David Rogerson's Blog: Cell Blog H - Posts Tagged "plot"
Idea Alchemy: Turning Everyday Moments Into Fiction Gold
Ideas are an amazing thing.
Please have them.
As often as possible.
Unfortunately, the figurative light bulb doesn’t always just appear at will.
Controversial opinion incoming...
I believe what we call ‘writer’s block’ doesn't really exist, rather, its just a signal that our imagination wants a different direction.
An imagination is a terribly important thing to have. Unfortunately, it is quite a difficult beast to tame.
Here are some ways I have used to encourage my imagination to ‘work with me’.
1. Subliminal Trickery
When I wind down and prepare for sleep, I will sometimes think about my story and what it is I am hoping to achieve next.
I find that on occasion, these thoughts, right before sleep, can intrude into my dreams.
More than once, I have woken with a new path cleared before me (or even just a quote or a mental image of a scene I’d like to recreate with words).
I’m not going to suggest you keep a pad and pencil at your beside to make notes the minute inspiration strikes.
Just prise one eye open, reach for the notes app on your phone and type... place the phone down and get back to sleep.
Amongst the typos and gibberish, you’ll still get the gist of what you meant when you wake up properly in the morning.
2. Relaxation Results
I work full time and write when I get home.
It’s a LOT.
Something I do each week is pop down for a 30 minute shoulder massage (anyone who writes for a living can attest to how quickly your shoulders can become rocks).
I use the time to think about my story and what's to come next.
I don’t put undue pressure on myself - but, I have found that the scenes or ideas that have come to me while my stress is being kneaded from my shoulders have always made me smile when I reread them later in my printed work.
I’m instantly brought back to the day I birthed them. Relaxed. Tranquil.
Ironically, one such scene was a pair of characters visiting the spa on a cruise ship and getting their own massages. META.
3. Observe and Deliver
Observe people. Listen to everyone. Look around. Sniff the air.
Everything you experience in your everyday life will serve you.
You mightn’t see the connection now, but one day you’ll see or sense something and the coupled memory from weeks before will have found its partner in crime.
Stephen King spoke about this in his book, ‘On Writing’. He discussed how a couple of very distinct events, which would have seemed innocuous in isolation, led to one of his most popular works.
Firstly. King had read an article about telekinesis.
Secondly, King had a memory of two girls from school (one shy and bullied, and the other hailing from a very religious household).
And finally, King had a job cleaning schools, which included his cleaning the girls’ locker room - a space he would never have been familiar with had it not been for that part-time job.
Three random everyday moments which led to his novel CARRIE.
I know what you’re thinking - “What if my life isn’t interesting enough? Hardly anyone gets doused with a vat of pig’s blood at any of the parties I attend.”
That’s where your imagination takes over. You - the writer - turn these everyday moments into fiction gold.
Please have them.
As often as possible.
Unfortunately, the figurative light bulb doesn’t always just appear at will.
Controversial opinion incoming...
I believe what we call ‘writer’s block’ doesn't really exist, rather, its just a signal that our imagination wants a different direction.
An imagination is a terribly important thing to have. Unfortunately, it is quite a difficult beast to tame.
Here are some ways I have used to encourage my imagination to ‘work with me’.
1. Subliminal Trickery
When I wind down and prepare for sleep, I will sometimes think about my story and what it is I am hoping to achieve next.
I find that on occasion, these thoughts, right before sleep, can intrude into my dreams.
More than once, I have woken with a new path cleared before me (or even just a quote or a mental image of a scene I’d like to recreate with words).
I’m not going to suggest you keep a pad and pencil at your beside to make notes the minute inspiration strikes.
Just prise one eye open, reach for the notes app on your phone and type... place the phone down and get back to sleep.
Amongst the typos and gibberish, you’ll still get the gist of what you meant when you wake up properly in the morning.
2. Relaxation Results
I work full time and write when I get home.
It’s a LOT.
Something I do each week is pop down for a 30 minute shoulder massage (anyone who writes for a living can attest to how quickly your shoulders can become rocks).
I use the time to think about my story and what's to come next.
I don’t put undue pressure on myself - but, I have found that the scenes or ideas that have come to me while my stress is being kneaded from my shoulders have always made me smile when I reread them later in my printed work.
I’m instantly brought back to the day I birthed them. Relaxed. Tranquil.
Ironically, one such scene was a pair of characters visiting the spa on a cruise ship and getting their own massages. META.
3. Observe and Deliver
Observe people. Listen to everyone. Look around. Sniff the air.
Everything you experience in your everyday life will serve you.
You mightn’t see the connection now, but one day you’ll see or sense something and the coupled memory from weeks before will have found its partner in crime.
Stephen King spoke about this in his book, ‘On Writing’. He discussed how a couple of very distinct events, which would have seemed innocuous in isolation, led to one of his most popular works.
Firstly. King had read an article about telekinesis.
Secondly, King had a memory of two girls from school (one shy and bullied, and the other hailing from a very religious household).
And finally, King had a job cleaning schools, which included his cleaning the girls’ locker room - a space he would never have been familiar with had it not been for that part-time job.
Three random everyday moments which led to his novel CARRIE.
I know what you’re thinking - “What if my life isn’t interesting enough? Hardly anyone gets doused with a vat of pig’s blood at any of the parties I attend.”
That’s where your imagination takes over. You - the writer - turn these everyday moments into fiction gold.
