Fresh Inspiration

[bradygirl_12]

I’ve been thinking about Muses and creativity and how we get stuck and unstuck. And it’s pretty much a mystery as to why our Muses come and go, but sometimes we can help them along.



I know that taking fic requests, usually using pairing and prompt, helps me if I’m lagging in the creativity department, and still helps even if I’m not. Sometimes it’s good to get outside of the projects you’ve got going on and take on fresh challenges. So I recommend asking people for prompts, and it can be totally unknown, or ask for a theme (food, weather, h/c, etc…). I’ve been limiting my prompts to 2 and 4, respectively, just enough to jump-start things. I love doing a dozen or more, but right now I haven’t the time, and the short list seems to be working! Out of 4 Food Prompts that I received, I’ve written first drafts of three of them, and am working on the fourth. I just need some revision and they’ll all be posted in the next few weeks! I know, big deal, as people post the same day after receiving requests, but I seem incapable of writing drabbles or ficlets. *sigh* I go the full story route! But it helps.

Challenges help me (designing and writing for them! ;) ) because they can be simple or sweeping, and are like taking prompts.

And, finally, I never did tables before, usually intimidated by a minimum of 50 or 100 prompts to fill, but saavikam77’s dcu_freeforall Challenge is perfect! With a minimum of 10, I felt that I could do each prompt justice (I chose 15). And it helped me with a bunch of Steve/Diana plot bunnies that I’ve had floating around for a year or more and gave me purpose! Fulfilling the prompts are providing great inspiration!

So, these suggestions might not work for you, but perhaps they will. :)

Comments

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

That's the way I felt about my Clark/Bruce claim at the FFA. I had some general ideas of things I wanted to do, and having just 15 ficlets to write, with such varied possibilities, really helped me put those ideas to good use.

I think I'll probably take ficlet requests tomorrow (3, most likely, just to get my feet wet again), and see if I can't jumpstart the muses. *fingers crossed*

[bradygirl_12]

That's the way I felt about my Clark/Bruce claim at the FFA. I had some general ideas of things I wanted to do, and having just 15 ficlets to write, with such varied possibilities, really helped me put those ideas to good use.

Oh, yes! And I don't feel overwhelmed or try to write stuff to just fulfill prompts so that the quality suffers.

I think I'll probably take ficlet requests tomorrow (3, most likely, just to get my feet wet again), and see if I can't jumpstart the muses. *fingers crossed*

Muses are tricky things, but it could work some magic for you! Good luck! :)

[bradygirl_12]

Wow! These are all great suggestions, Merfilly. :)

I like the outlandish suggestion most of all! ;)

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I'm terrified of taking prompts! And there's that pesky problem I have of being so long-winded. I admire folks who can stuff the most amount of story in a short piece, and make it enjoyable to read. I *know* how hard that is to do.

[bradygirl_12]

I'm terrified of taking prompts! And there's that pesky problem I have of being so long-winded. I admire folks who can stuff the most amount of story in a short piece, and make it enjoyable to read. I *know* how hard that is to do.

I was pretty nervous the first time I took prompts, too, but I hedged my bets and asked for things that fit a theme I knew I could write. :) And sometimes I'll ask people to pick from a table, or I'll limit the pairings, anything that will help me be successful. :)

Have you considered asking for a small amount of prompts and tailoring it to a theme or pairing?

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Have you considered asking for a small amount of prompts and tailoring it to a theme or pairing?

I kind of planned on continuing my long streak of semi-lurking, and whining all over my LJ when the Muses make a break for it. The one time I did ask for prompts, I ended up writing too much and not finishing most of the prompts. It was interesting though....*g*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

oy! too true!

[bradygirl_12]

Have you considered asking for a small amount of prompts and tailoring it to a theme or pairing?

I kind of planned on continuing my long streak of semi-lurking, and whining all over my LJ when the Muses make a break for it. The one time I did ask for prompts, I ended up writing too much and not finishing most of the prompts. It was interesting though....*g*

I know! It's risky! *glares at pesky prompts*

[hitokaji.livejournal.com]

Now I'm considering taking more prompts.

In fact, I think I'm going to take one of the prompts at thick_as_thieves community for my next Bruce/Jim story.
But I'm not sure yet. We'll see.

By the way, I'm currenting working on your challenge, cast of thousand, as well. It's 60% done now and I like it so far. :)

[bradygirl_12]

Now I'm considering taking more prompts.

Ooh, that sounds cool! :)

In fact, I think I'm going to take one of the prompts at thick_as_thieves community for my next Bruce/Jim story.
But I'm not sure yet. We'll see.

I love your Bruce/Jim stories! :)

By the way, I'm currenting working on your challenge, cast of thousand, as well. It's 60% done now and I like it so far. :)

Whee! That sounds great! *bounces* :)

[vocallight.livejournal.com]

I think I'd really like to try prompts sometime, but probably not until I've had a bit more experience fine tuning my old stories and pinning down a few certain plot bunnies that have been teasing me from the side lines.

*makes a grab at one-> misses* ...Damn.

Prompts just seem like a good idea for those days when I really want to write something, but never know what to write.

One thing I do when I get a hint of an idea is do a little digging into my subject. Whether it's researching a character, or a custom, or a situation, I can usually find something new, or obscure about it that gets the juices flowing.

[bradygirl_12]

I think I'd really like to try prompts sometime, but probably not until I've had a bit more experience fine tuning my old stories and pinning down a few certain plot bunnies that have been teasing me from the side lines.

*makes a grab at one-> misses* ...Damn.

Yes, I think prompts help us jaded writers. ;)

You're just starting out!

Prompts just seem like a good idea for those days when I really want to write something, but never know what to write.

*nods*

A good way to get more prompts is to expand your flist. If you friend more people, you may get friended back. Be choosy! ;)

One thing I do when I get a hint of an idea is do a little digging into my subject. Whether it's researching a character, or a custom, or a situation, I can usually find something new, or obscure about it that gets the juices flowing.

Research is an excellent way to get those creative juices flowing! :)