![[RSS Feed]](http://kiwiwriters.org/s/rss.png)
Prompt Me
Posted by: kerrynangell
Sometimes writers just get stuck. The well runs dry and what are you going to do other than speak in clichés? You can look to the internet but when you’re lacking inspiration it’s hard to sift through all the rubbish to get to something inspiring.
To Boldly NaNo is a blog that provides one writing prompt a day. That’s 365 prompts for a year filled with writing. They’re good stuff too. In the last few days they have had such prompts as:
Will _________ for ________. Write a scene where someone offers a service in exchange for something they need.
Castle. Three people in a scene.
“I’d rather you just __________!” One character must say the line above.
What is your character picky about? What are they laid back about? Make a list of both.
I have had an amazing time over the December/January period by NOT writing on any specific story. I have filled 78 notebook pages of story ideas, blog ideas, things that have struck me, goals for 2008 and a myriad of other tid-bits. The fun of discovering a new idea has really given me a fresh start to writing for the year. I’m just rearing to go! Allowing yourself to do nothing but fill a notebook with creative thoughts is not to be underestimated. I feel now that we, as writers, must exercise this creative, idea producing part of our brain. Not only will you find the excitement about writing that you may have forgotten but you may discover that you have been holding yourself back to focus on a current project.
Paperback Writer’s Book it Ten is a great place to start if you want to develop a treasure trove of story ideas. Don’t pressure yourself to do everything or anything if nothing sparks your fancy. Focus on a prompt or idea for a moment and give yourself the opportunity to make something of it. If nothing happens, move on. It’s all about training your creative brain and soon you will be needing to pull your notebook out at the strangest moments.
Labels: (none)
22 Jan 2008 21:34:59
Comments
On 24 Jan 2008 17:05:30 Gaye Larsen said:
You have been busy, kerryn, what a dedicated writer you are. A great idea putting bibs and bobs in a notebook, our brains can't be expected to remember everything we see. So often I have noticed others, and has happened to myself, one starts off with a great story line, then comes to a halt quite abruptly, because the material has run out. I suspect this is why some don't finish their stories. Having a treasure trove of ideas would help immensly, I'm going to be a copycat and do the same. Thanks for the helpful sites you offer, I like the prompting ideas and have quite often come up with a story through Chris Batty's story prompting ideas.