I've written several articles about generating ideas for your
writing.
Sorry, I'm not finished yet. Because,
YOU are your most natural subject matter for your fiction, your nonfiction too,
and not only memoir writing.
Get Out Your Writer's Journal.
You say you don't have
a Writer's Journal? Then, the first step of today's exercise, and this article is
almost all exercise, is to get a Writer's Journal. One that's special for you personally.
I once favored black-and-white mottled-cover quad-ruled notebooks. Next, I turned
fancy with leather-bound Paperblanks brand. Now, its faux-whatever from the 99-Cent
store. All are special to me. Find the journal version that "speaks" to
you. Listen. You will hear its song for sure. Bring it home where it belongs.
Answer the Following Questions in your Writer's Journal.
Longhand is important.
The words flowing from your head and heart together, down your arm, through your
fingertips to the pen and the page. Write your answers in detail. The more candid
and complete you are, the more resource material you will create for writing ideas.
Tell your truth.
Be liberal, not conservative, about what you include.
Tell all of it. Everything.
And, leave room for more, further additions later, then others also. This is a LIFELONG
exercise. There is no such thing as an insignificant experience. Secrets and holding
back are inappropriate. Dramatize (write out) specific anecdotes wherever possible.
Play at it. Have writerly fun.
Here we go.
The Questions:
1.
What is
your ethnic background, especially your cultural experience of that ethnicity, its
language, customs, foods, rituals, challenges?
2.
What places
have you lived long enough to know the feel of them? (Describe that feeling.)
3.
What have
been your occupations, past and present, and what happened there?
4.
What are
your special abilities, your areas of expertise, your particular knowledge?
5.
If you had
to describe your physical appearance, what would you mention first and why?
6.
How would
you describe your temperament? (Tell Everything. Warts and all.)
7.
Which relationships
in your life have involved conflict, in your family, your romantic life, your friendships,
your work life? (Conflict is story dynamite. Blast big time.)
8.
Who have
you loved intensely in your life? (This is gold mine territory. Dig deep.)
9.
Who have
you disliked intensely in your life? (More gold mine material. Excavate deeper.)
10. What have been your most powerful – as in intense,
significant, formative – non-sexual experiences (during childhood, adolescence,
maturity)?
11. What have been your most powerful sexual experiences?
(This is private. Lust is a Must.)
12. What have been your personal triumphs, past and
present? (No modesty. Brag Brag Brag)
13. What have been your biggest frustrations and
disappointments, past and present?
14. What are your complexes, inhibitions and superstitions,
past and present?
15. What do you long for?
16. What do you pray will never happen to you?
17. What sort of person do you feel the most sympathy
for and why?
18. What sort of person do you feel the least sympathy
for and why?
19. What crime have you most seriously considered
committing?
20. What act of courage or heroism would you be most
likely to perform and why?
21. What do you like most about yourself?
22. What do you dislike most about yourself?
23. In what specific experience of your life did
you feel most angry?
24. In what specific experience did you feel most
terrified?
25. In what specific experience did you feel most
humiliated?
26. In what specific experience did you feel most
heartbroken?
27. In what specific experience did you feel most
ecstatic?
28. Feel free to add
further questions with emotional idea potential for you in your life.
Your Writer's Journal is a Sacred Space.
These are Sacred Truths.
Feel free to cry and laugh, to hurt and celebrate. In fact, you should. Meanwhile,
you have compiled a pile of Your Most Precious Life Stuff, a treasure mountain of
story ideas and details. Don't forget the details. God and the devil are there together,
waiting to do battle while you write it all down.
Your Personal Everything is Right Here.
All that's happened
or been said. Each and every fantasy. Plus, a running commentary of thoughts and
insights about YOU and your experiences. A sacred space to reverence. Visit often.
Find your personal storyteller's nirvana here in your own words You will be amazed
at what you uncover/discover/recover. I guarantee it.
For more insights
into writing and publishing – Visit my blog at www.aliceorrbooks.com.
About Alice Orr
Alice Orr is author of 16 novels, 3 novellas, a memoir and No
More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells. Hero in the Mirror:
How to Write Your Best Story of You is in progress. A former book editor and literary
agent, Alice now writes full-time. Her latest novel is A Time of Fear and Loving
– Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series Book 5. Find all of Alice Orr's books on
Amazon. Alice has two
grown children and two perfect grandchildren and lives with her beloved husband
Jonathan in New York City.
Author Website www.aliceorrbooks.com
Author Blog www.aliceorrbooks.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aliceorrwriter
Twitter https://twitter.com/aliceorrbooks
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Orr/e/B000APC22E
