Things to do Instead of Sleep

 

1. Eat.

2. Write.

3. Craft.

4. Pet the cat.

5. Listen to music.

6. Research interesting stuff.

7. Overthink everything.

8. Play a game.

9. Edit your writing.

10. Talk to people.

Mushrooms

 

The mushrooms were going to eat me.

I could see them, at the edges of the torch's light, lurking in wait. They never moved when I was watching, but the number of mushrooms kept growing. They had red caps with lavender speckles, and I just knew they were hungry.

I didn't know how I knew, nor why I was so certain that I was to be the main course, but I knew.

Once the torch died, they would be on me.

There might be a way out, but I couldn't find it. I couldn't go in any direction without running into the mushrooms, and although the light kept them from approaching, I didn't think it would protect me if one of the shrooms got close enough to make contact. Nor did I want to risk whatever fume might be released from burning the mushrooms.

So all I could do was stand, rotating around to be sure none of the mushrooms had gotten closer, and hope for morning or aid to come before my torch died.

I wasn't confident in my survival chances.

To Cut Your Hair

 

1. You're going undercover, and your hair is too distinctly you.

2. You enjoy socializing with the person you normally have cut your hair.

3. Something disgusting got in it, and washing is not helping at all.

4. To make a statement.

5. Because if your bang get any longer, then you won't have any.

6. Your friend really needs to get theirs cut, but is terrified of doing it alone.

7. It is too hot for this much hair.

8. You saw a really cute style, and want to try it out immediately.

9. You always get your hair cut on on this certain day. It's your tradition.

10. Your hair is too long. The time has come to chop it off.

Ticking of the Clock

 

Time ticks on and on, leaving you wondering just where it all goes.

You try to catch the seconds, but they rush past before when you blink.

The minutes twirl about, sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

Hours drag on when you've nothing to do, but fly like lightning when you're enjoying the moment.

However will you catch up to the clock?

It seems impossible.

But catch up you will, for the hands of time cannot stop your dreams.

Not now, not if you can get ahead of the clock, and keep out of reach of those ticking hands.

Tick-tock.

You're not going to be beat by some old clock.

For Birdwatching

 

1. You like to be outside.

2. Birds are everywhere, and you want them to know someone is watching.

3. You are studying birds.

4. You are out camping, and need something new to do.

5. You are a cat, and this is the closest thing you get to going outside.

6. You have a cat, and enjoy watching them watch the birds.

7. You enjoy seeing all the different colors of feathers, and listening to the various calls.

8. You have a friend who is a birdwatcher, and want to spend more time with them.

9. You like birds.

10. You are terrified of birds, and feel better when you know where they are compared to you.

Cheers

 

The pizza was getting cold. Balloons were drifting aimlessly along the floor, pushed by the faint breeze of a fan. Condensation had dribbled down the sides of the once-cold sodas, leaving wet rings on the paper tablecloth.

No one had come.

Everyone he knew had been invited, yet not a single person had shown up.

The boy shook his head, frustrated that he'd gotten his hopes so high. Of course no one would come to his party, not when the popular crowd announced just that afternoon that they were having a party tonight as well.

He hadn't been invited.

It didn't matter.  Parties were for losers, and now he didn't have to share any of the pizza.

Walking over to the table, he sat down and pulled over a pizza box. Might as well dig in.

"Cheers," The boy muttered, saluting the empty air with a slice of pepperoni.

"What are we toasting?"

The boy jerked out of his chair at the sound of another voice. Whipping around, and saw a girl standing by the open backyard door. "Who're you?"

"Just a nobody from school. Saw your flier on the cafeteria notice board." She wandered over to the table and took a slice of pizza. "Would've been here earlier, but had a family thing that took forever."

The boy stared at her as she ate the pizza. Someone had come to his party? Fashionably late, but she was actually here. He couldn't believe it. But there she was, already digging into a second slice.

"It's rude to stare, you know." She said, smiling as she took another bite.

"Sorry, I just... wasn't expecting anyone to come."

"Eh, just because the popular throw a party doesn't mean they're the best. Bet I'd only get a couple slices of pizza there." She shook gave a dramatic sigh, as if that were a fate worse than pop quizzes.

"Well, here you can eat as much pizza as you want. I'm the only competition."

She lifted her third slice. "I'll toast to that."

He lifted his own slice, a smile on his face. "Cheers."

To Outline a Story

 

1. So you have an idea of what exactly you want to write.

2. If you get stuck in one scene, you could more easily skip to the next.

3. Because it gives you a chance to write bit like: Somehow escape dragon with all limbs still attached.

4. If you get a better idea while still outlining, you won't lose a bunch of written chapters that the new idea makes obsolete.

5. It can be done in bite-size chunks.

6. You'll see how scenes flow together.

7. You can mark out when the point of view should change.

8. You may find when you go to transfer you middle of the night notes, that you've had the same idea three times.

9. You get to sit and think if this scene/chapter/story is worth your time in writing.

10. You might catch those plotholes in time to fill them.

Background Music

 

Walking through the grocery store, you shuffle along to the beat of your list.

Bread, cereal, cheese, eggs, milk...

But then something changes, you freeze.

What is is?

Those notes...

That beat...

Familiar lyrics...

That!

You know this song! This is your song! The one that makes your feet tap and your head nod, the one you hum to yourself in quiet moments.

Forgetting where you are, you start to dance.

What else could you do? This is your jam.