PEN TO PAPER: Be Specific
Putting down on paper exactly what you want to share, being specific, is an easy way to bring more depth or color to your writing. Instead of tree, tell the reader what kind of tree. Instead of flower, give the reader a rose, a carnation, a lily. The reader will see, and smell and feel the difference. What kind of dog? Boxer, bulldog, jack russel terrier, shar pei or mutt. Show them. Let the reader see the furniture; chaise lounge, broken wooden stool, over-stuffed sofa. There are times when a basic word is all you need, but think about how you are painting a picture for the reader.
Let me show you what I’m talking about. Let’s start with a basic sentence:
The dog ran across the grass to the woman under the tree.
You could make a simple change to:
The beagle sprinted across the grass to Elizabeth who was standing under the pine tree.
Or you might try:
The white poodle skittered across the tight green grass to her owner who was sitting in a pale pink tennis skirt under the shade of a giant oak.
Or maybe:
The bullmastiff lumbered across the dry grass and up to a frail woman who was sitting on a wooden bench. He nuzzled her hand with his muzzle, and leaving her raincoat wet with drool, waddled over and peed on the stump of an old cedar.
These aren’t perfect, but I hope you can see how being more specific can draw a totally different picture?
For today’s writing prompts, let’s give it a try…
WRITING PROMPT 1: Use the example above, the dog ran across the grass to the woman under the tree, and write one or two examples of your own being specific.
WRITING PROMPT 2: Choose your own basic sentence to expand upon.
WRITING PROMPT 3: Samantha was learning to be more […]
PEN TO PAPER: Picture Not-So-Perfect Writing
I like to free-write from a picture. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just something that inspires you to sit down and put your thoughts on the page. The picture might send you down a personal path, bring back memories of the time you and your brother built mud houses for hours in the back yard or it might jump start your new novel. You never know. Just take a look at this picture or grab one of your own and get to work!
WRITING PROMPT: Use this photo or one of your own, set a timer and write!
PEN TO PAPER: Keep It Simple
Sometimes I want to do a quick free write, so I keep it simple. I grab the nearest book, open it up and put my finger down on the page. The first word I read is my starting point. Right now the closest book to me is The Everything Learning German Book (I’m working on learning more than just Hallo and Auf Wiedersehen). The word my finger hit is ALONE. Had it been a German word, I would have used that as my starting point. Occasionally I pick one or two more words to use as well. Do whatever feels right, just WRITE!
Another simple way to find a writing prompt is to act like a three-year-old and look around the room and then pick out an item that speaks to you. For example, looking across my kitchen right now, I see my daughter’s cactus sitting in the windowsill. I have been babysitting it since she left to Taiwan a year and a half ago. She has stayed there because Covid19 is controlled in that country and she can live safely. Not only does that plump little cactus make a good story all it’s own, I now feel all sorts of stories ready to escape.
Don’t make it hard on yourself, pick out a word or an object, and just sit down and write.
WRITING PROMPT 1: Choose a word (or two or three) from a book or magazine, and write.
WRITING PROMPT 2: Look around you, what object speaks to you? Use that object as a starting point and write.
WRITING PROMPT 3: Jasmine set her book, The Great Pretenders, down, looked around her room and…
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: The Art of Rebounding
The Art of Rebounding by Charli Elliott
“I’m hungrier than those other guys out there. Every rebound is a personal challenge.”
-Dennis Rodman
As a 5’8” power forward at Pacific University, I led our team in rebounding and our 4’11” point guard was often the 2nd or 3rd leading rebounder. You know what that means? Rebounding has a lot more to do with determination than with height.
REBOUNDING IS THE KEY TO VICTORY
Every rebound is a possession. Every possession is a chance for your team to score.
I’m sure you’ve heard your coach harping on it. I’m sure you’ve heard, “block out!” screamed from the sidelines. And maybe you’re a decent rebounder. You know the basics, how to call “shot”, how to turn and block out, make contact with your player. But how do you take your rebounding to the next level?
BECOMING A LEADING REBOUNDER
First, know where the rebound is going.
There are statistics on where the rebound will go based on where the shot is taken. A long shot usually means a long rebound, a shot from the left side of the hoop often bounces off to the right, this sort of thing. It’s important to know these basics facts, but who’s thinking stats in the middle of a game? No one. You need to develop a sense of where the ball is going, before it even leaves the shooters hand.
How do you get this sense?
Practice. When you’re rebounding for a teammate during drills, pay attention to the flight […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: It’s Not All About The View
Recently my daughter Charli hiked 奇莱南華(Qilai Nanhua), one of Taiwan’s highest peaks. It is know for it’s stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the “Golden Sea” that happens when the sun rises and touches swathes of grass that line the peak. When Charli summited, she got thick damp fog and freezing cold 50 mph winds, still, she will tell you the 30 miles and the 11,000 feet of elevation gain were worth it. It’s not all about the view, read Charli’s blog post and learn why.
PEN TO PAPER: Remember Me
How do you see yourself? How do others see you? If the people you care about couldn’t remember you, how would you describe yourself to them?
WRITING PROMPT 1: None of your family, or friends, remember you. Describe yourself to them.
WRITING PROMPT 2: Amelia couldn’t remember…
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: 4 Things You Must Do To Play Great Helpside Defense
Helpside defense is the key to great team defense. Teams need to work together to be effective and dominate the court, and in order to do so, each player must pay attention to the person who they’re guarding, as well as the rest of the court. If you’re not guarding the person with the basketball, you’re expected to help your teammates.
Generally, the farther away you are from the ball, the more you should be available to help. If you’re just one pass away, you will often be asked step up and deny the passing lane (I’ll cover deny defense in another blog), but depending on which level you’re playing and your coach’s specific rules, sometimes, even one pass away, you may play helpside defense. If you’re not guarding the ball (or asked by your coach to faceguard a player), these tips will help you become a better defender and ultimately […]
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