"I am reading over the entries I have already keyed into the computer. That's weird, my first thought just now was to write 'penned' ... however that would be inaccurate in this age of microchips."
Beginners: How would you complete the paragraph?
Advanced: Make the above a statement from a main character. How would a secondary character respond?
"It's 5 a.m. I hear whimpers of hunger escalate into wails as my son notices that he woke me up. Joshua is almost nine months and already plays me like he's a teen. Stumbling in the dark, I find my way to his crib, lower the rail, and change his diaper. I tell him it's still nightnight time. A tiny tear blossoms from the outer corner of his eye. Yeah, he knows my weakness. One of the many buttons he will learn to push through the years, I am sure. I can't resist and take him to his 'feeding chair' for his morning bottle. Three minutes later, the little garbage disposal has finished the entire bottle and peers at me just as I get nestled with my blanket on the couch."
Beginners: Write the next 100 words describing Joshua's reaction to the last sentence.
Advanced: Joshua wakes up his father when he begins to wail. What happens next?
"'People both irritate and inspire me. I have little patience for the inane. I like spirit, whether in your face or quiet. I like originality. I find myself intolerant of blind followers. I suppose that's why I began my novel nearly a year ago.'
"Janine looked out the window as she stirred her iced tea.
"'The media, political leaders, terrorism, crime, hate, lack of responsibility for your brotherhood--it all invades my life everyday. Writing helps me put what I refuse to understand into a perspective that I am willing to understand.'
"She looked at Shaunessy and smiled. He smiled back, not knowing how to respond. Janine took a sip of her raspberry tea and wiped her lips with her napkin. She opened her cell phone.
"'It's all about balance. Through my writing, I try to balance the infuriating with the simple, great points of light I continue to discover in my everyday journey.'
"Shaunessy sighed. She'd never change. Talking the good talk, never actually walking that everyday journey. He was getting tired of the crap."
Beginners: How does Shaunessy respond to Janine?
Advanced: What does this story starter say about our culture? How would you finish out the scene to convey your perspective to your readers?