How to Use Everyday Objects as Writing Prompts
When writing block strikes, try using the everyday objects around you to free up ideas and have them flowing again.
Whether we write non-fiction, fiction, or poetry, we write to express something within us. There are days our outward pourings are prolific, our hands barely keeping up with our brains. Other days we sit down to write and nothing happens. Those ideas stay caged up within us. We fear we have writers block.
One way of releasing ideas is to take time to be aware of the things around us. Wherever you sit to write, look around you. Let your eyes and heart roam the room. There may be things that give you pleasure. Other objects mat give rise to feelings of sadness or anger. Possibly memories from the past will come flooding back.
Without too much hesitation, choose something, anything, within the room. Stick with your first choice and give it a chance. If you want to change your mind, jot the new idea down and return to it later. Write your chosen object at the top of your page, for example, tube of hand cream.
Look carefully at the object. Pick it up if you can, looking at it from several angles. Use all your senses to experience it. Now describe your object on the page as best you can.
Once you’ve described the object, start writing. Write for about twenty minutes. You’ll be surprised at what you write. There are no rights or wrongs. Whatever is in your heart will emerge. If you’ve allowed your thoughts and feelings to flow, your writing has a strong possibility of being a personal outpouring, capturing real feeling. Don’t try and edit. Just write. Let your true writing voice emerge.
Once the twenty minutes are up, stop. Choose to either re-read immediately, or put it away and let it sit awhile. Come back to it as soon as you’re ready. The chances are there will be material there you can use in your current piece of writing.
Take your object writing and work with it in any way you choose. Re-arrange the ideas, polish up the vocabulary, perhaps transfer the object to another place, another time.
By using objects as prompts, as a starting point for any stage of the writing journey you’re currently undertaking, you’ll find a way to turn the key and open your heart to the ideas stored within you. You’ll write with sincerity. Why not give it a try?
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February 17th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
You are right. This definitely works for me. It’s funny how thinking about things will lead to thinking about ideas; but it’s true.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Helpful tips. Thanks.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Great ideas.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
This is a very good exercise to get your writing back on track. Good idea.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
this is useful thanks val
February 17th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Good writing techniques Val!
February 17th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Good advice.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Good advice, I have a writing box with pictures in it, but it works in much the same way.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
cool
February 17th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Good stuff my man!
February 17th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Good post.
Thanks to share this one.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Thanks for the information…..
Lachu
February 17th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Thanks for the tips, Val.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:56 am
This is a very good article. Thanks!
February 18th, 2010 at 3:31 am
This is a good idea. I used to use it with the children at school for creative writing exercises. It worked well.
Christine
February 18th, 2010 at 7:47 am
A good tip with so much thought put into it.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Very nice…. I\’m sure I will use these suggestions sometime for myself as well as for my students.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Great share
February 20th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Inspiration is just around us and we just need to look around. Thanks for this
February 20th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Very good points, thanks for sharing this.
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:17 am
I used to stare blankly…