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One of the best-known writing tips is to “write what you know”. It sounds trite, but the best source of inspiration is your own experience.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you should write a memoir, but rather take interesting incidents or unique encounters you’ve had and build on them to create a plot.
The drawback of this is that you may get caught up mourning all the stories you don’t have the knowledge to write. But if you make a list of the places you’ve been and the uncommon skills you’ve developed, you may be surprised at all the things you’re uniquely qualified to write about.
Using your imagination and doing research are two very important factors in fiction writing, but by starting with what you know, you’ll have an endless source of inspiration for plausible characters and situations.
The world around you
The next time you’re in a restaurant or walking down to the bakery on the corner, open your eyes and ears and pay attention. There are stories all around you – you just have to look for them!
Keep a notebook with you at all times so that you can jot down any snippets of intriguing conversation you hear, or descriptions of people who catch your attention. A whispered exchange may just give you your next plot.
An outlandish outfit could be a great starting point for an interesting character and a dilapidated old house or a three-legged dog just might get your imagination working.
Newspapers and magazines
The old saying that “truth is stranger than fiction” has been proved over and over again in the news. Some of the news we hear is thrilling or disturbing, but there is always a bigger story than we will ever be told – so make it up!
What was going through the minds of the people involved? What was the real cause behind the story that the media can only speculate about?
Every so often, the best part of a newspaper is not the front-page news, but the tiny “filler” articles about everyday people in faraway places doing crazy things with amusing consequences.
Sometimes even an ambiguous headline is enough to get a plot brewing in your mind. As you drive past newspaper placards in the morning, keep an eye open for intriguing headlines.
Get inspiration from the inspired
Art in other mediums can be a great place to look for a brainwave. Visit an art gallery or page through a coffee table book with beautiful photos. Try some new music you wouldn’t normally listen to.
Sometimes, other writing may also do the trick. Take an old fairytale or legend, or even a classic novel or Shakespearean play, and rewrite it from the perspective of one of the minor characters – or the villain.
Take one of your favourite poems and try to write the story or themes in prose. Be careful about using a recent writings, however, as you may run the risk of infringing copyright! Make the story your own.
Keep an idea file to store any photos, articles, comic strips or song lyrics that get you thinking. Then, whenever you’re struggling to get your imagination into gear, revisit these for a boost.
The unknown
Writers often wait for inspiration to come to them. However, as Jack London said, “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
The next time you’re staring at the blank page, get up and walk away. Taking a break not only gives your brain a chance to rest, but it also gives you the opportunity to broaden your experience base. Try doing something you’ve never done before, something that takes you out of your comfort zone, perhaps even something that frightens you.
It could be as simple as taking a cookery class or striking up a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket. Or it could be backpacking around a foreign country on your own, or taking skydiving lessons. New experiences will not only introduce you to new people who might inspire a character, but also evoke emotions in you that may take your writing in a new direction.
Benjamin Franklin said, “Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.” If you’re struggling to write, go out and do for a while. It might make all the difference.
The Random House Struik Creative Writing short course starts on 8 August 2011. Contact Amy-Jane on 021 447 7565 or amyjane@getsmarter.co.za, or visit www.getsmarter.co.za for more information.
One of the best-known writing tips is to “write what you know”. It sounds trite, but the best source of inspiration is your own experience.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you should write a memoir, but rather take interesting incidents or unique encounters you’ve had and build on them to create a plot.
The drawback of this is that you may get caught up mourning all the stories you don’t have the knowledge to write. But if you make a list of the places you’ve been and the uncommon skills you’ve developed, you may be surprised at all the things you’re uniquely qualified to write about.
Using your imagination and doing research are two very important factors in fiction writing, but by starting with what you know, you’ll have an endless source of inspiration for plausible characters and situations.
The world around you
The next time you’re in a restaurant or walking down to the bakery on the corner, open your eyes and ears and pay attention. There are stories all around you – you just have to look for them!
Keep a notebook with you at all times so that you can jot down any snippets of intriguing conversation you hear, or descriptions of people who catch your attention. A whispered exchange may just give you your next plot.
An outlandish outfit could be a great starting point for an interesting character and a dilapidated old house or a three-legged dog just might get your imagination working.
Newspapers and magazines
The old saying that “truth is stranger than fiction” has been proved over and over again in the news. Some of the news we hear is thrilling or disturbing, but there is always a bigger story than we will ever be told – so make it up!
What was going through the minds of the people involved? What was the real cause behind the story that the media can only speculate about?
Every so often, the best part of a newspaper is not the front-page news, but the tiny “filler” articles about everyday people in faraway places doing crazy things with amusing consequences.
Sometimes even an ambiguous headline is enough to get a plot brewing in your mind. As you drive past newspaper placards in the morning, keep an eye open for intriguing headlines.
Get inspiration from the inspired
Art in other mediums can be a great place to look for a brainwave. Visit an art gallery or page through a coffee table book with beautiful photos. Try some new music you wouldn’t normally listen to.
Sometimes, other writing may also do the trick. Take an old fairytale or legend, or even a classic novel or Shakespearean play, and rewrite it from the perspective of one of the minor characters – or the villain.
Take one of your favourite poems and try to write the story or themes in prose. Be careful about using a recent writings, however, as you may run the risk of infringing copyright! Make the story your own.
Keep an idea file to store any photos, articles, comic strips or song lyrics that get you thinking. Then, whenever you’re struggling to get your imagination into gear, revisit these for a boost.
The unknown
Writers often wait for inspiration to come to them. However, as Jack London said, “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
The next time you’re staring at the blank page, get up and walk away. Taking a break not only gives your brain a chance to rest, but it also gives you the opportunity to broaden your experience base. Try doing something you’ve never done before, something that takes you out of your comfort zone, perhaps even something that frightens you.
It could be as simple as taking a cookery class or striking up a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket. Or it could be backpacking around a foreign country on your own, or taking skydiving lessons. New experiences will not only introduce you to new people who might inspire a character, but also evoke emotions in you that may take your writing in a new direction.
Benjamin Franklin said, “Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.” If you’re struggling to write, go out and do for a while. It might make all the difference.
The Random House Struik Creative Writing short course starts on 8 August 2011. Contact Amy-Jane on 021 447 7565 or amyjane@getsmarter.co.za, or visit www.getsmarter.co.za for more information.
