Cintia
asked
Jodi Meadows:
Hi, my name is Cintia and I'm from Argentina. Being a writer is what I want the most in this world, nothing makes me happier than writing, but I'm more and more frustrated with each passing day, because I've been blocked for 3 years. And it is not that I have an unfinished story. I have NOTHING AT ALL. A blank page in front of me, that only makes me sadder... Is there a way to overcome this? How do you handle it?
Jodi Meadows
Sometimes the best way to find ideas is to stop looking for them. You know how when you've lost your keys and you look and look for them all through the house. Finally, you call someone else who has a copy of the keys to come help you -- and then you find them?
Stories can be like that too, and the more you try to force a story to happen, the more stubborn it becomes.
Other ways that are great for getting ideas:
*Watch documentaries on nature, religion, politics, history, science -- whatever. Watch them all. They're cool.
*Read everything. Fiction, non-fiction, YA, MG, adult, picture books, cereal boxes. If you currently read one book a month, read two. Try to bump that up to three. And hunt down things you might not have looked for otherwise because they're in an area you don't normally venture. Read bestsellers, award-winners, those hidden gems no one knows about.
*Try journaling. Just write about your day, what you want, what you did, what you think -- everything. It will at least get your brain in the right space of thinking in words.
*Make an idea notebook. Try writing one "what if?" in it every day. It doesn't have to be good, just creative. "What if horses were pink?" "What if vampires sparkled?" Go wild.
*Try writing fan fiction. That way, the world and characters are done for you, and all you have to do is figure out a new complication or situation.
And finally, understand that one cannot be creative all the time. Even when the stories come back to you, there will be fallow seasons. It's okay. Your creativity needs time to grow again. And who knows? Maybe, right now, you're saving up for something really amazing.
Hope that helps!
Stories can be like that too, and the more you try to force a story to happen, the more stubborn it becomes.
Other ways that are great for getting ideas:
*Watch documentaries on nature, religion, politics, history, science -- whatever. Watch them all. They're cool.
*Read everything. Fiction, non-fiction, YA, MG, adult, picture books, cereal boxes. If you currently read one book a month, read two. Try to bump that up to three. And hunt down things you might not have looked for otherwise because they're in an area you don't normally venture. Read bestsellers, award-winners, those hidden gems no one knows about.
*Try journaling. Just write about your day, what you want, what you did, what you think -- everything. It will at least get your brain in the right space of thinking in words.
*Make an idea notebook. Try writing one "what if?" in it every day. It doesn't have to be good, just creative. "What if horses were pink?" "What if vampires sparkled?" Go wild.
*Try writing fan fiction. That way, the world and characters are done for you, and all you have to do is figure out a new complication or situation.
And finally, understand that one cannot be creative all the time. Even when the stories come back to you, there will be fallow seasons. It's okay. Your creativity needs time to grow again. And who knows? Maybe, right now, you're saving up for something really amazing.
Hope that helps!
More Answered Questions
Raven Whitehorn
asked
Jodi Meadows:
I want to be an author, of both books and graphic novels (would that make me an artist in both senses? writing and art?) I would like to know if you have any advice for me that includes colleges that promote writing, or books that would expand my knowledge of how to get my work out there. I have a wattpad account, which helps, but I want to get my work out there. Any tips? Thank you in advance.
Shelby Day
asked
Jodi Meadows:
Will you write more novellas to follow up The Mirror King? In particular: -Tobiah's view on his mistake with Meredith and his feelings about the outcome and coming to terms that he loved Wil and should have chosen her -A novella that brings together the secret we learned about James' true father and then his origins after the One Night War -An epilogue that explores the new world and Wil and Tobiah's place in it.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more