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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Writing Prompt - Etch-A-Sketch


By Amy Robinson

What kind of classes interest you: One day or multi-week, short stories, full-length novel or comedy sketch writing, meeting up with other writers in our gorgeous downtown loft or online in the comfort of your own home? We've got any kind of class that your writer heart desires. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

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Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of your favorite childhood toy? Make a list of 5 toys you remember playing with. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that playful item, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about Inchie, the inch-worm toy that had a bright yellow saddle. He was like a horsie toy that the other kids rode, only he was a giant, green inch-worm. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your favorite childhood toy. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Writing Prompt - Get Schooled

By Amy Robinson

Time to go back to school! At Writing Pad you'll fill up your paper, write your books, but definitely won't get any teacher's dirty looks. We've got classes for every kind of student. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

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Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of the going back to school? Make a list of 5 things that pop into your head. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about heading back to school, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about shopping for new jeans, with my Mom, at the cheapest store in town. While the rich kids were across the street getting Levis. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your back to school experience. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Writing Prompt - For the Dogs

By Amy Robinson

We're in the Dog Days of Summer now and Writing Pad classes are hot! hot! hot! Get your pens wagging happily in one of our great new classes.  Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

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Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of the Dog Days? Is it the overwhelming, sticky heat or is it your canine, frolicking in the lake. Make a list of 5 things that pop into your head. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that special occasion, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about one summer, when I lived in Chicago without AC. The heat was over 90 at midnight, with so much humidity that old folks were dying.  What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your dog days? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!
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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Writing Pad Recipe - Easy, Magical Chocolate Pudding

by Andrea Ruth and Amy Robinson

We are very excited to welcome Andrea Ruth as the new Writing Pad Executive Chef! Before we tell you about her impressive background,Writing Pad would like to thank Adel Aschenbrener for the past five years of wonderful gourmet goodness and shared recipes. We will miss her very much.  We wish her and her husband all the luck and happiness in the world, especially with their upcoming adventure as parents!

I know, you are sad to see Adel go, but have no fear!  Andrea is here--and her food is also amazing!  Andrea is a graduate of the professional program at the New School of Cooking, and a lifelong cook, foodie and gourmet. After completing culinary school,  Andrea went straight to work interning at Suzanne Goin’s A.O.C. Andrea then started Omnibus Delecto (Everything’s Delicious), a gourmet sandwich and catering company.  She has many culinary talents ranging from being the Salad Queen of The Universe (she will change the way you view salad forever), to making pecan prailine baked french toast, buttermilk raspberry cakes, truffled mac and cheese, and the best banana puddings you have ever tasted!  Andrea has also been a professional actor, comic, teacher, chef and (occasional) clown.

You can sample Andrea's tasty treats at upcoming Writing Pad classes.  Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before all the classes are full!

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Andrea says:
"Chocolate Pudding! Who doesn’t love it? No one! Facists maybe, but no one else doesn’t love Chocolate Pudding. You open a little baggie and mix some stinky powder with milk and voila you have…pudding?  Well, sort of. But  not the pudding that dreams are made of.  And I do not understand it. No offense to Bill Cosby here, but you can make chocolate pudding from scratch in almost the same time it takes to whip up that crappy stuff. And the difference is immeasurable. There is an instant in the stirring of pudding when it suddenly goes from chocolate milky stuff to chocolate silk. When this magic moment occurs, you’ll be so glad you took that extra ten minutes (or less!)"

Easy Natural Delicious Low-Calorie (not really) Magical Chocolate Pudding

3 cups milk (whole, 2%,1% but not skim)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar (or a little less if you don’t like it too sweet)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped fine
OR
7-8 squares of Trader Joes 72% pound plus bar of chocolate chopped fine
pinch of salt

Bring 2 1/2 cups of milk to scalding (this is just below boiling, one or two bubbles). Mix the cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a bowl with the rest of the milk and stir to dissolve the solids a bit.  Add the chopped chocolate to the hot milk and whisk to combine. Add the rest of the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Whisk constantly until it begins to thicken. Then keep whisking for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour into individual cups, or a big shallow dish and refrigerate until cold.  But taste often while hot because hot homemade pudding is the bomb. In England hot custards are often spooned on top of warm cakes. I’m just sayin’.
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Friday, July 22, 2011

Writing Prompt - A Ceremonial Event

By Amy Robinson

Summer is always sure to be full of weddings, parties, and family reunions.  Extend the fun of your summertime celebrations at Writing Pad. You don't even have to dress up!  Your pen will dance on the page like drunk Uncle Jim at your best friend's wedding reception.  Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

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Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 ceremonies that you (or your character) have witnessed or taken part in. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that special occasion, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write on the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about how when I was 10 years old, I was a flower girl at my brother's wedding, and I fainted.  What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about a memorable ceremony? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!
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Monday, July 18, 2011

Writers on Writing: Video Interviews with P.E.N. Prize Recipient, Ron Koertge



Are you having trouble establishing a regular writing practice?  Check out this video interview with award-winning young adult author and poet, Ron Koertge and find out how he overcame his writing hurdles.  Ron says, Writing "one page a day gets you over 300 pages in a year. Get off your butt and do your page a day!"


You can watch this other short video on Writing Pad's Youtube channel to find out why Ron likes to have "the hands of dead writers" on him while he writes and how he developed his special writing style.

Ron has won multiple ALA awards for YA fiction, 2 P.E.N. Prizes (one for his book Stoner and Spaz, which Publishers Weekly calls a "sharp and emotionally moving YA novel”), an N.E.A. Fellowship for poetry and has twice been included in The Best American Poetry. Ron's next YA novel Stoner and Spaz II (Candlewick Press) will be released on August 9, 2011.


Also, you can meet Ron and ask him questions at the Pad on Friday, July 29th at From the In Crowd to the Down and Loud: Exploring the Young Adult Experience.  Email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up for the event before it is full!
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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Writing Prompt: Carmageddon

By Marilyn Friedman

The closing of the 405 this weekend will suck, but Writing Pad's classes can take the pain out of being stuck at home this weekend! Sign up for http://www.writingpad.com/classesbydate.htm#CHARACTER, our fantastic online class that will help you develop the most amazing characters you have ever written. Pour yourself some iced tea, grab a cookie, fire up your laptop, and it's almost as fun as being at the Pad! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in this class or one of our in-person classes later in the month before they fill up!

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Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 memories or story ideas that you associate with the word "car." Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, a poem, or a scene about this car related item, including the sensory detail. You could write about your first car or a story that includes traffic or a car accident. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write on the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! What do you think of when I say, car or first car? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class.
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