Online Writing Resources

My top 5:

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ 
www.writersdigest.com
www.glimmertrain.com
http://fictionwriting.about.com/
www.write101.com/index.html

Battle - (Clouding Exercise)

The two chairs were spaced apart the length of a couple coffee tables. The room was silent besides the occasional squeak from one of the two chairs that were in use. The slate tiled floor emanated a cold feeling that spread throughout the room. The intense glares that attempted to burn holes through the body of the other were focused and firm. Neither person seemed able to move. The frozen bodies sat motionless in the vastly vacant space. The walls were a dingy white that contrasted heavily against the slate floor. The two men continued to stare into each other's eyes looking for a way to rip out each other's soul without moving a muscle. Both of the men had the fortunate and unfortunate ability to read minds. Through the use of this gift they are able to take down their opponents with great ease. Up until this time neither had ever gone against another mind reader. This made this situation especially difficult. The knuckles of the men turned a pale white as they grabbed the chair arms tightly as though it help them to concentrate. The battle was dead even up to this point. Neither man seemed to be stronger than the other. Flash. A bright light flooded the room rapidly and disappeared in one instant. A man was now lying face down upon the floor. He had let his guard down for just one second. A fly had been buzzing past his head. Thankfully he pulled his defenses up fast enough so that he was still conscious. His dark brown eyes burned with fury. The chair scraped along the floor as he lifted himself onto it. That was a close call, but he would not let it happen again. The other man continued to stare intently as the fallen man regained his strength. In that instant he had been able to read the other man’s mind. He knew his secrets and his weaknesses. He leveled up in a sense. All he had to do was focus for just one more minute. One minute and the other mind reader would be destroyed. He would dissolve as though he was a piece of salt in boiling water. His blue eyes filled with enlightenment and rage all at one time. The shock of what he had learned from the man’s mind had all of sudden hit him like a ton of bricks. Another bright light flashed into the room. This light however lasted a second longer than the last time. The other mind reader was now sprawled across the floor, his limbs pulled in all different directions. At first glance one might believe him to be dead, but the man knew better. He kept his brown eyes upon the man’s skull. Losing concentration for a second could prove to be deadly. The man on the floor fluttered his eyes open. He had sustained injuries in that battle, but he now knew he could not give up without another. This brown-eyed man knew his secrets and weaknesses just as he had found out the secrets of the brown-eyed man. One must die. There were no other options.

Battle

The two chairs were spaced apart the length of a coffee table. The room was silent besides the occasional squeak from one of the two people on the chairs. The slate tiled floor emanated a cold feeling that spread throughout the room. The intense glares that attempted to burn holes through the body of the other were focused and firm. Neither person seemed able to move. The frozen bodies sat motionless in the vastly vacant space. The walls were a dingy white that heavily contrasted against the slate floor. The two men continued to stare into each other's eyes looking for a way to rip out each other's soul without moving a muscle. Both of the men had the fortunate and unfortunate ability to read minds. Through the use of this gift they are able to take down their opponents with great ease. Up until this time they had never gone against another mind reader. This makes this situation especially difficult. The knuckles of the men turned a creamy white as they grabbed the chair arms tightly as though this would help them to concentrate. The battle was dead even up to this point. Neither man seemed to be stronger than the other. (To be continued).

West Point

My first day at West Point. This is crazy! I have been waiting for this moment for 4 years. Breathe it all in. Wow there is a lot going on. Glad I have my parents here. Basic training starts in two days and tomorrow will be the last time I get to see or talk to them for seven weeks. No problem. I can handle this. The campus is beautiful, that's definitely a plus. If I ever get homesick I will just let the scenery distract me. The school is on the Hudson river for Christ's sake. This place is sick. We're in line now to get...well I actually don't know what this line is for, but oh well. Dang my mind is everywhere today. Okay breathe Mark, just breathe. OK now I am a little nervous. What if I don't get through basic. No don't psyche yourself out Mark. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe...Oh front of the line (that was quick). It's just filling out forms...boring. I feel like I am about to jump out of my skin. I need to do something active. Calm. Breathe some more. Dang it, not working. Next line. Something dealing with uniforms or hair...oh whatever I can't focus. Wait there's a sign. "No Parent(s) or Guardian(s) past this point". Well I guess this is it. My mom's already crying...go figure. Just please don't make me cry mom. Dad trying to hold back any tears that may have built up...again, go figure, guys always seem to be that way. OK now hugs. Mom don't let me go just yet. Dad, you too. I'm gonna miss them. They are the solid and steady rocks in my life. This would be so much easier if I could talk to them over the next six weeks, but no, letters only. My mom promised to send me a letter a day so that'll keep me going. Everything will be fine. I just have to keep repeating that to myself. I will just just take things one day at a time. Now next line. This one I am in by myself. This line leads into the gym. First hair cut, then uniform, then learning all how to act. I walk into the gym to see rows of men and women learning to march. What the hell have I gotten myself into?

My Angel

I had eaten maybe one meal a day for 6 months. I had weighed a healthy 120 pounds until I decided that I needed to lose weight to be accepted. At the end of a horrifying 6 months I weighed just 79 pounds. This was not a healthy weight for my height of 5 feet 6 inches. I was only 12 years old. The spark in my eyes had disappeared and yet no one took notice of me. I was in denial about had bad it was. The truth was my ribs were visible, I was nothing, but skin and bones. I had no energy. I missed over 2 months of school due to my deteriorated immune system. I went into my doctor to yet again be diagnosed with pneumonia. My mom drove me to the clinic as I blankly stared out the window on that cold, March day. We pulled into the parking lot and as I stepped out of the car I felt as though I was hacking up a lung. This was the fourth time I would be diagnosed with pneumonia since October. In my mind I felt hopeless. I had fallen into a severe depression due to the ridicule from my classmates I had suffereed through during my 7th grade year. Several times during that year I contemplated taking my own life. That was the lowest point I had ever gotten to. All of this and how could anyone not notice? How could anyone not care? Walking into the doctor's office was a turning point in my life. In many ways that visit to the doctor saved my life. While getting a check-up and being prescribed Zithromax my doctor commented on my significant weigh loss. She asked me about my eating habits and told me that she was going to diagnose me with Anorexia. Someone noticed. It was a doctor whose name has slipped my mind, but someone noticed. She told me I needed to start gaining weight now and she wanted my mom and I to schedule a follow up appointment in one month. I decided I was not going to let this eating disorder take over my life. I wanted to change. After walking away from my religion and my faith a couple years before that I turned back to God. I prayed and I trusted in Him and my faith was restored. One month after that appointment I shocked my doctor because I had gained 8 pounds in one month. That is an amazing accomplishment for someone with an eating disorder. I owe my life to that doctor, she truly was an angel.

Blue Moon

 It was surreal. The place that surrounded me seemed like it was a part of some other world. Grass floated above me along with the blue sea. I seemed to be standing on the clouds in the sky, but somehow it was sturdy. I was beyond confused at this point, but everything seemed real somehow. I see what looks to be like a palace in the distance. I take only a few steps along the path of clouds and suddenly I am at the gate. The gate is made of gold with pearl accents that made the gate glow. The gate swung open to reveal a palace unlike any in the world I was used to. Instead of bricks or wood or cement the palace was made of pearls, each one laid on top of the other somehow held together. The glow that illuminated from the palace only grew stronger as I took one step and arrived at the front door. The door was made of wood and was intricately carved to reveal a pair of wings. I recognized this carving because I had it tattooed into my back just three months ago. The door swung open just as the gate had and I stepped off the cloud onto the illuminated floor. The pearls continued from the outside walls to the floors and onto the inside walls. Inside it was different though. Roses were woven through the walls of pearls creating such a magical setting that once again asserted the surreal feelings surrounding this place. I never wanted to leave the beauty was too amazing. Ring. Thump. Shivers fell down my spine. My hands grew cold as my my entire body froze. Ring. My eyes shot open to reveal my plain bedroom I had never left. My alarm clock had fallen off the bedside table as it was going off.

On a Mission

"Where are we going?" Maggie asked, she was blindfolded and her curiosity was taking over.
"It's a surprise." Matt said and Maggie could tell he was smirking.
"Why won't you just tell me already. This is not fair. I think there is something in my eye. Stupid bandana." She complained. She was excited and annoyed all in one. The window was down and her long auburn hair was whipping across her face. A half hour had passed since Matt started driving so she had finally given up on keeping her hair out of her face.
"This wouldn't be any fun if I told you. The surprise makes it better, trust me." He said. Matt had the same hair color as Maggie, but they were definitely not related. They have been dating for three years and engaged for the last year of those three. Boy did Matt have a surprise for Maggie. Matt's green eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness. He couldn't believe he was so lucky. He had found the girl of hs dreams and he was only twenty-three.
"Fine. Whatever." She said finally giving up. She couldn't seem to sit still though. She was constantly squirming. She was an athlete at heart, never wanting to be still. Matt was the same way, they really are perfect for each other. The car slowed to a stop.
"We're here!" Matt exclaimed. He lifted the blindfold off of Maggie's head and stared at her waiting for her reaction.
"What the...is that what I think it is?" She asked hesistantly.
"Will you marry me today?" He asked his voice full of excitement and hope. The scene set out before them was of a beautiful rose garden. The rose bushes had rope lights strung through them creating one of the most romantic places Maggie had ever laid her eyes on. There was a pastor waiting for them at the edge of the garden. The sun was going to set soon, the place was beautiful. Maggie started to tear up.
"Of course I will." She answered trying to hold back the tears. Matt took her hand kissed it and hopped out of the car. He ran over to Maggie's side of the car and opened the door for her. He took her hand and led her to the garden, where they would soon become man and wife.