This Simple Exercise Solves Two Creative Writing Challenges

Discover Your Big Idea And Opening In Record Time

Do you sit in front of your laptop struggling to think of an idea?

Even if your brain overflows with great ideas, try this simple process. The results may surprise you.

This exercise requires only a small amount of your time. I will explain the exercise first. Then I will show you an example.

I call it the Question Combo technique.

Here’s how it works.

Keep your notes app or pen and paper handy during the day. All you need to do is pay attention.

Throughout your day, write down any unanswered questions or thoughts that come to mind. If you think of a random thought like “I wish my spouse would clean up from dinner” convert into a question.

Why won’t my spouse clean up from dinner?

Then, I want you to place them in two categories.

Label your first category as day to day questions. Random events and circumstances trigger these questions. We all face them though we pay little attention to them.

When will dinner be ready?
Why won’t my kids listen to me?
How does this jerk at the office get away with coming in late every day?

Label the second category as life questions. We think about these questions every day but we never expect a real answer.

Is there a god?
What would life be like where all our basic needs are met and cash no longer exists?
What if Germany won WWII?
Is the world headed towards another war?

You might think that you rarely ponder these life questions. I wager that you do but you fail to pay attention. Spend an hour with conscious attention to what you think about. Write stuff down. The random thoughts that swim around your brain will surprise you.

Next, we create some magic. Creative struggles take many forms. This technique will not solve every struggle but it solves two of the biggest ones.

Your Big Idea

Your Opening

Ready?

First, review your life category. Pick one question. That will be your big idea for your story.

Next, review your day to day category. Pick one question. This will serve as the setting for your story opening.

Let’s look at an example.

From the life category: “What if Germany won WWII?”

From the day to day category: “Why won’t my kids listen to me?”

That’s the first one hundred words of a potential novel or short story. You can follow this process for any sort of fiction. I also use it to write blog posts. Using the day to day question can make for a compelling opening.

Try it yourself. Start with one-hundred words. Let’s see what you imagine.

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