Sometimes the Muse Just Isn't Listening - An Idea Jar For Writers
Jamieson Villeneuve
June 25, 2007
Quite often, when trying to write, nothing will come. I despise sitting in front of the computer, or at my journal, staring at a blank page. I find that when I have no idea to write, or the Muse just isn't there to give you guidance, it's hard to force out words when there is nothing to inspire them.
There are many ways to kick start your imagination, but I find that nothing works better than an Idea Jar. While a piece of writing created with the help of an Idea Jar may not be a fit for a novel or a short story, the idea is to clear your head so that the writers block goes away. And sometimes, let's face it; The Muses need a little help every now and again.
WHAT THE HECK ARE IDEA JARS?
Idea Jars are great things for writers to have. They're jars (or bowls, or whatever you'd like to us) filled with pieces of paper with ideas on them. That way, if you want to write and the Muse isn't there to help you, you can pull a piece of paper from the Idea Jar and have a starting point.
Some believe that the format for Idea Jars started as a party game, kind of like an 18th century version of Telephone or Telegram. Someone would pull a piece of paper out of a jar or bowl and start a conversation. The next person would pull out another piece of paper and use what was written there as their response, and so on.
The Idea Jar works in very much the same way, except we're really opening a door for our imagination and giving our writing a spark to light that fire.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
A jar or bowl. You can even decorate your jar any way you wish! Just as long as you feel it's a good place to store ideas.
A pen
Some paper
A pair of scissors
WHAT TO DO
Take your pen and paper and start writing little snippets or words, whatever comes to mind. Don't even think of what you're writing down; just get them down on paper. Leave a bit of space between each word or phrase.
When you're done, your page should look something like this:
Gumdrops
I went sailing today with John
There are monsters under my bed
Snowflakes
Wheat crackers
Coffee keeps me awake
The stars are bright tonight
A statue come to life
Computers
We are the brain behind computers
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Blue stones on my tongue
Stars are wishes held in place
Kleenex
Do you hear the music?
Etc….
Once you have your sheet filled (or several sheets. You can have as many ideas as you want) cut the paper so each phrase, snippet or word is on a separate piece of paper. Then put them in your Idea Jar and mix them up.
You can even print out this page and cut up the ideas I've written above, just to get you started.
Next time you're sitting at the computer or with a blank page in front of you with nothing to write, dip your hand in the idea jar and pull out a piece of paper and use what's there to get your started. It works, try it!
Whatever you write, it can be the starting point for a short story, a novel, a poem, or just a refresher for your Muse and imagination. Either way, that spark will be lit and the possibilities are endless.
Now that you have your very own idea jar, ideas will always be at your fingertips!
For more writing inspiration, make sure to check out WRITE NOW! Exercises for the Aspiring Writer at http://want-to-write-now.tripod.com
There are many ways to kick start your imagination, but I find that nothing works better than an Idea Jar. While a piece of writing created with the help of an Idea Jar may not be a fit for a novel or a short story, the idea is to clear your head so that the writers block goes away. And sometimes, let's face it; The Muses need a little help every now and again.
WHAT THE HECK ARE IDEA JARS?
Idea Jars are great things for writers to have. They're jars (or bowls, or whatever you'd like to us) filled with pieces of paper with ideas on them. That way, if you want to write and the Muse isn't there to help you, you can pull a piece of paper from the Idea Jar and have a starting point.
Some believe that the format for Idea Jars started as a party game, kind of like an 18th century version of Telephone or Telegram. Someone would pull a piece of paper out of a jar or bowl and start a conversation. The next person would pull out another piece of paper and use what was written there as their response, and so on.
The Idea Jar works in very much the same way, except we're really opening a door for our imagination and giving our writing a spark to light that fire.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
A jar or bowl. You can even decorate your jar any way you wish! Just as long as you feel it's a good place to store ideas.
A pen
Some paper
A pair of scissors
WHAT TO DO
Take your pen and paper and start writing little snippets or words, whatever comes to mind. Don't even think of what you're writing down; just get them down on paper. Leave a bit of space between each word or phrase.
When you're done, your page should look something like this:
Gumdrops
I went sailing today with John
There are monsters under my bed
Snowflakes
Wheat crackers
Coffee keeps me awake
The stars are bright tonight
A statue come to life
Computers
We are the brain behind computers
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Blue stones on my tongue
Stars are wishes held in place
Kleenex
Do you hear the music?
Etc….
Once you have your sheet filled (or several sheets. You can have as many ideas as you want) cut the paper so each phrase, snippet or word is on a separate piece of paper. Then put them in your Idea Jar and mix them up.
You can even print out this page and cut up the ideas I've written above, just to get you started.
Next time you're sitting at the computer or with a blank page in front of you with nothing to write, dip your hand in the idea jar and pull out a piece of paper and use what's there to get your started. It works, try it!
Whatever you write, it can be the starting point for a short story, a novel, a poem, or just a refresher for your Muse and imagination. Either way, that spark will be lit and the possibilities are endless.
Now that you have your very own idea jar, ideas will always be at your fingertips!
For more writing inspiration, make sure to check out WRITE NOW! Exercises for the Aspiring Writer at http://want-to-write-now.tripod.com
Print
Email
