How to beat Writer’s Block? Start Today

Do you want to write stories but don’t know how?

Here’s a Simple Template for starting Writing short stories on a regular basis.

Start Small, Start Now

  • Start with 1 Word
  • Can summarize the Story in 1 Word?
    • This Word will be the Theme of the Story.
    • It can become its Title.
  • Can summarize each Chapter in 1 Word?
    •  This Word describes the main Event of the Chapter.
  • Can summarize each Scene in 1 Word?
    •  Same as for the Chapter, but on a smaller scale.
  • Can summarize each Character in 1 Word?
    • This Word is the Character’s Goal.
    • This Word determines the Character’s Name.
  • Can summarize each Setting in 1 Word?
    • This Word represents the Main Feature of this Setting.
    • Is it a Colour?
    • Is it a Landmark?
  • Turn it into 1 Phrase
  • Can you summarize your Story in 1 Phrase?
  • Can you summarize the Plot of each Chapter in 1 Phrase?
  • Can you summarize the Action of each Scene in 1 Phrase?
  • Can you summarize the Behaviour of each Character in 1 Phrase?
    • What are her Strengths?
    • What are her Weaknesses?
  • Can summarize each Setting in 1 Phrase?
    • What does it look like?
    • Who lives there?
    • How’s the Weather?
  • Summarize the Story in 1 Page
  • You need 10 Phrases to summarize the Story.
  • Each corresponding to a Chapter.
  • From there you can expand each phrase into a paragraph answering the following questions:
    • What’s the Issue?
    • What are the Stakes?
    • What’s the Outcome?

How large should the Story be?

  • Small Scale, Full Scale
  • Start with a Story as short as possible.
  • Start in a Room.
  • You can expand later.
  • You can turn a short Story into Chapter of a larger Story.
  • When you have written your 10 short Story look for the similarities.
  • Look for the differences.
  • Look for the balance between Diversity & Consistency.
  • Can you turn them into a larger story?
  • Which stories do you want to expand?
  • How many Characters do we need?
  • Start with 3.
  • That’s the base minimum.
  • 3 Characters will ensure you have solid relationships.
  • What are their relationships?
  • How do these relationships evolve?
  • Which conflicts appear between them?
  • What caused these conflicts?
  • How do they resolve?
  • How different are these 3 Characters?
  • Do you need more Diversity?
  • Do you want to add more Characters?
  • How do I add more Characters?
  • How many Settings do we need?
  • You can start with 1.
  • You can add as many settings you need.
  • Generally, you’ll need 3 types of settings:
    • A place where Crisis will occur.
    • A place to Rest.
    • A place where the Characters can Investigate & Ponder.
  • These 3 types of settings can be rooms in the same Building.
  • Or they can be 3 different Buildings.
  • All is a matter of scale.
  • You choose the scale you’re most comfortable with.
  • How many Plotlines to we need?
  • 1.
  • You don’t need more than 1 Plot.
  • You can add a Secondary Plotline.
  • The Story will be easier to follow if the Main plot & Secondary plot are directly linked.

Start with the End

  • A clear Destination
  • Starting with the End makes the Story Clearer for You & the Public.
  • It provides a sense of Stability.
  • Write the ending in 1 Phrase.
  • How much Safety does it provide you?
  • How much Clarity?
  • How much Predictability?
  • How much Control over the Story do you now have?
  • How to write the Ending?
  • What’s the Atmosphere?
  • Where does it happen?
  • Which Character is Present?
  • What’s the Issue?
  • What is the Cause of this Issue?
  • What are the Stakes?
  • How is else implied in this Crisis?
  • How do the Characters React?
  • What’s the Outcome?
  • What’s the Aftermath?
  • Exposition
  • You can follow this Plan for each following chapter.
  • What is the 1st Scene?
  • What’s the Atmosphere?
  • Where does it happen?
  • What’s particular with this Location?
  • Which Character is Introduced?
  • How are they Introduced?
  • What is their Goal?
  • What will be the Story’s Theme?
  • Is there an Issue?
  • What’s the Issue?
  • What is the Cause of this Issue?
  • What are the Stakes?
  • How is else implied in this Crisis?
  • How do the Characters React?
  • What’s the Outcome?
  • What’s the Aftermath?

3 Main Events

  • 3 Crisis
  • You’ll need 3 Crisis.
  • They will serve as Tension points.
  • After each Crisis comes a Relaxation chapter.
  • These Relaxation chapters have 3 potential purposes:
    • Investigating the cause of the Crisis
    • Gathering Resources
    • Pondering on the reason of the Loss/Defeat
  • How to Write these Events?
  • What is the Nature of the Crisis?
  • What’s the Issue?
  • What is the Cause of each Crisis?
  • What are the Stakes?
  • How is implied in this Crisis?
  • How do the Characters React?
  • Where does it happen?
  • What’s the Atmosphere?
  • What’s the Outcome?
  • What’s the Aftermath?

How to Make Short Stories every day?

  • Quotes, Sayings & 1 liners
  • Do you enjoy Quotes?
  • Have you ever tried to write some of your own?
  • Quotes & 1 liners are useful when it comes to Dialogue.
  • They allow you to define Character’s efficiently.
  • Poems & Songs
  • A Poem/Song can be written easily following a 4-Strophes Structure.
  • The Poem is composed of 4 Strophes.
  • Each of 4 Verses.
  • And Between each Strophe the Refrain/Chorus.
  • The basic Form of a Song/Poem is the Following:
      • Strophe 1 – Theme A

      • Chorus – Variation 1

      • Strophe 2 – Theme B

      • Chorus – Variation 2

      • Strophe 3 – Theme A

      • Chorus – Variation 1

      • Strophe 4 – Theme B

      • Chorus – Variation 2
  • Illustrations & Comic Strip
  • Do you Draw?
  • An image can serve as an Ideal Introduction.
  • Would you draw/paint a Picture for each Story?
  • Would you draw/paint a Picture for each Chapter?
  • Would you draw/paint a Picture for each Scene?
  • Do you want to draw/paint the Characters?

Is there a fear of Writing?

  • Is there a Writer’s Block?
  • You can get rid of it by following a clear procedure.
  • If the Procedure isn’t clear or complete ask question.
  • If you have additional question, not covered by this article, post them in the comment.
  • Fear of Disapproval
  • What am I doing?
  • I want to write but, what’s the purpose?
  • Do Your Best.
  • Write for Yourself.
  • Focus on the Process.
  • And People will come.
  • Fear of doing the Unusual
  • Start small.
  • Really small.
  • Implement the Process.
  • Progressively to make it Permanent.
  • This is a small Stakes habit.
  • Small Stakes habits lead to High Stakes results.
  • Fear of Success & Failure
  • The 1st reward is self-gratification.
  • Develop your Skills.
  • Develop your World.
  • Better, if your Stories can help people.
  • Think about the Process.
  • Following the Process is the true face of Success.

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