
02-17-2010, 07:32 AM
I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything, but I think us writers should stick together. I want to help encourage my fellow writers out there!!! I've been encouraged by other writers, too and that's how it should be!
I have some ideas of how to freshen up a story, or how to get a different look at a story you may be stuck on. Whether you keep these changes in your story, or just use them briefly to unwedge yourself, I find them helpful. Feel free to comment and add any that you find work well, too.
* You can change everyone's gender. I know that sounds really weird, but I did that once and got a story published. One comment back from it was that it was fresh, and that's what we writers want our work to be in some way or another, right? ((I was all, "Thank God!" when I got that))
*You can write the scene you are stuck at from the perspective of someone who is not a character at all. This works even if the scene is in a closed off secluded place. For example, if the scene takes place in a bedroom with the curtains drawn, you can throw a ghost in there that no one sees, or write from the perspective of the wallpaper (it's got a 360 degree view, doesn't it?) In a regular setting like a cafe or the street, the new perspective can be from the eyes of some random passer-by or someone stopping to retie their shoes, whatever. This does not need to be placed in your story. Feel free to throw it out afterwards, but it can help you see things differently and then get unstuck.
*You can switch POVs to a character that IS a part of your story. I know, I know. You chose the POV for a reason, but you may be surprised at what is in the head of that minor character over there. . . or even in the head of your main character's love interest. It may not be, "Oh my heart be still!!! **fawn fawn**!!" which can help you further develop plot and characterization, etc. Again, this doesn't need to stay in your story.
*Make every character say EXACTLY what they are thinking. It could be a pretty bad idea to leave this in your story (or not, who knows), but it will help you remember what your characters' goals are and what's distracting them right now.
*Similarly, to get on track with character goals, write a scene where they are given 3 wishes to wish for in private and then obtain in real life (like a real wishing well appears in his bathroom or something). Then write a different scene where he will get whatever he wishes for (same as before in this respect) but he has to ask for it in front of everyone. Out of embarrassment or courtesy he may not ask for the same things, find out why and you've discovered more about your plot (who's in the way - maybe?) and your characters.
That's all I have for now. I'll add more later, I guess.
Last edited by mwahhaha; 02-18-2010 at 12:08 AM..
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