Denise E Lindquist
Bio
I am married with 7 children, 28 grands, and 13 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I write A Poem a Day in February for 8 years now. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. I write on Vocal/Medium daily.
Stories (1229)
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Having My Tonsils Removed
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: Using the present tense, write an early memory in the first person. This should be something that happened before you were seven. Use only those words and perceptions appropriate to a young child. "My father looks confused" won't do because a five-year-old is incapable of this articulation. "My father has a funny look on his face" is fine. The memory should be encapsulated in a short period of time -no more than an hour or so - and should happen in one place. Don't interpret or analyze; simply report it as you would a dream. When you can't remember details, make them up; you may heighten the narrative so long as you remain faithful to the meaning of the memory - the reason you recalled it in the first place. Limit: 550 words. The Objective: A fiction writer should be able to present a narrative without nudging the reader or in any way explaining what she has written. The narrative should speak for itself. In using a child's voice you are forced not to analyze but merely to tell the story, unembellished.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
The Mother Of The Groom’s Take On The Gathering
Author's Note: I am attending a wedding today, and my daughter is attending another wedding, so even though this is fiction, the idea came from a talk between my daughter and me about our wedding conversation.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
Writing Exercise Where Meaning To Action Is Hidden In The Subtext
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise — Write two very short examples of text, in which the true meaning of the action or dialogue is hidden in a subtext. Under each text explicate the subtext. The Objective — To learn to use indirection to illustrate the power of hidden meaning. This is something like a double exposure, a photograph that shows two images simultaneously.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
Family
When reading Facebook, I came across my granddaughter’s post. She is a good writer. This is a sample of some of her humorous writing, even though I’m sure that was not what she was thinking or feeling at the time. I thought I would share it with you. It is about my great-grandson that she is expecting.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Families
Public Speaking - Trauma. Top Story - October 2025.
Public speaking can be difficult, even if you take a speech class in high school. I no longer picture people in the audience in their underwear, or look at one person in the audience, or look over everyone's head, or look at the back of the room.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
Fiction Exercise
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise — Write a two-person scene in which one character tries to break through another character’s barrier of denial. Make the issue both specific and dramatic. Do this mainly in dialogue, but anchor it in a particular time and place. The Objective — To train yourself to be aware of the unconscious forces in everyday life. People are rarely what they seem; motives are cloudy at best and often almost entirely hidden. Fictional characters, like real ones, ought to incorporate this psychic complexity. Remember that occasionally no does mean yes and vice versa.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Fiction
Grandchildren Spending The Night
Okay, so it isn't them now in the photo above. However, it wasn't that long ago - maybe almost a year or even two years ago at Halloween. Yesterday was dress like a boy (Adam Sandler) day. Paxton wasn't going for it. He wore a Vikings Jersey with a Hoodie and sweatpants. I guess that is a boy's look.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Families
Fiction Settings For Different Characters
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise — Choose a setting for one or more of the following, and furnish a place with his character — you create the character through observation of the setting. The place can be any kind of locale — a house, a specific room in a house, outdoor grounds, an office, a cell, or even a bed. The description must incorporate enough characteristic things so that the reader can visualize the absentee dweller accurately. Try to avoid stereotypes. The Objective — To be able to select details that will create a character and furnish the world of that character. A note that details indicate the circumstances of the subject — such things as success or unsuccess, social status, and habits. Which details indicate emotions, personality, intelligence, character, and outlook on life?
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
