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Writing Tip: Brainstorming Past Your Block


Trebs

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Brainstorming Past Your Block

 


Especially when writing a short story, there will often come a time in your plot when you get stuck. One of the best ways to move past a block in the action is to brainstorm what could happen. Then... pick one! Often when I'm trying to figure out the loose overall plot I will do a 'this happens, then that, then this' in a timeline fashion. Sometimes I can't figure out what I want to have happen next and that's when I start brainstorming. I'll do this on my own, or with my writing team and often that's the little boost I need to figure out where my story is headed and get writing again.

 

Examples:

 

Your character is dating someone and thinks they are cheating. They could:

  • Try to get proof, then confront them
  • Confront them with their suspicions
  • Gets drunk and cheats in retaliation
  • Get into a big fight
  • Break up
  • Forgives partner
  • Orders partner to leave
  • Main character leaves
  • Moves into a new place
  • Moves back in with parents
  • Gets depressed and commits suicide
  • Gets depressed and enters therapy
  • Main character starts over and refuses to date
  • Main character starts over and has a lot of one night stands
  • Main character starts over and meets someone else


Or:
Your character finds out their partner is a paranormal creature. They could:

  • Run screaming
  • Accept them
  • Attack them
  • Be curious about who/what they are
  • Be angry that the person hid their true nature and get into a fight about honesty
  • Report them to authorities or scientists
  • Reveal their own paranormal self
  • Run screaming but then accept them


By just thinking outside the box, start coming up with anything and everything that comes to mind. Don't self-edit - just put down anything, whether it seems boring or too fanciful. As one idea spills out after the other, when you take a breath and look them over - something may cry out to you "PICK ME"!

 


So - above are SOME examples... If you were writing and hit a block on your character bumps into their ex while at a cafe - they COULD: ???

 

(your turn - start a comment with a couple of fast off the top of your head thoughts)

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1 Comment


Recommended Comments

1. He could act like he never noticed him walking through the door

2. He could smile and nod his head

3. he could excuse himself to his friends and walk up to meet him.

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