But if we must have a deck of stories shuffling in our brain to be a writer, where does that leave those who love to write but struggle finding stories, essay topics, or memoirs? Are we wannabees? No. We are writers, too. Say it. I am a writer.
Our problem is not lack of imagination. It's lack of exercising our imagination. Just like a body needs exercise, the brain needs exercise, the imagination needs exercise. These exercises can range from simple to complex. They can be difficult to the point of painful. But push through the pain and keep at it. Start out slow if you have to, just stay with it.
The tendency will be to quit. Avoid telling yourself it's a stupid exercise or it doesn't work. Sendentary couch potatoes use the same type of self talk when it comes to physical exercise. After a day or two, they're ready to throw in the (dry) towel. Yet, if you talk to someone who pushed through and succeeded, you'll hear the positive aspects. It does work, if you hang in there.
Below are a five exercises ranging in levels of intensity. Try one. Try them all. Repeat them often. One rule: The excercises must be performed with a pad and pen or tapping a keyboard. In other words, write out the exercises. Here you go.
- take one unpleasant memory and change the outcome to a happy one
- take one pleasant memory and change the outcome to a tragic one
- read the newspaper, choose a human interest story, and create a new fictional story. Start by asking what if this happened? Introduce a villian to your story. If the real story is a tragedy, create a comedy or a romance. Set your story in the future and add science fiction. Or set your story in the past. How would the story change without modern conveniences?
- choose a person you may like only a little. Now create a character that you love. Write a scene where this lovable character does something despicable, something the person you like only a little would do. Reverse this exercise: choose a person you love. Create a character you don't like. Write a scene where this unloved person does something angelic, something the person you love would do.
- make a list of accomplishments in your life: graduated college, graduated kindergarten, visited The Vatican, visited the Grand Canyon, went deep sea fishing, went bass fishing. Consider things you've done that a person your age living in a third world country may never get to experience. You'll discover even the smallest accomplishments are noteworthy. Choose an accomplishment from the list and write about it. While showing what happened, write about how you felt at the time, what you learned, and why you haven't forgotten the event. This exercise requires quiet time to recall.
Writing inspiration is everywhere -- in people we meet, places we go, things we do. As writer's we just need to exercise our imagination. Carry that pad and paper or better a recording device. Jot down or record what you see or hear. Ask those what if questions. Dig deep. Go to the place inside where you live all by yourself and write.
Say this. I am a writer. I will exercise my imagination. I will seek to take my writing where no one has gone before. Any questions?
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