Question Your Imagination

The other night I plopped on my bed with my idea notebook opened on my lap. My mind was just about as blank as the white page in front of me. At that point, I only had two weeks until NaNo WriMo began (see below for NaNo info). I could not think of anything I wanted to write about; only lame pieces to boring plots shuffled through my head.  

I often procrastinate more than I should when it comes to writing, so this was not new to me. I wracked my brain for something, anything to help me get over writer’s block. Then, I remembered reading a ‘how to write’ book about a method called ‘question your imagination.’ The wheels of my imagination creaked into motion.

So, what is the ‘question your imagination’ method? Simply ask yourself a question that you think is interesting and start it with ‘what if’.  Next think of another ‘what if’ question that digs deeper into what the first was asking. Then write another and another, always following that same pattern. After you’re done, read back through the sentences and cross out the ones that don’t fit into your story or don’t excite you.

Here’s an example from a story I made up several years ago:

What if merpeople were real?

What if the king of those supposed merpeople had a beautiful daughter?

What if the king had adopted her from a different school of merpeople when she was young?

What if she had never seen her reflection?

What if the king didn’t want her to see her reflection?

What if she looked different than his people and he didn’t want her to know?

What if she had purple hair that made her different?

What if it were her eyes that made her different?

What if she ran away from the king because she thought he was too controlling?

What if she didn’t know he was just trying to protect her?

What if she had a fish that could teleport her?

What if she meets an evil merman on her travels?

What if he kills her fish?

What if the king’s real son came to rescue her?

What if he loved her?

This simple tool will help you shape your imaginings and give body to ideas that you’ve already had. It has certainly helped me with my stories.

So if you’re stuck or just feel like you need to explore your story a little more thoroughly, I suggest that you try it. If you ‘question your imagination’, it might take you places that you never expected to go. 

Music to Write By

This song inspires me every time <3

Get Up
Superchick

I'm not afraid to fall
It means i climbed up high
To fall is not to fail
You fail when you don't try
Not afraid to fall
I might just learn to fly
And i will spread these wings of mine

If i get up i might fall back down again
So let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
But we get up anyway
If i get up i might fall back down again
So let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
I might fall back down again


We'll just jump and see even if
It's the 20th time
We'll just jump and see if we can fly

I'm not afraid to fall
And here i told you so
Don't want to rock the boat
But i just has to know
Just a greener side
Or can i touch the sky
But either way
I will have tried

I'm not afraid to fall
I've fallen many times
They laughed when i fell down
But i have dared to climb
Not afraid to fall
I know i'll fall again
But i can win this in the end

Welcome to November!!!

 When I think of November, I think of snow, hot coco, and being cooped up in the house by the fireplace (not a bad concept, huh?). It's when I realize that Christmas is just around the corner. It's the month when I don't have to worry about being tan or skinny because I'm buried under layers of sweaters and coats! 

 It's also National Novel Writing Month... better known as NaNo WriMo! (nan-oh wry-moe) It's the event that brings tens of thousands of writers together in a quest to beat the odds and write an insane number of words in a very short amount of time. Trust me... it's crazy. 

 So here's the deal. You pick a number of words you think will be almost impossible to write in 30 days and try to get them all written in the month of November. I know, you're busy and so am I, but you might be amazed when you realize how much time you can mentally be working on your book! You can be thinking up ideas for your story anytime your mind is free and put those thoughts onto paper when you get spare time. Last November my friends probably thought I was the most unsocial person in the world (at least more unsocial than I already am thanks to homeschooling lol) but that was because I was CONSTANTLY writing! I lived inside my story with my characters... and believe me, it wasn't that bad of a gig. What's more, during that month I had another set of friends other than my normal every-day, could-care-less-about-writing, what's-a-plot, friends. I'm talking about my NaNo friends...

What on earth are NaNo friends? Well, besides NaNo WriMo just being a personal challenge, you have some big shots in the writing world that will to help you. This is ywp.nanowrimo.org, the social networking site for youth writers during the month of November. The site has a word meter so you can keep track of your goal and it gives tips and helps to keep you inspired and sharp. There are hundreds of writers on this site that you can connect with, compare with, and give and get ideas from. This site will help you every step that you take during your writing process. If you are very adventurous, you can try the adult version at nanowrimo.org. You minimum word goal is 50,000 words. Sounds like a lot? It is! You have to be super committed to rise to that challenge, but you will also get to connect with some older and more experienced writers. Check it out at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3699214. Whichever you choose, I would highly recommend signing up. 
So... now you have something to look forward to besides hot coco and sweaters.
<3