Author Archives: Gail Menius

Haiku

Most people think of Haiku as a poem which has three lines with a limited number of syllables. And, if you knew that, give yourself a pat on the back! Asking yourself how many syllables is the first of three questions which define a Haiku.More

“Fictional” Character

Brainstorming and freewriting about your character have proven to provide better writing if done before outlining. This exercise has been modified from the Gotham Writers’ Workshop.More

Miro: Notes

Miro is a virtual whiteboard. Notes will help you see the agenda and link you to different spaces on the board.More

Prompt: Pretend you can write.

This writing prompt is from the Gotham Writers’ Workshop. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I’m going through it with the Leawood Creative Writing meetup. But I’ll sneak you a peak at this prompt. Tune in to the source of the magic(pg 8). Choose a work of fiction that you cherish. In a single…More

What magic do you want in your writing?

Tune in to the source of the magic. Choose a work of fiction that you cherish. In a single sentence, try to state the major reason why you love reading this work. Then list several ways with which you think the author achieved this effect. The reasons don’t have to employ any fancy terms and…More

Beyond the Door

Larry Thomas bought a cuckoo clock for his wife—without knowing the price he would have to pay.More