BLOCKED, STUMPED AND STUCK: 12 PROMPTS TO GET YOU WRITING!

Written by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta


Beginning writers often wonder how to start writing. It'srepparttar worry they get themselves into right away that mostly hinders them from getting anything written down.

Experienced writers often get stuck inrepparttar 129775 middle of their novels, stories or articles. They sometimes agonize and worry about what to write next and that's how they are delayed.

Beginning and experienced writers andrepparttar 129776 writers in between can sometimes fall intorepparttar 129777 trap of getting themselves "blocked."

So here are 12 writing prompts you,repparttar 129778 beginning writer orrepparttar 129779 experienced one, can use to start off your writing.

PROMPT # 1 "I write because..." Think of as many reasons as you can. Any reasons you know and feel you should and could write, and why you write. Then from your list, see if you can turn your reasons into an essay, a story or a poem.

PROMPT # 2 Sit still for five minutes. Close your eyes and listen. Don't think, just listen. What sounds do you hear? Is there music? Rustling leaves? Is your TV on? After five minutes, write down all repparttar 129780 sounds on a piece of paper. If you can't think ofrepparttar 129781 correct words forrepparttar 129782 sounds, write how they sounded (example: "bbbzzztttt" for something you heard). Now userepparttar 129783 sounds on your list to create "sound poetry."

PROMPT # 3: Use this prompt to start off your story: "Whenrepparttar 129784 dust settled, he saw..."

PROMPT # 4: Quotes are powerful writing starters. They evoke emotions, insights and inspirations for any writer. What's your favorite quote? It may be something a famous dead person said, or a line in a song, or a passage inrepparttar 129785 Bible. Writerepparttar 129786 quote on top of your page and write your interpretation of your favorite quote. You can inspire, motivate or even impart a lesson.

PROMPT # 5: When wasrepparttar 129787 last time you received a letter? Or a postcard? Who sent it? What did it say? Did you reply torepparttar 129788 letter? Write yourself a letter. Pretend that you are somebody else. Put yourself in your neighbor's shoes, or your old friend's shoes. If you were them, what would you want to tell yourself, or want to know about yourself?

PROMPT # 6: When you ride a bus or a car in one of your trips, what do you do? Do you sleep duringrepparttar 129789 trip? Do you stare out repparttar 129790 window and watch unseeinglyrepparttar 129791 view? Or do you take it all in --repparttar 129792 greenery,repparttar 129793 buildings,repparttar 129794 people,repparttar 129795 colors,repparttar 129796 hues,repparttar 129797 clouds? Recallrepparttar 129798 most recent trip you've had. Where did you come from and where were you going? Why were you going there? How long wasrepparttar 129799 trip? What did you see onrepparttar 129800 way? This short exercise will help you with your power of recalling details. The more you recall,repparttar 129801 more detailed your writing will be. Do this exercise on a regular basis and you will be able to write with good use of details.

WRITE THAT FIRST DRAFT FIRST...THEN GET PUBLISHED!

Written by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta


Anne Lamott wasn't so subtle about what she thought of first drafts in her book, Bird by Bird. In fact, she started off by writing, "Now, practically even better news than that of short assignments isrepparttar idea of shitty first drafts. All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts."

I agree with her. First drafts arerepparttar 129772 roughest, and well, ugliest drafts. It's a common mistake of beginning writers, as well as seasoned ones, to expect themselves to produce shiny, perfect very polished and publishable first drafts. What these writers don't know is that these ugly and every-editor's-nightmare first drafts can provide them withrepparttar 129773 opportunity to explore every angle, every slant, and every idea for an article or a work.

WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING! Well, at least try to write all of them down. This isrepparttar 129774 stage where you don't letrepparttar 129775 memories of your English professors get inrepparttar 129776 way of writing. When you start with your first (or rough) draft, you haverepparttar 129777 prerogative to hurl those boring English and grammar rules outrepparttar 129778 window. Don't worry, you'll pick them up later.

STEW FOR A WHILE! After you get all your ideas down on paper, leave them. And I mean it! Don't even try touching them until a sufficient amount of time has lapsed. Give it a day or two. Let it stew on your desk. Go to your dentist, get a manicure, or write other stuff, but don't, for your muse's sake, get your hands on your first draft just yet!

GET LETHAL WITH THAT RED MARKER! The next day isrepparttar 129779 time you can brandish your most lethal weapon - your red (or any color you prefer) marker. Take out your terrible (and you will realize that it is terrible!) first draft and start crossing out ideas and sentences you don't need.

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