Have you ever experienced a writer’s block? You know, when you sit and stare at a blank screen or page for those that like to entertain their muse with the actual pen. Don’t know what to write? I’ve been there. (Though I admit, I have more trouble controlling my overactive muse. She’s one that has a hard time keeping on track to finish one idea before she’s bouncing off to the next one.)
But if you find yourself in a little quandary, not knowing what to write, here are a couple of suggestions to tickle your muse with.
But if you find yourself in a little quandary, not knowing what to write, here are a couple of suggestions to tickle your muse with.
Exercise 1. What if... Read a short story or article. Ask yourself ‘what if...’ This was exactly how my novel ‘The Secret of the Stones’ was created. I read a short story about Merlin and Vivienne and my muse reflected back to the movie ‘The Sword and the Stone.’ My kids just about wore that tape out... (yes, I said tape. It was a few years ago, grin.) Anyway, I remembered how Merlin changed him and Arthur into squirrels and fish and the fun adventures they had. I asked myself, ‘what if’ a kid today found something that had Merlin’s magic in it and changed into a squirrel. Off my muse ran and what started out as a short story, emerged as a full length novel, the first of a trilogy.
Your ‘what ifs’ can be related to a memory, what might be, instead of, or whatever you’d like. For example... what if Merlin had never met Vivienne; what if Merlin wasn’t killed by Vivienne, but sent to the future; what if Merlin had a twin brother and Vivienne trapped the wrong one... see what I mean. The muse can start rolling and never shut up.
Exercise 2. Take the word ‘Villiage’ and add something in front of it and create a short paragraph. I was challenged to do this in a class and it was fun to see what came up. For my lesson, I used the word ‘Reindeer.’ So ‘Reindeer Village’ emerged. It immediately brought to mind the herds of reindeer and the tribes of nomads that cared for them. And what helps them care for them. Dogs. My muse ran with this to create a chapter book of a young girl who finds a small husky puppy that no one wants because he is too small. Well, guess what, the puppy grows up to save the little girl, thus proving that size isn’t what makes one valuable.
Try it yourself. Add your own noun to the beginning of Village and let your muse run. She’ll leap and folic and you’ll find yourself with the beginnings of a great new story.
Hope you had fun with these ideas. Let go of the reins and let your muse race like a thundering thoroughbred.
C.K. Volnek
Your ‘what ifs’ can be related to a memory, what might be, instead of, or whatever you’d like. For example... what if Merlin had never met Vivienne; what if Merlin wasn’t killed by Vivienne, but sent to the future; what if Merlin had a twin brother and Vivienne trapped the wrong one... see what I mean. The muse can start rolling and never shut up.
Exercise 2. Take the word ‘Villiage’ and add something in front of it and create a short paragraph. I was challenged to do this in a class and it was fun to see what came up. For my lesson, I used the word ‘Reindeer.’ So ‘Reindeer Village’ emerged. It immediately brought to mind the herds of reindeer and the tribes of nomads that cared for them. And what helps them care for them. Dogs. My muse ran with this to create a chapter book of a young girl who finds a small husky puppy that no one wants because he is too small. Well, guess what, the puppy grows up to save the little girl, thus proving that size isn’t what makes one valuable.
Try it yourself. Add your own noun to the beginning of Village and let your muse run. She’ll leap and folic and you’ll find yourself with the beginnings of a great new story.
Hope you had fun with these ideas. Let go of the reins and let your muse race like a thundering thoroughbred.
C.K. Volnek
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