Object Writing - Parsnip

The word, "Parsnip", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

The evil prince had fingers resembling wrinkly, dirt-caked parsnips only these were bendable. They tapered to a point such that no fingernail would dare to grow. He pointed one of his vegetable appendages and pressed it into my chest, testing my resolve like a gardener tests the soil in lieu of sowing future plans. I sensed the seeds of an evil plot in his grotesquely watery eyes set in hatchet-cut eye sockets over which a furrowed brow pressed down in intimidating symmetry.

Object Writing - Parsnip

Object Writing - Kerosene

Busy days of shows at the fair but time in between for....

The word, "Kerosene", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

It was as though the mood hanging in the room was dripping with kerosene and one more

misunderstood or misspoken outburst would send the whole living room up in flames of anger. Resentment was rising like the pungent smell of lighter fluid. Tongue strikes teeth and roof of mouth and sparks fly. Eyes aflame and glowing like charcoal briquettes. Lethal drop of sweat down his back, an uncomfortable sign of poison disagreements. A foot pensively tapping on dark wood floor under the coffee table is like a flame licking against his self control. He wants to jump up and spew dragon fire, burning any other opinions to a deadly crisp. Knuckles cracking like a snapping campfire as...

Object Writing - Kerosene

Object Writing - Illegal (Criminal oozings, forced sniffles, ewe)

The word, "Illegal", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

This illness is illegal to my plans as far as I'm concerned. If it had any rights they would be read to it and then locked up for further judgement. A judgement and jury that would never come. Criminal oozings and forced sniffles. Unlawful nuisances of scratchy throat grumbles. My strength has been stolen from me from out of nowhere. I stand to a dizziness that's murder on my energy level. I fear a nausea may overpower me like a thief in the night. Handcuffed to my bed is what it feels like. The law of health thrown and broken to pieces like Moses throwing the covenant stones in front of the Israelites. Chicken soup, like prison's bread and water, is my lot in life today. A kleenex that will never wipe away the charges completely until the virus is banished from my society of thoughts.

Object Writing - Illegal (Criminal oozings, forced sniffles, ewe)

Object Writing, with a Haiku Bonus (Hiya!)

Your cold tea cup
Speaks of your warming presence
Knowing you'll return
__________________

And now the word, "Hallucination", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...
(Note: Views expressed not necessarily the mental state of their author)

Photo: http://tinyurl.com/pc8hmq6

Whisps of things thought seen. Windy nothings caressing forests of dense dreams that stand majestic like redwoods on the California coast. I resist hallucinations, yet they are more real to me today than ever. A ray of sun like a sharp icycle pierces my forearm. The sun smiles at me; the sight of it burning into my mind the more I stare. But I can't look away. Ficus leaves applaud their approval under compulsion from the breeze's insistent goading. Angry fly buzz says aerodynamics...

Object Writing, with a Haiku Bonus (Hiya!)

Object Writing - Imagine (Yes, Dragons)

The word, "Imagine", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

I imagine dragons in my living room. They are planted on the couch like an old married couple. One of them roars fire into the kitchen at me to bring him a sauteed damsel in distress. An outrageous request since I'm not into human sacrifice. And by the way, now my walls are singed black and smokey. An acrid smell like a just blown out cookie candle only worse. Smoke alarms sing after waiting so long for some possible catastrophe to give them free reign to their only purpose in life. And now what to do with the couch torn to shreds like an old black jacket from a scary Halloween costume. These reptilian guests need to slither on back home before I get all Camelot on them! One reaches for the remote and rips a gash into the tan carpet that I just vacuumed. This...

Object Writing - Imagine (Yes, Dragons)

Object Writing - Panda

I'm really having fun with these! I can only hope it'll help my writing in the long term.  I don't post every one I do, but I'm keeping up the habit most days.  This one done on a four day road trip.

The word, "Panda", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

You're stylin', PandaMan!

I saw him skulking around the Halloween party house wearing his Lone Ranger mask and he immediately reminded me of a panda as he gnawed on a celery stick as if it were a just-picked bamboo shoot. He found himself in a jungle of unknown faces whose monkey antics were quite alarming to his slow-moving nature. Unnatural tribal sounds emanated from the music speakers as well as from the fake rocks thumping Justin Timberlake in the suburban back yard. His thoughts were not all cute and cuddly toward the girl with a huge tongue piercing advancing into his claimed observance territory in the corner of the forest-green painted living room. He wished he was a small dog so he could scamper out on all fours undetected by the huntress raising her glass, dressed to kill. His resolve roly poly, he excused himself to the bathroom, rolling his eyes.

Object Writing - Panda

Object Writing - Swift (not Taylor)

The word, "Swift", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

...and finish the last sentence if you'd like! :)

The dust danced around me to the song of her swift leaving. Dragging, spinning feet race away with the fury of a dragster in a sweepstakes race. I gave her the green light with my word of, "Go find your green ball". Joy flew to her face with a smile as wide as an olympic swimming pool is long. I still could taste the mac and cheese, made instantly, for our father/daughter Saturday. We jumped from our kitchen chairs like race horses out of the shoot, her laughter like from a winning bet. She knew I had time for her. Cheese sauce stains on her shirt like...

Object writing bonus! Lol  "Mallet"

I will take a mallet to my fear and smash it to bits. Like an empty bottle with nothing good in it for me, I swing hard and watch the pieces shiny and sharp splatter across the room. A shower of glass. A firm resolve as though holding the smooth wooden handle in my calloused and tightly gripping hand. Death instrument to scary imaginations. Their last final screaming presence in the hail of fragmented realities. Hard rubber impacts my life forever, for good. Your words to me became a Home Depot of personal strategies and tools I could find to build a better life outlook.

Object Writing - Swift (not Taylor)

Object Writing - Tribe

Like working out the body on a somewhat daily basis, this is like working out the [song]writing muscle. I'll get to some real songwriting later in the day.

The word, "Tribe", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

We are like a tribe. The passion of song is in our blood. We share the same bloodline. The desire to communicate by the language of songwriting. A finished song another feather in our caps. Nomads of imagination. Sitting still yet we are miles away, off in some distant setting. Our campfire sending smoke from burning embers of thought. Dancing eyes for the heavens to send down nourishing drops of ideas, places to go next. Watering our fertile minds where inspiration grows. Turquoise, silver, desert sands.....Shuffling feet kick up the dust from our wandering. The dust of stagnant paths now forgotten. Horizon ahead welcomes our...

Object Writing - Tribe

Object Writing - Castaway

Wow...in the words of The Police, "Sending out an S.O.S"

The word, "Castaway", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

I was the castaway and she was the ship that never came for me. A world of beauty all around me but I never noticed it. And it got further and further from my heart's notice the longer I waited for her to sail for me. My hopes fell like an old, bug-infested palm tree. My heart as empty as an unripened coconut  knocked to the ground too soon. My own thoughts were sounding as sad as the echoing cry of the seagull. Ocean air once smelled so sweet; now was a bitter air of defeat. A losing game of wishing for the non-inevitable. Wishing for the kissable lips moistened by the salty spray of ocean travels. I bow my head like the setting sun, like day turns to night.

Object Writing - Castaway

Object Writing - Ding

The word "ding", unedited writing practice, 10 minutes, go!...

Ouch! Her blunt words put a ding in my pride like a front side panel of a car sideswiped from out of nowhere. Unexpected concussion like crunching metal against metal, both our wills moving in opposite directions. Trust is our insurance that disagreements will be softly pounded out to more peaceful moments. I sport this indentation temporarily until some emotional muscle is applied to mend our collision of thought. Collision insurance of devotion covers our future. We will continue to drive ahead with assurance.

"Ding"! Time's up. Lol

Object Writing - Ding

Object Writing - Prime

The word "Prime", unedited writing, mining for interesting metaphors and such, 10 minutes, go!.....

He was as primed for action as a lawn mower on a warm Saturday morning. Red rubber button cover protruding like a bulbous clown nose. Freshly brewed coffee wafted by his nostrils like unleaded exhaust fumes from a sputtering grass chopping machine. It was as if his hands were on the gear handle, his mind strolling back and forth across the list of items he must mow through to feel a sense of accomplishment that day. He filled his cup with java fuel, brought it to his lips, and felt the warm cream and sugar and coffee mixture fill his empty tank. First three sips like a weed-eater string pull with the choke on.

Object Writing - Prime

Writing Exercise - Tinkling eye rolling, hanging sarcasm, etc

1. List 5 interesting adjectives

2. Find interesting noun to make a "breathtaking collision" ie: interesting metaphor

(Writing Better Lyrics - Pat Pattison)

Okay, I can do this...

1. Grating >> Feather

Her presence to him was like a grating feather to a person that hates to be tickled.

2.  Walking >> Picture frame

He gazed on the photo in the dark brown wooden border surrounding it that practically became a walking picture frame leading him by the hand down memory lane.

3. Splashing >> laughter

She bounced into the room, her vibrant sense of humor and splashing laughter turning every head and washing over every stodgy heart.

4. Tinkling >> Eye rolling

Her tinkling eye rolling sent chimes of disapproval to his sensitive, listening heart.

5. Lifted >> Wedding

The lifted wedding rose to new dazzling emotional heights as they exchanged vows in their new American language.

6.  Hanging >> Sarcasm. (Okay, so I did six)

Hanging sarcasm adorned his every un-festive word.

My first attempt at hanging/friendship turn into a verb. Try again! Still I liked what I wrote for it....

They each boarded their respective flights and left their friendship hanging like an old familiar snugly coat, knowing they could pick it up again on a moments notice.

Writing Exercise - Tinkling eye rolling, hanging sarcasm, etc

Steve, Martin, and Stuff

Random "what's happening" thoughts....

Well, the band is off for 3 weeks or so, so getting back to some focused writing and recording back at the homestead. Almost finished with the first book of Pat Pattison's writing excercises. (You know, the strange examples from previous posts.  Should I post more?) lol

Speaking of Pat Patison, signed up for a free online songwriting course he teaches at Berklee College of Music.  It's very basic, but will help me keep on task.
(I found it, by the way, while watching live Twitter feeds of up-to-the-second updates from the "Jurupa Fire" that was close to our house.  On another #songwriting Twitter stream were all these people tweeting, "I just signed up for a free songwriting class...!")

1991 Martin HD-28

My favorite guitar is back from a total rehab. It actually sounds better than my Taylor when recording through my particular setup!  Awesome work done by expert Taylor lutherie, Timothy Luranc.

Steve, Martin, and Stuff

Writing Exercise: Policeman is dog, microscope, loud TV, etc

I was using "linking qualities" today. "Policeman" with; a shield, dog, microscope, loud TV, running child.

The policeman is as tough as a Roman guard deflecting the arrows of evil's law-breaking legions.

The policeman was sniffing for clues, every "a-ha" he evoked was a jubilant tail-wagging.  This canine of the law had the bite of a pit bull when it came to his hungry need to solve yet another messy case.

The policeman had the focus of a microscope, peering into the tiniest hesitations of his so-called innocent suspect.  Inquiring into the very DNA of his thoughts like a cancer researcher on the cusp of finding yet another cure.  The question-cubicle was his laboratory in this science of crime fighting.

I heard his voice behind me.  The policeman was a TV going into commercial late at night and I in a deep slumberous dream.  His tone squeezed adrenaline into my empty stomach.  I turned from my easy-chair, easy-going thoughts of a carefree day ahead to let the dog out of his desires.

The police was in hot pursuit, breaking the glass, tripping the alarm in his heart and setting him on a course of pursue-e from pursuer.  The shrill screams of the siren set him on a sadly excited course of madness.

Ed. Note:  I'm enjoying this. :)

Writing Exercise: Policeman is dog, microscope, loud TV, etc

Writing Exercise - Traffic

From a writing exercise today:

"Traffic is ...My Enemy

"Traffic is my enemy as I see the red line on Google Maps leering back at me in pained defiance.  My blood boils as it presents itself to me in spite.  I thrust and parry, in and out of lanes.  Battle cries of, "What an idiot!"
Oh, how I despise traffic's daily rebellion to my perfect plans!"

~ Ever feel this way? lol

Writing Exercise - Traffic

Writing Exercises, Heated-Kernel Mouth-Stuffing

Let's sample some further fruits of my "timed, sense-bound object writing" exercises, shall we?

Rain Cloud

Where did you go rain cloud?
You were looming in all directions this gloomy morning
I see your friends through the messy myrtle branches
I hear the sneaky jet engines rumble overhead
You spoke in black over tones

Movie Theatre

"I already foresee the end of my heated-kernel mouth-stuffing binge"

From cigar to:

"Breezes of quiet patron dreamings [I think I just made up a word] seeping from the Holiday Inn window.

Sailor

"Wind slaps at my face.  The elements love me with the force of a hurricane devotion"

"Black coffee like the nighttime sea-sky."

Waitress Clearing A Table

"Her heart floods with the thankfulness of a coffee-starved college student"

"No one hears her thoughts but drinks in her smile"

Balloon Man

"Multi-colored happiness hovering on a canvas of sky-blue infinity"

First Snowfall

"[The] quiet of whispering, white manna-flakes"
________________________________________

That's it for now.  Can you tell I am amusing myself?  Will this make be a better songwriter?

Time will yell, I mean, tell.

Writing Exercises, Heated-Kernel Mouth-Stuffing

Writing Exercises, Extremity Intrusions

Okay, so I have set aside a notebook not for writing songs, but strictly for craft-improving writing exercises that I might be working on at any given point in time.  Currently working with Pat Pattison's "Songwriting Without Boundaries"

Timed, sense-bound object writing, first thing in the morning. Some interesting lines that amused me recently have come out of this so far:

"Green slimy leaf floating above the murky, unknown world of mystery."

"Rivulets of heaven."

Oh, here are some fun ones.  The writing subject, "dentist"  LOL

     "Driving to my own funeral, nervous on the freeway of happy people."

     "Feel my body on the chair - raises me to the alien faces looking down on me with white paper          death mask."

     "My mouth fights the extremity intrusion into my personal mouth-space"

Moving on!

"Almost taste the toothpaste in my immediate hygienic future."

 [Feather] "Rub one gently against my tender finger - ever-so-quietly it rustled in protest."
_______________________________________________

If I continue on, YOU may protest, so I'll stop here.  Until next time!

Writing Exercises, Extremity Intrusions