Art begets Art. When I get really stuck for ideas I turn to other art and often pictures are the most accessible. Google images or any search engine with photos should work. Type in anything and scroll until something catches your eye. Then simply try to tell the story of what's happening in the photo and see what comes of it.
Splayed by Sarah Varnam is the result of similar inspiration techniques.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Only the Beginning
When you're feeling guilty because you haven't written anything for a while but you just don't have the energy, much like my suggestion to write only a few lines and see what happens, try just writing the first sentence of a piece you never really intend to finish.
Number a page 1-5, like this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Just like that. Write in each place the first sentence for a story. This sentence should really start to form a whole story in a reader's mind, but they can be simple. Here are some examples:
1. Let me tell you about my dog.
2. I once saved my brother Michael's life by not being good at archery.
3. I like being a good student, because no one will believe it when I suddenly decide to turn bad.
4. The loose stone ground struck Benjamin's stumbling feet, and he returned the favour by leaving a trail of red behind him.
5. Angela stopped digging; she was quite certain no one would find it here, not this deep.
A beginning should not always be an introduction, because introductions can be boring. Instead use the beginning to get to the point like in line one. Also, try leaving your reader just a little bit in the dark like in the fourth line. What exactly is 'it' and why is Angela so obsessed with keeping 'it' hidden. Benjamin from line four seems like he's probably wounded and who can possibly resist discovering a little more about the archery almost accident.
Don't bother finishing these stories. We can get back to them later, when we have more time and energy.
Number a page 1-5, like this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Just like that. Write in each place the first sentence for a story. This sentence should really start to form a whole story in a reader's mind, but they can be simple. Here are some examples:
1. Let me tell you about my dog.
2. I once saved my brother Michael's life by not being good at archery.
3. I like being a good student, because no one will believe it when I suddenly decide to turn bad.
4. The loose stone ground struck Benjamin's stumbling feet, and he returned the favour by leaving a trail of red behind him.
5. Angela stopped digging; she was quite certain no one would find it here, not this deep.
A beginning should not always be an introduction, because introductions can be boring. Instead use the beginning to get to the point like in line one. Also, try leaving your reader just a little bit in the dark like in the fourth line. What exactly is 'it' and why is Angela so obsessed with keeping 'it' hidden. Benjamin from line four seems like he's probably wounded and who can possibly resist discovering a little more about the archery almost accident.
Don't bother finishing these stories. We can get back to them later, when we have more time and energy.
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