What if? for a stuck story

This is my favorite advise for writer's block:
On a separate shee of paper write: What If. Now write five ways of continuing the story, not ending the story, but continuing the story to the next event, scene,e tc. Let your imagination go wild. Loosen up your thinking about the events in the story. your what if's can be as diverse as your imagination can make them. More than likely, and this has proved true through years of teaching and writing, one of the What Ifs will feel right, organic, to the story and that is the direction in which you should go if you can't see it write on a few of them and see where it takes you.

Dialog

Get a friend and improve a scene you're writing about. Make sure that it's a disagreement or an emotional event. does any snippets of dialog work? If so write them down!

For the Plot

Break your story idea down into 3 sentences of 3 words each. this will give you a beginning, middle, and end and help you understand the architecture of the work. By having to choose 3 verbs you'll be forcing yourself to consider the 3 pts of the action.

Scene Change

If a scene isn't working try changing the action or setting the scene is housed in.
For example how does a scene read different if a couple is planning their honeymoon while painting a room versus in bed after making love?

Character exercise

Write the character's name on top of page and write 10 sentences:
He or she is the sort of person who:________.

Stuck?

The dread writer's block. I read an article online the other day about this writer who has never had writer's block. She defined it as when one can't write about anything at all. That if you get one, one should either a) stop writing b) or change subjects/projects.

I have a different definition. I believe that starting a project isn't difficult.... heck I can start millions of writings with out a problem; however, when I get done with my beginning scene, I have nothing more to add, since I don't know what happens next. That to me is a writer's block when your just stuck on ANY one project.

With NaNoWriMo you don't have leisure to walk away from your piece for too long. Yeah you might be able to leave it for the night or take a much needed R&R day, but really how long can one go without writing and meet the deadline? If worst comes to worst then go for a change in subjects because the most important thing about NaNoWriMo is the word count... it doesn't have to make sense or even be good--just the amount of words matter.

The problem with writer's block is it so individual and there many reason why some one might be blocked.

• The internal critic is being a bully and telling you everything you write sucks
• You can't focus because the bills are due, the dog needs to be walked, the children are screaming.
• You just don't know what happens next
• Tired of writing or you find yourself in a rout
• you're really procrastinating
• You need facts or information about something for the story to move on

So, here's today's advice: walk away for the day. Try and figure out what's stopping you from writing. Take a walk, nap, do yoga, mediate, take shower. Come back to your writing. If you're still stuck, write a scene later in the story that you already have planned, write a 500 word description about your setting, make a note to insert a needed fact in the story or look it up, basic write something that deals with your story. If you do this for a few writing sessions and still can't get 'un-block' write on a different story idea.

Share with us: What's the normal reason why you have writer's block and what works to get your creative juices flowing again?

What's in a Character?

Write the character's name on top of the page. write 5 to 10 lines that start with:
He (or she) is the sort of person who...
Come up with some fresh unquie traits and qualities about your character.

Share with us: What's your favorite trait about your main character?

GO!!!!

Some people (I'm not one of them) believe that the blank piece of paper is a dunting task. That the start of things is the most difficult thing an author does. I find that most writer's block advice deals with this stage so if you have difficulty finding the opening words just look around the internet or book store for these excerises. Here are some that I have saved from my favorite writing books:

• remember to start in the middle of the story. The reader needs a hook and therefore start were they're action!!! Think about Fight Club-- the movie starts at the end of the actual story, but it's way more interesting to start with your main character with a gun in his mouth than with a man who finds he can't sleep and hates his job.
• ways to start:
• With a generalization-- Any man with a large fourtune is in hunt of a wife.
• With a description (character or setting--though personal I find this one weak)
• With a narrative summary--I was born...
• With dialogue-- "Where were you last night," John asked
• with serveral character but no dialogue-- Betty and Ralph silently ate they're food in the bar
• with a setting and only 1 character-- Mary sat in central park alone on a Monday night.
• with a reminiscent narrator-- THe summer of 1985 was when I first fall in love.
• With a child narrator-- Mommy throw a potted plant at Daddy's head--after that we never saw him again.
• By establishing point of view--Elm was an eldery lady or I never saw myself as old-- just not fresh.

Share with us: What's your first line? What's your favorite first line in a published book?

Get Set....Outline

Ok, so you might not have to know EVERYTHING about your NaNoWriMo project. And the use of a 50 point summary outline with raising actions, character profiles, and hours worth of research isn't needed. However, it might be a good idea to have SOMETHING in mind before you start your frantic writing. NaNoWriMo allows writers to have outlines, summaries, character profiles-- ready before the month begins... these items however, cannot be counted in the total word count. NaNoWriMo also suggest to start with new characters and a new story because if you already put time and energy into a story you're not willing to just willy-nilly write on for just the word count *because you're too invested* and if you're trying to write a complete thing in a month your critic needs to be turned off. Again for more 'rules' on NaNoWriMo visit their website. So here some ideas for different stages of 'outlining.'

I have nothing yet...
If you don't have any idea what you want to write about, invest some time searching writing exercises in books and online.
here's a few that I find helpful:

• Write for 10 minutes on I want to write....
• Do a 10 minute exercise that starts with "Where were you last night?"
• Everything changed when...
• Pull out a poem or a paragraph from an author that you enjoy. Read it. now write a time writing on either a phase or the theme or anything that triggers a thoughts and just go with it.

I got an idea...

So you have a snippet. It might be a scene (normally what I start with), character, a setting, or some vague thought, item, or setting. Good let's build on it.

• create 1 sentence that your story is about. take sometime and think about it until you can narrow it down. Example: Puppet attempts to become a real boy. Guy loses girl and goes all out to get her back. Write it down on the top of each page and make sure that the story follows this one sentence.
• Brainstorm-- write out a list or do a web chart to organized your thoughts. This is really helpful for vague ideas or subjects. example: Say you want to write about masks. get a fresh piece of paper and write it in the middle of the paper. draw line and write something about the masks you want to write about like 'history of masks' and then jot down all the details that you already know about the masks you want to write about (when they were made, who made them, what culture are they from.). Another line from the middle and write another broad thing about the masks like 'appearance' and continue doing the web until you have all your know details. Hopefully by writing down everything you already know about this idea you can conjure up elements of the story behind it.
• Do you have a character in mind? Write down everything you know about this person, fill out a character profile (a form that you create or find one of the Internet that tells you the basics about your character's appearance, family status, dreams, goals, background everything you can think of), or do a character chart.

In a character chart is a two column three row grid. at the top write down you main character. on the left column write down these questions one in each box: What does the character want? Why does he want this? (or what's his motivation?) and What's stopping him from getting what he wants? If you can answer all three of these questions you have your complete story. In your revision process, if a scene doesn't deal with any of these three questions... you don't need it (granted for the three question it's more of a does this get your character closer or further from their goal that you want to keep in mind for the scene).

I Know My Story

OK so you know what's your doing. You have your characters and main plot points in mind. So what should you do?

• If your character is doing something you don't know much about (say he's a doctor) you might want to research and stash articles, jargon, and other things about his field or anything else you need to research.
• Write out the whole outline. Either do a report outline or get different colored index cards and color code your characters, scenes, themes, settings, or any other story element you want. I actually have a poster broad with Velcro strips running across it. I then put Velcro strips on the back of my cards and use this as a visual story broad to keep all my facts straight. Having these on note cards make it easier if you want to use flashbacks or rearrange the plot order of events.
• skim through like genera's to get your creative juices flowing, bookmark, websites, writing books, or favorite reading books for inspiration. etc.

Share with us: What's your favorite writing prompt? How do you 'outline' your writing?

Get Ready

1. Sign up with NaNoWriMo site or create your own goal. Write down this goal down somewhere where you can see it daily. Make sure that the goal has:

• a due date (Exp due date is November 30th at 11:59 PM)
• is attainable (50,000 words = roughly a 3.3 pages a day for a month)
• is measurable. (50,000 words)

2. Get the materials you need:

• How do you write? pens, paper, computer, ink, snacks etc.
• Where do you write: set up a space used for writing where you can keep it free from other distractions. Make sure to let family and friends know when you're writing so you won't be disturbed.

3. Set a Plan

• If you lead a busy life it's important to cut out time to focus on your writing. If that means cutting out an hour at the same time each day make sure you schedule it in to your life.
• Also make a plan on how you're going to handle writers' block or any other writing problems.
• Do the math. If you are only planning on writing on the weekends make sure you're hitting the right word count each time you write, or create extra time to dedicate to catching up.

4. Get support!!!

• Visit with other writer friends
• Join online communities that NaNoWriMo offers
• borrow or buy writing books or post inspirational sayings around your writing space
• attend writing groups in your area provided by libraries and other community hubs.
• Have a 'bitch-with-friend' that will listen and understands your writing pains

5. Write!!! As the saying goes 'A writer is someone that writes today.' You can't achieve any of your writing goals if you don't put your sweat and blood into it. So tie and gag your internal critic and let your hand fly across the page. Even if what you write is silly or stupid or doesn't fit into what you're trying to illustrate-- keep going.

Share with us: How do you set yourself up for a new project? Or what type of support or writing method really works for you?

writing prompt-- A box and a discussion

I got this at the writers' conference I did a few months ago. Funny, my friend Amanda and I actually did this one without having it as an exercise.
write a scene that begins with 'What's in the box?' Make sure you have at least two characters in the scene and that your reader knows the relationship, the age, the gender, etc. of the characters through the discussion that they have.

writing prompt-- amnesia in an igloo

(From Writer's Digest website):
You awaken with amnesia in what looks to be an igloo. You have $4 and a rock in one pocket, and a toothbrush in the other. Someone is staring at you. Write this scene.

Writing prompt--What I want to write

(Think this one comes from Natalie Goldberg's Writing in the Bones but I'm not sure)
Free write for 10 minutes starting with the pharse "I want to write..." brain storm everything it can vage like 'I want to write about truth.' or something that's very particular like "I want to write about our first camping trip when I was five.' If you get stuck just start again with 'I want to write' or you might want to do 'I don't want to write...'

Writing prompt-- A different type of writer

Every writer I know has their special type of writing. So lets try and branch out get out of those old comfort zones. So if you write non-fiction articles try poetry. If you write poetry craft something for a short story. If you write romance novels try your hand at a crime story. The results might surprise you.

Writing prompt--Your personal island

I awake up to Mix 100 hosted by Dom and Jane. Dom Testa is not only a radio star, but also a published author of young adult books and an advocate for young people striving to be their best. He has even created a website named Big Brain Club. This site has articles that Testa has written on peer pressure, a teacher forum, and writing exercises for budding authors.

lifted from the Big Brain Club website:
For many people, the idea of getting away - or escaping - is a powerful emotion. That's why the concept of being stranded on a deserted island is so powerful in literature and film. This month you're going to be that castaway. Here's what you'll do...
Gulliver, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson...they all told stories of people who found themselves stranded in a far-away location. For many people the fantasy involves a tropical paradise, with sandy beaches, palm trees, and perfect weather.
But what would that life really be like? This month's exercise will have you living alone on an island, and you'll write a two-page journal entry (or longer if you get caught up!). Perhaps your island is different; maybe it's cold, or maybe it's inhabited by fierce animals. With the Big Brain Club we always ask that you use your imagination and think of settings - and situations - that nobody else has thought of. Your journal will describe what life is really like.
Will it be dangerous and haunting? Will it be rather funny? Will it be suspenseful, perhaps with a mystery involved? Your journal is a blank slate, and the finished product will be going into a bottle and into the sea, ready for the rest of us to read when it washes ashore.
Have fun!

Writing Prompt-- Personal Ad

So of late my mom has been really pushing for me to start dating again. And one of the new suggestion she has is going an online dating service. I've played around with the idea but, lets face it how do you present yourself to complete strangers with just a picture, a list of interest, and a written paragraph about who you think you are? So this exercises is all about writing an interesting, fun, and truthful personal ad about yourself in 700 words are less. Avoid boring verbs and helping verbs and think of a creative way to present yourself. This is all about tooting your own horn-- so lets make some beautiful music.

Writing Prompt-- Writer's Block

There are hundreds of books out there telling people how to begin a story, what to do when you have a blank page in fornt of you. But to tell you my opintion, the blank page is the easiest part of the whole writing process. You don't have to worry about if your voice is the same through out the piece, you don't have to worry about if what your character said goes with their personality and you don't have to worry about tone or little details about characters, events, etc that has already happen. But what do you do when you're mid-story and even through you know your ending you just don't know how to connect the dots?
Yeah, Natalie Goldberg suggest stepping aside and getting a big glass of water and thinking about it. Stephen King goes on long walks. But really that's the only advice I've received on this little problem... until I read What If? A great little book. One of the authors points out that most writers-block is due to either not having enough information, just plain old confidence issues, or you just don't know what happens next. If you're having problems with the last one, the book suggest that when you get stuck think of three ways to get out of the scene or problem. For example, say your main child hero just stole candy from the store. What are some ways to move the scene forward
a.) the clerk catches him and they have a conflict.
b.) our hero's starts feeling bad about stealing the candy and tries to return it.
c) our hero doesn't get catch and this starts his life of crime.
write on each path for at least 10 minute and see which one jumps out at you. so brush off some dust on an old scene and see if this method works for you.

Writing Prompt-- Scrabble Anyone?

Grab some friends and play a game of Scrabble. Make sure to write down all the words that are used in the game. Write a short story using all of the words on the list.

This writing prompt has been brought to you by Mrs. O'Connal's advance creative writing class. I did this prompt when I was in high school and I had to admit that it will changelle you it figure out how to place non-related words together.