A lot of people talk about writer's block and I just can't identify. The world is full of things that I have plenty to say about. Whether the world is listening to me or not, why that is another matter! So, here are some tips that you may find helpful.
1.) Start in the middle. I find it useful to start a story by writing up the material that I know I want to include. For example, if I'm writing a news release about a new product, I write about the benefits of the product and example of how it might be used. Once I have that on paper, I seem to get momentum and the lead and the end come easily.
2.) Write about what you know. Case in point. This posting. I love to write. I'm writing about writing. How weird is that? But, how easy it is for me. I've written so much, it is like breathing. What is easier to write about than writing?
3.) Find story ideas from the news. Whether it's NPR or your favorite blog, being a regular consumer of current events just provides a plethora of ideas. One of my favorite blog entries was born of an item I heard on NPR one day about a terminally ill man make repetitive motions in his sleep. My item I wrote is about my grandma folding clothes in her sleep.
4.) Write about where you came from. Celebrate your history. Mark Twain's tale about growing up on the banks of the Mississippi was largely autobiographical. I grew up near the Raystown Branch of the Juniata river. In a rural community, the river provided a year-round source of recreation. If only those banks could talk. We all have a Mark Twain story in us waiting to get out.
5.) Write about what you love. I love my furry cat family. I've got a million stories. What do you love? What to you have to say about it?
6.) Keep a journal. It doesn't have to be a fancy leather bound deal. Use a tablet or a note book or a calendar. Just have a place where you can jot those things that just come on you when you least expect it like when you're in the shower or awake at 3 a.m.
7.) Steal. Well, I had a friend who put it this way. Don't be afraid to use the dead wood in your neighbor's yard. One of my friends was telling me about a current commercial about commitment that she really like. Yes, I agree. I now have it on my list for a future posting.
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