Hello and Happy Wednesday profilic penners! As I share my creative works and stories with you all, I also want to express the origin in which my stories are derived from. I will be completely transparent with you all, when I say that even my short stories have been written multiple times over before an initial submission. This is solely because I usually come across ideas or experiences throughout my day that spark inspiration within me. When this happens, I make note of these bursts of inspiration on my iPhone or a notebook, if it is available at the time. Throughout the years of school and English classes, there has been a standard when generating ideas for a story. These standards can appear in the forms of visual aides such as diagrams, lists and webs. The most infamous method that I had been subjected to throughout elementary and high school ,was the web diagrams. Let me be transparent when I say that these diagrams are the bane of my existence. Instead the method that has helped me the most is using a bulleted/ numbered list.

The bulleted list that I use is structured like so:

• Setting: Seattle, Washington & Bellevue Washington .

• Characters: Elizabeth, Eric, Jessica.

• Scenery: South Seattle & Bellevue Community College.

• Character developments: Elizabeth- personality, education, hobbies, strengths/weaknesses.
• Eric- personality, profession, education, hobbies, strengths/weaknesses.

• Objects/symbolism: knife, journal, alarm clock.
• Character Narrations: Transition from Elizabeth’s to Eric’s point of view.

This list has tremendously helped me to organize my thoughts, as I prepare to start the beginning of my story. Every writer is different within their approach on how they prefer to organize their brainstorming ideas. In addition to this, I have provided an external link for tips and tricks on how to organize your thoughts when preparing to write a story.

The above article provides a more comprehensive breakdown of each category that will be imminent within any creative story. I hope you enjoy this brief post and please feel free to comment your methodologies that help you with your creative stories! Thank you for stopping by!

Reference:

Jerz, Dennis G. “Short Story Tips: 10 Hacks to Improve Your Creative Writing.” Jerz’s Literacy Weblog (Est. 1999), 30 Mar. 2011, https://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/.