Twisted History: Playing the “What If” Game

TwistMost story plots are based on previously written fiction or our own history. Writers love to reach out and give the past a little twist, playing the “what if” game in the hopes of creating ideas unique enough to propel their story onto the best seller lists. You see “what if” all the time in Science Fiction where the ordinary and known world is flipped upside down. The lure of Science Fiction is the possibility that what you’re reading might actually materialize in the future. We readers are fascinated and disturbed at the… Continue reading

Bored to Creativity

It’s the holidays and the end of the year.  For me, it’s the busiest time for my other work so I often feel stressed, tired and ready for the new year.  As I have in most years, I tend to think about what is working and not working – and what I need to change.  This year, I realized that my time for creative writing time was less since it has been so busy.  So I wondered if it was time constraints or that my creativity wasn’t as strong right now.  Where were my impulses that normally drive the writing?  Was… Continue reading

The Muse and Writer’s Block

We’ve all experienced the dreaded writer’s block. That time when no words flow. We know the words are still there. It’s just our access is blocked for some reason. And we all have our tricks to keep that from happening. I sure do.

girl writingSome old favorites:

  • Don’t finish a chapter or a scene so you have a place to start.
  • Re-write the last paragraph as a starting point.
  • Don’t write all you know about the story so have something to begin with.

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