The Sunshine Factor

where sunshine is a way of life

Tag Archives: Writing Exercises


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The Adventure of Debb’s Blog and Her New Trail: Part Five

In taking a hard look at my blog, I enjoyed having a mixture of posts – recipes, poems, stories, articles…but I wanted more.  I wanted artwork from children and adults filling up the blog, along with guest poems and articles.  I wanted to have (and give my readers) it all!  So the next question was:  so where can I get all this additional writing?  The answer came to me when I defined what my blog is.

I call this blog and its readership a community of people with the same goal and focus:  finding the sunshine in your life in spite of sometimes negative circumstances.  Hmmm….a community thrives on its citizens all contributing in their own special way.  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  Our Sunshine community could do that – offer up their own kinds of sunshine to the community.  We could be enriching each other’s lives!  The extra photos, art, book reviews, stories, poems, articles would fit into that niche in a grand fashion!

If I could write for my blog two weeks out of the month, and write my various projects in the other two weeks, how fantastic would that be?!  I had been having a conflict within myself about writing the blog so much I was neglecting the other part of my writing life.  Here, my friends, was my answer.  If I created a new website with a lot to read, enough to keep people busy for a month, I could do all my writing!  AND get my friends involved in a great project, too!  🙂

Next up:  Where Debb’s trail ends up and announcement of The Great Launch – coming soon to a computer near you!

 


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The Adventure of Debb’s Blog and Her New Trail: Part Three

When I said to God, “Okay, Lord, I will post something on the blog every day!” I hadn’t planned on what type of writing I would do.  Flying by the seat of my pants, I just sat down to write each day.  (I was and still am very thankful for my computer because my writing hand cramps up and my handwriting is very small unless I take time to write neatly.)  As mentioned before, I’d take a morning walk and come back with three or four ideas at a time.  Perfect, I said to myself, I will schedule the extra posts for the days ahead and I’ll still be posting every day.

From in my heart and down through my fingertips, I wrote in different styles.  A recipe here, a poem here and there, a commentary about the goops in traffic, a bedtime story…once in awhile a questionnaire or poll…and then a story consisting of song titles throughout (THAT was a lot of fun!)…whatever came to me.

This is great!  This is fun!  Who knew?!  I often said, accompanied by excited and happy hand and arm movements (to be exact, my hubby named one of these expressions as The Debbie).

I’m sure you’ve heard of artists and writers who experienced problems while doing their craft.  I was not exempt from this stellar group.

Next week:  Debb shares the not-so-smiley valleys in her writing.

 


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My Muse Was/Is On Vacation

I, yes even I,

suffered from writer’s block lately.

Never thought I would see the day

or have to use the skills I learned

to get over it.

 

So just where did my Muse go?

I think she went somewhere where it is warm and sunny;

she went off to play tennis

and then visit the ocean.

 

Meanwhile I have cooked up

a marvelous new project,

and I am writing an exciting post for tomorrow.

so Muse will have to come back

and not worry about competing with the new project.

Little does she know ~~

she is going to be a big part of it.

My readers will have parts to play, too,

if they desire.

 

Stay tuned, dear friends!

Come back, dear Muse!

 

Signed,

Debbie Dearest!   🙂

 

 

 

 


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Focus for Wednesdays

cropped-look-both-ways2.jpg

As a writer for both children and adults, I often give human traits to plants and animals. My imagination seems to soar, turning things I see in my everyday life into a story or poem.

Instead of writing of series of “humanizing” posts, I will reserve each Wednesday for my humanizing writing. I have two ideas so far, and having a focus for Wednesdays will prompt me to keep on finding more stories.

My first “humanizing” post will be Wednesday, August 21st. I hope you will join me.  🙂

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Daily Post Daily Prompt

English: Clock_of_al_Jazari_before_1206.

English: Clock_of_al_Jazari_before_1206. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hello,

My challenge today is to write an entire post with having no three-letter words.

I believe it is my duty to practice writing as often as possible, plus these prompts look pretty interesting.  (Even if I participate with older prompts, that’s okay, as most experiences will be worth it.)

What challenges a person to better their skill or abilities?  WordPress is an answer I came up with right away.  Motivation is another good thing when you’re looking to improve something about yourself or your life.

That leads me to those areas of goal setting along with  time management.  Is it a perfectionist’s exercise or would it be able to be something that would interest anyone?

I dream of many, many readers sending their comments along to me.  (Hope I didn’t allow a three-letter-word into this post?)   I also hope that my whole WordPress family will participate in these awesome writing activities.


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Thankful Tuesday

takes your breath away

Good morning!  Have you ever heard the idea of writing down five things a day that you are thankful for?  I try to write down ten.  It’s a good exercise because it takes me outside myself, to remember that it’s not all about me. For us, I’d like us to just simply be thankful today – no writing necessary.   If you have some situations, I have answers:

Did the sun come up too early today?   At least you are here and alive to notice it.

Just too tired and worn out?  There are some that wish they had legs so they could do activities to get tired from.  Or have legs that worked like they’re supposed to.

Too many clouds in the sky and you want to see the sun?  That makes it okay that you didn’t remember to bring your sunglasses along, and you won’t have to squint.

You’re having a bad hair day?  Some people have lost all their hair.  (I know what THAT feels like.)

Feel like there’s nothing decent in your closet to wear?  Some have to actually wear the same clothes day after day after day…

Your friends getting you down lately?  You have the best Friend of all, one who always cares.

Wish you had a different boss?  You might end up with someone even worse.  Or worse yet, no job and no boss.

Hate your job?  Would you rather be in a position of not being able to support yourself or your family?

Tired of your apartment or your house or mansion?  The secret is to want what you have, for some need a place to live that isn’t a cardboard box.

Tired of Ms. Debb rambling on and on (and on!)??  Well, she can take a hint.  I will leave you now, with one request:

I urge you to contact SunshineFactor if there’s something you just can’t be thankful for – maybe I or my other readers can help.   Debb