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 script for a late-night commercial marketing something unglamorous, like a chair or a thumbnail. Your pitchman should describe the benefits, the uses, and why yours is the best in the world.

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 prep!

No homework!

Zero dollars down!

ANYway … see you tomorrow for a new day of writing.