Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Sometimes when you come across a stump in your story making process, "taking a break" or ignoring the problem is exactly what you want to do.  Put your story away and let the piece boil for a while.  If you have been cramming ideas into your book, trying to make things work, this will work even better for you!  Within the first night you might have "possibilities" for your book.  But hold off for a couple more days or so and see the results!


     Even though you might think you found the perfect way to write it, try to leave it be.  Your mind will expand even further in the direction you want to go.  Pause.  Don't try to remember anything you think of, just let it come and go without pressure.  You'd be surprised at how well you remember what you thought of when you let your subconscious take control.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Like viewing the earth from outer space, seeing your book from above with all other books brings you back to reality.  (Maybe my book isn't as big as I thought it was....)  But seeing from a distance also misguides you at times.  Everyone should look at their career this way to see how they could improve.  Just don't let it scare you.


     Of the many benefits, one is that you can see how your book correlates with other books of the same genres.  You might notice that the climax in most westerns happen around the same points in time as your western does, for example.  Your books add up along with all the others.  Taking some time to see how is beneficial and interesting if you really take some time to think about it.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Describe yourself as a character.  On the days that you choose this writing exercise, try to change yourself slightly in stances, beliefs, flaws, and strong holds.  This helps to develop good character invention skills;  i.e. learning to walk in their shoes.  As you develop different characters in this way change up on some days, putting a particular "you" character into a situation and really try to ask yourself what you would do.  Be honest.  You can learn different takes on stances and what actually keeps people in line with what they know is right and wrong.  Anyone can slip or slack on certain issues but it is the amount of discipline and to the degree of discipline that they project onto themselves that makes them who they are.  And to a certain point, that can change every day.  Make your characters ALIVE.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Do you ever feel happy reading your mail or emails?  Do reminders in the mail help you stay on track?  Here's an idea:  there is someone who wants to see you finish your book and is emailing you constantly, everyday, to remind you and to give suggestions.


     Okay if the message isn't worth seeing you might end up with a crowed inbox, but say that it is worth it.  Sometimes ideas roll in and suggestions of ways to go in the story.  Who?  An agent.  No.  A publisher?  I wish.  A friend?  hmmm....you might call it that.  It's a character from your book!


     What?!  Ha, ha!  A character from your book is a very important individual to be speaking to you because they know how much your book has to offer.  There is no one else who has that special insight.  The author that spends valuable time to put together something that can be shared and provide a joyful experience for those who read the material, should be as eager as the character in their book to get this thing finished!

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Answering questions can be your worst nightmare.  In many situations around the world it is the fear that we might answer them wrongly or draw the wrong impression from our response.  The writer certainly has questions he/she must be able to answer about their work.  They have to know the answers to the questions because for most of these questions, the author has already asked it to himself (sometimes instinctively, without knowing).  The author has character questions to answer as well.  But when relating to your story line, have you asked the "tough questions"?


     Asking tough questions can bring forth story ideas and room for development.  For example, who do I save first?  Knowing that there is a possibility you will not be able to save everyone, put in an extreme situation, and think of what you would do if you and the people you know were the characters.  How horrible it would be for these characters in their dying moments to see you choose from them in order of importance.  We do this all the time when watching movies and reading books.  We relate to the characters in this way.  We try to feel what they are experiencing.