Writers Tricks of the Trade VOLUME 8, ISSUE 4 | Page 31

G IS FOR G ETTING U NSTUCK
M ORGAN S T . J AMES
E XCERPT FROM THE W RITERS T RICKS OF THE T RADE B OOK
This is a new year. But are you stuck in a rut doing the same old things you have al-
ways done? Habit can be your worst enemy, so make a resolution to try some new
things. Back when I was an interior designer, my partner and I entered into a project
with another designer. She had standard treatments she did for every job, never trying
anything different. When we asked why she kept repeating herself, she answered,
“What else?”
I
t doesn’t matter if you write fiction,
nonfiction or poetry—writers pretty
much base everything upon their own
imagination and experiences. In Chapter 8
we discussed how our imagination is trig-
gered by things we’ve seen, learned or
actually lived through. In the beginning,
we have a basket full of ideas just waiting
to be developed, but eventually we work
our way through most of them. Then
what? How to come up with fresh scenar-
ios and characters?
Are you a creature of habit?
W INTER 2019
Do you take the same route from place
to place whenever you travel between
certain destinations? Do you have favorite
restaurants and limit yourself to what you
know and love on their menu? Is there a
style that defines you? Do you only read
favorite authors?
The list could go on and on. We do
these things because it’s comfortable.
Most people like certain places and foods,
or feel good in certain types of clothes or
surroundings.
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W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE