When it comes to creating short story ideas, you can often find yourself stumped.
When I'm stumped, I find that my work room gets really clean.
What gets me back to completing the short story is to focus on creating ideas using this three-step process: 1.
Write Down 20 Details: Write details about a person you know or met recently.
What did they wear? Do they smoke? What do they like to eat? What seemed to catch their eye when they were with you? Do they wear jewelry? If so, what? Write the details quickly and do not give much thought to editing what you write.
Let your ideas flow.
2.
Invent a Conversation: Most likely you've seen two people somewhere recently.
Think back to where you saw them.
What were they doing? What did they wear? What were the expressions on their faces? Taking those details, create a brief conversation between the two people.
Now, give them some names and professions.
3.
Freewrite: Using the raw material you've created above, take 10 minutes to freewrite.
In other words, put your pen to paper and keep writing for 10 straight minutes.
Do not look at what you write.
Do not edit.
This exercise helps you get those unique subconscious ideas to the surface.
You might find you can keep writing easily once the 10 minutes are up.
Sometimes, it's a matter of just getting started and then our natural creativity takes over.
Hopefully, these strategies will help you the next time you want or need to write a short story.