CHAPTER 2 - A Short Course In Creative Writing

 CHAPTER 2

Ideas and Their Origins

The kiss of inspiration snuck up one evening and kissed you quite unexpectedly. From that moment an idea rattled around your brain like a pea in a can. That idea will constantly niggle you like a child tugging on your trousers. The idea must have expression - that is just how it is. 

·         The idea is growing. It will convince you that it is definitely original and no one has ever thought of such an amazing idea before. In fact this idea will slowly consume you and compel you to tell everyone about it.

·         Great – write it down. An idea is great; however, it is just an asteroid floating around space until gravity captures it and brings it into reality. It then becomes the shooting star!

·         Buy yourself a writing journal and keep a scrapbook. Capture everything related to this idea and allow the idea to germinate and grow.

·         Before we go any further – does this idea give you a sense of passion? Does it make you want to spend hours developing and refining? Does the thought of spending two hours a day making this idea reality appeal?

·         IDEAS-> MASS OF IDEAS-> FILTER-> FINAL IDEA-> BACKGROUND-> CHARACTERS-> THEME-> LOCATION-> STORY-> ERA-> GENRE-> FULL CONCEPT-> WORKING TITLE-> PREPARE TO BEGIN.

 

The Source of Inspiration

The Art of Noticing

 

Have you ever considered what you notice and why you notice it?

We all have very different ways of filtering the world around us and each of us approach situations with completely different systems of identification. Take for example a party environment. One person will notice conversations, another will notice body language and maybe another will notice aromas or outfits.

 

As an interesting exercise write down three things that you notice in any given situation. Once you have listed three usual/obvious items, I suggest you search for three less obvious traits/details. In addition, attempt to notice using different senses. That way you open up your mind to extended noticing.

 

With what you have noticed consider how you witness the world around you.

Are you primarily visual, auditory or do you notice smells?

Try sharing this idea with a friend and compare what you notice. Is it the same?

What can you learn from how other people notice the world? How can you apply this learning to your writing? How could you enable an insight into a character through the ways in which they notice?

 

 

Story Generation

 

In a world filled by stories, where do we actually originate inspiration?

Some questions you may wish to consider once you have established what you wish to write:

Why do we want to write it? One needs a ‘why’ for motivation. Is the ‘why’ to write your life story for future generations? Is it a burning desire to put on paper a story that has been floating about your mind for years?

 

Will writing this story provide us with pure enjoyment or enable us to experience life from a different perspective?

 

How will you reward yourself once you have written this story? Rewarding yourself for completion is something paramount. I ask my students to list a reward, it is usually the following: a spa day, a new handbag, pretty new shoes, track days, adventure day out or a dinner at a nice restaurant. The point of having a reward is to celebrate your success. That way you train yourself to complete what you start.

 

Back to the story: The truth is that stories are everywhere; it is just a case of noticing them. Some of the more obvious examples come from newspapers, magazines, television, history, myths, fairy tales and our own lives.

 

 

With all this in mind, have a look at the below checklist to make sure you have clarity:

·         What is it that you wish to write?

·         What is the idea?

·         What is its theme?

·         Why must you share this with the world?

·         Who would be interested?

·         What are the key components of the idea?

·         What can they be linked to?

·         What is your intended outcome? – A novel, a short story or an epic?

·         What would you like to gain from the journey of writing this?

·         What are the emotions involved?

·         What research is involved?

·         What locations do you need to visit? 

·         Who could you talk to about the idea?

·         Who will give you genuine feedback?

·         What is the location? What is the era/timeframe?

·         Who are your characters and why do they appeal?

·         What is the story really about?

·         Why is it that we wish to write the story?

·         Who will it appeal to?

·         Is it real?

·         If it is fiction, does something similar already exist?

·         What genre?

·         Whose point of view?

·         How can I make this unique?

·         What can I bring to this that is purely mine?

·         What is my reward?

Once we have an idea or a theme – how do we expand and evolve our ideas?

Some of the obvious examples are as follows:

·         Brain storms with cards. Write on cards and arrange them into a story.

·         Mind map. Draw a diagram and have arrows and boxes leading in all directions.

·         Cutting construction. Make cuttings from magazines and use these as prompts.

·         Random word prompt. Take a walk, listen out to conversations and use a word that jumps out at you to be your prompt.

·         Random theme prompt. It could be love, travel, sport – any theme can prompt you.

·         Object story generation. Take two random objects and write a story that links them.

·         Open random book/dictionary on a page. Find a theme there.

·         Internet idea generator:  http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=quickstory

 

 

Problem Solving as a Story Generator

 

One of my favourite ways to initiate a story is simply the action of solving a problem. Take for example the following:

·         Overhearing a conversation that affects a friend. How do you let them know?

·         The craving for a bacon sandwich but having no bacon in the fridge.

·         Having to shop for a gift for someone who has everything.

·         The need for a cup of sugar when you have moved into a new flat.

·         The response to a power cut.

·         A problem often initiates a journey. Take for example taking a pregnant friend to hospital.

·         Discovering someone jammed in a window.

·         Being locked out of your house.

·         Being stuck in a lift.

 

 

A Random Object as a Story Generator

 

If in doubt, find a random object and make a story for the object.

Objects often have stories of their own. Who created the object? How did the object come into the possession of the present owner? What is special about the object? By having something real in front of you it becomes easier to stimulate the mind. The Hare With The Amber Eyes is a novel that traces a family’s history based on rare objects that were collected by the family.

 

Filtering Down

 

Once we begin brainstorming, we soon realise that there is a potential story explosion. If we are not careful we can be consumed by creative chaos.  With this in mind, after expanding our creative potential, we now need to structure and narrow down all the ideas. There are a number of techniques for this.

·         Lists common themes.

·         Colour coding/circling.

·         The arrangement of cards which lists the details to generate the structure of the story.

LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

https://soundcloud.com/ruby-allure/creativewriting-edit-99-retail-sample-mastered

 

 

LINK TO BUY ON AUDIBLE:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/A-Short-Course-In-Creative-Writing-Audiobook/B012OVUKE8/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1443260320&sr=1-1

 

LINK TO PAPERBACK ON AMAZON.COM

A Short Course in Creative Writing
by Ms Ruby Allure
Link: http://amzn.com/1517234832



 

 

A Bit of News and A Wedding Speech to Deliver

One Wedding Speech to Make for my Best Friend!

Today is a big day. I am making a wedding speech in a ceremony for my best friend. There is somewhat of a magic feel about this because this week has been quite a week. The Short Course in Creative Writing came out in paperback, along with Love Hunt 1 - Dating Game. Then to make the world an even better place Love Hunt - Dating Game came out in audio. Honestly, I know I wrote it; the thing is Helen Lloyd has created something spectacular! I am so proud of how she managed to switch between a Russian accent and an English accent.

So it seems the theme for the following week is love. With that in mind, I have decided to re-arrange my book-sharing schedule and will post 5 chapters of Love Hunt with some audio samples. This book has been my top seller and has had the most discussion at work. I guess it is something that we can all identify with - relationships, the hunt for love and the strange behaviours that people experience on the journey to find their perfect mate. The thing is while I was writing Love Hunt my best friend endured all the stories with me. She was shocked, horrified and delighted on numerous occasions. While I scaled the numerous obstacle courses in pursuit of love destiny delighted my best friend. When one of my other rowing crew and I spotted a chap that suited her at a rowing party. We created a cunning plan, made them talk to each other and then as all best friends do - we abandoned them! Yes we warned him that if anything happened a team of Amazonian warriors would pursue him and hunt him down.. Now, a few years later I get to share the story in front of all their loved ones. It is so wonderful that destiny bought them together and now on this day of their love - my Love Hunt book has arrived in audible. Happy? Gosh - joy!

 

LINK TO AUDIBLE FOR LOVE HUNT http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Love-Hunt-Dating-Game-Audiobook/B015G4ICYA/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1442567974&sr=1-4

Come on admit it - as much as we deny it - we ladies like a good love hunt.
We have tick lists, ideals, and we hunt in high-heeled packs. Of course, we're all hunting for that elusive right man who ticks every box and even has tidy nostril hair. Okay maybe not you, but you know other ladies who love the hunt.
Well, it's time for Eva and Gracie to love hunt, and their "targets" are rich men - the golden sperm. Such exciting escapades would provide the pair with entertaining discussions during their dull office hours - or so they thought. What they did not anticipate was the discovery of the "booby man"; humorous but very hard truths about wealth, themselves, power; and the RichIdiot.com phenomenon.
The question remains: can love really be hunted?

TO LISTEN - SOUND CLOUD https://soundcloud.com/ruby-allure/lovehunt1-sample

New Book Release - Goylegate - One Gargantuan Scandal!

Goylegate - One Gargantuan Scandal!

 

LINK TO GOYLEGATE on Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Goylegate-One-Gargantuan-Scandal-ebook/dp/B014TAKSRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441312536&sr=8-1&keywords=goylegate

This week sees Goylegate - One Gargantuan Scandal! enter the Kindle book market. I will be interested to see what happens with this one because this is the one that was so close to being agented and auctioned. When it was in its original form I sold loads of these from the desk.

It was after the disappointment of this book being dropped (hugely hurt ego after blowing everything out of proportion) along with growing bored with rejection letters that I decided to go it alone. That decision is what directed me to learn all that I could about the indie market and triggered me to find new and entrepreneurial ways to get my creations out there. Life is strange; however, this book opened so many doors for me. In fact I still love it even though it was one of my first.

Oh, and this story was written because a friend of mine kind of has it all. It was her birthday so I asked her what she wanted. She replied: 'A story about Gargoyles.' Unfortunately I could not write a short story instead I came up with a  whole children's novel. I hope you enjoy it!

Ruby writes books to inspire and fascinate others!

 

Goylegate

One Gargantuan Scandal – Book 1

 

By

Ruby Allure

 

Published by Ruby Allure at Kindle.

 

Copyright  Ruby Allure

This book shall not be lent, resold or hired out by way of trade or otherwise without the author’s consent. All rights remain with the author: Ruby

Kindle Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

Especially created for little Davina.

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

The person with the most natural bounce I ever met.

Thank you for being an inspiration.

Thank you for advising me that Gargoyles eat walls

- I never knew that before.

 

Part I

What does a kid really remember?

 

CHAPTER 1

The fastest pace throughout the chase.

 

TIME: TODAY

LOCATION: ENGLAND

 

Davina hated being chased. So why was she in that situation? With her heart pounding, she glanced behind her. The beefy black-suited men were catching up. She gritted her teeth, put her head down and ran her absolute fastest. Effortlessly, she wove through the crowds with such speed and agility that she was barely even noticed. It was as if a warm breath had been exhaled and then she was gone.

In all directions, the hunters yelled into small lumps of black.

‘Cut her off!’ screamed the voice in charge.

How had the situation grown so out of hand? One minute she was eating from the large dark container on the street, the next she was being hunted. What was the problem? She had watched a hairy man with a long jacket eat from the cabbage smelling place. So why were they picking on her? Admittedly she was small, acrobatic, with long, dark hair and pale skin. Nothing that unusual, other than her blue freckles.

‘Stop right there!’ a brawny bloke had hollered.

Instinctively she had scarpered. The chase began with one angry-looking man and now there were already ten involved. She had done nothing wrong! Well, certainly nothing she could remember. 

The screeching sound of the wheeled, metal cages jerked her from her thoughts. Her pursuers intended to surround her. There was no way! She had to escape but she was at that designated place for a reason - but why? There had to be a clue…

Davina rounded a corner and searched for an escape or somewhere to hide. The crowd parted and watched her curiously. She wasn’t panting or making a noise, so why were they staring? Maybe running, climbing and jumping at a rate none of them could manage was something to do with it. Or was she more agile than many children her age? Actually, what was her age? That was a completely different matter.

Ahead of her, two burly black-suits blocked her path. She glanced behind her - four grimacing men, waving their arms, attempted to round her up like a chicken. The onlookers expected her capture and stopped in the street, gawking. Why couldn’t people mind their own business? What did it matter what she had eaten or where she had obtained it from? Maybe they had been monitoring where she slept at night. Had they followed her to the place where people pulled down their trousers and sat for a while before they left again? All she did was climb through a small, square window when the moon rose. It was completely opposite to her usual routine, but she had to live the same rhythm as the ‘outsiders’.

With a deep breath, she sprinted towards the two chunky chasers blocking her path. ‘Idiots!’ she muttered, ran sideways up a wall and used a dustbin to launch herself clear over them.

Some of the gawping onlookers applauded.

With an elegant landing, she continued. As she raced along, she glimpsed a reflection in a window: the two male black-suits huffed at each other, puffed out their chests and lolloped back into a heavy-footed run.

Frantically, she searched for a place to hide. The church - the same church she had woken up outside of on that first day. She hurdled the wall, sprinted the graveyard but ground to an abrupt halt. Something about the carved, stone figures leaning out of the church jogged her memory. Were they associated with her mission?

She scurried to the nearest grey, stone wall, ingrained with yellow and green lichen. Using all her upper body strength and her fingers like claws, she navigated the carvings up to a balcony. The strangely familiar Gargoyle faces appeared to grin at her as she wedged herself into a tiny alcove on the roof. Had she heard a growl of welcome?

Below her, a small pile of steaming stones appeared. They tumbled heavily to the ground. Plop, plop, plop!

Cautiously, she traversed the edge of the roof and found a small nook to hide in. Unfortunately, it was not enough to conceal her from what was overhead. The whirring of blades from a metal flying machine made her jolt. Up in the sky, men shouted into the dark talking machines and called in her location. She caught her breath and clung to the ledge. The wind from the machine was strong and blew her hair across her face. Davina scraped it back and erratically scanned the area for escape. She considered fighting the black-suits directly, but that would give her away. Davina sighed, if only she could remember. ‘Whatever you do Davina - do not draw attention to yourself. She will send people to capture you. This is all you are supposed to remember,’ was all that remained.

What had she done? She had already drawn attention to herself and that meant trouble!

Davina gazed up at the whirring, flying machine and glanced below. The black-suits beneath circled like starving dogs. She had to take action. Her only possible escape was to leap to a nearby tree then across the adjacent field. Could she make it?

Davina took a deep breath launched herself along the balcony. Bang!

The bitter sting of something sharp bit into her behind. Darkness descended upon her. Time was lost with her last thought – who were the outsiders?