I had an adventure last week and took my wares to the Ontario Library Association Super Conference. It was my first trade show experience, and I learned a lot. Travelling was complicated by extremely low temperatures and late-running trains, and on my return trip, I got to drag a one-wheeled, very heavy wheelie to the train station—three long blocks and still very cold. The actual trade show turned out to be lots of fun. I connected with some great people, sold some books, and had the pleasure of getting to know Kate Merlin Hanson, a publisher from New Brunswick (Chocolate River Publishing) whom I’d known for years on Facebook. She was even nicer in person.
Though I won’t really know if the event was a success until I see some online book and writing camp sales or get an invitation or two to visit a school or library, I was glad that I took the risk and gave it a try. Nothing ventured …. This was the largest possible forum for my work where I could be there in person. Scary? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Also exhilarating, challenging, and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
Onward!
Here are some writing prompts that I hope you find inspiring this gloomy, cold February. We’ve had ice, rain, snow, high winds, and little sun, so far. I hope that you are faring better and that the rest of February offers lots of scope for your creativity and for adding to your word count.
Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.
- Pill, toxic, yesterday, hope, wonder, yellow
- Flowers, game, toward, care, card, surprise
- Ice, storm, power, candle, fear, noise, black
- Tree, shadow, animal, climb, see, curious
- Wind, kite, free, call, home, run escape
Here are some opening lines that may inspire a story or two.
- I want a do-over!
- That picture wasn’t on the table yesterday.
- The latch clicked and the secret door opened.
- Something just fell out of your pocket.
- Henry boarded the last train.
- If she wanted it that badly, she could have it.
- Why do mothers have to have such good memories?
- I woke to the sound of sirens.
- Some strangers should stay that way.
- I was sure that I’d seen her near the fire.
See if one of these titles inspires a story: Last Magic Show, A Girl Named Wonder, The Deadly Dragon, Escape to the Past, Angel, The Last Train, Tea for Three, After the Pro, Another Sunday, No Free Ride, Absolution, Gifts.
Here are some dialogue excerpts that might suggest a scene or a story.
- It’s too heavy. I can’t pick it up.
- I packed it yesterday. It was fine.
- Try it. Someone has messed with the contents.
- That can’t be good.
- Why does Helen always give you such a hard time?
- Just lucky, I guess.
- That’s not the reason
- It’s the one you’re getting.
- Please, turn that music off.
- Why? I thought you liked it.
- I have a headache. And I’m tired.
- And you’re lying.
- When was Henry due back?
- About an hour ago.
- Typical.
- Is he always late?
- No, just inconsiderate.
Have a writerly month!