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Creativity-Boosting Tips for Writers
Have you ever sat up in the middle of the night to write down a sudden
stroke of inspiration? Or made a quick voice memo to yourself? Maybe jotted
down a plot twist idea while you’re supposed to be working or studying?
For a lot of writers, creativity comes in waves. This is great if
those waves are thrashing around like stormy seas, but at some point a writer
is bound to hit a flat spot. And not the kind of flat spot that’s great for
water skiing. This is the kind that leaves you stuck in the middle of the lake
wondering how the heck you’re ever going to get back to shore.
Here are three tips to keep those creativity waves coming.
1. Write first thing in the morning
Writing when you’re half asleep has some pretty cool effects. You’re
still partially in dreamland when you first wake up in the morning, so you end
up writing stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise think of. Besides, it genuinely
sucks trying to sit down and be creative after you’ve had all the day’s energy
leeched from you.
The wee hours of the morning are also interruption-free—and if your
attention span is anywhere near as pathetic as mine, this is vital to getting
anything done.
2. Go for the third thing you think of
This applies to the big picture (overall plot turns or the outcome of
a big scene) just as much as it does to small, seemingly insignificant details
(a prop in your character’s bedroom, or a snarky line of dialogue). The first
thing you think of is too obvious, and probably a cliché. The second thing is
ok, but come on, you can do better. The third? Now we’re getting somewhere.
3. Step back. You’re looking at it too
closely.
Seriously, give that story some space! Some aspects of writing can
really kill your creativity jam—like spending twenty minutes trying to come up
with the perfect synonym for “stumbled”. If you find your creativity IV drip
running dry, you need to step back a little. Look at your outline, story notes,
logline, whatever. Remind yourself of the overall goal of your story, and the
original purpose you set out to achieve. Even better: get inspired by reading
some books by other authors.
* * *
Summoning creativity is often just a matter of letting yourself go.
Get crazy! Write something totally weird. Don’t try and write perfectly—that
comes later, in the editing stage. For now, embrace those waves of creativity.
What about you? What creativity-boosting tips can you share?
What
is one of your bad habits? Invent a character who has the bad habit, but a much
worse case of it than you have. Write a story where this habit gets your
character into trouble.
Just One
More Thing
My bedtime is ten o’clock. Naturally, it’s midnight by the
time I slip under the covers.
I’m pretty sure the neurons in my brain are vibrating as I
stare up at the blackness. I consider turning on a meditation track. But I
can’t shake the feeling I’ve forgotten something.
Did I turn the oven off?
My feet find my slippers and I pad out to the kitchen. Yes,
the oven is off.
The wintery air sends goose bumps up my arms. I remember to
shut the window. Return to bed.
Half an hour passes before I remember I was supposed to
email Kevin back about his barbeque on Saturday. My hands find my phone in the
darkness. I open my emails to a new message from OkCupid—a rugged-looking
hipster who can distinguish ‘your’ from ‘you’re’. He merits a reply. I need to
do it now or else I’ll forget. I write back, spending twenty minutes trying to
come up with a non-boring answer to “Any plans for the weekend?”
It’s one o’clock. I respond to Kevin’s email. Yes, I’ll
remember to grab kebabs on my way over on Saturday.
Plug my phone in. Lie back down.
I still can’t shake the feeling I’ve forgotten something.
I sit up. I never gave Ms. Jennings her misdelivered mail. I
pull on my bathrobe and my Uggs. Tuck the box under my arm. It’s a bottle of
expensive bourbon. I opened it by accident when I got it. The bottle, I mean.
The thought reminds me that I need to book an appointment
with my therapist. I call. Their office is closed. Obviously—it’s one thirty in
the morning. I leave a message. Pick up Ms. Jennings’ half-empty bourbon. Hop
the fence into her yard.
She’s pissed when she finally answers. I tell her I’m sorry
but I couldn’t sleep knowing I might forget to deliver this. She doesn’t say
thank you. I tell her the bourbon is good and I hope she enjoys it.
I traipse home. The wind is icy around my legs. The hair (I
forgot to shave) offers little insulation.
As I pass the barn, I realise I’ve forgotten to feed the
pigs. I throw them some slop. Tell them “good piggies.” Scratch one behind the
ear.
What on earth am I forgetting?
Shivering, I’m about to leave when I remember Daisy is due
to give birth. I check on her. She’s in labour. I deliver the calf. Name it
Ophelia.
I take off my bathrobe and dispose it. I’ll have to remember
to buy a new one.
Stark naked except for my Uggs, I trot back to the house.
I’m proud of myself when I remember to put air in the tractor tires on the way.
The sun’s rays brighten the horizon by the time I’m in the
house again.
I remember to wash my hands.
My toothbrush lies beside the sink, bristles dry.
I blink.
I finally realize what I’ve forgotten.
I never brushed my teeth before bed.
1. If you could have coffee with
any character from your novels, who would it be and why?
Definitely someone from Ice
Massacre. I want to say Meela because she’s the protagonist and I love her,
but I’ll go sideways and pick one of the warrior girls instead. I’d have to say
Blacktail. She’s chill and intelligent and I think we’d be good friends.
2. At what age did you decide you
wanted to pursue a writing career?
I’ve always loved writing and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t
creating stories and poems. But I think I really decided I wanted to be a
writer somewhere around ten years old. We had this annual thing at my elementary
school called “Poem In My Pocket Day”, where you carry a poem around with you
all day and at some point you read it to the class. It could be one that you
wrote or one you found, and I decided to write my own. My poem, called My Snowman, got such a good reaction from the class and teacher that I decided
right there I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. (A testament to how
important it is to encourage kids at a young age!)
3. Do you remember the first book
you ever wrote? And if so, what was it about?
It was called The Sachmoe,
and it was a picture book about some kind of scary creature that bore
resemblance to a Sasquatch. I sold it to my grandma for $2.
4. Are you an outliner or a
pantser?
I’m still trying to figure that out. I’m pretty sure I’m an outliner.
My first book (The Infinite Knowledge of
J. T. Badgley) was pantsed, and I think it could have benefited from an
outline. Ice Massacre was a bit of
both. The sequel, Ice Crypt, has a
solid outline in the works, and I like where it’s going.
5. How long did it take you to
write Ice Massacre?
Two years. I came up with the idea for it in
Disneyland in June 2012.
6. What is
your favorite social media site and why?
Vine. It’s hilarious and perfect for those of
us with short attention spans.
7. What
genre would you describe Ice Massacre as?
Young Adult Fantasy.
8. Where
do your best ideas stem from?
Being half-asleep. Writing before daybreak is
great for creativity.
9. What would you say has
been your biggest success since you began writing?
Ice Massacre.
It hit #1 on the Amazon Best Seller list in 3 categories a couple of weeks ago,
which is something I only ever dreamed of. To say I’m thrilled is an
understatement.
10. What
gives you inspiration?
So much! Life! Other books, music, movies, people, places, emotions …
Should I get more specific? How about I list a few things. Harry Potter. Empty
notebooks. Riding my horse. Disney. Tim Burton. That song by Nicki Minaj, Pound
The Alarm (really— I listened to that while I wrote the first battle scene in Ice Massacre). Watching ballet. Funny
hats. Being scared. Being happy. Receiving positive feedback. Elton John.
Lucille Ball. Tina Fey. I’ll stop now.
Tiana
Warner was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys riding her
horse, Bailey, and collecting tea cups. Check out her new YA fantasy, "Ice
Massacre", the #1 Amazon Best Seller!
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