Writing Prompt: Memorable Concerts

By Marilyn Friedman

I am very excited to announce that Writing Pad is offering several classes on the Westside of LA in June! Join us for these five classes in Culver City:

• You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
• The Odd Couple: Creating Characters That Write Themselves• What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
• Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
• So You Want To Be A Freelancer

Also, if you have a small biz, a book, a blog, or a show that you want to promote, we are having another round of the Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop with award-winning writer Lauren Smith of TBWA/Chiat/Day next Friday at Writing Pad East! Normally, you'd have to be a multi-million dollar company to get access to Lauren's expertise, but for only $90, she'll teach you how to develop a brand manifesto and compelling email and web copy. This class will blow your mind so you won't want to miss out. Email marilyn@writingpad.com or click on the "Buy Now" links on my website to sign up before these classes are full.

I hope that you enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and get lots of writing done. I intend to!


OTHER CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK

•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop
•Fiction Bootcamp: Mastering The Art of The Tall Tale
•Killer Hooks and Happy Endings
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay*
•So You Want To Be A Writer/Finishing School
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Craft A Killer Premise*
•Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE

Children's and Young Adult Writing
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt II

Creative Writing/Multi Genre/Fiction
•The Odd Couple: Creating Characters That Write Themselves*
•Casting Call: Seeking Characters For A Killer Story
•Best Ride Ever: Crafting The Perfect Story Arc

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media*

Publishing
•Do It Yourself: Get Your eBook Published

Writing For Actors
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop

Screenwriting
•Pet Project: Writing Your Dream Screenplay
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy*

*These classes will be offered in Culver City!

Writing Prompt: With June almost here, we are getting out our picnic blankets and spending our evenings at outdoor concerts. In the spirit of the season of outdoor concerts, I'd like you to make a list of 3 memorable concerts that you have attended. Pick one. Now add a specific detail that you remember about that concert (e.g. the sound of cicadas chirping in the background, the John Mellencamp T-shirt your boyfriend wore to the concert even though it was full of holes, the cloud of pot smoke that you had to pass through to buy a soft pretzel). Write about the concert for 10 min., including the specific detail! Give us a scene, a story or a poem.

I'm going to write about the awkward Don Henley concert that I went to with a boyfriend that I had just broken up with. What are you going to write about?

Write about a memorable concert that you attended. Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Motherly Talents

By Marilyn Friedman

How is it May already? Don't let Spring pass you by without treating yourself to a class at Writing Pad! Starting this Saturday, I am teaching a new round of So You Want To Be A Writer and Finishing School with all new writing exercises.  Let me help you get your writing practice on track. I'll motivate you to finish a chunk of that literary masterpiece you've been dreaming about. You'll learn many new things about writing craft while having fun! It's a great class with a lot of bells and whistles designed to keep your fingers tapping on that keyboard or scribbling in that notebook.

Email marilyn@writingpad.com or click on the "Buy Now" links on my website to sign up before these classes are full.


OTHER CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•Writing The Happening Scene
•Fiction Bootcamp: Mastering The Art of The Tall Tale

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE

Children's and Young Adult Writing
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt II

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop
•So You Want To Be A Writer/Finishing School
•The Odd Couple: Creating Characters That Write Themselves*

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•On The Record: Mastering The Reported Essay
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay*
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media* 

Publishing
•Do It Yourself: Get Your eBook Published

Writing For Actors
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop

Screenwriting
•Pet Project: Writing Your Dream Screenplay

Writing Prompt: This writing prompt is in honor of Mother's Day. Make a list of 3 specific things that your Mom (or your fictional character's Mom) can do better than anyone else (e.g. make the fluffiest pancakes, pick fights with your significant other about politics, raise your blood pressure with questions about when you are getting married, get stains out of tablecloths, rock a beehive hairdo). Pick one and jot down one sensory detail that you associate with your mother (e.g. smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write for 10 minutes about that one thing your Mom does well. Make sure to include the sensory detail. Then post the results in the comments of this blog. My Mom has a strange talent for tying the tightest knots with plastic bags so that's what I'll write about.

What does your Mom do better than anyone else? Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Childhood Lunch

By Marilyn Friedman

I'm glad to see that you survived tax week. Now that you have that fat refund check in your hot, little hands (I hope) it's time to invest in your writing dreams with terrific classes that could be tax deductible! Also, since you're done with your returns, it's time to spend some time writing, so check out your free prompt below and don't forget to comment on the blog.

This Thursday at Writing Pad, we're very excited to offer another section of Victor Levin's ("Mad About You," "Win A Date With Tad Hamilton") very popular Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Rom Com class. If you want to learn how to write realistic relationships and conflict, this is the class for you, even if you aren't a screenwriter. Vic's classes will blow your mind.

Also, next Sunday afternoon, you'll have a chance to workshop a blog entry or concept and learn some innovative blog writing tricks in Getting to "Like": Crafting A Compelling Blog with successful journalist Tim Grierson. In the evening, you can craft your plan for getting an agent and publishing deal in Get Your Book Published with 3 book deal Harper Collins author Derek Taylor Kent. One of the students who took Derek's class got inquiries from 10 agents after he took the class!

Email marilyn@writingpad.com or click on the "Buy Now" links on my website to sign up before this classes are full.

CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Getting to "Like": Crafting A Compelling Blog
•Get Your Book Published 

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE

Children's and Young Adult Writing
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Kids and YA Writing Pt II

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer (Online and In Person)
•Finishing School
•Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop
•Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (Online)
•And You Thought Your Family Was F@&KEd Up: Developing Compelling Characters From Real Life (Online)

Fiction
•Storytelling At Light Speed: The Art Of Flash Fiction
•Fiction Bootcamp: Mastering The Art of The Tall Tale

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•On The Record: Mastering The Reported Essay
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop

Screenwriting
•Made To Order: Writing A Killer TV Spec Script
•Writing The Happening Scene
•Pet Project: Writing Your Dream Screenplay

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3-5 items that you ate on a regular basis for lunch as a kid! Pick one or two and add a sensory detail to them (e.g. smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write a story, poem, or scene that includes that lunch item for 10 minutes and post the results in the blog. My childhood lunches typically consisted of peanut butter sandwiches (no Jelly), a Little Debbie Nutty Bar, and a Macintosh apple so that's what I'll write about.

What did you eat for lunch as a kid? Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Games and Poetry

By Marilyn Friedman

I hope that you are enjoying your April so far. Did you know that it's National Poetry month? The free writing prompt  below will help you find your inner poet, even if you didn't know that you had one!

Next week at Writing Pad, we'll help you channel your inner Don Draper creative genius. In Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop, you'll learn to promote your small business, writing, or blog with award-winning copywriter Lauren Smith of TBWA/Chiat/Day. Over delicious sangria, Lauren will show you how to whip up a brand manifesto and inspire you to write irresistible copy for your website and emails. Normally, you'd have to pay an advertising firm thousands of dollars to help you do this, but this class is only $90! This is also a great class for those of you who are interested in exploring a career in copywriting.

Email marilyn@writingpad.com or click on the "Buy Now" links on my website to sign up before this classes are full.

CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Advanced Personal Essay First Aid
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE
Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer
•Finishing School
•Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•Hello World, Welcome To My Blog
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•On The Record: Mastering The Reported Essay

Screenwriting
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Made To Order: Writing A Killer TV Spec Script

Writing Prompt: Make a list of your 5 favorite games (e.g. Monopoly, Poker, Twister, etc). Pick one. Now make a list of 3 specific things that you love about the game that are unique to that game (e.g. pink, blue, and gold money, owning a railroad). You can use the poem below as inspiration! You could even write an ode poem to the game praising everything that you love about it or a story that involves the game. Now write for ten minutes and then post the results of your write in the comments of this blog!


Monopoly
by Connie Wanek

We used to play, long before we bought real houses.
A roll of the dice could send a girl to jail.
The money was pink, blue, gold as well as green,
and we could own a whole railroad
or speculate in hotels where others dreaded staying:
the cost was extortionary.

At last one person would own everything,
every teaspoon in the dining car, every spike
driven into the planks by immigrants,
every crooked mayor.
But then, with only the clothes on our backs,
we ran outside, laughing.

Write about your favorite game.  Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: A Few Of My Favorite Spring Things

By Marilyn Friedman

It's another lovely day in La La Land. I am delighted to see pastel candies popping up at my favorite bakery and gorgeous pink and yellow tulips at the grocery store. These items have inspired your free writing prompt below. 

If you visit us this week at Writing Pad, we'll help you unlock the true tales inside of you and shape them into gripping stories!  We are very excited to have bestselling memoirist Monica Holloway teach True Tales: Writing A Compelling Past at the Pad this Saturday. Her book, "Driving With Dead People", is one of the best memoirs I have ever read (it's heart breaking and beautifully written)! Also, on Wed., award-winning performer Ann Randolph will be teaching another One-Person show intensive that includes an optional rehearsal and performance on Saturday, April 7th! Ann's improvisational exercises are amazing--she'll help you dig deep and write something astounding.

Email marilyn@writingpad.com or click on the "Buy Now" links on my website to sign up before these classes are full. I can't wait to see you and hear your real stories at the Pad!

Also, don't forget that this is the last week to enter the February/March comment contest!  There isn't a lot of competition right now, so feel free to comment on any of the writing prompts from the last two months for your chance to win a free class.  Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances are of winning.

CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•True Tales: Writing A Compelling Past
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt Advanced
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop Pt II (2-Night Intensive)

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE
Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer
•Finishing School

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop
•Advanced Personal Essay First Aid
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•Hello World, Welcome To My Blog

Screenwriting
•Black Hats/White Hats: Mastering The Studio Canon
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Made To Order: Writing A Killer TV Spec Script

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 specific things that you love about Spring (e.g. pink tulips, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Easter hats, matzo brie, etc.). Pick one. Now add a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write for ten minutes and then post the results of your write in the comments of this blog!

Here are some ideas of what to write about: an ode poem to that item or a scene in which that Spring item pops up. I haven't decided yet if I am going to write about pink tulips or jelly beans. I can't wait to see what you write about it!

Write about your favorite Spring thing.  Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Memorable Room

By Marilyn Friedman

The weather is gorgeous outside, and Writing Pad has everything you need to take Mother Nature's inspiration and transform it into cold, hard cash!

This Sunday, become a story structure expert. Derek Taylor Kent's Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book and Melissa Clark's The Road Best Traveled: Designing Your Hero's Journey will help you apply the techniques of screenwriting or Greek mythology to build a solid structure for your book or tale! Before you know it, you'll have completed a page turner without banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how to pull the story together.

Also, this Monday, award-winning journalist,Vince Beiser will teach Pitching For The Press: A Query Letter Clinic. Vince will show you how to convert your great idea for a celebrity profile, reported essay, or article into an irresistible pitch that will land you a feature contract!  Sign up for these classes (and the other ones below) by clicking on the links or emailing marilyn@writingpad.con.

And don't forget to scroll down to the bottom for your free writing prompt and a chance to win a free class at the Pad!

CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book •The Road Best Traveled: Designing Your Hero's Journey
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•True Tales: Writing A Compelling Past

CLASSES BY GENRE
Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published

Children's Writing and YA
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt Advanced
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer
•Finishing School
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book
•The Road Best Traveled: Designing Your Hero's Journey
•True Tales: Writing A Compelling Past

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•Pitching For The Press: A Query Letter Clinic
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•Hello World, Welcome To My Blog
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop
•Advanced Personal Essay First Aid

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop Pt II (2-Night Intensive)

Screenwriting
•Black Hats/White Hats: Mastering The Studio Canon
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Made To Order: Writing A Killer TV Spec Script

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 rooms that are memorable to you or or to a character from your writing project (e.g. your childhood bedroom, your grandma's living room, your cubicle at work, etc.). Pick one. Now add a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch) and a specific detail to the room that makes it a unique place (e.g. window shades that have fluffy, white clouds on them). Now write for ten minutes and then post the results of your write in the comments of this blog!

Here are some ideas for what you could do with this prompt: you could write a description of the room, you could write a scene of something that happened there, or you could write about how this room changed over the years.  Just write and have fun!

Write about a memorable room.  Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Nobody Is Perfect

By Candace Chatman and Marilyn Friedman

How did it get to be March already? Don't let Spring pass you by without partaking of our wonderful class offerings. We have everything you need to rouse your muse from her wintery slumber place and help you launch your writing career. Sign up before the classes are full!

CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK/NEXT WEEK
•So You Want To Be A Writer
•Finishing School
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book
•The Road Best Traveled: Designing Your Hero's Journey

CLASSES BY GENRE
Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published

Children's Writing and YA
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA Pt Advanced
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer
•Finishing School
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Structure, Structure, Structure: Building The Foundation For A Killer Book
•The Road Best Traveled: Designing Your Hero's Journey
•True Tales: Writing A Compelling Past

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay
•Pitching For The Press: A Query Letter Clinic
•What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social Media
•Hello World, Welcome To My Blog
•Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills Workshop
•Advanced Personal Essay First Aid

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (2-Night Intensive)
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop Pt II (2-Night Intensive)

Screenwriting
•Black Hats/White Hats: Mastering The Studio Canon
•Trouble and Rapture: Crafting The Studio Romantic Comedy
•Made To Order: Writing A Killer TV Spec Script

Writing Prompt:  Тhis week's writing prompt is complements of the lovely and talented Candace Chatman who was our Mountain Retreat manager! Candace says, "1. Pick a person in your life who is a colorful character or a character from your book or screenplay.  2. Make list of three flaws or emotional challenges that he or she has. 3. Pick one. 4. Write a sentence regarding how the flaw could cause a bad event. 5. Spend 10 minutes writing a scene of this bad event, making sure to show the character flaw. Be sure to include one sensory detail (sound, smell, taste, touch). For example, a major flaw of mine is that I am constantly late to things.  I'm going to write a scene in which my tardiness makes me miss the boarding of a cruise ship back home." 

Write about a character flaw and how it causes something bad to happen.  Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!