Saturday, December 20, 2008

A Writer's Most Important Tool Is ...



Her imagination. Creative spirit. How is yours doing? Do you cultivate it? Do you ask "what if?"? Do you look at people and wonder about their lives, their worlds? Do you watch clouds go by and see great imaginary creatures? Do you see pictures in your mind when you hear music?

Try an experiment. Or, rather, make it a daily routine. Consider it rather like a multi-vitamin for your writer's mind.

Use your imagination. Look around you the next time you are on the bus, or riding in the car, or wandering the aisles of the supermarket. When you see a person, or a place, wonder about it. Try to imagine it as completely different from what it seems.

That warehouse looks ordinary. But what COULD it be?

Could it be a warehouse for larger than life tin soldiers? Or a hiding place for some lost boys?

That elderly gentleman looks harmless. But are secret plans to take over the world unfolding in the mind of that oh-so-benign looking man? Are lusty scenarios being concoted in that bland young girl staring into space in the next seat?

Is the fella sitting next to you an accountant, or an alien?

Is the woman selecting canned peas a foreign spy?

Use your imagination.

It will only get better.

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