You Don't Need Inspiration!, by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

You Don't Need Inspiration!
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta (mailto:shery@writesparks.com)

Or do you?

Writers write. You shouldn't wait around for inspiration to come. But
sometimes, there are days you can't get anything written down. Or you're
at a loss for words. You can't think of anything to write. You don't
have any idea what to write about.

And then you end up believing you're having writer's block.

You end up believing it too much, you stop writing altogether. You
might even think of yourself as not a real writer.

And all because of what? You think your muse deserted you? You think
you have writer's block?

Think again! You sure as heck don't need inspiration to write!

What you do need are prompts to help get your writer's mind working and
your hands writing or typing.

These prompts are your beginnings; the glimmer; the little sparks that
you can shape and fashion into stories, articles, essays and features.

You don't need inspiration. All you need is an idea; a spark.

And here are a dozen sparks you can try out for yourself:

1. The first typewriter was patented on July 23, 1829.
  Interview some of the writers in your group and find out
  how they write. You can develop this into a light-hearted
  article for/about writers.

2. Many fictional characters are not fictional at all. Write
  about one real person who has been fictionalized.

3. Electricity is a recent discovery. Think of 10 things to
  do when there's no power.

4. Pirates no longer just refer to the highwaymen of the
  seas. There are different breeds of pirates today. Write
  about today's pirates and what they're pirating.

5. Many words in the English language come from the names of
  people -- such as mesmerize (from Mesmer, a hypnotist).
  Find out more words from people's names and write the
  story behind the words. (Or invent stories for names
  that became words.)

6. The US Declaration of Independence begins with this line:
  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
  are created equal..." Write your own Declaration of
  Independence by using the same line as your starting point.

7. How do you start a fan club? Write a how-to on organizing
  a fan club for a favorite author, singer, actor or sports
  figure.

8. How do planets die?

9. Expound or dispute this: "Where science ends, religion
  begins."

10. Take a look at your bookshelf. Pick one book and write a
   review of it.

11. How is privacy invaded on the Internet?

12. Write an article on how to choose a pet. Target your
   piece for kids aged 7-10.



Copyright 2003-2004 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta


[ And just in case you have a web site or publish an e-zine, feel free
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below. And please publish my article as is, without any alteration. ]

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Shery is the creator of WriteSparks! - a software that
generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers.
Download WriteSparks! Lite for fr*e - http://writesparks.com