I hope your summer has been going well with some well-earned downtime, and I hope, some creative time, too.
If your creative output hasn’t been what you hoped, I’ve listed some links to helpful tips for boosting creativity and output. Of course, you might just be looking for the perfect story idea. I hope that the writing prompts below will help you find it.
LINKS
If you’re not meeting your daily writing goals, maybe mini-goals will help:
http://kristiholl.net/writers-blog/2014/08/not-enough-willpower-goals-make-mini-habits/
Here are some tips for speeding up the writing:
http://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-book-fast/
This is a different take on planning a novel that just might help you get the work done:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2016/07/6-easy-steps-to-planning-out-your-novel.html
Here are some creativity boosters from Jenny Bravo:
http://jennybravobooks.com/blog/boost-your-creativity
WRITING PROMPTS
a) Use one, some or all of these words to write a story or poem.
switch, rain, door, collar, blue, brick, stifling
window, light, glass, dial, time, grey, cold
fragment, yellow, parched, reflection, tip, shade
b) Try one of these opening sentences to start a story.
I thought you said a child could open this.
Nice room except for the body on the floor.
We waited. Finally, the voice over the loudspeaker said exactly what we didn’t want to hear.
When do you expect the patrol?
I hated missing the bus.
When Helen calls, it’s always trouble.
Henry didn’t come home last night.
What do you think we should do now?
Music was Henry’s life.
I think that cat can read my mind.
c) What scenes can you imagine around these short dialogue excerpts?
Why doesn’t Henry come inside.
He hasn’t finished.
Finished what?
I wish it wasn’t so cold.
You think this is cold?
Seriously?
I can’t keep running like this.
We don’t have any choice.
What if one of us does have a choice.
Look! Over there! Lights! That must mean people!
Quiet! Not all people are friends.
Here’s the package you wanted.
Thanks. You can leave now.
That’s where you’re wrong.
I didn’t think you’d invited Helen.
She invited herself.
That complicates things.
d) Does one of these titles suggest a story?
Peanut Butter and Romance, The Last Warrior, Storm, Taking Flight, The Eighth Wonder, Science Fair Drop Out, The Last Time, Berserk, Fear Lives Here, I Don’t Like Scary Movies, The Secret that Wasn’t, Last Year’s Model
e) What does your main character like to do on a summer day? Go to the beach? Visit a big city and see the sights? Get together and play games with friends? Find a quiet, shady spot and read a book? What do you like to do?
f) Ice cream is a favorite summer treat. Think about your characters. What flavors of ice cream would they choose? Why did you choose those flavors for your characters?
