First, a disclaimer: This week’s Creativity Corner may or may not be influenced by the fact that I’m totally snowed in this weekend.

It’s not often that we get blizzards here in Maryland, but when we do, it means days indoors, first waiting for the snow to stop, and then waiting for the roads to be cleared. The good thing about being snowed in is that there’s plenty of time for writing and reading. No reason to go outside means no reason not to be in front of the computer. OK, there are plenty of things I could do around the house, but that stuff can wait. I’ve got ideas to get down, essays to edit and freelance projects to finish. I hope you’re having a writing filled weekend, too.

Enjoy this week’s prompt!

Blizzard

Write about a blizzard you experienced. How old were you? Where did it happen? Was it expected or were you surprised by a sudden storm? How long were you stranded by the snow? What did you do to occupy your time? What did it look like outside? Did anything strange or unexpected happen during the snow storm?

Write out all the details you can remember, including physical and emotional details, thoughts you may have had at the time and any reflections you might have about the experience now that time has passed. You might even compare it to another “storm” experience later or earlier in your life.

If you live somewhere that doesn’t get snow, imagine what it might be like to be stranded in a snow storm and try to describe a blizzard experience without being cliche. Or put one of your characters in a blizzard and see how she reacts to the situation.

When you’re finished, please feel free to share a paragraph or two of your writing in the comments or post the exercise on your own blog and leave a comment here with a link to your writing. Remember, these are exercises. The results don’t have to be perfect. But to benefit from them, you actually have to do the work. Now head to your corners and come out writing!