Storyteller Creations

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

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.

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.
.

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

SC Writing Tip
Gather your friends and develop
a writing circle.  
Have lunch together, bring pens
and paper.  
Talk.
Laugh.
Then write!

More Places to Write About in the Inland Empire

Forest Falls
Mountain High
Big Bear Lake
Lake Arrowhead
The Mission Inn
Edward's Mansion
Kaiser Hospital