Writing Prompt: Mom When She Was Young

By Marilyn Friedman

I'm so excited about our Major Drama panel this Friday, May 17th with "Mad Men" writers Michael Saltzman, Jason Grote, and Bill Rabkin of "Psych" and "Monk"! I hope you can make it.

By the way, now that it's a little bit too hot, you have even more reasons to come to the Pad in DTLA or Westwood and enjoy our refreshing air conditioning, iced tea and fantastic classes with successful writers.

Starting Monday, June 3, uber screenwriter Robbie Fox ("So I Married An Axe Murderer", "Playing For Keeps", 60 sold projects) starts up a new round of Dream It, Write It, Pitch It: Screenwriting Bootcamp. Robbie will help you create a workable outline and terrific script. He is a great teacher and provides a lot of individual support. Plus, the last class includes a pitch session to an A-list producer. This is a career making class! What are you waiting for, my dears?

Below are the latest class offerings, followed by a free writing prompt.

May/June Events:

• Major Drama: Writing Dramatic TV for the Big Leagues 
• Writers with Drinks

 Classes May 15-22:

• Fiction Bootcamp: Mastering The Art of The Tall Tale
• Bullies, Sluts, and Broken Hearts: Crafting The Page Turner 
• Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published 
• Stories That Sell: Ideas Clinic For Magazines and Newspapers 
• Query Letter Clinic: Writing The Pitch That Sells Your Story 
• Dream It, Write It, Pitch It: Screenwriting Bootcamp 
• From Mad Men to Breaking Bad: Writing the Television Drama 

Other Classes:

Creative Writing/Multi-Genre

• Mini Writing Pad Bootcamp
• Literary Games: The Art of The Found Story

Fiction/Memoir

• From First Loves To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Young Adults
• Memorable Memoir: Writing A Compelling Past 
• Writing In Series: Crafting Stories That Keep On Telling 
• It's Playtime: Writing For Kids 
• Memorable Memoir Bootcamp: Make Your True Tales Thrilling
• Addictive Fiction: Writing The Knock Out Novel
   

Journalism/Web Writing

• You In 1200 Words: Writing And Publishing The Personal Essay (5 Week) 
• #FameSuccessLove: Harnessing The Power of Twitter 
• So You Want To Be A Freelancer
• Cribs, Playdates, and Recitals: Writing The Parenting Essay
• What Do You Think? Writing the Op-Ed or Cultural Essay

Writing For Actors

• Story Time Plus: A Performed Essay Workshop (5 Wk)
• It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Intensive

Screenwriting

• From Pitch To First Draft: Writing the Television Drama (7 Wk)
• Writing A Pilot That Can Fly (Weekend Intensive) 
• Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Cocktail Party Pitch

Writing Prompt:
Mother's Day was just this past weekend! As I was thinking about my own Mom, I realized how easy it is to forget that our mothers had lives of their own before we were born. For this prompt, make a list of three specific things that describe who your mother was before you were born that made her different than the woman who raised you. Now for 10 minutes, write a scene or story about who your mother when she was young, making sure to include at least one of the specific details. If you want, you can compare her youthful persona to the mother you grew up with.

For instance, my mother (Double D Cup Stalin) was a thin, small-breasted professional singer. She had many suitors. Unfortunately, she had a tragic fall from a train and shattered her kneecap and her life took a very different turn. The mother I knew growing up had ginormous breasts strapped down in a stomach length bra, was built like a linebacker, and instilled fear in all family members with just one angry look. Another example is Betty Draper in "Mad Men." She was a confident model living in New York City before she got pregnant and settled down with Don and became a bitter housewife in the suburbs with weight issues.

Write a scene or story about who your mother was when she was young. Don't forget to share the results of your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog to be entered in the contest for a free class!