Words Don't Fail Me!

Nothing is more daunting for any writer than having to stare at a blank sheet of paper.

When we stare at a blank sheet of paper, we often think, "What am I going to write?" A few minutes later, it becomes, "Oh my goodness, I can't think of anything to write!" And several minutes later, it turns into something like, "Write, dangnabit! Write! Write! WRITE!"

Some writers call this writer's block. But I call it "The Writing Muse Needs A Kick Syndrome."

And that's exactly what we're going to do with your writing muses gone truant. We're going to kick your muse into gear so you can fill up that blank page! Here are 5 writing muse kickers for you to try right now:

1. A picture that's worth more than a blank page!

Take out a dusty photo album. Open it and pick out photo number 14. Count however way you like, just make sure you stop at photo number 14. Why 14? Don't ask. I don't have a deep answer to that. It's the first number that came to mind. Look at the photo for 2-3 minutes. Then for 10 minutes, write all the feelings that photograph made you feel. Don't censor yourself. Just write.

2. Words, don't fail me!

The dictionary that's looking down on you from its lofty shelf has more than 200,000 words defined. Why don't you blow off some of the dust on its covers and randomly pick out 10 words? Don't look at the meanings; just concentrate on the words. Write down your chosen words on a (blank) sheet of paper. Now, you're going to have fun creating meanings for those words. What do the words make you think? What do *you* think should they mean?

3. Take a ride on my bicycle!

I don't know how to ride a bicycle. It's not as if I never tried. I had enough scrapes and wounds to prove that I did try to learn how to ride one. Unfortunately, I don't have any balancing talent so I can only ride and drive machines with four wheels. What is the one thing you have tried before to do but have not been successful at? Then list 5-10 things you *are* successful at. No, this isn't writing about failure. It's writing about something that's beyond your capabilities and abilities, and recognizing the areas where you excel.

4. What's for lunch?

Let's say you've been assigned to plan lunch for 5 of your closest friends. First, think about their food preferences. What do they like? What do they eat? What do they hate to eat? Which food are they allergic to? Next, write down the menu. Describe how you are going to cook, present and serve the food.

5. Who wants a happy ending?

Fairy tales have happy endings. All of us know what happened in that mushy fairy tale, Cinderella. Yeah, it's romantic, the prince actually finding Cinderella. They lived happily ever after. But happy endings can sometimes be well...boring. No zing. So predictable. So...happy. But...what if the shoe fit one of the sisters? What happens then? Play with your imagination here. Be funny if you like. Or serious if you feel like it. Or be an Alfred Hitchcock. Whatever you are into, write *your* ending to the Cinderella story -- but this time, make it so that the shoe fit one of the icky sisters. What does Prince Charming do? How does Cinderella cope with it? And what about the Fairy Godmother?

Start your story here.

For more creative ideas to start off your writing or even fill up that page you've been staring at since yesterday, help yourself at http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/.

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Shery is the owner of www.CreativeWritingPrompts.com, a site that features ideas and prompts for creative writers. CreativeWritingPrompts.com and The e-Writer's Place launch SKETCHES: Creative Writing from Everyday Living, a 3-week email workshop on how you can write creatively using your ordinary, everyday experiences. Workshop begins October 29. For complete course outline and registration details, visit http://www.ewritersplace.com/workshops/sketches.html

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