Writers' $ense: Use Your Experiences

-
When I'm asked about my occupation. I answer I'm a writer. The question that follows is: "Where do you get your ideas?" The conversation stops and everyone waits for the answer.

It feels like I'm revealing a secret recipe or a patent for a nuclear product. When I say, "My ideas germinate from what I read, see, taste, hear, feel, want, lack, in other words - my experiences." There is a pause.  The conversation changes no one dares to ask me anymore about my ideas. The word experiences conjure various visions in the listeners' mind. For many, it's a hot button topic. Experiences are personal, not always welcomed in polite company.

Writers use experiences as the fodder. They stir their observations, encounters, and interactions to conjure a character, a point of view, a setting, an antagonist, not to mention new worlds. Every human being contains a treasure trove of experiences waiting to burst forth into a story.

Our seven senses are entrances allowing us to immerse ourselves deeper in our experiences. Some experiences are too challenging, researching the experience offers our cerebral tools help the writer more.

-->
 Let's take observing. a couple walking along the beach. How are they walking? Are they holding hands? Are they playful? Are they nuzzling?
Have you encountered an individual on a flight, train or bus ride who started a conversation with you? What was the conversation? What did this person say that encouraged you to converse?

Have changes in your life irritated you? What about the big changes: marriage, breakups, babies,
graduation, job loss, a move across the country, etc.? These experiences introduced you empathy, anger, fear, joy, or tolerance. These feelings you can write into your stories.,
  • What do you care about today? 
  • Who do you love? 
  • How would you describe your fam or your closest friends? 
The answer to these questions assist a writer to describe emotion, action, and empathy for your characters.

Today writers use multiple tools to record impressions, ideas, and experiences.Cocktail napkins, small notebooks with an attached pen, and photos assisted me in the past in developing imagery. My phone, Siri, Ipad record and store my treasury of reflections.

Generate ideas, story lines, characters, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, white papers, thank you notes, etc., is work.  It assists the process if you observe and record the best, ordinary, and worst of your experiences.

-->


Other Resources:

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/5-ways-to-come-up-with-great-story-ideas

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/5-new-ways-for-writers-to-keep-a-journal

Pictures Credit:
https://www.stockfreeimages.com/4837217/Ready-to-write.html

https://www.stockfreeimages.com/8108466/Man-typing-on-Old-Typewriter.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be Strategic: Write A Holiday Memory

-
Image
The momentum of the holidays propels us into a frenzy of cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, entertaining, cleaning, and overindulging. Writing becomes an after thought in the midst of multiple "to do" lists.

BREATH. Schedule a break, whittle some time for your writing. Utilize these small chunks of time to "Write A Memory."  Exercise your creativity with the keyboard or a paper and a writing instrument to describe a "who, what, where, or how" about the Holiday Season. Find a quiet place and expound on the following events of the season or better still, scribe about something you experienced that day or during the season "to be jolly."

Cookie Exchange: Do you participate in this activity? Why or Why not? If you did, what was your choice of cookie? Who participates your exchange? Decorating the Outside of Your House: Who does it? How do you prepare for it? Describe the feelings and emotions of the participants of this outdoor activity.Gift wr…
Read more

December 2016 Book Review: Maeve's Times

-
Image
Warning to all writers who scribe thoughts on bits and scraps of paper and throw them in a box to rewrite later.  Those bits and scraps may be published posthumously.  Maeve Binchy's husband, Gordon Snell, found her "to do later" box. He built a biography of her life with her thoughts, articles, and ramblings.

Maeve's Times is dated and referenced making it easy to follow. Thank you Mr. Snell for sharing insights into her professional and personal life. Her spirit lives on with her words.

 This author captured my attention with Copper Beeches. Maeve Binchy wrote about what she saw, lived, and felt. Her stories reflected both Irish country and city life. Each book made me feel better about people. She wrote about hard times and working through them. She wrote about love and love lost. Her book Minding Frankie demonstrates a community pulling together to help a neighbor. Any of her titles are a "goodread."


Read more

Women's History Month: Inspiring Women

-
Image
When we talk about Women's History Month we think of Pocahontas and Sacajawea who helped the explorers of this country.  We think of Abigail Adams and Dolly Madison who were on the forefront of the beginning of this country.  We don't want to forget the great suffragists who worked for and won the right to vote for U.S. women.  
We are reminded of  "Rosie the Riveter" and all the brave women of America who took over the "men's positions" in the factories.  The production numbers of these women are still noteworthy to this day. We honor the women who took those brave first steps to serve and continue to serve in the military. The first scientists, teachers, humanitarians, politicians, the list continues as we look for role models to inspire and encourage us.  
Is there a scientist, teacher, or humanitarian who inspired you ?  Share these women with my followers, audience, and me. Share your thoughts about the inspirational women in your life. Who are the w…
Read more