Newsletter #1 Plath, Foer, Dickens, Writing as Play, and Alternate History
Sylvia Plath
Image courtesy of Bettmann / Getty Images
Three Sentences to Imitate and Study
I.
I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart; I am, I am, I am.
- Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
II.
Sometimes I can feel my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living.
- Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
III.
A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it.
- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Two Quotes on Writing as Play
I.
“Genius is childhood recovered at will.”
- Charles Baudelaire (poet, essayist, art critic)
II.
“The most wonderful feeling is that of being at play as a child and it's our job as writers to let the child out and be creative.”
- Robin Swicord (screenwriting, director, playwright), from 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters
This Week’s Writing Prompt/Tip
Write an alternate story of your life or the life of a character from one of your stories. Change one decision from your life or your character’s life and explore what would be different. How would relationships change? Key events? Circumstances? You can be serious or you can be as crazy and wild as you want.
Post your response in the Comments section below.
Spread the Word
If you like what you’re reading, please help me grow this newsletter by sharing it via text, social media, or email.
Use this link: https://www.imfrank.blog/newsletter-archive/newsletter-1
