Establish Regular Writing Time

Tip created and edited by James Gapinski

Writer’s block happens to everybody at some point, but you can help avoid unnecessary bouts of frustration and unproductiveness by establishing a proactive writing routine.

Dedicate certain times during the day to writing. Eventually you’ll get in tune with the schedule, and when the writing hour dawns, your mind will instinctively slip into author-mode.

Write the Story Backwards

Tip edited by James Gapinski

The Tip:

If you have a great story idea, but don't know how to start it, start at the ending.  Write the ending first and work your way backwards.  You'll have a great story in no time.

A Note from the Guru:

This tip is backed up by many current compositional theories, as essayists often write the body and then work on the introduction later, understanding that it is easier to introduce a topic after the details have already been solidified in writing.  I often emphasized this strategy when tutoring young writers at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Choosing a Conference

 Tip edited by James Gapinski

Choosing a conference is kind of like deciding where to go to college.  Different ones are good for different reasons.  There are big ones, like Breadloaf and Sewanee—if you go to these you'll definitely mix with some well-known writers, but you might find yourself swept up in some serious rump-smooching sessions.  You can get a lot out of these big ones—like an agent, or a critique from a writer you respect.  But if you shop around, you can find smaller, less pricey weekends with good writers running the workshops—without much hype.  These conventions can be equally worthwhile, since you're there to become a better writer and make meaningful contacts—not to rub elbows.

Other Resources:

Writers' Confernences & Centers: WC&C Home Page.

Stories from life experience

Tip edited by James Gapinski

The Tip:

Fiction doesn´t have to mean you make everything up. You can pull stories from your own life experience or borrow them from other people. Don´t be afraid to write your own life story.

A Note from the Guru:

The former Life Tips Guru that posted this tip suggested "Just be sure you have had sufficient time to gain perspective on your own trials and tribulations.  Only in hindsight do we see the whole picture."  While this is partially true, I'd also suggest that you can gain perspective through the writing process itself.  Creative writing can be a mechanism for working through complex emotions and issues in your life, fleshing out your true thoughts on paper.

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Conference Links

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Click the following link for a detailed list of current conferences and residencies (from Poets & Writers).  http://www.pw.org/links_pages/Conferences_and_Residencies/

People watching

Tip edited by James Gapinski

If you´re looking for a fresh story element, try eavesdropping in the park or while riding the subway. Carry a notebook around with you.  Jot down the wacky things people say and do.  Describe an unusual looking person you see on the street, and try to imagine what his life might be like.  Our best story ideas sometimes come from strangers we never get to meet.

Can I work while working on my MFA?

Tip edited by James Gapinski

While pursuing an MFA degree in writing, make sure you have ordered your life so that you can give enough time to writing and preparing for your workshops.

You need a guaranteed time each day to write. You also need to be fresh when reading the work of classmates so you can contribute.  Generally, job-stressed people make poor writers & readers.

Still, most of us can't afford grad school without a job; do your best to find a balance, even if that means cutting back on the luxuries so you don't have to spend as much time working to support your lifestyle.

Other Resources:

The Atlantic article: "The Best of the Best: Ten Top Graduate Programs in Creative Writing," by Edward J. Delaney.

Characterization

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Take a few moments and answer the following questions about the protagonist in your story. This will help you generate ideas about where the story will go and how it will develop during revision. Keep in mind that there may and can be multiple answers for each.

• What does my character want?


• What does he or she fear?


• How does he or she deal with his emotions?


• What are his or her social and intimate relationships like?


• What are his or her past experiences, and how does he or she regard them?


• What does he or her view (or not view) as personal responsibilities?


• What elements of the spiritual does he or she exhibit, and how does he or she deal with them?


• What does he or she do for a living?


• What does he or she do for leisure?


• What failures does he or she secretly feel accountable for?


• What biases or prejudices motivate his or her behavior?


• Are there any "catch phrases" or verbal quips that are unique to him or her?


• Does he or she dream at night? If so, of what?


• Where does he or she go in daydreams?


• What strikes him or her as humorous/non-humorous?


• What does he or she take seriously or fail to take seriously?

Other Resources:

The University of Iowa Writing Center: "Writing Exercises for Creative Fiction Writers - Characertization."

Point of View

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Write a story that employs more than one point of view. The exercise focuses your attention on point of narration, so that you are conscious of things like physical observations, language, and personal biases unique to each individual character.

Other Resources:

Writer's Digest: "Fiction: Point of View," by Steve Almond.

Dialogue

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Write a story in which one character tries to "sell an idea" to another. Focus on the verbal exchange as one character attempts to persuade the other, and on heightening the tension throughout the scene. Begin in medias res, don´t worry about getting us in to the scene.

Other Resources:

Poe War Writer's Resource Center: "12 Exercises for Improving Dialogue," by J. C. Hewitt.

Writer's Write: "Screenwriting Writing Exercises - Dialogue," by Stephen J. Cannell.

Barnes & Noble: Write Great Fiction: Dialogue, by Gloria Kempton; 2004 (book).

Current info on conferences

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Visit Shaw Guides for current info on conferences worldwide.  Search by state to find the one most accessible (or enjoyable).

Freelance Writing Sources

 Occasionally freelance writing sites will post jobs for fiction writers. However, creative writers are luckily enough to find work in all sorts of areas, from marketing to blogging. Below are some links to a few popular freelance writing sites.

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com

http://www.odesk.com

http://www.freelancewriting.com

http://www.guru.com

http://www.craigslist.org

Write a Story in Pictures

 Instead of a writing a story, create one using pictures you've found on the internet or in old catalogs or magazines. Then, ask a friend to guess the plot of the story! This is a fun game to do with close friends, family, or loved ones.

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Writing Prompt: Given First Line

Tip edited by James Gapinski

Write a story beginning with this line: "I didn´t hear you come in last night."

Other Resources:

Short Story Ideas: "First Lines"