Tips for Writers
How to Turn Small Things Into Great Stories
Writers are forever working on new projects — or being blocked and freaked out. Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to worry about writer’s block; I’ve had too many ideas. How you say? Read on.
Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash
You’re going to have to be patient with yourself, give yourself a bit of ‘relax’ time, and gather up a bunch of newspapers (or news sites), magazines, or hang out with some friends and acquaintances with your curiosity dial turned all the way up.
To begin with, start small. Think small. Think focused. Think seeds.
Why not start with a title? It may change later; actually, there’s little doubt it will, but not to worry about that now. If a title pops out of the blue, write it down. Soon, you may have a short list. Things like “A Woman’s Will”, “Chrisophase”, “Warrior Monk”. What do they suggest? Where can you go from there? A title may be all it takes to have you off and running. A title can be a story thundering around in your brain, just trying to get out. Give it a chance. Jot a few down.
Some event may spark the beginnings of a novel. Your high school prom? A death of someone very close to you? Winning or losing a big sports event? An unexpected and inappropriate marriage? A big scientific development? Any of those could be the opener to a great novel or screenplay, a report, or an article.
Maybe there’s a situation you can use. A well-known local attorney, drunk, hits and kills a man, then leaves the scene. A commuter, sitting, reading on the bus with an iPod blasting in his/her earplugs, bursts into tears right before the bus blows a tire and rolls. A school bus returning from a ski trip in the mountains has a driver who is texting as he/she drives on icy roads. (what you expect, might not be what happens!) Read your local paper, and check out magazines. Any ‘situation’ could become your next plot opener. Play with alternative outcomes. If you’re writing fiction, you’re not doing journalistic reporting; you’re developing a story.
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
Sight, smell, sound, or touch are powerful tools. Rainbow across a storm-darkened sky. The feel of a chill wind down your neck or up your back. The smell of apple pie baking, or cookies. The sound of screeching brakes and a tumultuous crash. The taste of unsweetened cranberry juice. These can be and frequently are all that trigger a great story. Pause, look around you. Maybe take a walk in the park or hike in the woods. Inspiration is all around.
Think about the strange things in life, not to mention the strange people. A woman who tends chickens and saves the misfits from the soup pot by letting them ride around on her shoulders and segregating them from the other chickens. The brilliant worker who can take any machine and make it do so much more than it was built to do. The man who plants trees wherever he goes. A surgeon likes to take home the parts he removes from people and display them in his home. How about the discovery of a single gold thread embedded inside rock millions of years old? How about something like the book Forbidden Archaeology as an inspiration? (This link is to Amazon Ebook, but you can probably find it at your library. I have a hardcover edition).
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
Or consider just beginning with a character. Could be someone you know or someone from the news of the day. The hero of my first book, a Western, was my grandfather (of course he was in disguise — and he’d never been west). A character with heart and soul can become just that to your novel.
In Conclusion:
Be open to small ideas — you’ll be amazed at how they can expand with a little ‘what if?’ or ‘what next?’
Don’t try to envision the whole book at one time. Work outward from your seed, expand, add possibilities, make notes, even simply begin writing. All will move you forward — but biting off too much at one time will leave you floundering.
Want a couple of resources?
Live About –Info on Fiction Writing Careers
Open University — Courses on Writing from the UK. Refine your choices by choosing Free Courses and History & The Arts — or just explore. Lots of opportunities to learn about writing and lots of other things here.
Come check out my writing — novels, comics, and more at my Amazon Writer’s Page. I love company!
** There are links in this article that should you follow them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Yet another adjunct to a writer’s income so I can feed the dog!
*Don’t forget to come visit me on Social Media and Amazon;
Want to learn from me? Check out Romancing Your Novel, my UDMY romance writing course.
*And if you’re interested in fun gift ideas for writers or just cool stuff for yourself, visit my shop over on Zazzle (yes, I’d get a small commission should you click and purchase) at https://www.zazzle.com/store/storyseeker
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Thanks for reading Creator Of Worlds -Writer’s Support! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Once you open the writer brain, you will find stories everywhere.
So true! Amazing what will instantly spark an idea.