Writer’s Block

Writers block is the common complaint of many writers, but this need not be a problem.  There are many tactics you can use to stimulate or generate ideas.

Getting Ideas

Write down titles of books, songs or films and see if these trigger ideas;

Write down three things that have annoyed you or made you happy, or three random objects and try to construct a plot or short story from them;

Make notes about possible characters (character studies) even if you haven’t yet got a story to put them into;

Make lists of names you could use.  One might suggest a story.  It could also help prevent you from repeating names in stories;

Write descriptions of places, scenery, journeys, events, food and restaurants for future use;

Observe people around you, memorise how they look and write it down as a basis for your own characters;

Eavesdrop on conversations, listening to how people phrase things;

Listen for odd remarks which could give ideas for a plot or the title of a story;

Use your own personal experience or that of others.

Use your reading to suggest ideas

Look at myths and fairy stories and relate them to modern life;

Turn situations upside down;

Look for ideas, people, history, geography, or famous titles;

Use a quotation you read and found interesting;

Newspaper stories and advertisements can provide a starting point;

An unusual murder can prompt a novel or a play, an article on crime prevention, a series on other strange murders, and so on;

Look for ideas in agony columns and letters to the editors;

Write a precis of your favourite story and use it as an opening chapter;

Guide books, travel guides and anthologies can spark off ideas for both fiction and non-fiction.

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