| iv id="body"> | | | | "The lemonade was cool and refreshing on the |
| I think I can say that every writer at some time | | | | lazy Georgia afternoon." |
| experiences writer's block. It's that time when our | | | | "The lemonade was an acidic reminder of his lost |
| writers' brains seem to shut down and refuse to | | | | childhood." |
| work. You may experience it frequently, or | | | | Even if you don't enter the contest, this exercise |
| almost never. Still, it's a problem every writer | | | | can be invaluable for putting a fire under your |
| faces at some point. Because it causes so many | | | | writing. Once you see the possibilities for many |
| problems so often, it takes some creativity to | | | | plots from one sentence, your brain will be |
| conquer it...or at least work around it. | | | | cooking up those plots in no time. If you don't |
| One of the most difficult steps to take during | | | | enter the contest, you don't even need to keep |
| writer's block is also the best--sit down and write. | | | | that starter sentence when you're done--it may |
| Free Writing | | | | no longer fit your story. Still, you owe it a debt |
| To get through writer's block, some authors | | | | for the part it played in getting the process |
| advocate free writing. Free writing is the process | | | | started. |
| of putting pen (or pencil) to paper and writing | | | | By the way, I'm using a fiction example here, but |
| anything that comes into your head. The idea is | | | | there's no reason you can't use it for nonfiction. |
| that, after some time, what you write will begin | | | | An even tougher challenge is to take the same |
| to turn into something useful. I can't vouch for | | | | starter sentence and use it to begin both a fiction |
| this method because I've never used it myself. | | | | and nonfiction piece. Try it with the lemonade |
| However, it works for many writers, and it may | | | | sentence, and you'll see what I mean. |
| work for you. | | | | One other way to use a starter sentence is to |
| A related method used to clear writer's block is | | | | have a friend or loved one come up with the |
| to take whatever project you're working on and | | | | sentence for you. The rest of the process is the |
| start writing, writer's block or not. After a few | | | | same. |
| pages, the process should begin to flow. Your | | | | To finish, here's how I used that same lemonade |
| writer's block will be broken. Of course, you'll | | | | starter sentence to start a short story: |
| probably end up trashing those first few pages, | | | | "The lemonade had an acidic, watered-down |
| but at least you're back to writing. | | | | taste, like day-old tears on ice. Carl grimaced and |
| Writing Prompts | | | | set it down on the table, pushing the glass away |
| Okay, I've talked about free writing and | | | | with revulsion. He glanced at his watch. He flicked |
| associated methods to break writer's block. Now | | | | a bead of condensation off the glass and |
| I'll tell you how to use writing prompts to spark | | | | nervously wiped his hands on his jeans. Conflicting |
| your creativity. | | | | thoughts played a nervous game of tag in his |
| One of the tools I love to use is the starter | | | | head. She didn't want you then and she won't |
| sentence. The Writers' Journal is a great resource | | | | want you now, said one, only to be tagged by, |
| for starter sentences. In their contest section, | | | | She wanted to keep you; she was forced to give |
| they have a contest called "Write to Win." One of | | | | you up. He peeked at his watch again, then |
| the requirements is that you use one of their | | | | started making designs in the puddle of water |
| starter sentences, such as "The lemonade was..." | | | | formed by the glass of lemonade. The diner was |
| or "It was a small box, but..." These sentences, or | | | | almost empty, apparently caught in a lull between |
| sentence beginnings, don't give you a topic, but | | | | the noon rush and the first evening customers. It |
| using forcing yourself to write around them can | | | | was the drowsy silence of a summer afternoon, |
| give you the push you need to get out of your | | | | but it felt stifling until, at last, it was broken by the |
| writing quagmire. The exercise of completing each | | | | clang of the old cowbell over the door. Carl looked |
| sentence starter in several ways will force you | | | | up. It wasn't her, only an old farmer who shuffled |
| brain to start coming up with new ways of | | | | up to the counter and ordered a coffee with |
| looking at a scene. For instance, let's take the | | | | cream. Carl settled back in his booth and waited." |
| lemonade sentence: | | | | I'd love to hear how you used the same idea. |
| "The lemonade was acrid, and bitter to the taste." | | | | |