Let There Be Light!

For writers, our imagination is a tricky little troublemaker.

As children, we stared out the windows during math class. Do you remember being a teen? You contemplated anything but what you were doing in the moment. Now as adults, we make up fictional characters we torture.

Yes, our imagination is trouble. Those visions are also your best friend, and they are how I awaken my writing brain. Here’s my process.

Close your eyes. What do you see? Okay, yes, it’s dark. Thank you for pointing it out.

With eyes closed, tap into your imagination. Quickly conjure up a scene, a person, their looks, clothes, and posture. Fill in the world with landscape, weather, flora, and fauna. Add sounds and smells. Excellent.

Your mind’s eye is the camera. Circle your character to study them. Fill in a few details you might have missed, such as accessories, facial expressions, or scars. Good! Be quick. Don’t dilly-dally.

Add another person. Are they a different sex? Are they standing side by side or face to face? Are they the same age or vastly different? Now with posthaste, fill in the details with looks, clothes, and posture.

It’s time to ignite tension. Before hitting play on your imagination, prepare to show that one character will say something. You don’t even need to hear the words. Then prepare how the other character might respond.

Now, press play, and as the characters move, shift the camera angle to capture their facial expressions and body gestures. They’re discussing something important.

Begin writing. Type what you see and feel. Show us the scene.

When you ignite your imagination, you’re pulled into the creative zone where you can explore and play. And as you type what you see, feel, smell, and hear, those words will touch the reader’s imagination where the reader can participate in the scene as well.

How do you light your brain and prepare for your writing session?

Views expressed are not necessarily those of all members of ICW. Photo credit: Lisa Michelle Hess