By Adam Blumer
When I was a boy, filled
to the brim with dreams of writing, I went through a Hardy Boys phase. I
gobbled up every Franklin W. Dixon novel I could get my hands on. All I dreamed
of was tagging alongside Frank and Joe Hardy on one of their hair-raising capers
and chasing jewel thieves across Bayport. Those books ignited my desire to be a
writer.
Then one day while I was
sitting in church, of all places, my mom nudged me. “Do you see that man over
there?” she whispered. “He’s a detective.”
With one glimpse at the
man in the pew across the aisle, my Hardy Boys fantasy dissolved into a wisp of
smoke. He was middle aged, paunchy, slightly gray—certainly nothing impressive.
What left an indelible impression was his tired and joyless expression. He had
probably seen more than his share of death, larceny, and general misery of this
world.
What was I expecting?
Maybe a muscular frame and perceptive eyes that scanned the crowd, not missing
a thing. Perhaps a magnifying glass clutched in one hand and a revolver in the
other. Either way, this certainly wasn’t it, and just like that, the Hardy Boys
magic was gone—poof!
Life has a way of doing
the same thing to the creativity, the magic, behind our words. The pressure of
deadlines, writer’s block, poor sales, and industry competitiveness can steal
the magic and leave us staring at a blank screen, our creative juices all but
evaporated away.
How can we regain what
we lost? Here are some helpful tips:
1. Return to what sparked the magic to begin with.
Maybe this is a certain book you read as a child, the one that made your
imagination soar. Reach for this book, find a random place, and just begin
reading. Does the magic of words take you back to the love of story that began
your writing trek?
2. Watch a favorite movie again. Ask yourself why
you like it so much. Take notes as thoughts come to you. More than likely, the
appeal has something to do with mystery, plot, or characterization—elements
that may arouse the dormant storyteller in you.
3. Start with a story cliffhanger and finish the
story any way you choose. For example, “John reached the cliff’s edge just as
sunset colors washed over distant hills. His ears perked up. Was that a
footfall? Someone was coming up behind him—he was sure of it.” Finish the story.
4. Watch a documentary about a topic that
fascinates you. Since I’m a suspense author, I especially enjoy CBS’s 48
Hour Mystery. Each time I watch an episode, I find new plot ideas, and my
imagination itches with new stories to tell.
Most likely your love of
writing isn’t far away. Sometimes the magic just needs to be resuscitated.
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