Blog posts with my creative writing experiments
The Six Minute prompt was a weird photo of a truck and a construction project on the edge of a lake. After a few seconds of peering, I made out a biblical quotation. I groaned. The seconds were ticking away. What was I going to do with this?
When I visit the Six Minute Story site, I always choose a random prompt. This is like a dice game. I have no idea what Lady Luck will throw my way.
Once the prompt appears, I have six minutes exactly of frantic typing until I am locked out of the text box and can write no more. Continue reading “The Cement Delivery”
A transdimensional library? This idea seems totally bonkers to me too – but imagine a library with its shelves filled with books – books that have never existed and have yet to be written.
I have two pieces published on the Eggplant Literary Productions site in the section they call Miscellanea: The Transdimensional Library.
1. Excerpt from Erotic Fiction.
2. 101 tips for a Great Transplanetary Workshop Continue reading “Erotic Fiction (for aliens)”
I am proud to report that my 6 Minute Story, The Swing, was selected as one of the 6 Minute Story site’s featured stories. Continue reading “The Swing – again.”
Every time I visit, I wonder why I don’t do this more often.
I should be able to manage a story a day!
I really love the 6 Minute Story site.
Every time I visit, I wonder why I don’t do this more often. In fact, I was disappointed to see I’ve only written six stories on the 6 Minute Story site! I should be able to manage a story a day.
Today I chose, as I usually do, the random prompt.
As soon as the prompt is revealed, you have six minutes to enter your story in the text box. There is a timer that counts you down. After six minutes, the box freezes and you can type no more.
The random prompt today was ‘Swing’. I started with a mental image of a little girl on a swing and the story just flowed from there. Of course it would benefit from further editing, but I was quite pleased with my 6 minute story.
You can read it here: The Swing
I had forgotten how wonderful it is to write, free and unfettered, against the clock. No time for editing. No time for self-doubt. And when it is done, it is done.
I heartily recommend the Six Minute Story site. Here you can:
You may choose a prompt and consider your story options in advance. But once you start typing, the clock starts ticking and you must continue until the time runs out. After 6 minutes, you are forced to stop. There is no second chance to add, edit or to tweak.
When its done, you can save your story and choose a Creative Commons License. Or – if you really want to – you can trash your story.
I prefer to pick a random prompt and I like to start writing without giving myself any time to think. I just see what happens and the only internal ‘editing’ I do is to try to bring the story to some sort of conclusion within the six minutes. Luckily I am a very fast typist.
Here is a link to my latest Six Minute Story: Choosing.
Ruth Livingstone 