New York Times Best Selling Author
Heather Graham
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The Writers Challenge Game
The Writer’s Challenge Exercise
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Not sure where you are going next? Mind in a haze over our current times or just craziness in your own life? This challenge exercise can help get the mind moving!
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While I admit that this exercise is more fun when we can be together, it’s also something you can utilize at any time you feel the need.
Now, when we’re in person, you’re on a time limit and you have a chance to read your story/book/novella beginning to others. But you’ll be surprised what you may come up with! Something to submit, something to self-publish, something that spurs you on to something else.
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So, if you’re playing by all the rules . . .
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Print the list of sentences, nouns, verbs, and adjectives, cut all into pieces. Pick one sentence, two nouns, and two adjectives, two verbs out of separate baskets or piles.
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And there’s your challenge. Pick a genre, and then . . . go!
The rules are that you must use your sentence and your nouns with your adjectives, and verbs however you choose. Now this can be fun and interesting. You might have a bow-legged stripper and a one-eyed detective! Make it work!
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The first sentence, often used, is “The blood dripped slowly down the wall.”
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Now you can take this into any genre. One of my favorite stories using this sentence was written by a friend. She chose comedic horror for her genre. Blood dripped slowly down the wall—her protagonist was “vegetarian zombie” because she’d fallen in love with a mortal, a “tall cop.” But the zombies next door liked to torment her by tossing their leftovers into her yard. She resisted returning to her normal state out of love—until she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her with the zombie next door. So much for giving up everything for love. She goes in to see him and . . . we all know what happens from there. Moral of the story, don’t marry a zombie if you want to mess around.
Another author took the sentence and turned it into a young adult story. The blood is dripping down the wall because the “muscle-bound teen” was cast in the school play along with the “nerdy girl.” She’s the make-up artist who helps him when he does everything wrong, and the football playing hotshot discovers that there’s so much more to a young woman he’d never looked at twice before.
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Mystery genre—detectives must investigate the blood dripping down the wall.
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Sci-fi romance—in the midst of an alien invasion, a soldier comes upon an injured man/woman and must save her so that they can escape together; the injured one is a scientist, working on a way to kill the alien force before it can obliterate humanity.
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The point here . . . there’s a million places you can go. And it’s fun and challenging!
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Also—our language is filled with wonderful words. Add your own in. Up the game! Get yourself a list of verbs and have your characters jump/dive/fly/run . . . and onward!
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Then, of course, you can add adverbs!
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Sentences
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Pick one of the seven—and then your genre!
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1. The blood dripped slowly down the wall.
2. The darkness caused him to trip and that was how he discovered the body on the floor.
3. The man was despicable!
4. The task ahead seemed impossible.
5. She was searching for a hose to break up the fighting dogs when he walked onto the scene.
6. What was going on with the sky?
7. He could see it; the water was about to come crashing down on them all.
Nouns/characters – Pick Two
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Add more if you can think of any
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Adjectives - Pick Two
Policeman
Clown
Truck Driver
Clerk
Waitress
Journalist
Dancer
Musician
Painter
Orderly
Farmer
IRS Agent
Woodsman
Technician
Hair Stylist
Pool Boy
Werewolf
Poet
Cowboy
Cruise Director
Gymnast
Policewoman
Sheepherder
Navy Seal
Banker
Waiter
Actor
Pole Dancer
Guitarist
Artist
Accountant
Student
President
Logger
Knight
Designer
Ghoul
Mummy
Beautician
Cowgirl
Nutritionst
Football Player
FBI Agent
Mortician
Captain
Teller
Bus Boy
Director
Gigolo
Piano Player
Botanist
Babysitter
Teacher
Principal
Engineer
Soldier
Crime-scene Cleaner
Ghost
Thief
Teenager
Equestrian
Masseuse
Cheerleader
U.S. Marshall
Medical Examiner
Colonel
Cook
Bus Girl
Model
Exotic Dancer
Stone Mason
Doctor
Veterinarian
Professor
Congressman
Animator
Caricaturist
Maid
Zombie
Computer Technician
Old-timer
Diver
Personal Trainer
Golfer
Marine
Grave Digger
General
Chef
Writer
Stripper
Ballerina
Architect
Nurse
Rancher
Intern
Senator
Producer
Manicurist
Hotel Owner
Vampire
Software Creator
Retiree
Fisherman
Yoga Instructor
Bowler
Blue-eyed
Bow-legged
Bald
Bearded
Ugly
Beautiful
Pretty
Creepy
Majestic
Ghoulish
Ghostly
Blond
Brunette
Gimpy
Grotesque
Ghastly
Gorgeous
Tiny
Gigantic
Small
Teensy
Large
Big-breasted
Beastly
Cute
Green-eyed
Brown-eyed
Big-nosed
Skinny
Bony
Fat
One-armed
Pidgeon-toed
Elegant
Sloppy
Chunky
Wiry
Lithe
Iron-jawed
Long fingered
Courtly
Long faced
Buck toothed
Austere
Delightful
Scary
Homely
Horrible
Quant
Eccentric
Dizzy
Drab
Arrogant
Enchanting
Jittery
Jealous
Lively
Exuberant
Terrible
Magnificent
Fair
Famous
Mysterious
Nasty
Naughty
Clever
Frantic
Obnoxious
Vivacious
Glorious
Graceful
Wicked
Weary
Crazy
Handsome
Powerful
Weary
Wounded
Wonderful
Unsightly
Witty
Wild
Grumpy
Hilarious
Cruel
Maudlin
Menacing
Costumed
Double-chinned
Slack-jawed
Slimy
Slick
Salacious
Sad
Cheerful
Cheery
Rough-voiced
Thick-necked
Vigorous
Raw-boned
Loud
Hateful
Honey-voiced
Spooky
Cantankerous
Cuddly
Adorable
Acid-tongued
Boring
Royal
Natty
Barfoot
Naked
Shoeless
Verbs - Pick Three
Accuse
Acquire
Bake
Clean
Run
Walk
Sidle
Swim
Fall
Allow
Slice
Strangle
Cough
Sneeze
Sneer
Appear
Attract
Avoid
Bathe
Believe
Beg
Break
Buy
Burn
Build
Care
Carry
Catch
Chop
Create
Crawl
Creep
Cry
Criticize
Cut
Dance
Dare
Deal
Doubt
Disagree
Discover
Dislike
Drill
Drink
Enable
Enhance
Explain
Forbid
Freeze
Forget
Freeze
Finish
Grind
Grow
Discover
Dislike
Drill
Drink
Enable
Enhance
Give
Hit
Hate
Hear
Hope
Heat
Investigate
Jump
Justify
Kick
Kiss
Know
Lack
Leap
Lose
Love
Melt
Mix
Negate
Negotiate
Mow
Need
Observe
Order
Pay
Plan
Prefer
Push
Quit
Resist
Scrub
See
Serve
Shoot
Sever
Seize
Slaughter
Slice
Survive
Take
Tear
Threaten
Warn
Wake
Weep
Write!