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writersbeware · 10 days
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Training Pays Off
            Briana stood in the middle of a huge field; her head ducked down to avoid detection. She’d been playing with the wheat tassels, brushing them with her hands when she heard the gravelly voices of Kobat warriors. Briana chanced a glance in their direction, poking her head up just enough so she could see. There were four: each dressed in dark green woodsman robes and wearing helmets so…
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writersbeware · 10 days
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Awards Ceremony
            Who doesn’t love an awards ceremony? Think of the drinks, the food, the comradery. The banners hanging from the ceiling, the cheerful atmosphere, the tension due to anticipation.             The fancy clothes, the milling about, interacting with a variety of people, some known, some soon to become new friends.             Your task is to write a story in which your character is…
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writersbeware · 17 days
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I Just Had to Try
If colors are magic, then fireflies would transport messages. Why not, I thought? But how to measure when it’s so darned hard to catch enough bugs to test my theory. I decided to experiment with flashing colors into tanks of fireflies I’d paid little kids to catch. They had a wonderful time running around with the jars I’d given them, and the only cost to me was a few rainbow lollipops. I must…
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writersbeware · 17 days
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Conflict at Home
            Your character shares an apartment with at least two other people. Those two went off somewhere: a shopping trip, a vacation, a return home. When they walk through the doors of the apartment, it’s obvious that something’s happened and they are no longer speaking to each other. How does this affect your protagonist? What is the argument about and can it be fixed? What does your…
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writersbeware · 24 days
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Gratitude Comes in Small Packages
            One September morning as my mom and I sat on our back porch steps, a group of children walked by, happily swinging colorful metal boxes. They laughed and giggled with huge smiles on their faces. I thought they were the luckiest kids on earth. “Where are they going?” I asked. “To school.” Mom lit a cigarette, threw the used match into the dirt. “What’s school?” She inhaled and then…
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writersbeware · 24 days
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Magical Shed
            Imagine a world in which magic is accepted, not feared. Residents love dropping into magical situations, places, events. Celebrations feature magical acts with throngs of people gathered to witness the performance. What if there are specific places imbued with magic? Anyone can go there. Anyone can walk through the doors and feel the hum of magical power. Let’s take a backyard shed…
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writersbeware · 1 month
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Poem on Education
Education Magic bullet Gateway to stars Door to continuous learning Within easy reach Requires some effort Constantly yearning
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writersbeware · 1 month
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Public Speaking
            Some are quite comfortable speaking before a crowd. They love the attention, love being at the podium sharing their writing, reading a speech, offering a toast. Their faces light up, their eyes grow huge and when they begin to speak, the room quietens as they know something wonderful is going to be shared.             Many of us hate public speaking, tremble at the thought of…
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writersbeware · 1 month
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Days when I feel like giving up
When I so desperately needed to lose weight, it hurt inside to watch friends devour delicious looking restaurant food while I nurtured my cup of low-calorie soup and a bland garden salad. I drooled over the thought of taking just one bite of Thai curry, but I knew I couldn’t. I read the description of its flavorful sauce over and over until it was as if I was tasting the savory sauce. But I was…
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writersbeware · 1 month
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Weather Mistakes
            Meteorologists today seem to be much better at forecasting future weather. With all the updated computer applications, they can look at weather patterns a week in advance. Such accuracy is quite helpful when planning outings, picnics, vacations and so forth.             But…predictions sometimes fall apart. The lows and highs switch places. Instead of sun, it pours. Or instead of…
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writersbeware · 1 month
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Come for a Visit
Come for a visit, Grandma, please. I want to sit upon your knees and feel your arms around me tight all afternoon and into the night. You don’t have to bring me anything like dolls, ponies, a pretty ring, books, finger-paints, or fancy clothes. I don’t really need things like those. All I want is to feel your love tightly around me like a glove and snuggle deep into your arms. My own…
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writersbeware · 1 month
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A Different Kind of Vampire
            Legend has it that all vampires drink human blood. But what if they didn’t? What would the alternative be?             Could a vampire be converted to some other form of nourishment? If so, would it be solid or liquid?             What if there are researchers out there experimenting with a solution? What kind of lab would they work in? Where would they get the…
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writersbeware · 2 months
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Fall from Grace
There have been many times in my life when I fell, completely embarrassing myself in the process. Every little kid falls, scraping elbows and knees, but not all land in such a way that her skirt flies up to her hips, exposing panties. I did that too many times to count. One of my worst falls as an adult was on a skiing trip. To begin with, I knew nothing about the sport, and since I don’t like…
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writersbeware · 2 months
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Stolen Artifact
            Recall a recent museum visit and all the artifacts you saw there. Which were the most valuable? The most appealing? The ones you wish you owned?             Go online and search for images that represent things you might have seen. Print up one or two.             Imagine those artifacts disappearing, without a trace.             Your task is to write the story, beginning with your…
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writersbeware · 2 months
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Autobiographical Fiction
When I was young my father worked at a union-based factory in Dayton, Ohio. Every winter there was a Christmas party in which a jolly Santa distributed gifts while some type of performer kept the kids entertained. I was most amazed when the famous Sherry Lewis walked out on stage with her sock puppets. After all, I’d seen her on our small black and white television. Another Christmas it was a TV…
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writersbeware · 2 months
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Mountains
            So many times, obstacles arise in our lives that at first appearance, seem insurmountable. There’s a temptation to give up, to walk way with downcast shoulders. But after a few steps, we turn around and take another look.             A stronghold appears, low enough to give us a boost, just enough to get started. We rush back, reach and grab, pull ourselves up. And when we bend our…
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writersbeware · 2 months
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Pet Ownership
Pet stores flourish because they often offer sad-looking dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and various amphibians enclosed in tiny spaces. Is this done so that potential buyers will feel sympathy and so buy one as a rescue? Are the displays set up so that the most desirable choice is at eye-level? What about pet rescue societies? When they bring pets up for adoption, do they showcase the…
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