Category: writing

Posted on by cindyindigo

Hands Up to Start a Story

The new year is a great time to start writing–a story a week would be a great goal.

All you need to start your next story is your hand.

That’s right.
Place your hand flat on a piece of paper.
Trace around it.
In the center of your hand, write one sentence about the story you want to write.
A story about bringing my dog home for the first time.
Above the little finger, write “WHO.”
Then above the next finger, write “WHAT.”
Above the next finger, write “WHY.”
Above the next finger, write “WHEN.”
Above the next finger, write “WHERE.”
Now fill in the information on each finger.
WHO: my dog Patches and me
WHAT: bringing Patches home from the animal shelter
WHY: to show how scared Patches was at first
WHEN: last summer for my birthday
WHERE: at my dad’s house

Now, using your handy outline,
start at the beginning–
and tell your story.
Don’t forget to give your story a fun title, like “A Place for Patches.”
You can even add illustrations or photos.
Get ready, set, write!
Posted on by cindyindigo

More from Bruge–Weaving Lace and Stories


Bruge is famous for its lacework. How did they make lace before modern machinery? By hand, of course. The art of braiding this type of lace is tricky. This lace is called bobbin lace. Bobbins are used to hold the threads on a small pillow. Originally, the bobbins were made from bones, so it is also known as bone lace. And sometimes it’s called pillow lace as well. For more pictures, click on this Wikipedia link.

Stories are woven together also. Some of the threads of a story would include the characters, the setting, and the plot. Each story forms a different pattern, just like lace.
I’ve done only a little weaving in my day, on a small loom and knitting and crocheting as well. It’s tough to keep all the strands in line, forming the pattern you want. It’s tough to keep them from becoming tangled sometimes.
So it is with a story too. I work hard at twisting the plot here and turning a character there or weaving in the setting–just right. This week I’m revising a couple short stories and reviewing a middle grade chapter book in progress. I’m untangling a few knots here and there in each, trying to make wonderfully woven stories for my readers to enjoy.
Sometimes that involves a fair amount of unraveling–which makes it especially hard to keep the pattern of the story in tact. But a completed story, intricately woven with beauty and finesse, is always worth all the hard work.
Now, I’m back to my story weaving.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Paddling Up a Canal in Bruge




Well, not exactly paddling–but here are photos from our recent trip to Bruge in Belgium as we traverse some of the local waterways.

Bruge is often called the Venice of northern Europe because of its canals. This medieval city is incredible–like stepping back in time.
I’m trying to sail onward with a number of story adventures this week. Sometimes the writing and rewriting goes pretty smoothly. But today, I’m not sure if I’m making progress or simply spinning in a larger and larger circle.
Come back tomorrow to see if I’ve made progress with my writing…and for more photos from my travels.