Conjuring a Plot: What to do When You're Stuck on a Writing Project

The other day, I spent some time talking with my writing friend about what to do when stuck on a writing project. I was surprised to hear that it happened to her too: the creative faucet, inexplicably, just stopped running. We discussed the ideas of reading more, looking over old material for inspiration, freewriting, and brainstorming. Through talking with her, I was able to break through some of the difficulties I’d been having over the summer (mainly it boiled down to my lack of reading any new books and being inspired). But getting stuck on a larger scale made me think about the inevitability of getting stuck in the middle of a manuscript on a minor plot point or turn of events. In fact, for those of us who are “pantsers” and do not plot in advance, getting stuck in the middle of a manuscript is almost guaranteed. True, some of the joy of writing is having that “yes!” moment, but what if that doesn’t come quickly enough?

If you’re stuck, or anticipate becoming stuck at some point, I’ve put together a list of ways to keep moving forward with a writing project. These are techniques that have aided me in the past or I’ve learned about through other writers or in writing classes. A few are experimental methods that some of us might find useful. As always, I welcome your comments. Let me know your advice when getting stuck in the middle of a writing project!

TIP ONE 

Make a List: “10 Things that can Happen Here”

Basically, this plan involves pulling out a notebook and jotting down every crazy thought that occurs to you. What happens between the characters? Does something go wrong in the background? A weather event? A phone call? Just keep filling the list until you find something you can work with in your novel.

TIP TWO

Listen to Music

The best way to do this is through headphones when you’re alone. Pretend the music is the soundtrack of your novel, and make sure to note where you are stuck. Have the characters move forward in time along with the music and see what happens. You might have to change the type of music, but I would recommend some new age or world music to get you started. Try to meditate on the melody.

TIP THREE

Read a Book

This is probably the best way to get inspired. Buy a new book or pull out one of your favorites. Maybe the book is in your writing genre, maybe it’s a book outside of your normal writing genre, but either way, it should be written well for best results. Break it down. How is the book structured? What surprises are in store for the characters? How does the author handle twists and turns in the plot? Can you take a scene and morph it to your own? Get inspired through other writers. 

TIP FOUR

Read Poetry 

Similar to reading a great work of literature, reading poetry is a fantastic way to get words and language moving through your mind. Whenever I’m stuck with phrasing or even a specific word, I don’t turn to the thesaurus but to a book of poetry. It’s amazing how the use of words in poetry can inspire a struggling writer. Find a word that intrigues you or is unique and try to set it into your scene somehow. Build around it, playfully, until a new scene or phrasing emerges.

TIP FIVE 

Put the MS away for a while

Really at a loss? Put the manuscript away and let your subconscious work on it for a bit. This is a tough one, because us writers feel as though we need to work constantly. But perhaps working on something else or even giving your mind a break will trigger something. Once, I thought of a different way to structure my plot a whole year after I’d given up on a manuscript!

TIP SIX

Writing Workshops 

Joining a writing workshop not only helps you learn about the craft, it sets you up with other writers who will be willing to help you with your project or even your writing troubles. We can all identify with a creative block, and perhaps here, others have a prescription for writer’s block or even ideas for your story!

TIP SEVEN

Read the entire MS back from the beginning

I’ve used this one in the past, and even though it takes some time (depending on how far along you are), it really does help. Make connections in the narrative, find missing information or holes in the plot you can fill, and explore the history of the story. Another way this helps is that when you reach the point you’re stuck on, your mind can’t help but try to keep the narrative going. By that point, you should have something to work with.

TIP EIGHT

Keep Going!

Keep writing, even if it sucks. You might get something useful out of it once you chip away. Even the best authors admit to tossing pages of writing away—often an entire day’s work. Sometimes, the writing will be horrible. We all have those days. But if we push on, something will inevitably come up. 

TIP NINE

Writing Prompts

A quick Google search should lead you to some helpful writing prompts. While these might not have anything to do with the project you’re working on, if you step away from the project and keep writing, you might find the gears start turning again or you can use the material somehow in your current novel. Try to find prompts that match your genre. For example, you might search for writing prompts for horror writers (I just found this one: http://www.bryndonovan.com/2016/09/19/50-spooky-writing-prompts-for-horror-thriller-ghost-and-mystery-stories/).

TIP TEN

Balloon Chart/Mapping

This one is a favorite in English classes and some Creative Writing courses. Many writers use this method, and if you’re not familiar with it, the basic idea is that you jot down a word and then connect ideas through “bubbles.” Here is an example of a simple balloon chart:

So, for example, if you’re stuck on a scene involving a ship, you would jot down “SHIP” and connect all your ideas—the first thoughts that pop into your head—until something springs to life: passengers, water, storm, drowning, shipwreck, Gilligan’s Island, etc. If nothing else, this method is fun. 

TIP ELEVEN

Exercise

Do chores, take a shower, go for a long walk in nature. More than any of the above methods, this one should help clear your mind and get you back in balance. It’s amazing the ideas that spring to mind when I’m doing the dishes (although then my hands are wet and I can’t write down the ideas!). But never underestimate the power of stepping away for a little while to spend time in the outdoors or let your mind wander while doing some tedious cleaning. 

I hope you found these tips useful. Let me know if you do! Good luck!

The Writer's Crystal Ball: 5 Ways to get to know Your Characters

One challenge we often face as writers is creating memorable characters. It cannot be argued that a great character with a unique voice oftentimes carries a novel, so characterization should be at the top of the list when it comes to literary techniques we want to nail. For many writers, main characters come easily or they evolve from an already realized plot. For other writers, characterization can be a struggle, particularly when dealing with side characters or characters of a different age or gender. To that end, I’ve put together a list of ways we can get to know our characters before writing them into a story (or to enhance a character during your revisions). Not only will these techniques help your story, they may also aid in strengthening your creativity and imagination.

1. Pretend you are your character for a day 

Basically, you’ll want to wake up and inhabit your character’s body. What is their sleeping position? What are they craving for breakfast? What are their daily routines/habits? How do they walk? Who do they text throughout the day? As you go about your normal daily routine, imagine doing it as your character. Find their mannerisms, brush your hair differently, laugh differently, talk to other characters in your book. 

2. Talk to your character on a park bench

This one will require some meditative skills. You could play some new age music without lyrics, or just relax in the silence and drift away. You’ll then want to envision meeting your character on a park bench, sitting beside them, and talking. What do they say about themselves? How do they look in the sunshine? What kind of conversation are you having? Are they discussing their home life? Their childhood? What they want out of life? Ask them personal things. Interview them. 

3. Write down your character’s traits and their history

We’ve all seen character lists and forms: what color hair, what color eyes, hopes and dreams, wants, likes and dislikes. Take a notebook and write down everything you can about your character, down to any freckles, moles, or beauty marks. Find their quirks, superstitions, and bad habits. Open up any book to a random page and use the first noun you spot to make up a character trait, habit, or feature (I just found the word “glasses” for example). Here is a link to one of those character forms (credit: Gotham Writers' Workshop): https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/character-questionnaire/gotham

4. Make a playlist of your character’s favorite songs

This is one of my favorite activities. I don’t feel like I can know a character well if I don’t know their favorite songs, so I make a playlist of what they would listen to in a normal day, when they’re happy or sad, when they’re driving in their car, or when they’re having fun on the beach. This one works very well with side characters as it’s oftentimes difficult to know them as well as our protagonist. Are they edgy and like rock music or metal? Or maybe they like 60’s music and are a bit of a hippie. What kind of character likes club music? What kind of character listens to hip-hop? 

5. Discover their voice

Does your character have a high speaking voice or a deep voice? Soft and subtle or loud and booming? Does their voice dominate a conversation? Or are they so shy we barely hear a whisper in social situations? Is it light and feminine or low and masculine? Listen to different voices on TV and movies, or perhaps you will discover their voice on your own by imagining a conversation with them. Do they have accents? Do all of their sentences sound like questions? Is there a specific word they always pronounce incorrectly? Have fun with this!

I hope these exercises help you with your writing. If you can think of any other writing activities to help with characterization, let me know in the comments!

Love Potion: How to Structure Plot in Romance Writing

Romance writing requires a plot structure that varies a bit from other plot structures. The key to romance writing is keeping up that all-too-important tension between the two protagonists, which is an arduous task throughout a 300-400 page novel. There are seven basic parts in the romance writing plot structure, however, that should make it easier to keep up tension and move the story along. So take a long sip of love potion, sit back with a box of chocolates, and dive into all that is awesome and magical in plotting romance novels.

The Ordinary World 

Just diving right into a fiery romance is where many writers go wrong with romance writing. First, the reader wants to get to know our characters, including their hopes and dreams, their jobs, their family life, and their strengths and weaknesses. It also helps to note in the opening what the protagonist might be missing in his/her life that only another human being can fill in for them. In the opening chapters, try to keep interest in the story and an emphasis on upcoming plot but weave in some backstory for your protagonists here and there as well. 

The Cute Meet

Your two characters will inevitably meet up at some point, and this should not only be a unique meeting, but one that perhaps causes some initial sparks to fly. One way to do this, incredibly, is by having them hate each other at first. Opposites really do attract, so this might be emphasized in the first meeting. Or maybe they like each other only as friends at first, or perhaps the sparks fly but they ignore them because of other important goals they have to achieve. Either way, The Cute Meet should be unique and memorable.

The Complication

This is where both protagonists realize that there is something at stake if they pursue a relationship. Romantic tensions are high, and perhaps they have even shared a first kiss, but the future of the pairing is unclear. For example, this might be where a vampire wonders if he will hurt a love interest if he continues a relationship, or a prince might wonder if a peasant girl will fit into his world of royalty.

The Midpoint

At this point, the characters are facing emotional conflict about the relationship, and while romantic tensions are high, they both still have a way out of the relationship without getting too hurt in the process. This is also the point where intimacy may occur, although that is not set in stone. The Midpoint also sets up The Final Turning Point and The Black Moment, making up the final parts of the story.

The Final Turning Point

The stakes are highest for our two lovebirds here. If they continue on with a relationship, they might lose any chance of achieving set goals, they might struggle with an inner battle of some sort, or they might question the whole commitment thing altogether. Falling in love—the forever kind of love—is frightening and might leave your character(s) feeling vulnerable. Whatever happens at The Final Turning Point will determine the outcome of the relationship moving forward. This is the point of no return, the moment of ultimate decision and heightened inner conflict.

The Black Moment

Most of us are aware of The Black Moment in plot structure—even if only subconsciously—having read so many stories. This is where everything is dark, the romance is in crisis, the story is at its climax, and the relationship seems lost forever. Decisions have been made, vulnerabilities exposed, and everything is black and bleak. It is here that our characters head toward a decision that determines the fate of the relationship and perhaps even their lives. Maybe they are moving away and have to leave their soulmate behind. Maybe a truth was exposed that one feels they can never move past. Maybe lives were even at stake. The Black Moment should be emotional and read like the climax of the story.

The Ending

In the end, the characters ultimately realize they are stronger with each other and their love is true and forever. They have faced beliefs, determined their goals or let some goals go, and have struggled through the ups and downs of falling in love. This is the happily ever after, and it should leave the reader satisfied.

Bonus Breakdown of Plot Structure in Romance Writing

1. The Ordinary World

2. The Cute Meet

3. The Complication

4. The Midpoint

5. The Final Turning Point

6. The Black Moment

7. The Ending

These rules for romance writing may be broken, of course, but they give us a good idea of how to structure romance novels and how to keep romantic tension high between the two protagonists. I truly hope these help you with writing romance, whether you are writing a traditional romance novel, a specific genre of romance, or even including romantic elements in your story. It helps to think of a finish line (The Ending) and keep yourself moving along like an Olympic runner as you continue to fill in the rest of the story toward that goal. Good luck!

The Enchanted Forest: Tree Types to use in Writing

A few months ago, I offered a blog post of flower types for use in writing that seemed to go over well. I truly hope the flower types inspired you as writers, and that you were able to use the different kinds of flowers in your writing projects. To that end, I'd like to do a spin-off of that post by providing a list of tree types to use in writing. We've all come across a book or poem where the author just used the word "tree" without specifying type. We could use our imaginations to fill in the blanks, of course, but details help the reader settle into a scene a little better. For example, a specific tree might denote a certain area of the world (maple trees in New England or Canada, palm trees in Florida or California), or they might even evoke an emotion. A weeping willow does wonders just on name alone. Pine trees might remind a reader of the holidays, or better yet, the scent of the holidays. There is so much room to play around here, whether you're writing a novel or a short poem.

Below, please find a list of tree types to use in your writing. I hope these inspire you, and you mix and match trees, emotions, and story details to produce something awesome!



Ash
Birch
Cedar
Cherry
Dogwood
Evergreen
Maple
Oak
Pine
Willow/Weeping Willow
Elm
Olive
Orange
Beech
Apple
Balsam/Balsam Fir
Bay
Mahogany
Palm
Redwood
Sequoia
Spruce

Need to get specific? Here are links to more trees:
http://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/tree/list.htm
http://www.treenames.net/types/index.html

In the comments, please let me know any other tree types that come to mind!

Pinches of Pixie Dust: 20 Things that Sparkle to use in Writing

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

Sometimes, a scene just needs some sparkle. When writing, we might often find ourselves searching for a sparkly something-or-other that will make a scene lively and bright. This list should help when searching for a glittering, sparkling word, so please use it in writing poetry, novels, and any other kind of writing. You might also take one word from the list and base a scene, freewriting session, or poem around it. As always, I hope the list helps you in your writing. Please don't hesitate to let me know how it goes or add to the list!

*** SPARKLE WORDS ***

1. Diamonds
2. Gold Coins
3. City Lights
4. Emerald City
5. Sunlight
6. Moonlight on Water
7. Gems
8. Crystals
9. Eyes
10. Dewy Grass in the Sun
11. Glass
12. Sequins
13. Christmas Lights
14. Fairies
15. Glitter
16. Ornaments
17. Fireworks
18. Nail Polish
19. Gold Dust
20. Raindrops on Leaves after a Sun Shower

Can you think of any other SPARKLE words? Please let me know in the comments!

The Fragrant Cauldron: Using Unique Scents in Writing—Part II

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

Finally! With the book launch of Back to Blueberry Pond, I haven't had much time to work on my writing blog. I've missed it! Here is Part II of my special blog series: The Fragrant Cauldron: Using Unique Scents in Writing. This portion will cover scents from D-I, so please check back for more scents to come as I wind down the alphabet! As always, comments are welcome! I hope this list and this series of scents to use in writing helps your own writing. Perhaps they will inspire a story or poem of their own!

D

Dew
Dandelions
Daisies
Dump
Dirt
Dill
Dog Food
Dollar
Dust
Donuts
Dead Bodies
Decay
Dungeon
Daffodil
Deodorant

E

Eggs
Eggplant
Embers
Eraser
Eggnog
Eucalyptus
Evergreens
Earth

F

Flowers
Fudge
Fried Onions
Farm
Fish
Fire
Fruit Punch
Fruit Stand
French Fries
Forest
Frosting
Fern
Frankincense

G

Geranium
Gum
Gymnasium
Gingerbread
Gas
Garbage
Garden
Gunpowder
Grass
Garlic
Grease
Glue
Grapes
Grape Lifesaver
Ginger
Ginger Ale
Graham Cracker
Grapefruit
Guava

H

Honey
Holly
Halibut
Hamburgers
Ham
Honeysuckle
Hay
Horses
Hobo
Hazelnut
Herbs
Honeydew Melon
Hot Chocolate
Hot Fudge
Halitosis

I

Ice
Ice Cream
Icing
Incense
Iris
Irish Cream

Don't forget to check out Part I of The Fragrant Cauldron series as well as my other posts on The Wizard of Writing Blog! Let me know if you think of any other scents from D-I!

The Fragrant Cauldron: Using Unique Scents in Writing—Part I

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

Some of my best memories as a reader would have to be the connections I made to a story through scents. Who could forget the Amortentia Potion in Harry Potter? The potion smelled differently depending on the person, and it was here that some love interests among the characters became evident. Because the sense of smell is so closely related to the part of our brains that hold memories, it is an important writing tool. Readers will feel something unique to them while reading about different scents. Maybe a reader has fond childhood memories of bubblegum. Maybe the scent of apple orchards sends them back to their grandmother's farm. Whatever the case, emotional connections are waiting to be made through scent.

Here is Part I of my list of scents to use in writing, A-C. Please check back soon for more, as I will continue this series of scents! I hope these inspire you, and you find ways to use them in your poetry and writing projects!




A
Almond
Amaretto
Autumn Leaves
Aftershave
Apples
Apple Pie
Anchovies
Ammonia
Apple Cider
Apricot
Ambrosia
Animal


B
Blueberries
Berries
Buttercream
Baked Goods
Bubblegum
Baby Powder
Barnyard
Basil
Bagels
Buns
Bread
Barbecue (BBQ)
Banana
Bubbles
Beer
Butter
Bacon
Blood
Blackberry
Brown Sugar
Butterscotch
Broccoli
Balsam


C
Christmas Wreath
Cinnamon
Carnations
Cookies
Car Exhaust
Candy Apple
Citrus
Candles
Cat Litter
Cake
Cupcake
Cheese
Chocolate
Coffee
Caramel
Candy
Cigarette Smoke
Cotton Candy
Cigar
Corn
Chalk
Coconut
Cranberry
Cherry
Camp Fire
Cedar
Carrot Cake
Cat Food
Candy Corn
Chicken
Cloves
Cough Syrup
Chlorine
Chinese Food
Cotton
Cucumber
Cantaloupe
Christmas Tree
Church
Candy Cane
Cheesecake
Citronella
Creamsicle
Chestnuts
Compost
Cappuccino
Cologne


What other scents can you think of from A-C that might be useful in writing? Let me know in the comments! 

The Silky Cloak: 33 Textures to use in Writing

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

As writers, we're always looking to add sensory details to our projects. This pulls the reader further into the story and makes them part of the experience. Normally, we concentrate on what our characters see or hear, sometimes what they smell or even what they're eating. But one great use of sensory input that is often overlooked is the sense of touch through various textures. Writing about the soft smoothness of silk or the roughness of a brick wall has the ability to bring the reader right into the story through their own personal experience and senses. It can also make them feel pleasurable sensations or perhaps become repulsed by something unpleasant, such as a mouthful of dirt or sand.

Below, I've compiled a list of textures to use in writing. I hope you have fun with these and find ways to use them in your poetry, short stories, or book projects.

1. Leather
2. Velvet
3. Wood
4. Paper
5. Glass
6. Metal
7. Linen
8. Cotton
9. Plastic
10. Sponge
11. Silk
12. Lace
13. Polished Stone
14. Skin
15. Dirt
16. Sand
17. Grass
18. Marble
19. Feathery
20. Greasy
21. Slippery
22. Grainy
23. Slimy
24. Sharp
25. Steel
26. Concrete
27. Fur
28. Brick
29. Cork
30. Rubber
31. Bumpy
32. Flaky
33. Powdery 

What other textures can you think of? Let me know in the comments!

Please check back tomorrow for my next Wizard of Writing blog post: The Fragrant Cauldron: Using Unique Scents in Writing—PART I

Sounds of the Moon: Using Music for Writing Inspiration

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

Throughout my life, music has been a soundtrack for special events and moments in time. It seems only fitting to apply my love of music to my love of writing and find inspiration through melody. Early on in my writing career, I found that music not only helped me when I was writing a manuscript draft or poetry, it also helped me away from my writing. Sitting on the couch, absorbed in a song through my headphones, my mind would form scenes and imagery. Characters ran during uptempo, they cried in downtempo. Plots sprung to mind listening to the voices of folk singers and their tales through song, and themes became apparent through soft new age music that let me reflect on my work. 

Some of my favorite music to write to is new age, so I’m providing a few of the albums that have aided me in the past and currently. While everyone has different tastes in music, some of these albums should inspire you as well, particularly if you write about magic or life quests as I do. Most of these albums have no words, as I feel that during the actual writing process it’s difficult to concentrate with words, but you might feel differently. Some people thrive when writing amongst noise or even with music blaring! If this is you, it might be useful to make playlists of your favorite albums or songs to write to. Songs can even inspire characters—edgy characters might fully form after listening to hard rock/alternative music for example. 

Without further ado, here is a list of albums that might be helpful to you as a writer. Listen while writing, or while away from writing, and I do hope these songs inspire you!

1. Medwyn Goodall

Always a favorite, Medwyn Goodall's music is ethereal and uplifting. Very good for writing magic.

2. Gary Stadler

These are some of my favorite albums to write to, especially when it comes to writing fantasy and magic genres. Some of my favorite albums are: Deep Within a Faerie Forest, Fairy Heart Magic, Fairy Lullabies, Fairy Nightsongs, and Fairy of the Woods.

3. Nox Arcana

For horror writers, you really can't do better than the music of Nox Arcana. Dark, mysterious, and gothic, Nox Arcana is the best out there for macabre writing music. 

4. Threefold

So you like to write about witches. This is definitely one of the best new age albums as far as music with very little lyrics and witchy themes.

5. Llewellyn

If you follow my blog, you know I like colors. Colour Healing by Llewellyn covers every color of the rainbow through song. It's a fun album with no lyrics and it should inspire writing. 

6. David Arkenstone

Pretty much everything by David Arkenstone is perfect for background music while writing, although some songs do have lyrics. He has way too many albums to list here, but some of my favorites include Atlantis, The Fairy Garden, Loveren, and Snowfall. This music will definitely take you away to other worlds. 

7. Secret Garden

Many people are familiar with Secret Garden or have listened to them while growing up. These are beautiful and sometimes melancholy melodies that I guarantee will put you in another emotional state. 

8. Christopher Caouette

I had the pleasure of emailing with Christopher Caouette a few years back after writing about his music on my website. This is perfect music to write to if you're writing fantasy, dragons, or sword and sorcery books. 

9. 2002

Soft, moving music to have in the background when you don't want anything too obtrusive. 

10. Carolyn Fazio

I include this one for sentimental purposes. Enchanted World is the first new age music I remember writing to with my first manuscript, so many years ago. I barely remember it, except to say I had this fountain with lights that would turn different colors, and I used to run that in conjunction with this CD and write while everyone else in the world was out having fun in the summer. I don't think Carolyn Fazio has other CDs, but Enchanted World, to me, is a memorable classic. 

What are some of the songs and albums you listen to while writing? Let me know in the comments!

The Magician: Using Tarot Cards for Writing Inspiration

Greetings, Wizard Writers!

One element of writing that even advanced, professional writers often forget is the importance of freewriting. This would include sitting down for a few minutes before the real writing takes place and getting thoughts and impressions down as a warm-up exercise. In fact, it helps to think of freewriting that way: the warm-up exercise before we push ourselves into the heavy stuff.

In the past, I've tried freewriting with inspiration from household items I happened to spot around me, such as baskets or even apples. I would open a writing file and just start typing away about the color of the basket, the specific contents, or the sage green liner that was covered in a thin layer of dust. This approach helped, but one day I ran into freewriting inspiration in an unexpected place: my tarot card collection.

At a young age, I was exposed to new age elements, such as crystal balls and astrology. My mother is an astrologist, and I was always curious about how all of that worked. In my teen years, I learned how to do astrology and developed my own collection of new age items. Connecting my creative writing with tarot cards was unanticipated, but I'm so pleased that I did. There are so many ways to use these cards creatively, and even if you are not a new age fan, it might be a good idea to collect a few packs for writing inspiration. Here's what I mean.

From: The Gilded Tarot by C. Marchetti

Art as Inspiration. Tarot cards act as little pieces of art. The one pictured above from The Gilded Tarot is one of my favorites. Here, we get a miniature piece of artwork to use as inspiration. Just prop it up next to you and get going. You can freewrite about the white dove, the rainbow spilling out of (or into) the gold goblet, the fire, the ivy, or any combination of these elements. I think it might be fun to write a story about the entire card!

From: Ghost Tarot by D. Cozsi

Writing Prompts. Looking for story prompts to use for freewriting? Pulling out a random tarot card or going through the deck is useful. For example, look at the tarot card above from Ghost Tarot. What might the backstory be here? What happened or is going to happen between these two, a ghost and a non-ghost character? Is the ghost sad? Why does he seem to be escorting her?

From: Divine Circus Oracle by A. Fairchild

Characters. How about freewriting for character development? Look at all the faces, expressions, and hair colors here (Divine Circus Oracle). Look at the shape of the chin in the first card, the soft hair and dark eyes in the second card, the gothic look of the third card, and the uniqueness of the redhead in the fourth card. Characters on cards are awesome for freewriting, especially when we need more details in our character descriptions. This is one of my favorite freewriting exercises.

From: The Well Worn Path by R. Grimassi and S. Taylor

Outdoor Themes. Natural settings on tarot cards are useful as inspiration as well. Freewriting is especially fun when using a natural theme for poetry or just short musings. Look at the water and the rocks in the first card, the mountain and tree in the second card, the autumnal elements on the third card, and the harvest setting on the fourth card. There is much to write about here!

From: The Gothic Tarot by J. Vargo

Symbolism. Finally, another good way to get your mind thinking outside of the box through freewriting is with the symbolism found on many tarot cards. A quick, easy example is from a common card called The Star. A star can symbolize so much, such as a journey, hope, luck, a guiding light, or a bright new opportunity. Looking through the guidebooks that are included in many tarot card packs, I think you'll find that the tarot cards have specific meanings that might be used in writing. Also, the characters on the cards might be useful as archetypes in writing. The possibilities are endless.

I would highly recommend collecting tarot card packs, as they truly do inspire. As mentioned, even if you're not a new age type of person, the cards can serve as mini pieces of art, and many authors have been known to gain inspiration through artwork. Let me know how you make out with this journey, and if you need advice on card packs to acquire. I do have a vast collection!

Recommended Book: Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner

Recommended Website for Tarot Cards: Llewellyn http://www.llewellyn.com/browse_tarot_and_divination.php

Check back Friday for my next Wizard of Writing blog post: Sounds of the Moon: Using Music for Writing Inspiration