Fresh Start Journal Vol. 1

By Christina Sharp

Get ready to ignite the spark of imagination as you engage in daily creative writing for a year using the Fresh Start Journal. This journal is designed to provide you with three key elements to every successful story: Protagonist, Antagonist, and Location.

Suffering from writer's block? Grab the Fresh Start Journal to help you return to your love of writing as you become drawn to the endless possibilities these P-A-Ls present.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christina Sharp
• Release date: Jun 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301743490

Book preview

About Fresh Start

To master the craft of fictional writing the author must write daily. Virtually every writing authority will impress upon their readers this necessity yet writers sometimes lack the inspiration to carry through on the task.

Are you suffering from writer’s block due to a fear of failure? Do you place unrealistic expectations of perfectionism on your first draft? Is a lack of support from your peer group getting you down? Or do you simply lack the inspiration to develop something new?

Fresh Start is here to help! In this journal you are given a Protagonist, Antagonist and Location to develop a short story. These are known as P-A-Ls in Fresh Start. Some combinations are unusual to inspire you to think ‘outside the binding’. Whether you are a story-teller, word-weaver, creative junkie, wrimo, English student, script builder, or simply an author then this journal is for you!

You may just find that there is a specific P-A-L combination that jumpstarts a new novel. Perhaps it will inspire you to write a short story for publication in a magazine. Maybe you need inspiration for a play in your college language class or to develop a new script for a theatre production.

Five Benefits of Writing Daily:

•The ability to produce dynamic prose will improve over time.

•You will gain confidence in your craft while subduing your inner critic.

•Developing this habit will help to keep you focused while enabling you to work towards completing larger projects.

•You will be training your mind to think creatively.

•And the greatest benefit…

The satisfaction that you are truly writing. Authors must be fed by the words that they create to gain a sense of inner peace and connection to their story. This can only be achieved by filling each empty page with the words that are woven deep within the author’s mind.

How to Use Fresh Start:

1. Make a Commitment to Yourself

There are many distractions in life that can steal your time and prevent you from following through. Make a commitment to yourself to set aside time daily for the development of your writing skills.

2. Schedule a Daily Time for Fresh Start

To ensure success schedule at least an hour of time when you can be alone to work on the Fresh Start Journal. This needs to be a time when you can be free from the distractions of family or friends. Block off that time by letting others know you cannot be disturbed. Be sure to turn off your cellphone and internet connections. Adhere to your schedule even on the days when you don’t feel like it.

3. Select a Place that Inspires Creativity

Where do you do your best thinking? Do you find inspiration in a local coffee shop or in a library? Select a place that will spark your imagination to jump start your daily story telling.

4. Approach Each P-A-L with an Open Mind

Ordinary can be termed by many as the drab and boring. Allow your imagination to run wild with your P-A-L combination. If you absolutely cannot work with one of the three elements, substitute something more to your liking.

5. Consider Each Question to Help You Develop the Story

Each day of the Fresh Start Journal contains two random questions for the three elements. These questions are designed to help provide you with some creative inspiration to develop a backstory and jumpstart your writing.

6. Grab a Notebook or Use Your Favorite Authoring Software

Daily journal entries in the print version have space allotted to allow you to handwrite a few paragraphs of a short story or to create a brief outline. While using the eBook version, you will need to use your favorite authoring software or notebook to develop the story. It is best to develop a brief outline prior to writing your journal entry. The most important thing is that you write daily.

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DAY 1

PROTAGONIST: Potter

ANTAGONIST: Spouse

LOCATION: Fishing Pier

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What are the protagonist’s weaknesses? What type of habits does the protagonist have? What is the antagonist’s biggest regret in life? What does the antagonist want from the protagonist? Do the characters have any memories from this location? Are there other people at the location?

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DAY 2

PROTAGONIST: Traffic Cop

ANTAGONIST: Delivery Person

LOCATION: Nature Trail

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What motivates the protagonist? Does the protagonist’s work affect their motivation? What types of habits does the antagonist have? Why is the antagonist at odds with the protagonist? What items can be found at the location? What can the characters smell at the location?

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DAY 3

PROTAGONIST: Photographer

ANTAGONIST: Personal Assistant

LOCATION: Run-Down Home

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What do other people say about the protagonist? What is the protagonist’s financial status? Is the antagonist’s family involved in the story? What is the antagonist’s financial status? Is there anything unusual at the location? Are there other people at the location?

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DAY 4

PROTAGONIST: College Professor

ANTAGONIST: Camper

LOCATION: Penthouse Office

***

What is the protagonist’s relationship to the antagonist? What is on the protagonist’s bucket list? What does the antagonist do when he or she is not working? What is the antagonist’s financial status? What can be heard at the location? What can the characters see at the location?

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DAY 5

PROTAGONIST: Hunter

ANTAGONIST: Barbarian

LOCATION: Autumn Forest

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What do other people say about the protagonist? Does the protagonist’s work affect their motivation? What motivates the antagonist in his or her personal life? What is the antagonist’s biggest regret in life? What colors can the characters see at the location? What can the characters hear at the location?

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DAY 6

PROTAGONIST: Reporter

ANTAGONIST: Gecko

LOCATION: Cattle Farm

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Is the protagonist’s family involved in the story? Does the protagonist have an unhealthy habit? What motivates the antagonist in his or her personal life? Is there something that the antagonist is trying to prevent from happening? What can the characters smell at the location? What items can be found at the location?

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DAY 7

PROTAGONIST: Zoologist

ANTAGONIST: Curator

LOCATION: College Student Center

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What are the protagonist’s strengths? Does the protagonist’s work affect their motivation? What is the antagonist’s biggest regret in life? Does the antagonist have any weaknesses? Do the characters have any memories from the location? Why would the antagonist be at the location?

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DAY 8

PROTAGONIST: Meter Reader

ANTAGONIST: Assassin

LOCATION: Hunter’s Lodge

***

What motivates the protagonist in his or her personal life? Does the protagonist have any health issues? How old is the antagonist? Is the antagonist’s family involved in the story? Do the characters have any memories at the location? Are there