Author Archives: Brian A. Klems

Your neighbor has taken in an unusual pet and it does something unpleasant to your house/yard. Confront your neighbor. Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

You wake up to the smell of sizzling French toast. You have to have some, but it’s coming from your neighbor’s house and the two of you aren’t on speaking terms. How … Read more

If you could spend your birthday doing anything you wanted, what would it be and why? Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

You’ve recently purchased a new house. Upon your first full night there, you begin to hear noises but think nothing of it—until you see something that convinces you the house is haunted. … Read more

If you could morph into anyone (alive, dead, fictional, etc.), who would it be and why? Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

Sum up your writing career in one sentence. Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

What was your favorite toy as a child? Write a fond memory describing a time when you played with that toy. Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

Write about a ridiculous competition you start with a friend (e.g., a mustache-growing competition, longest-fingernail challenge, etc.). Post your response (500 words or less) in the comments below.

After years of handing out dyed eggs, the Easter Bunny is in search of a new gift to give to kids. You’re a pitchman for a company who’s hoping to land the … Read more

Your friend tells you he can pick up any girl at the bar, no matter what he says. You bet him $100 he can’t. Create the world’s worst pick up line and … Read more

You drank a little too much green beer on St. Patrick’s Day and can’t remember the night. A friend calls to check up on you and fills you in on what happened—and why she has your pants. Read more

Rewrite a nursery rhyme (Three Blind Mice, Jack and Jill, etc.) from a character’s point of view. Read more

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Read more

Write a 26-line poem using all the letters of the alphabet, where the first line starts with the letter “A,” the second “B,” the third “C,” etc., culminating with the final line starting with “Z.” Read more

You bump into an ex-lover on Valentine’s Day—the one whom you often call “The One That Got Away.” What happens? Read more

What was the first CD (or record or cassette) you ever purchased? Write about the way that particular album made you feel then. Write about how it makes you feel now. Read more

You were recently laid off. Instead of moping around, you’ve viewed it as a chance to start fresh. Pick a new career and write about your first day on the job. Read more

What’s your number one pet peeve? Develop a punishment for anyone caught in the act. Read more

Take a character from one of your stories and examine his or her ipod playlist. What 10 songs best describe the character? Read more

You’re at a U2 concert when you receive a text from a friend that says, “You’ll never believe what just happened to me!” In the form of a text chat, find out what happened to your friend. Read more

What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2009? Post them here and then at the end of the year, I’ll feature this in the newsletter and ask you to check in to see which ones you’ve accomplished and reflect on your writing year. Read more

What’s the worst present you’ve ever received? How did you react and what, ultimately, did you do with the gift? Read more

A man buys a parrot, and is horrified when he discovers the only thing it can say is, “If you ever tell anyone what you saw, I’ll kill you.” (submitted by Khara House) Read more

You’ve been hired by a bumper sticker manufacturer to come up with ideas. Write a clever or witty phrase you’d love to see on a bumper sticker. (If you want, write several.) Read more

You head to the mall for some holiday shopping and, just as you’re about to park, someone steals your parking spot. Do you do something for revenge or do you stay in the holiday spirit and not let it bother you—and let karma do the dirty work? Read more