Writing Prompt

Ever since you guys wrote that incredibly awesome and way too short start of a story I’ve wanted to do another writing prompt. I’m not sure why I waited so long, but prepare yourselves for the ultimate fun. (Behind eating an entire box of chocolate, skydiving, and riding upside-down roller coasters, of course.) (But that’s still pretty fun, if you ask me.)

So, your prompt: So, your prompt: What’s this girl’s story?

Use the comments to build on one another’s story. So the first person will leave a sentence or two and the next person will add to the first person’s story—and so on and so forth until we’ve proven just what wonderful storytellers we all are.

I’ll go first: My father forced me to run away, leave the beach, and never look back.

Creepy Children and a Writing Prompt

So the other day I came across these creepy photos and thought, “These belong in a novel somewhere.” Then I started thinking of a million stories that could include these eerie children. And THEN I thought that you guys might appreciate the mind-flexing opportunity to brainstorm some stories.

Here it goes, your writing prompt: Who are these children?

Use the comments to build on one another’s story. So the first person will leave a sentence or two and the next person will add to the first person’s story—and so on and so forth until we’ve proven just what wonderful brainstormers we all are.

I’ll go first: They know when you’re going to die.

There's a Brainstorm Brewing

I’m so glad you liked the query I crafted for the story you guys came up with. I had fun, so I might make the What If game and query a monthly feature. I’m wild and crazy like that.

I made a boatload of progress on the pages I’m revising rewriting, but I allowed myself some time to just sit and think about this new idea that’s been bugging me. I’m not sure how everyone else brainstorms (I have this feeling it’s intense and structured and I’m a giant dork for not knowing the trick just yet) but I thought I’d share what works for me.

For starters, I don’t need to have a strict outline when I start writing, but I at least like to know where I’m starting, the main conflict and characters, a few key scenes, and the end.

I’m really visual, and when I’m writing it’s as if the story’s playing out like a movie. Before I even start a new project, I find some music that captures the tone I want the story to have. Once I have a good playlist, I lie down with headphones in. And I watch the story unfold.

Sometimes I do this for a single scene I’m stuck on, but at the start of a project it’s all open and free. I’ll think about certain scenes and watch the characters interact and see where they go from there.

It’s easier for me to think about what might happen next or what obstacles I might throw at my characters when I’m watching this “movie” behind my eyes. Somehow, staring at a blank document, my brain stops buzzing with thoughts and ideas. 

Actually, I take that back. It’s still buzzing with thoughts, but none of them have anything to do with the story. Usually they’re like, “I could use another glass of water” or “I need to file my nails.”

How do you brainstorm a new story idea?

Where Ideas Come From

When I first decided I was 100 percent going to write a book and there’s nothing you can do to stop me so don’t even try, I struggled for an idea.

It seemed like that part should come easy. Every blog post I read was written by authors who have too many ideas to use in a lifetime.

I’m doomed, I thought.

I squinted real hard and attempted to squeeze one out of my brain. All I got was this lousy headache.

Then one day something sparked an idea. It was an awful idea, but I didn’t know that at the time. I turned it over in my mind and decided that, yes, it was definitely going to be the next Great American Novel.

A month later, I realized that idea was crap. It was such crap that I was probably a worse writer for even having the idea in the first place. And then one day another idea sprouted. And another.

It was as if I was blocked. The craptastic idea was somehow shoved in the wrong spot in my brain and as soon as I shimmied it out dozens of ideas fell out like water from a faucet.

Are they all good? No. I will never write about most.

Are some good? Yes. (At least I think so. There’s an above average chance I’m deluding myself.*)

Which brings me to the point of this post. I’ve been going about my business, revising my WIP like a good little author…

When BAM!! a new idea hit. And it was all like, I’m shiny and fun and possibly the greatest idea you’ll ever have. Write me.

And I was all, Psh. Wait your turn.

Can you work on two (or more) stories simultaneously?

*After looking at the word deluding so many times it doesn’t even seem like a word. I mean, say it five times and tell me it sounds like an actual word.