Writing Prompts for the Zodiac: Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

By guest blogger Milli Thornton

Hola, writers and closet writers! Welcome to the zodiac writing prompt series, brought to you by Elemental Musings and Fear of Writing.

Using Bev's book, Sun Signs for Writers, plus the style of writing prompt from my book, Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers, I've been exploring the zodiac with a new prompt each month.

At the end of this post you'll find links to the prompts for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio. If you don't see your sign mentioned yet, don't let that stop you from having fun with these prompts! They can be used by anyone at any time.

This month we'll be having some fun with Sagittarius.

On page 98 of Sun Signs for Writers, a quick glance at the profile for Sagittarius shows the following key personality traits: blunt, jovial, optimistic and intellectual. Element: fire. The symbol for Sagittarius is the Centaur or Archer.

Pretty spicy so far. But it gets better. Bev says the Sagittarius writer is the “freedom-loving philosopher of the zodiac.” She says Sagittarians “are no strangers to wanderlust.” Furthermore, the “cultural dynamic of the global community will appeal to these writers, but they won't want to be tied down to exploring just one side of their creative personality.”

According to Bev, Sagittarians are ravenous readers with an inquisitive nature. Subjects such as law, religion and politics fascinate them, but they're willing to write about nearly any topic.

They also revel in being wonderful conversationalists, which gives them a flair for understanding how to write good dialogue.

With this spirited and forthright personality makeup, let's put Sagittarius into the blender, use the High Speed button and see what happens.

To use this month's prompt, read the Sagittarius story starter below and let it sink into your subconscious mind. Trust in your imagination and your own version of the storyline will surface.

If your imagination feels a bit rusty, check the links at the bottom of this post for the article “10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts.” These tips are guaranteed to get you started, one way or another.

STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' TALKER Katherine Bachman Sagemayer (“KB” to her friends) is planning a grand career as a journalist covering international stories. While she majors in journalism at her state university, she pursues her other love: novel writing. KB has attended more novel-writing workshops than you'd think her hectic schedule would allow for—and she always, always signs up for the dialogue class. She feels she knows the drill backwards by now, but she's always hoping for something fresh and dynamic. Lo and behold, at the Paquehasset Novel Writing and B&B Retreat, KB strikes unexpected gold. The presenter for “Dialogue: Demolishing Your Creative Demons” calls in sick and the organizers are frantic to find a replacement. KB uses her conversational skills to talk herself into the job. Undaunted at having no written material to refer to, she wings the 45-minute presentation based on her own experiences writing dialogue. The only time she's temporarily dumbstuck is during Q&A, when she discovers the true impact her unvarnished opinions had on her audience. Ever the optimist, KB decides to use the fiery dialogue with her audience as fodder for a new writing project.

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10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts

March writing prompt: Aries

April writing prompt: Taurus

May writing prompt: Gemini

June writing prompt: Cancer

July writing prompt: Leo

August writing prompt: Virgo

September writing prompt: Libra

October writing prompt: Scorpio

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MILLI THORNTON is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers and still misses Australia, where she lived for 25 years. A bit of a gypsy, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband. Milli blogs at Fear of Writing and Milliver’s Travels.

Writing Prompts for the Zodiac: Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

By guest blogger Milli Thornton

Welcome, writers and closet writers!

Using Bev's book, Sun Signs for Writers, plus the style of writing prompt from my book, Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers, I've been exploring the zodiac with a new prompt each month. This month we'll be working with Scorpio.

At the end of this post you'll find links to the prompts for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra. If you don't see your sign mentioned yet, don't let that stop you from having fun with these prompts! They can be used by anyone at any time.

Now, most of us, when we think of Scorpio, think intense. Bev's description of the Scorpio writer (Sun Signs for Writers, page 89) reinforces this model. “Passion and confidence make for an impressive and unstoppable writer. On the other hand, those two elements, if not kept in check, can leave a bad taste in other people's mouths. Scorpios work at such an intense level that most people cannot even hope to keep up with them.”

Bev says the Scorpio writer “has a deep and wide vein of fearlessness.” She says Scorpios “know how to work people and are often hypnotic and charismatic.” They can be forceful and demanding, but also steadfast and dependable.

And, what about that famous sting in the tail? Bev says that if a Scorpio truly wants to become a professional writer, stand aside, because nothing's gonna stop ’em! However, she cautions, “Scorpios must be careful not to leave broken souls and singed egos in their wake.”

With this fascinating personality makeup, let's put Scorpio into the driver's seat and see where she takes us.

To use this month's prompt, read the Scorpio story starter below and let it sink into your subconscious mind. Trust in your imagination and your own version of the storyline will surface.

If your imagination feels a bit rusty, check the links at the bottom of this post for the article “10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts.” These tips are guaranteed to get you started, one way or another.

SCORPULOUS Genre-hopping writer Raven McMannon wanted to do something different for Halloween this year. She was sick of all the usual stuff. She didn't want to deal with witches or goblins or the undead—and if she heard one more joke about her name, she was going to scream. Her intensity about all this had been building throughout the month. Finally, on October 30, she packed an overnight bag and her laptop and got in the car. She was going to drive across the state until she found what she was looking for. This was going to be a glorious writer's retreat for one, with the added intrigue of choosing her accommodations by intuition. What she found surpassed anything she could have planned for. And the souls she met at this “bed and breakfast with a twist” were better than any fancy costume party her friends back home could provide. Raven's imagination was so stimulated, she had to try to find a balance between writing the book that was pouring out of her and reacting to the various moods of provocation and revelation surrounding her.

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10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts

March writing prompt: Aries

April writing prompt: Taurus

May writing prompt: Gemini

June writing prompt: Cancer

July writing prompt: Leo

August writing prompt: Virgo

September writing prompt: Libra

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MILLI THORNTON is the author of Fear
of Writing: for writers & closet writers and still misses Australia, where she lived for 25 years. A bit of a gypsy, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband. Milli blogs at Fear of Writing and Milliver’s Travels.

Fall writing courses - registration now open

For 12 years, I've been a full-time, professional writer/editor. I've penned countless articles, reviews and features for various publications and companies, both in the U.S. and overseas. During that time, I've also taught several online classes for writers, including Secrets of the Professional Freelancer, Creativity 101: Tapping the Muse Within and Marketing/PR for Writers. Many of my students have gone on to become professional, published freelancers and authors in their own right.

The following courses are now available for fall registration:

—Flash Freelance: Jump-start your writing in ONE weekend!
—Professional Freelance Writing
—Creativity 101: Tapping the Muse Within
—Marketing/PR for Writers
—How to Write, Sell and Market Your Nonfiction Book

Classes are limited to TEN students for each instructional cycle. If a class fills up before you are able to reserve a spot, you will automatically be signed up for the next cycle. Links to class sign-up information are pasted below.

If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at scribequill@gmail.com. Course registration begins October 1, 2009.

Once you register for your selected course, I will contact you with an introduction and information. Next, you will begin receiving your lessons, handouts and weekly assignments via e-mail. Your course starts right away and I will communicate with you ONE-ON-ONE.

Available courses include:

* Flash Freelance: Jump-start your writing in a weekend!
Duration: One weekend
Enrollment fee: $30
Course outline and sign-up located here: http://www.bevwaltonporter.com/flash.html

* Professional Freelance Writing (Comprehensive Course)
Duration: Four weeks
Enrollment fee: $80
Course outline and sign-up located here: http://www.bevwaltonporter.com/freelance.html

* Creativity 101: Tapping the Muse Within
Duration: Four weeks
Enrollment fee: $80
Course outline and sign-up located here: http://www.bevwaltonporter.com/tappingmuse.html

* Marketing/PR for Writers
Duration: Four weeks
Enrollment fee: $80
Course outline and sign-up located here: http://www.bevwaltonporter.com/marketing.html

* How to Write, Sell and Market Your Nonfiction Book
Duration: Four weeks
Enrollment fee: $100
Course outline and sign-up located here: http://www.bevwaltonporter.com/nonfiction.html

To learn about my professional affiliations, as well as my experience as an author, freelancer, editor and class instructor, please visit: http://editrix.homestead.com

Have a great day and don't forget to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!

Sincerely,

Bev Sninchak
Author/Editor/Writing Coach

Author: Hidden Fire [June 2009]
Sun Signs for Writers [Aug. 2006]
Mending Fences [Sept. 2006]
Shadows of the Soul [Oct. 2004]
Secrets of the Professional Freelancer [Oct. 2004]
Co-author: The Complete Writer: A Guide To Tapping Your Full Potential [Aug. 2005].

Writing Prompts for the Zodiac: Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)

By guest blogger Milli Thornton

Welcome, writers and closet writers!

Continuing our series on the zodiac, this month we'll be working with Libra.

Using Bev Walton-Porter's book, Sun Signs for Writers, plus the style of writing prompt from my book, Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers, I've been exploring the zodiac with a new prompt each month.

At the end of this post you'll find links to the prompts for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo. Don't see your sign mentioned? Don't let that stop you from having fun with these prompts! They can be used by anyone at any time.

According to Sun Signs for Writers, page 79, Libras are drawn to a variety of artistic endeavors, especially writing. But, the first thing that leaps to mind about Libra is usually balance, represented by the zodiac symbol of a pair of scales.

Bev says Libras "prefer orderly, harmonious, and aesthetically pleasing surroundings." Libras are mediators at heart and can always see both sides of the situation.

"One of their main goals is to avoid conflict with others," Bev continues. "They would rather compromise than cause discord or disagreement." Libras can be "so caught up in seeing both sides of an issue that they become stuck in limbo and reluctant to make a firm decision."

Libra writers have many interesting qualities. As with the eleven other signs, these range from wonderful to less desirable (and you should get Bev's book for the scoop!)—but let's run with what we've got so far. Let's see what a Libra writer might do when confronted with an inner conflict.

To use this month's prompt, read the Libra story starter below and let it sink into your subconscious mind. Trust in your imagination and your own version of the storyline will surface.

However, if your imagination feels a bit rusty, check the links at the bottom of this post for the article “10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts.” These ten tips are guaranteed to get you started, one way or another.


BALANCING ACT(ING) After writing professionally in a series of inharmonious settings (for bosses with no discernible aesthetic values), you decide to quit writing forever and take up acting as your creative therapy. After local playhouses continually assign you roles related to scales or being out of balance, it hits you over the noggin that you're getting a message about your own life. But it also irks you to receive this reflection. You decide to write a play as a channel for your frustrations. While studiously ignoring the fact that you've returned full circle to writing, you blaze through your first play, entitled [insert your title here]. It's so good a local producer snaps it up, but only on the condition that you'll play [insert name and type of character here].

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10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts

March writing prompt: Aries

April writing prompt: Taurus

May writing prompt: Gemini

June writing prompt: Cancer

July writing prompt: Leo

August writing prompt: Virgo

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MILLI THORNTON is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers and still misses Australia, where she lived for 25 years. A bit of a gypsy, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband. Milli blogs at Fear of Writing and Milliver’s Travels.

His Love of Words Lives On

Over thirty years ago, my adopted dad, Leo C. Walton, Sr., passed away from lung cancer. The disease was caused by exposure to asbestos in the ship rooms he worked in while he served in the U.S. Navy. He was the first person to give me a love of words and reading. He was the person who ignited the writing spark in my soul, and to this day it burns brightly.

Every night, without fail, he would read stories from Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop's Fables and Babar the Elephant (among others). It was a literary ritual that branded my creative soul forever. He was a kind man, an emotional Pisces, a former Mormon who left that faith to embrace Presbyterianism, the religious denomination my mother, Shirley, held.

He dirtied his hands with physical work, toiling away as a mechanic and general manager of a Ford motor garage in a small Virginia town. By contrast, after work he refreshed his mind with classic tales and fascinating adventures. He was a blue-collar man and an aspiring inventor, always coming up with creative ideas and dreams.

My adopted dad taught me the value of hard work -– and of striving to provide more for one’s family. He managed to secure a nice, three-bedroom home in one of the newest suburbs of the area, and we regularly attended functions at the local country club, though we lived a middle-class existence.

My family went to church every Sunday, without fail, when I was a little kid. He made sure I was dressed to the nines for church, including white gloves and white furry ear muffs in winter time. My parents also had me in every conceivable artistic/creative activity when I was a kid: baton twirling, ballet, cheerleading, piano...you name it.

When he passed away in the early 70s, I quit all of it. He was no longer there to see me, to urge me on, and my desire to perform wilted on the vine. Although I was not of his blood, I was still Daddy’s Little Girl. Except I no longer had a daddy. I tried to go back to piano lessons at the age of ten, but that didn't last for long. He was no longer there to play for, and his applause was silenced. To this day, thanks to my dad, I still love pianos and can compose songs easily or learn to play parts of established songs by ear. And although I haven't had a piano for decades, in the past several years I dreamed of purchasing a piano so I could compose a song for my dad -– both the music and the words.

There are a million fond memories of my dad. For instance, when my mom would come to punish me for a childish transgression, I’d make a beeline straight for my dad and wrap myself around his permanent-press, blue-panted leg (he always smelled like oil or grease from the auto garage). Mom was the enforcer of discipline, but I knew he wouldn't allow her to correct me if I was around him.

My two adopted teen brothers were another matter, however. He was strict with them and made them toe the line. Being the only girl, I reaped special favors and attention (to my brothers’ chagrin, I’m sure). In my family, I never felt adopted. I felt loved and safe and as much a natural part of the family as my brothers were.

Dad died October 30th, the night before Halloween. I remember, quite vividly, wearing a fairy costume for trick or treat the following day. I cried on that Halloween. I didn't want to go trick or treating. I was still mourning the loss of my father from the day before. But my family insisted I go trick or treating as if everything was normal. My oldest brother, Leo, and his then-fiancée and future wife, Debbie, drove me around in his off-white, blue-pinstriped Maverick for Halloween night. I remember laying my head on Debbie's lap, sobbing and crying tears into the fabric of her dress. Although I didn’t want to be there, I knew Dad would’ve wanted me to go and have fun; after all, he'd said he approved of my costume.

Today, some believe using a hyphenated name such as I do with Walton-Porter is a ploy for attention or to prove how much of a feminist I am. In my case, those people would be wrong. The reason I use my hyphenated last name has nothing to do with feminism at all; it has more to do with honoring the legacy of my adopted dad and what he meant to me.

In everyday life, I use Bev Sninchak on most of my personal documents. In professional life, I use the hyphenated name Walton-Porter on bylines and books as a way of honoring my dad. It’s a concrete and public way of thanking him for turning me onto words and instilling a love of books in me. Dad introduced me to the holy world of literature...a force I consider sacred and powerful to both writers and readers.

Since his death, Halloween has symbolized more than just a once-a-year dress-up holiday filled with costumed spooks and candy. For me, it goes much deeper. It is a time to honor loved ones and remember them. It is a time to honor my dad. As a neo-pagan, I follow the tradition of celebrating the turning of the seasonal wheel every October 31, and I usually erect a small memorial altar for my father at that time.

Every year, I remember my dad and meditate on how thankful I am that he was my adopted father. It would have been nice to look out and see his face when I graduated high school. It would have been amazing to have him walk me down the aisle at my first and second weddings. It would have been touching to watch him cuddle his grandchildren and coo to them. It would have been priceless to hear his reaction if he knew his only grandson (who carries on his tradition of loving words) won admittance into the exclusive Dramatic Writing program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2007. It would have been a thrill to present him a copy of my first published book, Sun Signs for Writers (Writer’s Digest Books), and show him the acknowledgement to him on the inside.

Over three decades later, I love my adopted dad and I miss him very much. In many ways, it now occurs to me that I'm not publishing articles and books for myself at all. It occurs to me that I'm publishing articles and books for him instead. Somewhere, he knows this...at least, that's how I feel. Somehow, this is my way of honoring his memory and letting him know that the love he shared with me of books/words still lives on inside of me.

His physical form is long gone, but his spirit remains and thrives through me. I am the conduit for his love of words on this earthly plane. As long as my words live on a page, he will never be forgotten. It's a living memorial to him that's shared with everyone who takes the time to read anything I've written, whether good, bad or indifferent.

Dad, I miss you. Do you know how much you meant to me, even now? I hope you do.

Please add yourselves!

To avoid slamming my personal Facebook profile all the time with information about my professional career, I've set up a professional profile over on Facebook. It's a common thing for writers, actors, musicians, artists, etc. to do over there. I'm was behind on doing this, as many authors I know had already set theirs up. Anyway, if you're on Facebook, come on over and join in as a fan!: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bev-Walton-Porter/122276508485

In addition, my personal profile is here: http://www.facebook.com/elementalmuse

You can also follow me on Twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/elementalmuse

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Writing Prompts for the Zodiac: Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

By guest blogger Milli Thornton

Welcome!

This continues our series of zodiac writing prompts. Based on Bev's book, Sun Signs for Writers, I've been working my way through the zodiac—from Aries to Pisces—inventing a new prompt for each sign.

Each prompt is published on the first day of its cycle. At the end of this post you'll find links to the prompts for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo. Can't see your sign yet? Don't let that stop you from having fun with these prompts! They can be used by anyone at any time.

Now, let's get to the bottom of these Virgo characters.

My mom was a Virgo, so I was on familiar ground as I read this on page 71 of Sun Signs for Writers: “Meticulous is your middle name.” As researchers Virgos will dig deep, leaving no stone unturned. Bev goes on to describe the Virgo writer as orderly and precise, analytical to an extreme and “never satisfied with a mere surface treatment of anything, and most certainly not in their work!”

Virgos are diligent, reliable and deadline conscious. Sound ideal? Bev warns there can be a dark side to this “editor's dream.”

Oh, goody. A dark side! The stuff writing prompts are made of. So, what is Virgo's dirty little secret?

Perfectionism. Yes, Virgos must learn to live with the hard truth that “absolute perfection isn't always attainable.” And there's the rub.

To use this month's prompt, read the Virgo story starter below and then give it a chance to sink into your mind. Trust in your imagination and a story will come.

However, if your imagination feels a bit rusty, check the links section at the bottom of this post for the helpful article, “10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts.” These tips are guaranteed to get you started, one way or another.

PERFECTIONISTA You come from a proud family of successful magazine editors in the fashion industry. Your grandmother, mother, brother, two sisters and a cousin all rule the roost at stylish publications, dressed to the nines and wielding their perfectionist streaks to the tune of many awards and honors. You've inherited every single family gene—except for the love of fashion. The fashion industry bores you silly, and you know you don't belong. Determined to make it on your own as a writer, you find job-hunting outside your family's sphere of influence to be slim pickings. You take the only job you can find that will actually cover your rent, and your first day at Wordsmythe, LLC is a shocker. The fancy office cannot disguise the stink of a blog factory. As you churn out blog copy (with no time allowed for careful research or meticulous writing) you have your eye on the manager's chair. Her heavenly job is to check facts and edit the raw material produced by the cubicle slaves. You want that job so bad you can taste it! Or, at least you think you do . . . until an assignment lands on your desk that catapults you into a new dimension.

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10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts

March writing prompt: Aries

April writing prompt: Taurus

May writing prompt: Gemini

June writing prompt: Cancer

July writing prompt: Leo

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MILLI THORNTON is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers and still misses Australia, where she lived for 25 years. A bit of a gypsy, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband. Milli blogs at Fear of Writing and Milliver’s Travels.

Author interview scheduled for December

It's a bit early, but I found out today that I'll be the featured author on Chris Redding's blog on December 17th. That will also be my 45th birthday, but I didn't know those two events would coincide :)

I'll post a reminder on the day it's actually up, but it'll appear here:
http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/