[fortysix]

When I was in school I used to enjoy writing creatively but eventually gave it up -- Ive been feeling very inspired lately and wanted to potentially start some kind of creative writing project and just come up with some ideas for a short story plot. I figured that this would be a fun way to spend twenty - thirty minutes each day and expand my creativity muscle which would benefit me in all areas of life.

I sat down with a pen and a pad to come up with some ideas but im totally blanking out - I feel like I have absolutely lost the ability to think creatively. Any ideas to get the juices flowing?

[Andy_B]

I have a little creative writing project that's on the back burner right now. I'm writing horror stories which I plan to submit to magazines and sites like creepypasta.com. My goal is to get enough traffic to a blog that I can then sell novellas and longer stories in kindle format. I'm currently in the writing phase, haven't published anything, but I think it's worth a shot.

[Draugr]

An old writing trick for conquering the insurmontable wastes of the black page: just spend ten minutes writing, anything, even "I can't think of anything. I can't think of anything...." and it should click.

Another one, think of a scene and a character, purely superficial at first, and write it in third person simple past narrative. And tell the truth, ask questions.
!
Ex. "Quintus stood at the edge of the nitre encrusted ruins, the sky a harsh iron dome. Bitter cold wafted in an endless strean chilling his bones to match his mood. 'Her' he let out in a chattering sigh, more hopeless and weary than angry or cold. Another shrug he pulled his cloak tighter about him and half minded teased the pommel of his knife...."

What is he doing there? What is he thinking? Why is he angry? Etc. You have a start to a story you can build.

[Beyond Borders]

(01-24-2014 10:32 PM)se7en Wrote:  

When I was in school I used to enjoy writing creatively but eventually gave it up -- Ive been feeling very inspired lately and wanted to potentially start some kind of creative writing project and just come up with some ideas for a short story plot. I figured that this would be a fun way to spend twenty - thirty minutes each day and expand my creativity muscle which would benefit me in all areas of life.

I sat down with a pen and a pad to come up with some ideas but im totally blanking out - I feel like I have absolutely lost the ability to think creatively. Any ideas to get the juices flowing?

Start a journal.

Artofmanliness had a decent article that includes 31 days of prompts to get you going: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/01/01...challenge/

In the past, I've always found journals to get my creativity going and often branch out into other projects.

It also helps to not expect too much from yourself when you sit down. Only commit to one sentence a day, or 10 minutes a day, and if that's all you've got, let it go. Often, just getting going is the hardest part, and this sets the bar low for yourself; from there it's not uncommon to fall into your groove. Expecting too much can also cause writer's block.