This week’s Thursday Thoughts blog is for people like me. Maybe you’re a writer who has been struggling to find the words you once had. You might usually write, but haven’t lately for various reasons – lacking inspiration or feeling like you have nothing to say. Today’s suggested resources could be helpful to you. They also may be helpful to those who like writing for their own release or self-expression, not necessarily to be published, but who need a good nudge to be more disciplined to write regularly or could use creative prompts to get the creative juices flowing. Resources like the ones I am sharing today can support us in getting back to that starting line and encourage the words to fly from our fingertips at the keyboard once again.
When you are in need of some spark or inspiration, look no further than your favorite bookstore – brick and mortar or online. These are only a few titles I’ve been gifted over the years and which I’ve personally found helpful.
These are just two titles out of a sea of books designed to help spark our imagination, but they are resources that have been helpful to me and both happened to be gifts that good friends gave to me for holidays and special occasions. They were given to me by people who knew me well enough to know how much I was struggling with a case of writer’s block, so they were bestowed lovingly with thoughtfulness and encouragement. We may be too scared to stop by the section of the bookstore that would feature books like these. Maybe add a few to your wish list for your birthday or an upcoming holiday so others can be the cheerleaders you may need. Sometimes we require a virtual push to motivate us — a shiny new journal can do the trick but more than likely, it’s what to say inside the journal that is escaping us. Books such as these can be just the prescription to initiate storytelling. The key is to not let the book stump you further. I’ll explain.
A WRITER’S BOOK OF DAYS by Judith Reeves is designed to take you through a year of writer’s advice, strategies and helpful exercises. Its subtitle is A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life, and that is a perfect description. It’s more like a self-help manual for writers. But it is merely a guide, not a set of rules. You certainly don’t have to do March activities during the month of March but having categories of tips segmented into monthly chapters can keep us on a regular schedule. And if you’re struggling with a writer’s drought, that could be a good trick to fool the blank stare your creative self is giving you at the moment and get you back on track.
The other book, 642 Things to Write About compiled by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto is exactly what it professes to be on the cover. You will get some of the most bizarre scenarios posed to you or a simple demand like write about your favorite pair of jeans. Here are a few sample pages to show you what I’m talking about.
(CLICK ON THESE TO ZOOM IN ON THE IMAGE)
Don’t let a topic posed to you put you right back into static mode, befuddled and staring at the blank page. Feel free to skip around a book like this and when your eyes rest on a subject that tickles your interest, stop looking. That’s the one. Pull out the journal and start writing thoughts immediately. Let the words flow and do not get bogged down with sentence structure, punctuation or plot lines. These are freestyle writing exercises. Let it pour out at whatever rate the words appear.
If you have a favorite book to inspire writing or spark your imagination, please share here in the comments for all of us to check out. And if you happen to give either of these books a perusal or even try them out for yourself, let me know what you think. As always, thanks for reading. ~ Chris K
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