Stuck in a Writing Rut? Bring Out the Prompts!

Categorized | Bobby Ozuna, self-publishing, writing

Tags | do it yourself publishing, publishing tips, self-publishing, writing tips

Stuck in a Writing Rut? Bring Out the Prompts!

Posted on 01 May 2008 by Bobby Ozuna

Okay, so you finished your literary project—your book is now complete and you find yourself fidgeting, pacing and (maybe like me) spending more time hovered over a blank page biting your nails than you do writing new material. I know, I know, as if completing the book wasn’t hard enough—you still need to write to stay sharp, avoid laziness and keep the creative juices flowing. The only problem is—you don’t know where to begin. Try using writing “prompts” to get the creative juices flowing again!

You know you’re not ready to tackle the literary giant right now because you are too busy gloating in your well deserved accomplishments; but you also know as a professional it is imperative to “stay sharp” and find a means to write on a daily basis. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone down to my local drug store, purchased (my favorite) $2 dollar composition books just to spend minute upon minute staring at a blank page.

Like you, I’m stuck in a rut and uncertain how in the world to get out of it. One thing I like to do—for practice especially—is find an object that otherwise might be of little significance to the casual observer and test my ability to create life by answering a few generalized questions.

For example, let’s take the image below. I found it by doing a random search for “old toys” on Google. Looking at it, it means absolutely nothing to me. It was obviously made before my time and I can’t say I have ever seen one. There is no association to my past and therefore no emotional attachment to the image. But as an artist, it is imperative that we look beyond the obvious and delve deep into the realms of our imagination and somehow create life on the canvas of our writing tablet.

When using prompts—which by the way can be anything from an image you stumble upon while surfing the web, an object found along the side of the road, something you see while looking outside your windows from work—it is important to try and apply several concepts to the writing drill. If you do this, you may be surprised to see what you come up with—a short-story, your next novel idea—or even better, a habit of writing!

Create a History
Ask yourself six questions about the object or prompt in use to help create a history. By doing this, you add depth to a potential character, setting or storyline. This is where you learn how to captivate your audience’s attention by giving them the notion [that] your fictional work flows as truly as a non-fiction piece. This is where you ask: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How.

In reference to our image prompt above, ask yourself when you begin to write: Who owned this toy? Who did it belong to? What was it doing (let’s say) in the attic, or a garage sale or the trash? When did it get there? Where did it come from? Why was it tossed out or put away for safe keeping? By asking yourself these types of questions you can begin to create a backdrop and history to your prompt and thereby begin doing what we do best—telling a good story.

Captivate the Senses or Emotions
When you write, try to focus on emotions that are common to most everyday people. What I mean is, if you wrote about love, many people might be able to relate, and just as many might understand the pains associated with losing a loved one—maybe in a break-up or divorce. If I described the taste of a lemon, I wouldn’t have to over-exaggerate on how sour it is—many of us think of the sour cringe in our jaw when we see a lemon, much less read about one. By concentrating on the emotions of everyday life, you thereby allow a broader range of readers to relate to your characters—regardless of whether they are of the same generation, age or even universe!

In reference to the image prompt above, you could say something like this:He (whoever he is) must have owned the toy when he was younger. The neighbors say they would hear him outside on Saturday mornings, mimicking the sounds of a fire truck, wearing the fireman’s hat his father gave him.

In this example above, I briefly hit on a few senses or emotions that might relate to any type of audience. Many of us may have been given something as a child—by either a mother or father—like the boy and his fireman’s hat. Also, many readers might recall their youth, when it was okay to run outside early on Saturday mornings and play, without fear of being bothered. By focusing on emotions or senses that are common to most people, you allow for a broader range of people to relate with your characters or story—maybe just long enough to turn the page…and the next page…and the next page…

Tell a Good Story
There isn’t much I can say about this—that you shouldn’t already know yourself. No matter how creative you are with your literary imagery and no matter how much you identify with your audience, ultimately they are going to wish to partake on a journey. You are eventually—whether you like it or not—going to have to tell a good story. But this shouldn’t worry you one bit! This is where you get to shine. This is where you get to stir your most creative juices up and out for the whole world to view and read and enjoy!

Some of the most powerful stories ever told were some of the most simplistic ideas—those that have been written and re-written time and time again—BUT in a different way each time. We all know the story of the underdog who obtains help from a powerful and mystical mentor, who later helps the underdog grow in their confidence and abilities, only to ultimately defeat their foe, overcome their fears and win the girl, right? Of course you do. If you’ve seen Rocky II, Star Wars, or even the Karate Kid, you have witnessed this classic storyline, told in a different way each time—told in a creative manner by the master storytellers themselves. People like you and me who took the time to tear down the walls of prejudice and bias, fear and doubt and the uncertainty of you (or I) can accomplish.

So get out there (or stay home and surf the web) and find anything to write about and create a history for it, by telling the audience where or who or what it is….associate our past with it, by captivating our senses or triggering our emotions and lastly, tell us a tale that will not soon be forgotten…

…after all…we are the heralds of our time, are we not?

Best of luck to you…and remember…I believe…because you believe.

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