When our original and cherished venue was no longer available, my Wild Moon co-founder and I definitely did some hemming and hawing—perhaps some real loud sighing—but we regrouped, sipped some coffee, and pulled a few cards. We were reminded by The Fool and The Star that…
Sometimes you gotta move in a new direction.
As much as we think we know, we’re often obliged to start anew, but the unknown can inspire something bigger and bolder.
WE GOTTA HAVE FAITH. Sometimes changing direction can actually point us back to the center of things that inspired us in the first place, the real heart of the story.
Being open to the possibilities can help us both create and revise, but sometimes we need a nudge.
I will refer to the thing we’re working with here as your character, but you could easily attribute these prompts to a creature, a ghost, a monster. Some persona that takes up space in your work. Spend a minute or two considering a character you’d like to work on, and try and stick with that choice.
If you don’t have a character already that you’re looking to revise, I’ll give you the opportunity to create one momentarily.
Potential character? Thanks, vintage furniture store!
Ready to write? Let’s go.
If you’ve already got a character in mind, skip to Step 2. If not, write about this person in the lovely green and blue portrait. Who are they? What matters to them? What do they wear? How do they move/talk/dance/dream? Write for 7.5 minutes.
Wherever you’ve said your character is from, let’s uproot them. They’re forced to pull up stakes. Send them somewhere new right now. If your story is about a move or a journey already, let’s really push your character off the path. Let the winds shift. How do they part with their home? Or their vessel? How do they leave a place? Where are they headed? Write for 7.5 minutes.
Your character then loses something, a treasure that matters to them, something they may cling to. How do they react? How does this change them? Write for 6 minutes.
Now we’ve put them through the ringer, so let’s give them something. Your character receives a message/gift that makes them see their situation with new eyes. What is it that they receive, and how does it change their perception? Write for 9 minutes.
Imagine your character standing at a crossroads, considering a major decision. Close your eyes and take 1-2 minutes to picture this moment.
Now consider what you think they would choose, based on what you know about them, and write THE OPPOSITE. Write about this strange/unexpected choice and what transpires for 14 minutes.
BONUS: If you’re feeling brave/have the time, write a scene in which your character sees something on a walk that reminds them of home—could be a face in the crowd, an object in a shop window. Describe them encountering this reminder and how they react emotionally. What do they do? Write for 12 minutes.
Thank yourself for taking the time to write! Did you create any words/phrases you love? Revise something that was holding you back? Or start a new project you want to keep going? Share your ideas with me on Twitter.