Let’s play a little name game ? This one will be a bit harder than the first two Name Games.
You can use any resource you have available to you - the internet, books, friends or strangers, your address book - whatever you need.

• List as many books as you can with the word “Name” in their titles - Geneology books and other books that index names don’t count

Here’s a simple, but not necessarily easy exercise to expand your creativity and attention. For each letter of the alphabet, come up with the name of a plant.

Can you complete the list without looking at an online database? How many can your friends come up with? Which letter was the most difficult to find?

Which letters spawned mini-lists? How many are found near your home? How many of the names evoke strong feelings for you?

An inspiration tag is just a phrase or two meant to give you a jumpstart on your creative expression. So read the tag below and interpret it in a creative way. There are no limitations on the medium. In fact we’d love to see a visual or listen to an audio interpretation. Admittedly, some of the tags will lend themselves more to a written format than any other.

So here it is - Tag! You’re It! Have fun!

? The truth was buried by words.

For newer readers, here are some posts from a year ago.

Quick Steps

• Name Game #1 - August 22, 2006
• Say What? Take Seven - August 23, 2006
• Inspiration Tag #7 - August 24, 2006
• Cinema Alphabetical - August 25, 2006
• Say What? Take Eight - August 28, 2006

Why be Creative?

• ? Investing in Your Creativity - August 23, 2006

The idea behind Break Away is to let your mind go and see if it will break away from your normal thought patterns.

The word is “Product”

Here’s how it works:

1. Write the Break Away Word in the center of a paper (or if you’re lucky - a whiteboard).
2. Write/Draw the first thing that comes to mind when you look at the Break Away Word.
3. Write/Draw the next thing that comes to mind.
4. Continue the process for 10 minutes or until nothing new comes to mind

Let your pen or pencil find its own way, don’t try to force any associations into a pattern.

When you’re done, take a look at your paper/whiteboard. Where did you end up? Are there any connections that surprise you?

Here’s this week’s Say What?

“It is always the best policy to speak the truth–unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.”

–Jerome K. Jerome

We all have grandiose ideas for the next best seller. However big those ideas are sometimes they just need a kick start. Sometimes there’s no great thing lurking in the shadows screaming “Write me!” but instead just a short simple scene that plays in the mind. The idea behind flash fiction is to write something out using only so many words. We frequent 55fiction and even though we haven’t posted there, we enjoy reading the work. If you visit their site you can see that some of the pieces there are nothing but a 55 word stories while others may elaborate on each short piece.

So here’s the challenge: 70 word fiction in a flash. True, that’s only 15 more words than what you see at 55fiction so make those 15 words profound and eye opening. You never know what you might scratch out of your head.
Anyone interested in adding their own work can do so in the comment section. We look forward to seeing what each and every creative mind can come up with. The requirements are simple, all we ask for is a plot in only 70 words that includes the item below, no more no less. And believe me, that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Here are your items: a mouse and a washing machine

Here’s an exercise to get your thoughts moving. Pick a number (it has to be equal to or greater than 5) and write down something having to do with Nightlife that matches each number in quantity.

If you’d like to see an example, take a look at the Gratitude Countdown.

An inspiration tag is just a phrase or two meant to give you a jumpstart on your creative expression. So read the tag below and interpret it in a creative way. There are no limitations on the medium. In fact we’d love to see a visual or listen to an audio interpretation. Admittedly, some of the tags will lend themselves more to a written format than any other.

So here it is - Tag! You’re It! Have fun!

? S/He was bound by honor.

For newer readers, here are some posts from a year ago.

Quick Steps

• Pro Sports Alphabetical - August 15, 2006
• Inspiration Tag #6 - August 16, 2006
• Fiction in a Flash, with a twist - August 16, 2006
• Say What? Take Six - August 17, 2006
• Lyrically Speaking #1 - August 18, 2006
• Break Away #2 - August 21, 2006

Why Be Creative?

• 5 Ways to Block Your Creativity - August 15, 2006

News and Announcements

• ? Jump on in, the Water’s Fine! - August 21, 2006