How to Start a New Piece of Fiction
Exercises to Get Your Creativity Flowing
One of the most common problems writers face is finding the inspiration – whether it be a character, a specific setting, or that one perfect line – to start a new project. The following exercises are excellent stepping-stones for beginning any new piece of fiction, long or short.
Eavesdropping
Go to a busy public location – this could be anywhere from a mall to a pub to a city bus – and find a place to sit that is close to other people. From your spot, listen to a conversation being carried out by others. (Note: it is usually easiest to do this with pairs of people, so as to avoid confusion of who is speaking at any given time.) Write the conversation down in a notebook exactly as you hear it, making note of tone, slang used, dialect, etc.
When you get back to your computer, take another look at the conversation you heard. Did anything exciting get discussed? Did someone’s manner of speaking strike you as intriguing, or even annoying? Use the conversation as a starting point, and write a scene involving these characters. You can use direct phrases from the conversation, but feel free to expand on who you think these characters are. Before you know it, you may have an entire story to write!
Idiosyncrasies
For this exercise, start by imagining a person – this person can be either gender, as long as you imagine them to be the most normal and plain person in the world. Make a list of this person’s very “normal” characteristics – what do they wear? What do they eat for dinner every day? Do they have pets? What is their job? What is their hobby?
Now think of a funny or odd idiosyncrasy for your character. Maybe he is deathly afraid of all yellow fruit; maybe she told her husband she quit smoking, but she hasn’t; maybe he waits by the front window of his house every morning, unable to start his day before watching the paper boy deliver the newspaper at 5am.
Finally, bring these two elements together – put your character into a situation in which their idiosyncrasy would become an issue. What if the man afraid of bananas were forced to eat one, or the smoking woman was caught by her husband? What if the paper boy just didn’t show up one day? Start with an idiosyncratic conflict and see where it takes you.
The Everyday Spot
Imagine a place that you visit often – the grocery store, the movie store, or a coffee shop, for example. Write a brief (250-500 words) description of what this place looks like, what the general “vibe” or feeling of the place is, and who usually spends time there.
Now think of someone who would clash completely with this setting, for one reason or another. Perhaps they do not “belong” in such a location, or they have a personal problem with someone who spends a lot of time in this place.
Once again, bring the two elements together. Write a piece that recounts what would happen if this person were to arrive in a setting they did not belong in. What conflicts would occur? Who or what would be affected? Would the place change as a result? Would the person adapt to the setting?
Remember, these are just a few of many exercises that can get you writing. For more excellent suggestions, check out the writing and publishing section of your local bookstore!
Tips for Writing Fiction
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