I Want to Be a Writer, But I’m Scared!
Do you want to be a writer, but you’re scared? A blank piece of paper or document waiting for you to supply all the ideas, words, and structure can be painfully intimidating. Writing out your feelings can also be daunting. But you don’t have to be stuck this way. I have some fun exercises to get you writing.
I want to be a writer, but I’m scared!
Write fan fiction
Before you say, “But I said I was too scared to write,” I’m going to eliminate most of the obstacles.
Take a scene from a movie, book, or tv show that is really meaningful to you and relate it on paper or in a document with your interpretations and descriptions. The story and characters are already there, you just get to describe them or fill in little details you imagine happening in the characters’ heads or “behind the scenes.” It’s kind of like tracing and coloring. You have a base to work with and can copy it and then embellish.
Imagine:
· what they are probably thinking or feeling
· what they wish had happened
· what is happening offscreen
· your own interpretation of the scene, like you are the narrator
While doing this, or even thinking about doing it, you might discover you are comfortable with imagining what happened after the scene or during a part that wasn’t shown. Many people also change things. This is a powerful motivator for writing. You’re angry or heartbroken by something that happened in a beloved story and you have the power to right it, at least in your own little written universe.
Try a cento poem
There is such a thing as a poem made up of lines from other poetry. You could pick one poet and create your own poem from lines from their work or mix and match with all of your favorite poetry.
It could also be really interesting to do this with other forms of writing. Could you create a short story from lines from other works?
The theme will be yours, a feeling or idea you want to explore, and you’ll be selecting the pieces to make up your work. This requires your creative input without you having to go it alone.
I still can’t write!
If writing still seems like too big a step for you, try something other than writing to boost your creativity.
Creative energy is creative energy. You charge it in any direction and it can apply to all. So try with something you are less intimidated by, whether that is drawing, painting, photography, or filming videos. But maybe you’re intimidated by those too.
Don’t worry. There are easier, very easy, ways to dip your toes into creative energy.
Try:
· creating a Pinterest board for an existing character or one you’d like to make up, or the mood of the story you’d like to write
· making one of those aesthetic, mood graphics on Tumblr for a character
· taking images you like and making a collage of them for your desktop or phone wallpaper
· discussing your interpretations of characters with other fans
· being part of an rpg
· telling the idea or plot of a story you want to write to a friend
· play games with a friend, wondering what a character would do in a certain situation
· imagine what a character you already know and love or one you’d like to create would buy when you’re shopping
It’s my feelings that get in the way
Some people drink alcohol while they write. If you can drink and you want to, it might help you loosen up.
Music also helps. It’s hard not to feel while listening to music and you can use this jog to write your paper if you have pen or laptop in hand while listening.
Or try free writing. This means you challenge yourself to write whatever comes to your mind, without thought, judgement, or censoring, for a given amount of time. You could set a timer and write for 5 minutes or choose to write until you fill up half the page. This way you can’t worry about what you’re saying, you’re just rushing to get out whatever pops up. Yes, most of it will be weird, meaningless junk, but there should be some useful ideas and interesting lines in there as well. Save them to use as a writing prompt or to include in something you write. This exercise also gets your mind in creative, uninhibited gear, so you may be inspired to work on a more structured project.
