the first draft

28 days of writing prompts

Getting the first draft done sounds like it should be easy, but it's not. It's where most writers stop before they've even begun. Our best ideas are often locked in our head, stuck in our hands, and never to be read by a soul. Writers write. It's a practice and discipline of inspiration for communication. We begin here. This is 28 days of writing prompts to generate 30-50,000 words within a specific structure on to the page, eight minutes at a time.

timed writing

8 minutes per day

Each day you are invited to write for four minutes, guided by a writing prompt as a sentence begun for you, which you complete and then carry on with. Each writing prompt takes you to a desired place of focus and impact designed to help you craft each bone, plot point and turning point within the body of your story. Everyone can write for eight minutes, yes, even you.

50,000 words

structure matters

Within this course you will find: a filing system to help keep you organized, writing prompts to fill a page-turning three act structure with three turning points, an engine room chapter, introduction, call to action, closing words and an impact statement. Everything you need to complete a first draft is all here. Each day you will generate 500-2000 words depending on how inspired you are. In 28 days you will complete what most writers only think about.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    your 28 day adventure

    • welcome from the Queen of Capilano

    • getting lost on purpose

    • how to from the dollar store

    • how to use a writing prompt

    • what is a first draft?

  • 2

    days 1 - 7

    • From us to you... our process too

    • day 1 - too much coffee 5Ws & H

    • day 1 - prompt - 5ws & an h

    • day 2 - the waiting room of your book - the introduction

    • day 2 - prompt - introduction in four parts

    • you can keep writing

    • day 3 - engines in the library

    • engine room scene examples

    • day 3 - prompt - engine room #1

    • day 4 - the roots of emotional impact

    • day 4 - prompt - emotional impact

    • day 5 - the doctor's office surprise! - turning point #1

    • day 5 - prompt - turning point #1

    • day 6 - from the alley - turning point #2

    • day 6 - prompt - turning point #2

    • day 7 - on the steps just before the 'aha' - turning point #3

    • day 7 - prompt - turning point #3
  • 3

    days 8 - 14

    • words?

    • Day 8 - prompt - engine room #2 - what's at stake?

    • day 9 - overarching conflict

    • Day 9 - prompt - core conflict

    • day 10 - main character's conflict

    • day 10 - prompt - conflict and obstacles

    • Day 11 - the author's conflict and drive

    • Day 11 - prompt - the author has a conflict too

    • bench #2 - we all start somewhere

    • day 12 - impact statement

    • Day 12 - prompt - theme and impact

    • day 13 - universal yearnings

    • day 13 - prompt - engine room #3 - need

    • bench #3 - stay inspired

    • day 14 - kids book in full

    • Day 14 - prompt - mini writing adventure
  • 4

    half way happy dance

    • come on let's dance... you are HALF WAY there...
  • 5

    days 15 - 21

    • Day 15 - and then this happened

    • day 15 - prompt - act one action

    • The Great Debate - between act 1 and act 2

    • day 16 - action of the situation

    • Day 16 - prompt - write the situation scene

    • day 17 - filling in through conflict

    • Day 17 - prompt - yay and yuck

    • launch and no turning back

    • day 18 - discovery, launch & no options left

    • Day 18 - prompt - no turning back

    • day 19 - goals and stairs

    • day 19 - prompt. - synopsis and charting

    • day 20 - inner monologue

    • what was cameron thinking?

    • day 20 - prompt - inner monologue of emotional life

    • day 21 - head, heart and hand

    • day 21 - prompt - pick a scene
  • 6

    days 22 - 28

    • Tina's day 22 - setting up the climax

    • Meribeth's day 22 - setting up the climax

    • Day 22 - prompt - setting up the climax

    • example of setting up the climax

    • Tina's day 23 - the perfect storm

    • Meribeth's day 23 - the perfect storm

    • day 23 - prompt - the perfect storm

    • examples of a perfect storm

    • Tina's day 24 - the fall out

    • Meribeth's day 24 - the fall out

    • day 24 - prompt - the fall out

    • Meribeth's day 25 - reflecting on humanity

    • Day 25 - reflection and our humanity

    • Tina's day 26 - missing from your heart

    • Meribeth's day 26 - what is missing for you?

    • Day 26 - let your heart tell you

    • Tina's day 27 - body scan

    • Meribeth's day 27 - body scan

    • Day 27 - body scan

    • Tina's day 28 - unexpected.

    • Meribeth's day 28 - curiosity

    • Day 28 - Unexpected