The Rising Action of the Story

THE RISING ACTION:

I want to give writing advice this evening that will help spark some creative and imaginative ideas.  Because ideas generate action and build the rising action in the plot.  The following exercises are for that purpose.

You will need a journal to write in for these tips.  You can add it to your keepbox.  Another item(s) is a small notebook that you can keep in your pocket so that you can collect ideas as they cross your mind - write them down.  I would have 3-4 for the story so that as one is full you have another handy.

You will probably be surprised about the array of various creative writing activities that you can do. Many of them are explained in great depth on the web.

• One example of this kind of an exercise is descriptive writing. Select a topic, whether it's a apple, a pet or perhaps the kitchen sink (just a couple suggestions), then make use of your descriptive powers to provide the reader an experience of the topic just as if they were interacting with it on their own. For instance, you do not just want to say a apple is red and sweet, you need to seize its very essence from skin to fruit. The texture, the smell, the look of the object needs to be described completely without boring your reader with a listing of particulars.

• Rewriting a bit of your work from an additional viewpoint can be quite a difficult exercise. Should you have a book or short story, take a part of it and alter the viewpoint. As an example if you're writing in first person (i.e. I, me) change to the third person (she, he) and tell your story. You will notice the distinctions between the two points of view, observe which best matches your work and expand your writing muscles with a demanding activity.

• All writers have a need to write, but it is not so easy to translate this need into actual stories, poems or novels. Part of the reason why this is so, is because it is all too often thought that to write (or to write well) one needs to wait to be inspired to do so. But if you do that, as you’re most likely aware by now, you will not get much writing done. In other words, you must write even when you are not inspired to do so! That’s all there is to it and below is a simple, barebones list of 5 steps to take to get writing.

So think of these as writing commandments and just do it:

1. Make a decision to write everyday and stick to it.
2. Set aside at least 15 minutes of pure writing time everyday.
3. When you are not inspired, make use of writing exercises and prompts to get the writing done.
4. Set writing goals for yourself, like, for example, writing one story a month.
5. Finish all first drafts.

See, nothing hard, but if you stick to these five rules your writing will get better and you will find it easier to get even more writing done.

• Picture prompts that help with creative writing are also helpful.  Find pictures that pertain to your story.  Use them to generate dialogue and action ideas within your plot.  A great picture prompt can really be inspriational.

Some other picture writing prompts you might enjoy:
The Door To Somewhere
The World Beyond the Edge
Something’s in the Air
The Big House
The Wooden Bridge

• There’s something mysterious and magical about dreams. In the dreamworld, anything is possible. Our deepest desires and greatest fears come to life. Whether they haunt or beguile, our dreams represent the far reaches of our imaginations. Journals can have similar qualities of mystery and intrigue. If your journal is full of freewrites, doodles, cryptic notes, and random ideas, then it might read like a road map through your imagination, or it may feel like a crash course through your subconscious.
  Journal writing is a great tool for dream exploration. You can tap into your daydreams or your sleeping dreams as a source of inspiration
• Record your dreams so you can better understand them.
• Capture the images in your dreams and turn them into poems and song lyrics.
• Transform the monsters from your nightmares into the creepy villain in your short story or novel. Dreams are an excellent source of insight and ideas http://www.dreammoods.com/

Dreams are a succession of images, sounds or emotions that pass through the mind during sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is known as oneirology.(from Wikapedia)

• The people with whom we have relationships affect us emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Whether it’s a lover, child, friend, stranger, or enemy, people can provide compelling and meaningful inspiration for our writing.  Think about the people who have impacted your life. You can  Write a poem, a story, an essay, or a private journal entry. Let the words flow, and try to connect emotionally with whatever you’re writing.
1. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Who have you loved and lost?
2. Too often, writers are more motivated by heartache than by joy (all those broken-hearted poems and love songs!). Write about a love that is not stained by pain, betrayal, or heartbreak — one that is happy and healthy.
3. Then again, heartbreak is part of life and often full of many lessons. It is worth writing about.
4. Some relationships aren’t simple enough to be classified as painful or joyous. Writing about a complex relationship is… well, complex. Give it a shot.
5. It’s possible to have a relationship with someone you’ve never met — a historical figure or hero. Many people these days also have relationships (of sorts) with celebrities they admire (political, entertainment, charitable, or otherwise).
6. Most of us have had an enemy of some kind, whether it was a bully on the playground, a nasty co-worker, or someone who caused us or our loved ones great harm. These people are great sources of inspiration for villains.
7. Have you ever encountered a stranger who roused your curiosity? Not someone you found attractive, just a person who drew your attention. If you never had the chance to get to know that stranger, you’ll have to use your imagination.

These are tips that I have found to be most helpful for writing inspiration exercises.  I hope they help you to focus and build your story.