pre-work needed, and as always, zero homework.

See you tomorrow for a new day of writing!