In today's writing prompt, all you will need is a piece of paper and a pen. The catch is, instead of writing, first you will doodle - whatever comes to your mind for ten minutes.  After you doodle, write for ten minutes, again whatever comes to your mind.  As always, with the writing prompts, you want to write continuously for the designated time period, without picking up your writing utensil or scratching anything out.

Happy Writing!

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So you have a project that has been assigned and you don't know where to start.  The first thing you must do in order to produce good research is come up with an idea, and a focus for that idea.  There are many techniques for doing this.  You could make a mind map, free associate like in the writing prompts, make a list, or more. 

To start, come up with a topic.  If the topic has already been assigned to you, start with that topic.  For the sake of learning, imagine you've been assigned to wr...
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This week, my priorities include finishing up my work on the poverty brochure.  I am also writing a few new Bright Hub articles.  Finally I am finishing up an adventure I have been creating for Mind Flayer Games.

I would like to create some query letters for magazines, and work some more on my novel Night Song this week.  Also, I would like to create an article or two for Helium.

It promises to be a busy week!       



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Today we are going to write from a photograph.  Pick a photograph from your personal collection or from a magazine.  You will describe in your writing what is going on in the picture following the writing prompt rules:

• Do not pick up your pencil
• Do not stop writing
• Do not cross anything out
• Write for at least 10 minutes

When you are done, you will have created a small scene with your words. 

Happy Writing!

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It's that time again - the new semester is beginning - and that means it is time to get organized.  Below is a list of tips to help you make Spring 2009 your best semester yet.

1.  Invest in a calendar/task management system.  Either use a day planner, Palm Pilot, Microsoft Outlook, or one of the many open source task management systems such as Thunderbird.
2.  Give each course you are taking its own category and color.  Enter in each assignment on your syllabus into your calendar or task manag...
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This week I'm finalizing those Motherhood Encyclopedia Articles.  I'm also forging ahead diligently on the poverty project for a client.  The other main project of the week is writing a small adventure for a Role Playing Game company. 

While there are three projects I'm working on this week, it is a very busy week!  I hope to also get some work done on video game reviews for Bright Hub and some short articles for Helium.



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This writing exercise depends upon thinking about generosity in a time of increasing need.  Think about the news lately.  Now imagine that money is no object - as long as you use it to help other people.  What would you do?  What sort of programs would you start? 

Rules for the writing prompt:

• Write for 10 minutes
• Do not cross anything out
• Do not lift up your pen
• Do not stop writing

Begin your writing with "If money were no object I would help..."  At the end of this writing session, you may wish...
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An annotated bibliography can be an enormously helpful tool when performing research for a major project.  During the preliminary research phase, it can be helpful to create an annotated bibliography so you can see where you are going with your research and so others can follow as well.  Endnote, Zotero and other bibliography programs can help you in this regard.  Here, I will show you how to create an annotated bibliography using a document program.

First, you will search, at the library webs...
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This week's priorities are the poverty project and the Motherhood Encyclopedia project that I am working on.  I'm also in the process of organizing everything for the new year.  I will be working on reviews of video games for Bright Hub in the coming weeks.  Finally, I am working on promotional materials for Stanimation Productions.



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Happy New Year!  May your goals and hopes come to fruition in 2009!

This prompt focuses on juxtaposing the words "never" with "always."  In this exercise, you will alternate sentences beginning, "I never..." and "I always..." The rules are as follows:

• Time yourself for 5 minutes
• Do not stop writing
• Do not lift up your pen
• Do not cross anything out

-AND-

• Do not follow a "never" with a "never" or an "always" with an "always." 
  

Once you finish the prompt you should have an interesting collection of tho...
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