If you’ve noticed, I’ve stopped numbering my Unblocker posts. If you are ever in need of a creative spark, the Unblocker prompts and photo inspirations can be found in the “Blog Highlights” tab, above. Click on the “Writing Prompt” link to find the entire list. For the last two weeks, I’ve presented you with a “combined” Unblocker prompt where I’ve attempted to present one prompt that can be used both by the Legacy Writer, and the Fiction Writer who wants to more deeply explo

Last week I began a series of Unblocker writing exercises which combine Legacy Writing (writing with a focus on personal history, bordering on memoir) with Fiction Writing. My theory is this: The legacy writing exercises can also be good for fiction writers who have hit a creative wall with a character. Just as the legacy writer can use these questions to unlock the important things that happened in their past, a fiction writer can use these same questions to help break a stu

Another chance to showcase a lovely photograph, and perhaps inspire you into a new story, a new scene, a new scenario for your fictional worlds. Today’s selection is a photo from Shane Blake, who also contributed the wonderful Waffle House photo from last month. I selected this photo for today’s Unblocker, for several reasons. First, I love the color and the subtle gradations between the pinks and purples, the yellow lights along the wheel’s struts. Second, I love the geometr

Time for another photo-inspired writing prompt. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-386" class="size-full wp-image-386 lazyload" title="spin" src="https://ericswyatt.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/spin.jpg" alt="spin in the woods" width="500" height="332" /> Photo by Lauren Dahlhauser A hint of movement from the girl amid the trees. This writing prompt seems to ask you to write from this beautiful young woman’s perspective, though perhaps you will take up the role of the o

This exercise, adapted from The 3 A.M. Epiphany is all about point of view and “writing the other.” In the scene you are about to write are two characters: a woman, and a man (boyfriend, husband, father, boss) who is dominating her. There is a long history between these two, and he has always had a certain control over her. It may be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, but there is a high level of manipulation, influence, and humiliation that is wielded by the man over th

As Albert King used to sing: Don’t be afraid come on in You might run across some of your old friends All your loneliness I gotta soothe I’ll play the blues for you For this photo-inspired Unblocker, I’ve selected a photo from a little blues combo we saw a few years ago. I liked the differences between the expressions of the two musicians. It seemed like a good combination. Write a scene or story from the singer’s point of view, or the bass player’s. Or one of their spouses.

Sometimes, even a traditional writing prompt isn’t enough to get us through that writer’s block, so I’ve decided to start featuring some photographs to use as inspiration. The idea is to take the photo and write something–anything, really–about what you see. Build a scene or story around the photograph. Use characters that you are already writing about, and somehow put them in the picture. (Even if…ESPECIALLY IF…the picture seems to make no sense what-so-ever in the story/nov

This Unblocker is a writing prompt you’ll come across in any number of books and workshops, in one form or another. You can use this one to not only jump-start your writing, use it as a reminder that life is short, and you should try to do the things you’ve “always wanted to do” when ever you get a chance! Exercise: Make a list of five things you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet. Maybe some things you can’t afford, some things you are afraid to try, some things yo

The week is winding down, and here we are again, with another Unblocker to help you break out of a writing slump. This unblocker is all about setting. This exercise isn’t too long, but you can do it more than once, or, take what you write and add some, you know, plot and characters and other story elements, and turn it into something a little more complete. Unblocker #9 – Places You Go. Think of the last public place you were that would be similar to a small town bakery, tire

Today’s Unblocker isn’t necessarily related to any writing project you are currently working on. Instead, this is designed more to be a true “get away” from a case of writer’s block; it’s a way to jar you loose and get your pen (or fingers, if you type up an exercise like this one) moving. Unblocker #8: Writing the Other – Write two to four pages about an argument you had with another person, but tell the story from HIS (or her) point of view. Write in the third-person POV, b

Tuesday this week I presented part one of an adaptation of an exercise in “What if?” by Bernays and Painter. You can get your own copy from Amazon right here. The exercise for today is the same as Tuesday’s so if you’ve already read the details, feel free to jump down to the prompts! ********** For this exercise you need a story of your own (likely, an early draft, though I would advocate doing this with a story that is just stuck and lifeless…one of those stories you know is

Today and Thursday this week, I’m going to be giving you an adaptation of an exercise in “What if?” by Bernays and Painter. You can get your own copy from Amazon right here. The exercise for today and Thursday is basically the same, with some different questions being asked to stimulate your writing. For this exercise you need a story of your own (likely, an early draft, though I would advocate doing this with a story that is just stuck and lifeless…one of those stories you k

After a holiday weekend, most of us probably have plenty of writer’s inspiration: time spent with family, time spent with friends who enjoy too many adult beverages, time with people who probably SHOULDN’T be anywhere near fireworks but have a pickup truck full of them…it’s all rich writer’s ground. But, just in case you are looking for something to give you a jump start this week, here is Unblocker #4, for your consideration… Unblocker #4 Write a scene featuring two of your

If you have two characters in a story that feel dull and lifeless, this Unblocker exercise is for you. (If you DON’T, you can still use this, in a modified form, to get a story off the ground…see the not at the end.) Unblocker #3: Have one character in your fictional world write a letter to another character. This is one of those “dear boss I hate you” letters that you never mail, so the writing character can say things she might never really say out loud; let your character

Tuesday Morning: Unblocker #2…If you’ve hit a temporary dead end with your writing or just want something new to try out, check out today’s Unblocker: Write a scene with four characters, each has been struck by lightning, at different times/places/circumstances. They didn’t know, until they talked, that they all had this one thing in common. It is the ONLY thing they have in common. I’m going to try to be more consistent, posting a few specific things to the blog and the Face