In last month’s blog post entitled Have Fun With Free Writing, I wrote about the benefits of Free Writing and gave some tips on how to get started. This month, I’ll be sharing some innovative ways of using the free writing technique to help with your work in progress, whether that be a short story, a novel or a screenplay.
Test Plot Ideas
I often use free writing to test an idea and see how it plays out. This is great when I have two or three options for a book’s next scene but don’t know which is best. At these times, I do a free writing session for each one. I spend fifteen or twenty minutes writing the scene, starting with the idea that I had. Then I slip into free writing mode and go wherever the story takes me. Each session is like a test drive, and usually, a clear winner will emerge. Sometimes, one of the ideas will take an unexpected direction and produce a better idea than any of my original ones!
Further Develop Characters
The objective here is to reveal more of your character’s personality. Often we label our characters, give them a few essential traits and throw them onto the stage of our plot. The more you know someone, the more you know what to expect from them in a given situation. In real life, it’s only over time that you learn how you and your friends cope with stress, surprise, bereavement and confrontation. The same applies to your fictional characters. What are their values, fears, likes, dislikes and prejudices?
You can use Free Writing to test your characters in a variety of scenarios. Each time you place them in an unfamiliar scene, either you or they will instinctively respond to the situation, thereby revealing a new piece of their personality. Once you set the scene, write with freedom allowing yourself and the character to react instinctively without feeling tied to your existing outline. When you’ve finished, read it back and reflect on the outcome:
- Did it turn out as you expected?
- Why did your protagonist react like he did?
- What are the consequences of that type of reaction?
- What does it say about him and does it align with his values?
This information is especially relevant when you are writing a series, as readers expect to learn more about your characters from each book. The characters may change over time, but only as a result of their experiences.
Spice Up a Flat Storyline
If your novel is flagging and you are losing interest in the plot, experiment with a new idea during your free writing when there are no restrictions. For example, the detective doesn’t have to arrest the villain when she catches him; she might feel like beating the hell out of him. Maybe as a consequence of that unexpected action, some dialogue occurs between them and she learns something more from the bad guy that is important in solving the case. Do the unexpected and write whatever comes into your head, no matter how daft. Follow that wherever it leads, like Alice down the rabbit hole.
Ask Questions Of Your Characters
Ask your hero or villain how they feel about something that they’ve done or been involved in. Did they do it willingly, or was it forced upon them by circumstances? Have their actions jeopardised their plans or their relationship with someone else, and if so, how will they proceed. Every action has consequences which will impact the direction of your story. Your characters must choose how to react, and that decision will often be influenced by their values and commitment to their goal, not just the writer’s storyboard.
Indulge Your Mood
Sometimes you may not be in the ideal mood to write a scene, and you know that forcing it would be a waste of time. Rather than being frustrated with yourself, try tapping into that resource. Write something appropriate to how you are feeling, even if it’s not your usual genre. Have fun with it and don’t judge it as you write. If you’re a horror writer and you are missing your boyfriend, you’re probably not used to writing romance. Give it a go anyway, indulge yourself in whatever you feel. You might surprise yourself and produce something great, or maybe you’ll just clear out the sadness and make room for the gore to return.
Happy Writing!
Harry
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#14 Have Fun With Free Writing by Harry Brooks
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