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- When was it the last time you were lost? - Where was it and what did you do about it? - How did it feel? Write two pages without stopping.
- Write about your character’s happiest day of his/her life. - Does your character shower or bathe? Why? - How savvy is your character with his/her video/audio equipment? - What is the biggest animal he/she has killed? (Ant, spider, rat, deer,...) - Tell me in detail how he/she does the laundry.
Ask for it Next time, when you can’t fall asleep, instead of counting sheep, ask one, "How’re doing? What’s happening in your life?" Then try to remember it in the morning and write two pages without stopping. Ask your unconsciousness, God, fairy, angel... First thing in the morning, before drinking coffee, before getting dressed,
write two pages without stopping.
Find a story: Think of the last steak you ate. Think the meat’s way back to the cow. - Who ate it? - Who cooked it? - Who bought it? - Who sold it? - Who wrapped it? - Who cut it? - Which cow did it come from? - Which farmer? Somewhere there is a story. Take your pen and find the steak’s way back to the cow until you find your story. - Think of a piece of paper and find its way back to the forest. - Think of your favorite shirt or blouse and find its way back to the cotton field. Start writing until the story emerges. Then keep going.
Take today’s date. Where were you on that day - last year? If you don’t remember, make it up.. Write for five minutes, nonstop. Do it again: Where were you on that day - five years ago? - ten years ago? Leap forward: Where will you be on that day - five years from now? - ten years from now? Last exercise: Look at your last exercise and imagine you are at that place, ten years from now. What advise do you have for the person you are today? Write for ten minutes.
Research has shown, daydreaming activates as many brain cells as solving a problem does. Albert Einstein was a daydreamer and so was Alexander Graham Bell.
Next time you are stuck in the middle of a story, leave it alone for a few days. Try various ways to tap into your unconsciousness: - Go for walks alone - Practice Yoga - Book a reiki session - Simply sit by a window and meditate Upon returning to that unfinished story, you might find the solution has
"simply come" to you.
Create a scene: You are driving towards an intersection. The traffic light is turning red, the car breaks fail.... - Write. Fill one page without stopping. - Now take that same scenario and write a new scene. - Try the same beginning and find a third option, a third scene.
Point of views:
- Write one page in the voice of the woman. - Write one page in the voice of the man. - Stretch! and write one page in the voice of the revolver.
Exercises for a writer’s group: Find a colorful candy bowl and put a lid on it. Remove the picture from a pretty frame. Stuff a small rucksack with tissue paper. Get paint samples from your hardware store. Put them on the table. For each exercise, write for five minutes without stopping, without thinking.
Sentence starters: My mother..... That was easy..... Imagine the worst...... I am on the wrong plane..... My monkey..... Salami, pastrami and high heels.... The postcard came from Turkey.... I forgot to set the alarm..... When push comes to..... Don’t drink and......
Interview your character: How did you sleep last night? Do you have a briefcase or a sports bag? What are the contents? What is your favorite color, book, movie? What physical flaws do you have? Have you ever cheated on your partner? Who was the last person calling you? Imagine the worst. What would it be? What are your plans for tomorrow? Does anybody hate you? Why? Why did you agree to this interview? Choose one and write for five minutes without stopping, without thinking.
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