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Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Image Courtesy of Kiwanja

It’s been a while since we did any writing prompts, so I thought it would be fun to do a few.

1. What was the best summer vacation you ever had?
2. What did you like best about summer break?
3. What did you miss most, or least, about school?
4. When did you see the ocean for the first time?

Here are a couple story starters as well.

1. Janice pulled her ragged flannel shirt tighter around her middle despite the oppressive heat. The bus wasn’t crowded, and she found a seat near the middle. It smelled of sweat and perfume and reminded her of her mother.
2. When Frank opened the door to his apartment, he sensed something was wrong. He flipped on the too-bright lights. Everything seemed in order, even the change he had left on the table was untouched. The refrigerator hummed softly, and he watched as his cat padded across the linoleum.

While we’re at it, let’s get outside and do some writing. No need to stay couped us, is there?

Shadow of a Writing Hand

Originally uploaded by lowjumpingfrog

Sometimes I need a little boost in the creativity department, and I thought this would be a fun post that didn’t involve tricking anyone.

Here are a few opening lines to play around with.

1. Terasa had to stifle a laugh as Ted undressed.
2. Jason pushed the tray of fries across the counter and winced as he asked, “Did you want fries with that?”
3. Dr. Oberman passed out the exam, “There are questions on this that even I don’t know the answer to.” (more…)

   

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Since I’ve been sick, I’ve been struggling to pull myself back onto schedule. My creativity feels like it’s at an all-time low. It’s amazing how much physically feeling rotten has affected my writing.

So, here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, when you’re sick, you’re supposed to take it easy, right? This one is hard for me; I want to push myself to get right back into things as soon as possible.
• Take better care of yourself physically. That means sleeping enough, eating right, etc.
• If you’re feeling up to it, get outside. Even if you just sit on the porch for a while, being outdoors can be a big help.
• Take yourself out. Go to dinner, the mall, a bookstore, anywhere you enjoy. Grab a coffee and watch the people. Take a notebook with you and jot down any ideas that come to mind.
• Ask for help. Whether it’s housework or your writing, ask for the help you need so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
• Tackle easier tasks first, if possible. I’ve been spending more time writing than editing, for example.
• Do something creative. This doesn’t have to be writing-related. You can knit, paint, draw, cook, whatever you enjoy. Once you start feeling creative again, it will carry over into your writing.
• Dig into your journal, notes, etc. This is a great time to pull out ideas you’ve been fermenting for a while. Since you’ve already been mulling it over, it will be easier to jump in and get started.
• Take some time to relax and read. Grab a novel, some blogs, a magazine, whatever. The relaxation is as likely to help as the material itself.
• Do something you haven’t done in a while (or ever). Again, this doesn’t have to be writing-related to be helpful.
• Take a nap. The rest will help, but that isn’t the main point. Put a notebook by your bed and tell yourself that you’ll remember, and write down, your dreams. With practice, you’ll find that you do it more and more regularly. I’ve written a couple stories loosely based on dreams I’ve had.
• Watch some television. Think about the basic plot line of the show you’re watching and how it could be changed. What would happen if the characters were moved to another place, time, etc? What if you changed their genders or their ages?
• Check the news. There are usually lots of interesting stories out there, if you avoid the mainstream media. Try news sites that cater to a specific niche, or use Google News to search for news with specific keywords.

If you’re struggling to find that creative spark, then I hope these tips help you. They’ve helped me over the last week!

…when you don’t know what to write about.

We’ve all had those times when we’re feeling particularly uninspired. When I’m under stress, my creativity seems to dry up. Whether it’s fiction or blogging or something else, it’s tough to find that inspiration again.

Here are some tips you might find useful — I do.

Blogging 

1. Look back through your older posts. Expand on an idea you had earlier.
2. Explain how to do something.
3. Explain how not to do something.
4. Write a list of quick tips.
5. Look through your most popular posts and put up a list of them.
6. Write another post along the same subject as one of your most popular posts.
7. Read some other bloggers for inspiration.
8. Write a response to another blogger’s post in your own blog.
9. Address some reader question.
10. Write a post for new readers. I know I sometimes forget that my readers aren’t all long-timers. Give a quick intro to your blog, best posts, subscribing to RSS, etc.
11. Post a list of your favorite blogs to read.
12. Point out some good posts on other sites. Other bloggers will appreciate the links (and maybe reciprocate).
13. Talk about your traffic numbers and how things are going.
14. Go through your pictures directory and post something. Everyone likes pictures!
15. Get personal. Even if your blog is usually strictly on topic, write a quick note about what’s going on in your life.
16. Tell something funny that’s happened to you lately.
17. Talk about a blogging mistake you’ve made and what you learned from it.
18. Complain about something (or someone). Go on, you know it’ll make you feel better.
19. Tell your readers about your typical day.
20. Document an overheard conversation.

Fiction

1. Take a minor character and write a short story about him or her.
2. Use a person you know as a starting point for a character.
3. Borrow the first sentence or paragraph from your favorite novel. Continue on to write it as you want and ditch the borrowed material when you’re finished.
4. Take a story you like and summarize the plot in one sentence. (Ex. Romeo and Juliet becomes, Boy meets girl, families disapprove, lovers die.) Now, change an aspect of the plot and use it as a start for a story.
5. Stuck with your novel? Get in your character’s head for a day. What does his/her typical day look like? Where does he go, what does he eat, who are his friends?
6. Create a character whose personality doesn’t match her situation. For example, maybe a shy girl who dresses provocatively and parties a lot. Or an aggressive business man who’s afraid to ask out a woman he likes.
7. Check out the news, particularly the science pages, and write some ‘what-ifs’. What if I could get a robot to do my housework (be still my heart!)? What if cloned meat has some horrific side effect?
8. History buff? Try some more ‘what-ifs’. What if women didn’t have the right to vote? What if we had never fought in Vietnam? What if Neaderthals had survived in their own society alongside ours?
9. Write something different than you normally do. Write in a different genre, for a different group, etc.
10. Stuck in your novel? Brainstorm some endings, the more off-beat the better. Sometimes your ideas will turn the novel in just the direction it needs to go.

What creativity tricks do you use when you’re stuck? It happens to us all, so share!

If you’ve been blogging for any length of time, you’ve probably had moments when you wondered what in the world to write about next. Even the most creative, prolific writer will have days when the idea well runs dry, but it needn’t stay dry.

1. Check your blog stats. What search words and terms are people using to find your blog? Some of these may be right on target, but others may have very little to do with your blog. One of my top phrases is “keepitcoming.” I have no idea why. Choose one of these terms and make it the subject of a blog post.
2. Still looking at your stats, see where most of your visitors are coming from. Write a thank you post to those readers. Or, write a post along the same topic as one of these posts.
3. Visit your archives. Choose one of your older posts and create a new post based on it. You can edit the old post, update it, change your opinion, whatever. Remember to provide a link to the old post in your new one.
4. Read your blog subscriptions. Set a specific amount of time to choose another blogger’s post to avoid spending all of your writing time reading. Then, instead of simply commenting on the blogger’s post, write your own post and link to the post that inspired you. Don’t forget to use a trackback to notify the other blogger.
5. What books are you reading? Would any of them interest your readers? Write a short review or recommendation. Don’t forget to include your Amazon affliliate link if you have one.
6. Write a list post. Lists are usually popular with readers.
7. Write a link post. Link to other blogs you’re reading, to web sites you use, etc. Just be sure that it’s useful to your readers. Even better, add a short note to each link to give your readers your take on the site.
8. Review another site. Write a short review of another site or blog. Remember to be constructive and use trackbacks so the blogger knows you’ve done a review.
9. Ask for your readers’ help. Ask a question, post a poll, ask for comments or subscribers. Explain what you want and why it will be helpful.
10. Visit forums. Choose a current forum topic and write a post on it. If the forum rules and etiquette allow, publish a link to your post. This is best done on forums where you’re already a participant; otherwise, it can come off as “spammy.”

What tips do you have for finding blogging topics? List them here in the comments.

I don’t know about you, but I get inspired by all sorts of things, many of them downright weird.

I love to listen to people talk. I overheard one of my coworkers the other day, “It’s like having sex on a bicycle. You never forget.” As my husband put it, “That’s f-ed up. And down. And up. And down….” I bet you can get a story out of that.

Or the quote that kept running through my head last week. “This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” Any fans of Full Metal Jacket out there? My husband loves the movie, which means I love the movie (whether I really do or not). Actually it’s pretty good, when I’m in the mood for that sort of thing.

Sometimes I think about the people I’ve known, the stories I tell. Like the time the dog tore out the arm of the couch when I was in the bathroom. Or the neighbor who tormented her, with complete disregard for his own safety. He once put his face only a couple inches from hers while I had her out on the leash.He didn’t seem to mind that I could barely hold her, or that she was snarling and completely enraged by his teasing. What an idiot he was!

Or how about the coworker who married a woman he’d seen in person off and on for a week; she worked at a resort where he was staying. After a few phone calls, he married her and set about trying to get her in the country. I couldn’t help but wonder about that.

Or my grandmother, the mother of nine children, about twenty years from oldest to youngest. And she happened to be one of the most patient people I’ve ever known. I guess she had to be.

Or our family friend, who totaled her husband’s car because she was sick of his drinking. Did I mention she used a hammer to total it? He sat in the house and watched, too afraid to try to stop her. I wouldn’t have tried to stop her either!

I bet you’ve got some stories that would make great stories as well.

How many of you have ever used dreams, whether yours or someone else’s, as inspiration for a story idea?

I sometimes have very vivid dreams, and I do use them as the germ of an idea for a story. I’ve been known to use my husband’s dreams too; he tends to dream spooky stuff! In fact, I’m working on a story right now that was inspired by one of his dreams.

Where do you get your writing inspiration?

I’ve been thinking about being creative, and about what makes us creative, or want to be. I’m sure you know people who are extremely creative. I know I do, both in my personal and online life. I’m blown away sometimes by what I see other people doing; it makes me feel positively inadequate, I can tell you.

Of course, creativity comes in all forms. Most people tend to think of it in an “artsy” way, and I do as well sometimes. For me, it’s writing primarily, but it’s also knitting. It’s putting together a good story, weaving characters and plot together to make something that others will enjoy. Or it might be combining color and pattern to make something functional and beautiful that others can use and appreciate.

My day job doesn’t have anything to do with either of those; I’m a programmer. However, finding an elegant solution to a problem is creative too.

So, what makes a person creative, or not? I have a bit of a theory about how creativity works for me.

1. First, I have to have the time to BE creative. If my work doesn’t require much thought, or doesn’t allow much time for thought, I’m not as likely to be able to be creative. If I’m up against a deadline or feeling a lot of pressure, then I’m probably going to take a straightforward approach and skip the creative one. Likewise, if I’m too exhausted by my work, I’m not going to be able to be creative. I need enough rest to fine that creative spot.
2. I need adequate resources to be creative. Folks who can’t support their families or themselves, or who are struggling financially simply aren’t going to have as much energy to spend at being creative. If you can’t pay the power bill, you’re not as likely to spend time working on your novel! I’m sure most of us have had money problems at one time or another, so you understand how adequate resources are a necessity.
3. I need to be relaxed to be creative. I’m not implying that a certain amount of stress isn’t good, or isn’t even able to spark your creativity. However, if you’re under a lot of stress, for long periods, your creative work will suffer. I’ve continued to struggle with this drain on my writing. I’m fortunate that I have another creative outlet, knitting, that I can use to relax and work through stressful times.
4. You have to allow creativity to happen. I’m sure everyone has heard this in one form or another before, you can’t wait for the muse to just show up. I have to work on being creative. Maybe I make time to write daily, or I make an effort to find solutions to my work problems that aren’t obvious. Whatever you do, make an effort to be creative even when, and especially when, you’re not feeling particularly creative.

Being able to approach life creatively, whether it’s work, home or a creative pursuit, is a talent to be fostered and appreciated. Let’s do one thing this week differently, and more creatively, shall we?

…writing, that is.

I’ve been thinking about family stories and writing, and that led me, of course, to thinking about growing up. I was thinking about the first time I can really remember writing a story. I may have written before this, but if I did, I can’t remember. I know that this is the first time I really got into the “zone.” I saw and felt and experienced the story as I wrote it. I’m still a bit awed by the feeling even now. When I’m lucky enough for it to happen to me, it’s almost as if I’m channeling the story. Plots twist, characters misbehave, and the book takes on a life all its own. The result can be chaotic, but it’s also far more creative and surprising than I could create by planning it out.
I wrote my first story when I was in third grade, so I would have been eight years old. We were writing stories for school, and I had just read Call of the Wild. I sat down in my room, using the seat of one of our kitchen chairs for a desk, and started writing. My room was chilly, and I remember wrapping a little blanket around me as I worked.
My story was about a mother and child who are trapped in the wilderness in a blizzard with hungry, ferocious wolves circling outside. I can’t remember how it ended, but I still remember seeing the scene in my mind. Gray figures of the wolves paced against the white expanse of snow while the mother and child huddled inside the cabin, sneaking peeks through a cracked door.

I’m not sure how long it took, but my feet had gone to sleep by the time I’d finished, and I’d filled more pages than I had ever expected to. I remember the feeling of satisfaction when I finished the story, and how proud I was of it. I’m not sure if I realized it then, but I think that moment did more to make me want to write than anything else I can think of.

I suppose that’s why I write today. It can be difficult to feel a relationship with readers when I spend months working on a novel that no one but me has read. I plan, and hope, that others will one day read and enjoy it too, but the writing process can be quite lonely. The act of writing, of creating, of discovering the story is what keeps me at it.

What keeps you writing?

This is an interesting article, particularly if you’re interested in creating alien races. People in the Netherlands are growing taller (six feet one is the average for men). The article points out that it’s probably because they lead healthier lives and have better nutrition.

When I read about alien races, I like to understand why they’re different from humans. Evolution selects the fittest, so if someone is taller, shorter, has four arms or knees that bend backwards, there has to be an evolutionary explanation. In short, their design must fit their environment or be explained by their environment. Otherwise, it’s just a neat anomaly that’s likely to bug the reader. I Know it bugs the heck out of me.

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