I'm filled with millions of story/book ideas, but I'm having problems putting them to paper. Can anyone help?

Question

I majoring in creative writing in College. I wrote a book in college. I graduated, and my muse left me.

I have a whole portfolio of story starters, with accompanying outlines. BUT I'm stuck. I try to focus. I even tried recreating my dorm room (to the extent that my husband will let me) to try to invite my muse back.

Can anyone else help me out???

Answer 1

This may sound strange, but... is there any conflict in your life? Sometimes if there is little or no conflict (such as, you're living happy ever after with you husband, everything's a perfect dream come true), then there is no reason to use your creative outlet. Art comes from pain- and I'm willing to bet writing was your escape for a long time. Try to think about either (a) the happiest moment of your life, and if that doesn't work, (b) get lost in the worst part of your past. Induce a depression. Face your deepest fears. It ALWAYS stirs something creative.

Answer 2

The best thing you can do is keep writing. The fact you have too much stuff going on is a good sign. It means the well is far from dry (and that's the worst - overflow you can hope to manage, but a dry well can be the death of an author).
What you should do is write every day, and take some time aside to re-write what you've written. Make decisions about which themes you're willing to pursue, and which you think you can let go for now. Eventually, you'll find you're able to mold a few ideas into a coherent whole. Those are the ideas you want to pursue.
Keep writing and re-reading. Your work will form itself through the process.

Answer 3

I try a technique called "brainmapping" which is sort of like creating a visual tree beginning with a one-word (or phrase) idea in the middle of a blank piece of paper. Put a shape around it, then let that focus trigger other words or short phrases that branch out from the "trunk" of that tree. Each word or phrase can also trigger further branches that can trigger even more ideas.

When you feel you can't put anything further down on the paper, you're done. Look at the "brain map" and see just how many ideas sprang from that one beginning word. You just might surprise yourself!

Answer 4

you need to get out of the room and into the world, where creativity flows. four walls are not a good avenue for adventure to continue, this is where it began.
go forth into the lands to find fantasies galore. the world is full of the adventures you seek, not the dorm room in which you sit. don't focus too hard, you might miss the greatest idea right in front of you.
the sky is your limit to ideas, the ground is the place to step out onto before you jump into the pages of your wildest thrills. go get your foothold on the side of the mountain and turn your head and look around....whheeee!

Answer 5

Open a 360 page, write the story down in bite sized chunks (2-5 pages at a time) and post it. Actually I find music and a picture to focus on helps also.

-Dio

Answer 6

Lots of people have this problem, including me.

What I find works best is to take one of your ideas and write a part of it that is well-defined in your mind. When I do this it helps me to find a direction and voice for the story.

Author Jeanette Ingold recommends going out to staples or office depot or any office supply store and just buying lots of new supplies like post-its or pens or paper. Sometimes this can motivate you to write.

Answer 7

Get a tape recorder and tell it your story ideas. Maybe hearing them back will motivate you to writing them down. OR you could try listening to the same music you listened to in college. Sounds silly but it works.

Answer 8

You could try writing the ending first then work toward it.

Answer 9

drink beer

get a pencil and some paper

maybe go to a museum to catch another slower one