Devil's swing

Devil's swing

What's a warm up?

'Writers write because ..."

Slumming angel

Slumming angel

What's a warm up?

Combining senses

Try combining smell, taste and touch words with sound or speech words. See what kind of attention perking images you can come up with .... a gingery drawl, a raw sigh, crisp chatter ...

SMELL	TASTE	TOUCH	SOUND	SPEECH
sweet balmy earthy rotten fishy scented spicy piney reeking fragrant sharp tempting spoiled moldy perfumed fresh pungent sickly	oily bittersweet crisp fruity overripe buttery hearty ripe tangy burnt salty mellow bland raw gingery bitter sugary sour hot peppery	cool spongy mushy thick hot thin fuzzy crisp slippery satiny icy soft rubbery elastic feathery tough silky sandy oily waxy furry tender woolly wet gritty rough smooth warm dry prickly furry damp steamy velvety sharp fleshy dull hairy leathery sticky	sigh growl bump smash bark clink murmur crash thump rasp roar mute whisper thud boom clash blare still whir pitter-patter thunder jamble racket hush rustle thwap bang bawl bleat hubbub	stutter screech whisper stammer snort whimper giggle bellow talk laugh chatter speak sing murmur drawl

---

From Rip the Page!: Adventures in Creative Writing by Karen Benke. A hundred ideas honed in workshops at schools for playing with words, with examples from kids. The exercises are nterspersed with pep talks from writers, many of them children's writers. You can tell she's a poet since her word lists are luscious :-D

Shout at the devil

Shout at the devil

What's a warm up?

"An author in his book ..."

Riot in the dungeons

Riot in the dungeons

What's a warm up?

Mix and Match

Get in the habit of finding, gathering and generating story ideas. Write them down in a notebook. (Or a couple of notebooks kept in places where you often get ideas. Or your smart phone.) Save them for when you need them.

Go to Mix-and-Match Game. Click on Generate Character. Make that character the best at this, the ultimate expression: the most charming, the most faithful, most mysterious, the most whatever. Set a timer for 5 minutes and crank out a story idea. (Dr. Wicked's Write or Die, in the blog's sidebar, can come in handy for this.)

Do this 2 more times.

This is one of the exercises from My Story Can Beat Up Your Story! by Jeffrey Alan Schechter. He walks you through ten steps to ramp up your ideas into compelling story telling.

Every story has a central question that, when answered definitively yes or no, signals the story is over. Each question has 3 parts, a physical part that many people care about (kill Dracula), an emotional part that characters closest to the hero care about (win the love of the most recently turned vampire wife) and a spiritual part that the hero cares about (regain his self-respect).

What three goals could your most confused wedding planner or most frantic princess want more than anything? Goals that, if not achieved, would doom him or the world to actual or virtual death?

Deviantly roving ROCKS

The mystery of Sailing Stones (and for the mystery revealed, click the picture)

For this deviant description, you can mention the rock, since moving rocks are pretty deviant themselves.

For the rest, deviantly describe the scene without using the names of the objects. Dig into what objects look and feel like rather than telling what they are.

Capture the senses' experience. What does it feel like to your whole body? Does it get inside your clothes? Does it get inside you? What does it smell like? Taste like? Sound like?

Go further and find a mood or personality of the place and let those inspire the descriptive words you choose.

Try unexpected adjectives and vivid verbs. For example, svelt, sleek, oozing, crouching aren't words normally associated with places, but can create fresh images.

"The unread story .."

The three gods of purification

The three gods of purification

What's a warm up?

In stereo

Eric Myer stereotype shuffler

Create a list of 12 stereotypical characters each doing something stereotypical.

Cut them up, shuffle them to create new combinations of people doing unexpected things. Pick 3 of your favorites and explore their interactions.

Try mixing fantasy with mundane stereotypes. If your brain is stuck on ethnic or racial stereotypes, I've posted a list of professions and preferences that often get stereotyped in the comments. There's also a massive List of Stereotypes by country (probably once at the Uncyclopedia). (If the list disappears, it's preserved at List of Stereotypes (copy).)

(Needed a quickie since my daughter and sister are visiting. But I rather like it! Sometimes simple is best. :-)

Stoned in the temple

Stoned in the temple

What's a warm up?

"The role of a writer ..."

Flight of the rat

Flight of the rat

What's a warm up?

Two guys and a shop

These guys have opened up a shop in your small town. It quickly becomes popular with the locals

So, what's the shop? Is it popular with a broad cross section? Or to a segment of the population? Which segment? Who are they and how do they manage to be accepted despite being comfortably outside the norm?

Roland the headless Thompson gunner

Roland the headless Thompson gunner

What's a warm up?

"A writer needs ..."

Space crickets

Space crickets

What's a warm up?

A Writer's Journey to Save the Cat in the Twilight Zone

Twilight Zone episodes are story telling masterpieces that unfold in just 24 minutes making them painless ways to analyze many examples of what makes a great story.

To make it even easier, both Blake Snyder (Save The Cat!) and Christopher Vogler (The Writers Journey) were inspired by Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces to adapt his myth structure for movies and novels. I've created a cheat sheet of the important points that I could use while watching Twilight Zone on Netflix. (At this moment, they're available on DVD and subscription streaming services. Check TV.COM for current availability.)

The 15 points from Save the Cat are in red. The 12 points from The Writer's Journey are in blue. They overlap quite a bit since they're both based on Campbell's work. The Writer's Journey points are simpler. The Save the Cat are richer and more detailed (though I've pared the descriptions down since a 24 minute episode can't pack in all the points of a movie.)

I'll be revising this as I watch Twilight Zones, to make it more useful.

Act 1

3. Set Up — WJ #1 The Ordinary World

• This is a glimpse of how the hero’s life is likely to continue.
• This is the world the hero understands. It’s where he has played out how he believes he must act to get what he wants in life.

1. Opening Image

A glimpse of the story world. The author hands you the blocks he wants you to begin building from.

Look for:

• Tone: The tone the author wants you to pick up. How does he create it? What images, sound, music, lighting?
• Rules and expectations: What building blocks for the story’s rules does the author give you:
• Familiar world? Do you already know the rules and expectations? Like a western setting, domestic situation? (Caution! The author may exploit your expectations and subvert them with a twist.)
• New world? Fantasy, sci fi or surreal? Look for recognizable elements the author brings in.
• (At the end of the story is there a corresponding “after” image?)

Hero

Look for:

• Hero snapshot: The immediate impression the author wants you to have of the hero. (Young, old, profession, male, female?)
• Lacking: What and how does the author show what’s missing from the hero’s life? What does the hero want?
• Flaw: How is the hero getting in the way of his own happiness? How does the author show this?
• What choices is she making that prevents her from getting what she lacks? Why is she making those choices?
• What weaknesses, blind spots, flaws does he have in his belief system?
• What changes must she make in herself to win/have a better life?

Other characters: What is their relationship with the hero? How does the author show this?

Look for: What vital part in the hero coming to a new understanding does each play?

Look for these archetypes (some characters may play multiple roles).

(NOTE: There are other archetypes (e.g., “The Mom”, “The Queen”, “The Fool,”) that may or may not be present, but the following are essential roles in the structure of a story.)

• HERALDS -- Look for: Announces important events. Brings the challenge (before Act 2) which begins the hero on his story journey. May be messenger or the message or an event.
• MENTORS -- Look for: aiding, training, wiser one. May test the hero. Gives a gift to the hero.
• THRESHOLD GUARDIANS -- Look for: Challenge before hero crosses a threshold to a new “arena”: e.g., before entering the “special” world (of Act 2), before facing the antagonist, before the entrance to any new challenge the hero must face.
• SHAPESHIFTERS -- Look for: change in role, personality, appearance, uncertainty about loyalty. “All is not as it seems.” Can be a catalyst whose change causes change in hero.
• SHADOWS -- Look for: Negative figure, opposite of the hero and opposes him, his shadow self, his dark side. Usually the antagonist, though there can be more than one shadow.
• TRICKSTERS -- Look for: clown, a mischief maker, provides comedic relief. Represents cunning. Pitted against opponents who are stronger. Also adds uncertainty.
• ALLIES -- Look for: Supports the hero.

2. Theme Stated

Look for: A statement of what the story is about. (Rod Serling’s intro is probably the theme.) Otherwise, a character may make a statement or ask a question of the hero.

“A screenplay is an argument by the writer, the pros and cons of living a particular life, or pursuing a particular goal. Is a behavior, dream or goal worth it? Or is it false? What is more important, wealth or happiness? …. The rest of the screenplay is the argument laid out, either proving or disproving this statement, and looking at it, pro and con, from every angle.”

4. Catalyst — WJ #2 Call To Adventure

Look for:

• The event that gives the hero a reason to change his current course. (The call is outside the hero’s control. Something happens to the hero.)
• Does a HERALD bring the news? Or does the event announce itself?

5. Debate — WJ #3 Refusal of the Call

Look for:

• How does the author show the hero has doubts? And convey the hero won’t find this easy?
• Is the challenge she’s debating to avoid something? Or to get something?

WJ #4 Meeting with the Mentor

Look for:

• How does the hero overcome his doubts?
• A MENTOR may give the hero advice. The mentor may give the hero a gift in addition to advice.

6. Break Into Act 2 — WJ #5 Crossing the first threshold

The hero makes a decisive decision to step into the Special world.

Look for:

• Does he need a nudge at the last minute (to show how really difficult the hero feels this is)?
• There may be a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN, one who challenges the hero before he crosses.

Act 2, first half

The hero turns off the path he’d been on. He enters the Special world.

7. B Story & 8. “Fun And Games” — WJ #6 Tests, Allies, and Enemies

• The A story is the hero’s tangible goal, what she wants.
• The B story is the hero’s spiritual goal, what he needs, what truth he must accept. The B story helps the hero learn the lesson he needs to learn.
• (Since Twilight Zones are short stories, A&B probably aren’t separate.)
• “Fun and Games” is the hero trying his old ways against new challenges and being forced to accept her outlook and approach are wrong.

Look for:

• The hero failing challenges as he goes after what he wants.
• She keeps relying on her beliefs, “right” understanding, approach to life, skills, mental and physical abilities. Her life (the author actually ;-) keeps trying to get her to admit she’s wrong or inadequate and must change.

WJ #7 Approach To The In-Most Cave

• The hero and newfound allies enter the Antagonist’s home territory. (Though may not face the Antagonist right away.)
• There may be another THRESHOLD GUARDIAN.

9. Midpoint

Look for:

• A big success or big failure. It’s where he thinks he has it all figured out, or thinks he can’t ever figure it out. (But he’s wrong!) He’s modified his old beliefs with new beliefs but hasn’t let go of the core that isn’t working.
• A party, or public declaration.
• The Antagonist recognizes the hero as a real threat.

Act 2, second half

The hero commits herself to this path (though may not want to.)

10. The Bad Guys close in

• Hero reacts to attacks from bad guys rather than being proactive.
• It’s the final assault on his old beliefs.

11. All Is Lost — WJ #8 The Ordeal

• The hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life. This is death of the phoenix so she can be reborn, caterpillar entering its cocoon.
• Event happens to the hero — counterpart to the Catalyst in Act 1 — but more devastating.
• MENTOR may die here.

12. Dark Night of the Soul

• The phoenix spirit wallows in its ashes. The caterpillar holes up in its cocoon.
• This is a counterpoint to the Debate in Act 1. It’s hesitation. It’s “Now what?”

13. Break into Act 3 — WJ #9 The Reward

• The hero takes possession of the treasure — magic sword, knowledge — won by facing death.
• There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again.
• The hero is “reborn,” like a phoenix. The hero emerges as a butterfly from its cocoon.
• A eureka moment. The hero knows what he must do.
• The hero decides to act. It’s a counterpart to #6 Break into Act 2.

Act 3

• The old world and new world combine.
• The hero is re-energized, confident.
• It’s the “Final Exam” of all he’s learned, the ultimate test.

14. Finale

“Storming the Castle.” Five parts. Look for:

1. Team is regathered.
2. Plan is executed. **
3. The hero reaches the “high tower” but is halted by a set back. The princess isn’t there. What he needed isn’t there. Traitors are exposed. (The clock keeps ticking.) ***
4. Dig Down Deep, for that last bit of strength or insight.
5. The new plan is executed. And it works. Or doesn’t.

** WJ #10 The Road Back

The hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission.

*** WJ #11 The Resurrection

At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved.

15. Final Image — WJ #12 Return With the Elixir

• Image corresponding to the Opening “before” Image to emphasize the change that has taken place.

• The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.

Vixens in space

Vixens in space

What's a warm up?

"The unread story ..."

Awakening of the gods

Awakening of the gods

What's a warm up?

What's in a name?

Enter one or two character first names at What Does My Name Mean? (The search box is under the ad on the right.)

Write a scene introducing both characters in a way that reveals the characteristics through what they do and say.

C is for charm, the undeniable you.
H is for hardy, can't keep you down!
R is for relish, you seek a challenge.
E is for electric, a sparkling trait!
G is for grand, the life you will live.
A is for absolute, for you know your mind.

Your name in reverse order is “Agerhc”. A random rearrangement of the letters in your name (anagram) will give ‘Arhcge’. (How do you pronounce that?)

G is for goal, your eye on the future.
K is for kindle, the warmth in others.
A is for activities, for you have many.
R is for righteous, you know when you're right.

Your name in reverse order is “Rakg”. A random rearrangement of the letters in your name (anagram) will give ‘Agkr’. (How do you pronounce that?)

Deviant HOUSE

Deviantly describe the scene without using the names of the objects. Don't use rocks, grass or bushes. Dig into what objects look and feel like rather than telling what they are.

Capture the senses' experience. What does it feel like to your whole body? Does it get inside your clothes? Does it get inside you? What does it smell like? Taste like? Sound like?

Go further and find a mood or personality of the place and let those inspire the descriptive words you choose.

Try unexpected adjectives and vivid verbs. For example, svelt, sleek, oozing, crouching aren't words normally associated with places, but can create fresh images.

"I will write every day ..."

A house is not a motel

A house is not a motel

What's a warm up?

Class reunion

A dozen years ago, you and your roommate graduated from Scribner's Academy of Magic and Cookery. You found employment with a local witch mixing potions for her. Your roommate was hired to be one of the resident wizards at an enclave on the other side of the mountains. You corresponded for a while but then lost touch.

A dozen years later you receive an invitation from her to a private exhibition of wizarding breakthroughs. You decide to go and a week later arrive at the outskirts where you encounter several of your fellow classmates. It doesn't look at all like what you or any of your classmates imagined it would.

As you enter, you're even more puzzled, finding buildings that seem to have been overtaken by nature some time before.

Then you hear a shout.

Take it from there.

---

A video tour of the real place, Wonderland. (As always, the pictures have links too.)

Keep it in the family

Keep it in the family

What's a warm up?

"I don't know the key ..."

Wake up dead

Wake up dead

What's a warm up?

Awkward enchantresses and penniless heirs

Pick one of the following and see where it takes you:

• The absent-minded stellar cartographer and the shop-a-holic bounty hunter pursue the cartographer's brother who has a price on his head.
  
  
• The reformed drug runner and the aging entertainer enter enemy territory to retrieve someone they both hate but both must get back.
  
  
• The penniless heir and the sharp-witted waitress/waiter pretend to be married as they seek money from a wealthy potential patron so they can follow their separate dreams.
  
  
• The awkward enchantress and the penniless prince attend the annual family gathering together.
  
  
• The last dragon slayer and the last dragon share tea together.
  
  

Musical death

Musical death

What's a warm up?

"I try to create ..."

Angry chair

Angry chair

What's a warm up?

A priest, a rabbi, and a nun ...

A scene from Betty White's Off Their Rockers

So, what's their story? What drew a priest, a rabbi and a nun to the beach? Judging by the middle portion of their dress they each individually planned time at the beach. Was it a chance encounter? Or did they plan to meet there? Is it part of a summit meeting of some sort?

What if they're siblings?

What if they were childhood or college friends?

What if none had planned a religious life when they last knew each other? What were their plans and what series of events drew them to the choices they ended up making?

What if two of them were lovers at one time? Which needn't be a traditional combo. ;-) What if it was a love triangle?

What if they're aliens practicing to be human? What if this is a just-a-bit-off simulation for aliens to practice or play in?

(Feel free to imagine non-Judeo-Christian religious callings.)

Sludge factory

Sludge factory

What's a warm up?

Eerie inhabitants

Eerie inhabitants

What's a warm up?

100 themes, 100 scenes

When in doubt, put up a cat.

Use the following list of 100 themes to create an outline for a novel. Each theme is a scene as well as the point of the scene.

If you peek ahead one or more of the themes may spark some ideas as a beginning point. Introduction is a little vague ;-)

1. Introduction
2. Complicated
3. Making History
4. Rivalry
5. Unbreakable
6. Obsession
7. Eternity
8. Gateway
9. Death
10. Opportunities
11. 33%
12. Dead Wrong
13. Running Away
14. Judgement
15. Seeking Solace
16. Excuses
17. Vengeance
18. Love
19. Tears
20. My Inspiration
21. Never Again
22. Online
23. Failure
24. Rebirth
25. Breaking Away
26. Forever and a day
27. Lost and Found
28. Light
29. Dark
30. Faith
31. Colours
32. Exploration
33. Seeing Red
34. Shades of Grey
35. Forgotten
36. Dreamer
37. Mist
38. Burning
39. Out of Time
40. Knowing How
41. Fork in the road
42. Start
43. Nature's Fury
44. At Peace
45. Heart Song
46. Reflection
47. Perfection
48. Everyday Magic
49. Umbrella
50. Party
51. Troubling Thoughts
52. Stirring of the Wind
53. Future
54. Health and Healing
55. Separation
56. Everything For You
57. Slow Down
58. Heartfelt Apology
59. Challenged
60. Exhaustion
61. Accuracy
62. Irregular Orbit
63. Cold Embrace
64. Frost
65. A Moment in Time
66. Dangerous Territory
67. Boundaries
68. Unsettling Revelations
69. Shattered
70. Bitter Silence
71. The True You
72. Pretence
73. Patience
74. Midnight
75. Shadows
76. Summer Haze
77. Memories
78. Change in the Weather
79. Illogical
80. Only Human
81. A Place to Belong
82. Advantage
83. Breakfast
84. Echoes
85. Falling
86. Picking up the Pieces
87. Gunshot
88. Possession
89. Twilight
90. Nowhere and Nothing
91. Answers
92. Innocence
93. Simplicity
94. Reality
95. Acceptance
96. Lesson
97. Enthusiasm
98. Game
99. Friendship
100. Endings

---

The themes came from deviantART 100 Themes Writers group where there are many many lists to make you feel guilty for not completing them! :-D

Deviant ISLAND

Deviantly describe the scene without using the names of the objects. Don't use rocks, grass or bushes. Dig into what objects look and feel like rather than telling what they are.

Capture the senses' experience. What does it feel like to your whole body? Does it get inside your clothes? Does it get inside you? What does it smell like? Taste like? Sound like?

Go further and find a mood or personality of the place and let those inspire the descriptive words you choose.

Try unexpected adjectives and vivid verbs. For example, svelt, sleek, oozing, crouching aren't words normally associated with places, but can create fresh images.

"I see only one rule ..."

Blasphemous rumours

Blasphemous rumours

What's a warm up?

Joint custody

There exists a symbiotic (or parasitic, depending on your point of view) life form that can heal a host body and take over its consciousness.

Seven years ago Jackson was on the verge of death. Jaxan, a symbiont, entered Jackson's body, healed it and has been living ever since in Jackson's body. Jackson's consciousness exists in a dreamlike state, unable to control the body.

Up until now, it's been impossible to remove a symbiont from a host without killing both. Now there's a process to remove the symbiont, restoring the original body's consciousness but the symbiont will die.

It's possible to temporarily suppress the symbiont consciousness and allow the host to awaken for a short while. Jackson has been given the opportunity to speak and wants his body back. He claims he never gave Jaxan permission to take over his body. Jaxan claims otherwise. There's no record. It's just one word against the other.

Take on the points of view of two opposing lawyers. One represents Jaxan. The other represents Jackson. Who should have ownership of the body?

---

Can you tell I've been watching a lot of Stargate? ;-) Inspired by the Pretense episode where the debate was a bit skewed in one direction but still enjoyable.

The dark play

The dark play

What's a warm up?

Disciples of the watch

Disciples of the watch

What's a warm up?

Employee of the month

by Pulling Stock

Describe each month as if it were a person. Detail each's appearance, personality, likes and dislikes, occupation. Perhaps also how they feel about each of the other months.

---

Inspired by Writing Prompts who suggested personifying the weeks. In particular check out her 28 most tried and true writing prompts.

(Sorry for the unexpected and unplanned break. A project came and sucked up all my time!)

I'm in love with my car

I'm in love with my car

What's a warm up?

"How do I know .."

Theatrical madness

Theatrical madness
Roads to madness
Can I play with madness?
Dancing in madness
Labyrinth of madness

What's a warm up?

Berrylistious

Write a list poem of ice cream flavors.

A list poem will usually have an introduction and conclusion to give a reason for the list. Generally list poems don't rhyme, but the inspiration for this prompt has rhyming couplets of flavors. So try generating a list of flavors (like berry and cherry) that rhyme before enhancing them. It will help the flow and maintain interest if there's a pattern with periodic surprises. Often the last item will feel like a conclusions being particularly exceptional or tying the items together.

credit

Inspired by Jack Prelutsky's Bleezer's Ice Cream.  Bruce Lansky has written the amusing How to Write a "What Bugs Me" List Poem and How to Write "A Lunch for your Teacher" Poem for kids.

Red rain

Red rain
Red horizon
Red moon
Red sky

What's a warm up?

"Poetry is an echo ..."

credit

Last time by moonlight

Last time by moonlight

Women in white

Screaming in the night

What's a warm up?

Lair of pines

Spoonerisms are named after William Archibald Spooner who was prone to switching the initial sounds of words. The rather poetic thing about spoonerisms is they naturally rhyme.

Create rhyming couplets using pairs of Spoonerisms, such as:

Stuffing down a ground beef,
the dumped lover bound his grief.

Here's a bunch to choose from. Or, of course, come up with your own.

buns glazing
rental deceptionist
ducky lay
hot Poles
candle with hair
blushing crow
plaster man
mad banners
a well-boiled icicle (well-oiled bicycle)
sock my knocks off
chewing doors (doing chores)
clappy as a ham
go shake a tower (take a shower)
roaring pain (pouring rain)
chilled grease
spew up your screech
as the flow cries
bound grief
sues and shocks
brunch lake
shoving leopard
fighting a liar
know your blows
go shake a tower
tease my ears
nicking your pose
lack of pies
roaring with pain
sealing the hick
go help me sod
pit nicking
bowel feast
damp stealer
wave the sails
mad bunny
pun fart
bunny phone
flutter by
bedding wells
mend the sail
zips are lipped
belly jeans
eye ball (bye all)
fight in your race
hiss and lear (listen hear)
soul of ballad (bowl of salad)
cattle ships and bruisers
nosey little cook (cozy little nook
tons of soil
hags flung out
half-warmed-fish

Moonlight and madness

Bought and sold

Moonlight and madness

Diamonds and rust

Mozart and memories

What's a warm up?

"Poetry is a mirror ..."

Madder red

Madder red

Burning blue

Mellow yellow

Bitter green

Bruised orange

Frenzied purple

What's a warm up?

Poem baggery

Cut up a paper bag (phone book page, newspaper, ...) into 20 pieces of various sizes. Write 20 words on the pieces. Any 20 words. Mix them up then shuffle them into a poem. Or intriguing phrases to  use in a writing piece.

---

From Day 138 in The Aspiring Poet's Journal

30 Writing Prompts for National Poetry Month

Kelli Russell Agodon listed 30 Writing Prompts for National Poetry Month a couple of years ago. Nearly all are friendly to non-self-reflective poets. :-)

1. Write a really ugly poem.
2. Quickly pick out 12 words from the titles of books on a nearby bookshelf. Use them in a poem.
3. Write a poem with an invented biography for yourself.
4. Take a 1-2 page poem from a book and re-type it backwards—from the very last word in the poem all the way to the very first, keeping the lines the same lengths as they are in the book. Use this as the starting point of a poem, picking out the word formations that are particularly interesting to you.

More at Book of Kells blog (and in the Comments in case it disappears.)

Rough silk and Iron maiden

Rough silk

Iron maiden

What's a warm up?