He’s still here. Still here. Still, lying in bed, but asleep, not dead.
Is your New Year’s resolution to write more? Or do you just want to get started with writing? I’ve found that regular writing, whether you do Julia Cameron’s Daily Pages from The Artist’s Way, or pick some other way to write every day, is the best was to clear writers block and get through to what you really want to write about.
This Christmas, my daughter gave me 712 More Things to Write About , a book full of prompts to inspire you to write. It is packed with ideas, and there is a fairly small space-from a quarter page to a whole page – for you to fill in with your writing. There are so many ideas that I have found it easy to open the book at random and pick one that appeals most days this year, even when the children were on holiday. The small space allowed means that you can fill it in a few minutes, so perfect for a commute, a lunch break or while you are waiting. the book itself is lovely quality, which I think adds to the inspiration.
Below, I have include an example of a prompt, and my response:
A woman travels continents and oceans to be at her dying father’s bedside and when he doesn’t die, even though she loves him, she’s disappointed. Why?
You’re still here. Still here. Still, lying in bed, but asleep, not dead.
I told you I loved you, over and over, when they said there was no hope. Somehow it seems that you’re going to pull through, this time. Yet I don’t feel joy, just resignation, maybe even disappointment . This is going to happen again, I can see now. It’s the perfect way to make me put everything on hold and focus on you, exclusively, just like you always wanted.
I stand up, touch your hand, and say, “Goodbye Dad!”
Sometimes I could do with more space, and in filling the slot feel that I have only just started a story, so if you had time this would be a good way to take the ideas that seem fruitful and expand on them. So, if you have had some book vouchers for Christmas, or simply want to invest in your writing, I’d very much recommend 712 More Things to Write About which is £12.99 at time of writing.
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Sounds like a great recommendation! Writing creatively every day is my goal for 2016 🙂
An excellent plan!
This sounds like the perfect thing to snap me out of my writing inertia which strikes when I least expect it. Thanks for the recommendation; I’m off to Amazon now to look for it!
Glad it is useful – have lots of fun writing
Great recommendation, sounds like a fab book! Good luck with the daily writing target x
Thanks Nicole!
Sounds like a great book! I can imagine the small space it allows you to write in, being a little frustrating but also less outfacing than a huge blank space or unlimited space. This might work for me, I’ll have to take a look! Thanks for the recommendation and for linking to #whatImWriting
It’s perfect with three kids … I always manage to do something!
What a fantastic idea for a book – I hope it brings you hours more of writing pleasure and I really look forward to seeing what you come up with 🙂 Thanks for linking to #Prose4T x
Thanks Victoria. It really is good.
Thanks for the recommendation and showing an example, I’m hoping to write more creative stuff this year, this could be great if inspiration gets lost!
Fingers crossed!
This sounds like a great book. When I was just getting started (again) with creative writing a few years ago I found these sorts of exercises really helpful. “The 3am Epiphany” was one of my fave books for these. In fact I might just have to dig it out again as I ramp up to writing novel number 3… Thanks for the inspiration! x
I haven’t heard of that one. I’ll look it out! Thanks for the comment and the recommendation.
What a great idea for writing prompts and love your example. May have to have a look at this before I start my next book.
Thank you!
Thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like a great book, and my birthday is not to far away now… Will be adding this to my wishlist! 🙂
Thanks Rachel … Fingers crossed for you!
I absolutely love the idea of this book, off to Amazon now 🙂 #whatimwriting
Great! Hope you have fun with it.
I love the idea of this and would likely use it myself, if it didn’t mean that I’d have numerous more unfinished projects whirring around my creative head! Great for inspiration though 🙂 Thanks for tweeting to me for #WonderfulWorldofWriting Antonia #www 🙂
Thanks for the comment carol. I know what you mean about more ideas!
hey, they make one for young writers too! although only 642 ideas for them. Love the idea of this book, even as a non-writer.. I might get it just for fun!
It is a lot of fun!