Power Tools For Writers, Part Two

Last summer, single-handedly and ill-equipped, I began to remodel my kitchen. In a burst of novice enthusiasm, I sledged through studs and ripped up floors. I hung drywall and knifed mud. I tiled, grouted, griped and complained. Then, frustrated and over my head, I walked off the job. It’s ...Last summer, single-handedly and ill-equipped, I began to remodel my kitchen. In a burst of novice enthusiasm, I sledged through studs and ripped up floors. I hung drywall and knifed mud. I tiled, grouted, griped and complained. Then, frustrated and over my head, I walked off the job. It’s now a year later, and unfinished trim work taunts me.

Writers often face the same dilemma: After fits of inspired toil, they hit the proverbial wall. Sometimes writer’s block is to blame, but just as often it comes down to having the right tools for the job. Next time you’re stuck in construction, power up with these:

• Photographs. Images are a great way to tap the visual cortex for ideas. Need to nail the description of a landscape or a character’s chin? Whip out a National Geographic or People and you’ll find dozens of each. Want to flesh out your antagonist’s history? Find an old yearbook or photo album and start lifting details. To really power up, create a collage by pasting hundreds of overlapping images to a poster board. Unexpected contrasts will spark your imagination every time.

• Objects. You know that kitchen drawer full of random junk? Or that trunk of memorabilia in your attic? Gather a bunch of items and lay them on a table. Each one will have a different function, association or story behind it. Who wears those old snakeskin boots? What emotions or memories do they evoke? How do they smell? Their history and tactile qualities can inform and inspire your writing.

• Prompts. Writing prompts are an excellent way to tap into your creativity and move in directions you wouldn’t normally go. Use them to get warmed up, spark ideas, or generate fresh material. If you’re having trouble developing a character or engaging her in a plot, write a prompt from her point of view and see what happens. Find hundreds of free prompts at www.creativewritingprompts.com.

• Therapy Room. Get comfy, close your eyes, breathe. Imagine an empty white room. Put a couch in there if you want, and invite your writing problems in for an interview. Maybe your protagonist lacks motivation. Sit him down to talk about it. Ask pointed questions and listen to his answers. Structural problem in your non-fiction book? Invite it in for a session and see what it has to say. For a twist, put yourself on the couch and have your problem interview you.

Ever heard of a pneumatic angled finish nailer? Me either—until the Home Depot guy said it would make my trim work a snap. All kinds of obscure tools for all kinds of different jobs exist out there, each adaptable to your unique writing challenges. Once they’re in your hands, and you know how to use them, few jobs are out of reach.