Upcoming Writing Topics Plot - Build the Story Strange & Interesting Characters Know How To Narrate Whose Voice Is This? Details - Tell Me More I Didn't Need To Know That Setting - Where Am I? Dialogue - Say It Like It Is Playing with POV Simple Short Story Solutions Novel Ideas Let's Do It Again Non-Fiction or Fiction? Stories From The Writing Life |
| In my classes and in my own writing, I have found the most challenging element of creating fiction or non-fiction is developing an interesting idea. "I don't know what to write," "I don't like my idea," and "I can't get started," are all problems my students come to me with. Good ideas can be elusive, but they are attainable. How else do we explain all the bestsellers lining the bookstore shelves? Writing is difficult but rewarding. So, don't let a little writer's block stop you. How then does a writer start to write? The following exercises are designed to inspire you and get those ideas on the page. |
| Free Writing Free writing is a method of brainstorming that requires you to only do one thing; write whatever comes to your mind. Don't edit your ideas, don't correct your grammar, don't even stop to answer the doorbell. Just Write. After you've written a page of ideas, stop and look at your work (yes, this is work). Which ideas catch your attention, surprises, or disturbs you? Once you identify those elements, you've found an idea to work with. Idea Circles Idea circles is a brainstorming technique that you may remember from your Freshman English class. Write a word in the middle of your paper and draw a circle around it. Branch other word circles around your primary idea. You'll be surprised at how easily the ideas come and the types of idea associations you come up with. Word Pictures Take out your photo albums and start a trip down memory lane. The images of birthday party's, Christmas celebrations, and graduations will give you plenty of opportunities for plot and character ideas. Take it one step further and look through your parent's or grandparent's photo albums. Family history is heavy with character and story possibilities. Don't be afraid to use them. Truth or Dare Remember playing Truth or Dare with your best friends? The questions were crazy, outrageous, and sometimes disturbing. Take those questions, and answer them yourself. Good or bad, right or wrong, let your imagination take over and reveal your darkest secrets. Have you ever ...? Writing Prompts Writing prompts are small scenarios/situations that are designed to inspire a creative response. You can find writing prompts in writing books, magazines, and websites like this one. I have posted some for you to use and abuse. |
| Imagine Ideas |
Storyteller|Creations |
| Story Builders |
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