TUESDAY TRAILERS: Writer's block? 3 fantastic creative writing exercises

TUESDAY TRICKS: Five Things You Can Do To Get Writing this Morning

If you're considering taking a day off, it may be the best thing for you. RN R is usually a good way to get new ideas flowing, and get the heavy block off your back. But what if one day has turned into two and two into three, and you're not even on vacation?

I don't know about you, but I sometimes find myself scrambling for something to write about. My book, well, I just can't figure out what to write next. That story? It's as stalled as a car out of gas. I've been thinking about taking the day off, you know, to get ideas coming again.

Should I?

When I'm in one of these moods is usually because I'm feeling overwhelmed in my life; there's just too much going and I can't even consider sitting down and spending time writing. Either that, or I'm stressed about something else I have to do that's been weighing on my mind for days.

Here's what I do when faced with the 'I just don't want to write today' problem.

Sometimes I sit back and do nothing. :) Let's be honest here, I sometimes don't do as I should. But after a few moments of moping I gather up my courage and face the computer. The dishes will just have to wait.

1. I may start a new project. It may be one of those projects that has been weighing on my mind for awhile; a project I just don't think I have the time for. I have one of those of my own - right now. It always seems to get shelved for more pressing work, when, in actuality, this work needs to be at the top of my list because of the time and attention it demands.

2. I may read my latest project out loud. There is something to be said for reading out loud. Yes, you find mistakes, but the sound of your voice often prompts further writing.

3. Sit outside. If it's a nice enough day where you live sit outside for awhile, pen and paper in hand, and see what comes to you. A change of scenery often works for me. If it's too cold where you are, try a different room, but don't use a computer to get your thoughts down. See what happens.

4. Find a book, any book, and point to a random page. What sentence is your finger on? Start with this sentence and see what comes to you.

5. I've spoken of this last idea before, but it bears repeating. Organize a binder of pictures from magazines, pictures that are interesting in some way. Perhaps the interest is in the colors used, or the slogan, or the people within the photo. Once organized, choose a random picture to write about. Pay special attention to your five senses and see what happens.

Enjoy!

Kathryn

3 Writing Prompts that Will get You Writing Again

Some days the words are just hard to get out. Like the lack of rain coming down on a hot day, we may find that we're more inclined to take a nap than to work on our project.

Projects often get heavy. If we're writing a novel, we may be weighed down by the plot or a particular character who is simply not working. We may find that we lack time to write. We work full-time and would rather get some shut eye. We may not want to work on our project at all. But in the end, we know we need to write--something--and that's why writers usually turn to a writing prompt when they get stuck.

Photo by: Bright Meadow, courtesy of Flickr

I have shared writing prompts before. But today, I want to get you writing with no preparation. That means, no magazine ads to tear out, no book to grab to write about the first sentence you point to, no going for a walk and enjoying the beauties of nature. These all work, of course, but sometimes we just want to get started. Now. At our computer.

So here goes:

1. Start with the letter A. In the first sentence the first word you write needs to begin with A. The second sentence must begin with B and so on until the end of the alphabet. The clincher is that the sentences must connect. They can't be random sentences but must create something.

After you're creation, read over it. Discover the gems inside and write a poem, a short story or the beginning of your next novel.



Photo by: Kalexanderson, courtesy of Flickr

2. Close your eyes. Take in the senses you experience with your eyes closed. Try to stay connected to your senses for at least 5 minutes. If someone is with you, have them tell you when your time is up. When you open your eyes, write about all of the things you experienced. Perhaps you heard traffic in the distance. Did you smell anything surprising? Was it hard to keep your eyes closed? Were you checking the clock? Describe your experience.

Many of us have a difficult time using our five senses when we write. Sight is easy, but taste? A lot harder to come by. When we scatter the five senses throughout our work the reader not only enjoys what they're reading, they tend to experience the scenes more vividly.

3. Play some music from your computer. Write the way the music makes you feel. Depending on the song you'll end up with something romantic, mysterious, or even funny. Be open to writing in a different genre. After the song is over, go through what you have written and see what you find.

While the first writing prompt is more thinking in nature than experiencing, I have included it because there are times when nothing comes unless we first have an outline. At other times, it's the freedom we experience outside of the box that brings in our next creation.

Something we all want.

Jump Start your Writing with this Magazine Tool

One of my favorite writing exercises to do with my clients is one I lamely call, magazine pictures. Though the name is lame, the writing exercise definitely gets your heard a pumping.

I have put together a binder of magazine pictures that stimulate the imagination, and enclose them in plastic inserts. That way, the pictures can be used over and over and won't tear out. I inspire my clients to do the same, to create a notebook of pictures that strikes their imagination and to use it when they need an extra dose of inspiration.

Photo by Karen Horton, Courtesy of Flickr

I cut out most of the advertising words from the magazine picture, except for key writing starter points such as:

"Some men just need to be slapped."


"Welcome to paradise. You've earned it."

But most of the pictures are just that--pictures without words.

The first time I use these pictures with a new writer I ask the writer to describe what they see. Most of the time I get pretty dry renditions, mostly using the sense of sight. He is wearing shorts and sunglasses. She has cucumbers on her eyes. When I have the client re-work their paragraphs I ask them to include other sensory words in the categories of sound, taste, touch, and smell. It is amazing how alive their work becomes!

Comparing the two writing exercises usually leaves the client with an a-ha experience, one that they take with them and continue to use; but I tell them it's always a good idea to re-visit the magazine pictures when they are feeling a bit of writer's block or just need a great starting point for a new story.

Minke Wagenaar, courtesy of Flickr

Another exercise I do is with the use of "Masterpiece" cards. Masterpiece is an older board art auction game that has a great selection of cards with famous painters' work. For example, do you recall "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat? Or "The Bedroom" by Vincent Van Gogh"?

I use these painting in the same way the I use the magazine pictures. The results are always fantastic and memorable, especially when the writer has remembered to incorporate the five senses.

Finding a need to jump start your own writing? You may want to try one or both of the ideas above.