30 Things to Write (or at least begin) in Less Than 30 Minutes
- Query letter
- Short profile
- Requests for writer’s guideline
- Short take - article from 200 to 400 words long
- Mini-review (book, movie, restaurant, etc.
- One-page article - 500 to 1,000 words long
- Mini-bio
- One-page op-ed piece
- Letter to the editor
- Anecdote
- Limerick
- Joke
- Household hint
- Office/writing hint
- One-liner
- Tip on how to do anything quicker/easier/cheaper
- Inspirational Essay
- Message for greeting card
- Phone response
- Recipe
- Product review
- Letters to your favorite writers, telling how much you enjoy their work
- Contest entry
- How-to: crafts, cooking, science experiments
- One or two paragraphs of a short story or novel
- A great title for your story/novel/article
- A thank you note to an editor who’s been helpful or encouraging
- An Obituary
- An Affirmation
- Your name on a book contract
Handy Lists and Crib Sheets
- On Craft: Beginners
- On Craft: Writing Scenes
- Participating in Critique Sessions
- Snappy Introductions
- Critique List
- 30 Things to Write in Thirty Minutes
- Manuscript Lengths
- Sample Format for Query or Cover Letter
- Sample Manuscript Format
- Tips for Public Readings
- Writers' Affirmations