when your idea well runs dry
by Kelly Joi Phelan
As this is my first column, I thought I’d start off with the very first thing a writer has to worry about: finding an idea. It may sound simple enough, but the fact of the matter is that many people struggle with this. The lure of a blank page (or of a blank word-processor screen, for that matter) appeals to many. It sparks a desire to write something -- anything, and create a world all your own, or simply get your feelings out.
Unfortunately, it is at this point that people’s minds go blank. They may sit there forever, desperately trying to find something to write about. Many hours and crumpled pieces of paper later, they find themselves frustrated and sore from sitting so long.
What’s wrong with these people? The simple fact of the matter may be that they’re trying too hard! You must loosen up and try not to think overly much! It only prevents ideas from coming to you and leaves you frustrated.
Relax, enjoy yourself, let the little things of life inspire you. I have always had a rather wild imagination since I was little, and so ideas come easily. Little inane things like songs or pictures can set off my imagination. Even clouds in the sky can; they can sometimes take on the shape of familiar objects. Look at things you might ordinarily overlook.
That may not work for everyone, however. Don’t worry, there are alternative routes you can take. For instance, why not take advantage of the world’s rich history? Ancient myths, legends, and fairy tales are abundant. The legend of King Arthur has inspired hundreds of stories, books, and poems. Take the best-selling The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, for example. She took the old legend of Arthur, reinvented it, and told it from a whole new perspective.
You can take any legend or myth and retell it successfully. You can write it from a new viewpoint, add new things, or even transpose it to modern times or beyond. But there’s no rule that says you are required to stick closely to the original version; many original versions are far from the truth anyway.
Another thing to do: you can take bits and pieces from many different myths and legends, mix all those elements together, and end up with a completely new and unique story. You can even write "sequels" to those same legends. What happened to Atlantis? Arthur is called "the once and future king" -- will he come back to rule again? When and how? What is the significance of Stonehenge? How and by whom was it built? What about the pyramids? You can try modern-day things, too. What happened to Amelia Earhart? What’s the secret of the Bermuda Triangle? Roswell? Loch Ness?
Ask yourself an unanswerable question, use your imagination to answer it for yourself, then write about it! Above all, always remember to relax, have fun, and let the story come to you -- don’t go chasing after it.
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