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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Your Favorite Relative: Writing Prompt and Gift Suggestions

By Antonia Crane and Marilyn Friedman

Stressed out by the holidays already? Here's a writing prompt to loosen those shoulder knots. Family visits can be stressful and fattening, but they can also be a time to build sweet memories and remember happier times. Scroll down below to use your favorite family members as inspiration for your writing! In the meantime, here's a few places you could buy a gorgeous card and a new journal or a gourmet gift basket for your favorite relative to show your appreciation—then treat yourself to a cupcake at one of these places:


But Writing Pad has the best treats of all because our classes not only make your literary dreams come true, they won't add an inches to your waistline! In fact, someone once told Marilyn that writing burns calories, and she would really like to believe that.

This Sat., learn how to infuse true stories with subtext and conflict with successful screenwriter and show runner Lamar Damon ("Bunheads," "Celebrity Exes") or make your memoir a page turner with bestselling memoirist Brett Paesel ("Mommi.es Who Drink", More) On Sun., get a customized plan for landing that agent and primo book deal with successful author and book consultant Derek Taylor Kent ("Scary School")!

Then next Tues. you can learn everything you need to know to become a successful freelance journalist with Taffy Brodesser-Akner (NY Times freelancer, Self). Taffy has helped 21 students get published. You're next! Or on the Eastside, get your 15 minutes of fame with your very own one-person show with Emmy award winning writer and Moth host Brian Finkelstein!

Who said that there wasn't enough time left in 2012 to work on making your writing dreams come true? Not us!

Note: classes with an asterix (*) will be held at our new, posh Westside location in Westwood!

Classes Starting Week of Dec. 3 - 9
Do Re Mi, Baby: Songwriting Made Easy
So You Want To Be A Freelancer*
The You Show: A Solo Performance Intensive
Say It Isn't So: A Storytelling Class

Classes Starting Week of Dec. 10- 16
Stand Out Stand-Up: A Comedy Workshop

2013 Classes



Writing Prompt: Make a list of your three favorite family members. Pick one. Make a list of three great times you shared with them. Pick one. Now add a sensory detail to that event (smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write about that great time for 10 minutes, making sure to include the sensory detail. Then post your story in the comments of this blog to get entered in the contest for Oct./Nov.! There's only a few days left (and not much competition) so we hope that you'll post something!

For instance, Antonia is going to either write about the time when she was supposed to be in bed by 10 p.m. but instead her aunt took her to the county fair and let her ride The Zipper until she was sick or that time she had a really big secret and told her big brother who never told a soul. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Write about your favorite family member and a fun time you shared with them. Then post your ten minute write in the comments of this blog to get entered into the contest for a free class!

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