Coming Up With Writing Ideas

Images by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

I'm sitting here trying to come up with something to write about as it seems my creative well is running dry. I know it's not, but there are times when the ideas don't come on as easily as others. It kind of sucks. So, here's what I'm doing.

I've spent the past couple of hours running through social media sites, but because of the state of the world right now, that's not working. Too much negativity to make me feel creative. I've tried very hard to avoid writing about all the stuff going on as there's enough crap out there--both true and not-so-true--to give everyone something to read. I want to write something completely different.

So, what's a braindead old broad to do? Just start writing. 

My next trick is to do a freewrite. I've done a couple of them on this site, as well as a few others. This whole piece is actually a freewrite, but as usual, I'm not following the rules. Freewriting, for me anyway, is just a way to get some stuff off my mind to allow other stuff to come through. My brain has been way too clogged up recently and I needed to make some room.

Another trick I use to come up with writing ideas is to do a word association piece. I don't do mine like most people, I just come up with 3 or 4 random words and find a way to use them all together. It's kind of weird, but I've written some of my best fictional pieces this way. Here, try it:

Pig, banister, frying pan, gas tank
Jackhammer, tower, blog post, flower pot

Pick either of those two sets of words and create something from them. Anything. Make it a poem, a story, an article...whatever. Just as long as you use each word in your piece. You'll be amazed at the different directions your brain will go in doing so.

My favorite way to find ideas is by just letting my mind wander. I have an overactive imagination and can come up with some very odd scenarios. I can travel to the moon, ride a goat to France, or hang out with my celeb-flavor-of-the-moment. Now, jot down some of the stranger parts of your little mind trip. What did you see? What did you smell? What did you hear? Now, put it all together and see what you come up with. Have fun with it. After all, isn't that why we write???

Some days the ideas will flow like a river, others it's more like pulling teeth. I know I'm not alone in my quest to come up with writing ideas. I hope as I come up with new ways, I'll be able to pass them along. 

If you have any other ideas, please feel free to share them. I'd love to hear about them and maybe give them a try as well.

Until next time,

Happy writing

I Accidentally Became a Writer for a Medium Publication

Image by Republica from Pixabay

I think it's time I did a freewrite. I'm feeling a little clogged up and I need to free up some space. Much the way I did with my phone earlier. Way too many pictures and not enough storage space left over. Yep, that's what my mind feels likes right now.

So I think I may have accidentally got myself added as a writer at another publication on Medium. I'm thrilled about it, but I'm a little nervous about it at the same time. The publication is called Publishing Well and it's about the writing industry, tips on writing, ideas on writing, and so forth.

The editor has also decided to add sections for poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. I still have an issue with posting my poetry for others to read, but everyone I've met on Medium has been way more than kind. Hopefully, the editor at this pub will be as well.

I wasn't really expecting to be added as a writer. I messaged him through social media and asked him what his thoughts were on writing prompts. Those I know how to do. He messaged me back, said he'd looked through my profile portfolio, and liked what he'd seen that I've published in other publications. Holy crap, my writing spoke for itself. That's a happy dance moment.

So, I've been added as a writer. I'm thrilled and have already written and submitted my first piece for Publishing Well. There's no guarantee that it will be accepted, but I've got to at least try. I do have a real shot as it's a relatively new publication and in need of content. But, we'll see. I learned a long time ago not to count my chickens before they hatch.

See, this is why I love doing these freewrites. As soon as I stop overthinking everything, the words actually form into structured sentences. It's an amazing feeling. Try it. It's great.

Thanks for stopping by. You might be seeing more of these types of posts as they help me to focus. And who knows, they might help you as well. Maybe something I've had happen to me will spark something in you to write about. If so, let me know. I'd love to read about it.

© Christine Graves 2020

Using Pinterest For Writing Inspiration

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

I'm a huge fan of using Pinterest for writing inspiration. There are hundreds of ways a person can use Pinterest to their advantage. It doesn't matter if you're writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or just need something to get those creative juices flowing. If you know where to look, it's all there.

Writing Prompts

As someone who's written and used thousands of writing prompts, I was thrilled to find a ton of them on Pinterest. Simply type in “writing prompts” in the search bar and you'll be amazed at the sheer number of pages that pop up. I've found prompts for fiction, non-fiction, dialogue, and much more. I came up with ideas I'd never have thought of before.

Quotes

I love quotes. Some of the best ideas for writers come from someone else's words. Quotes come in all fashions, such as “love” quotes, “fight the good fight” quotes, and even “Yes, you can” quotes. There are tons of quotes from famous celebrities and other writers. Quotes from millionaires and wanna-be's. All you have to do is search.

How-To's

There are thousands of links to articles on how to do just about any part of writing you can imagine. You can find articles on everything from creating a better blog to creating life-like characters. There are posts on How to Write For Amazon and How To Write Short Stories. The hardest part is in deciding which ones to read first.

Images

Being that Pinterest is a highly visual platform, you can always use it to pick out details for your work. Say you're a fantasy writer and need some details for a character. Simply type “fantasy Art” in the search bar and you'll be taken to an endless supply of characters to look at. What features strike you right away? Which ones would never work with your character? Let your imagination run wild.

Realistic Details

If you're writing about an actual place, it's nice to be able to look at it, even if you've never been there. With Pinterest, you just need to know what you want to talk about and you'll find tons of pictures and information about your destination. Want to talk about the Eiffel Tower? Type it in and see it for yourself.

There are a million different ways in which you can use Pinterest for writing inspiration. If you need some help, check out my PinterestWriting Board. I've got hundreds of places where you can start. Where you end up depends on where you want to go. 

© Christine Graves 2020