Here are 5 journal ideas for creative writers:
1) People-watch.
The people around you can become fictional
characters or the subjects of poems. You can go beyond mere reporting and
write what you imagine as well. What do you think that woman's name might be?
Where do you think she lives? Is she having an affair with that man, or are
they just business partners? What is she thinking right now? What is she hiding
in that big purse? Any of this can be the beginning of a story or poem.
2) Listen.
Eavesdrop in restaurants, in stores. Listen to
your own family and friends -- really listen. Not just to what they're saying,
but to the words they use, the pauses, the unique rhythms of their speech. And
write down pieces of speech when they are still fresh in your ears.
3) Take a walk.
Describe your neighborhood. Describe the
weather, the colors and textures, the light and shadow. Go beyond what you see
-- describe the sounds, the smells, the feeling of the air on your skin. Look
for the surprising details, the ones that aren't quite as you'd imagine, the
ones you could never have made up.
4) Take a field trip.
Are you writing a scene in a police
station? A city dump? Visit one. Write down the details that will make the
setting come alive on the page. On the other hand, if you're not in the middle
of a writing project, taking a field trip can give you ideas for one. Go
somewhere you would normally never go.
5) Use real-life stories.
The news, gossip, the experiences
of your friends, and even stories from history books can be sources for
creative writing. Make notes on the story, and imagine the parts you don't
know. Imagine it as if you were there. What, exactly, did people see? What were
they thinking? What did it all feel like? What led up to the event; what
happened next? Let your imagination fill in the gaps. Or imagine that some part
of it had been different. How does that change the story?
More ideas at the workshop at The Newberry Library coming in April. Take a look at their website: www.newberry.org and register now.
