Five Ways to Sharpen your Writing on a Dull Day

by Maureen L. Bonatch 

Time. 

Most of us are in search a way to make the most out of the twenty-four hours we’re allotted. Despite how we might like to spend our day, our time is often filled with things we need or have to do.

So what do you do when you’d rather be writing (or escaping into a good story) but you’re obligated to physically be somewhere else? Then once you sit down to write you don’t know where to start.

No worries.

There are no chains on your imagination. Harness this time to exercise your muse and save your ideas and inspiration for later.

Think of that meeting – conference – event – boring task, as Multitasking or…Research.

1. Eavesdrop

·      Now don’t be creepy and hover for the whole conversation. Snagging a snippet of conversation and making a story from there or developing an interesting character makes it more fun!

As much as you’re tempted to stay to find out the rest of the conversation- don’t! Make it up for yourself. The muse loves to be challenged.

Here are a few interesting comments I heard over the last 24 hours: “You’re my unicorn.” (Seriously- you can’t make this stuff up) and “It started at breakfast.”

 2. What if?

·      What do you do when you’re ‘bored out of your gourd’ but obligated to stay? Play the “What if…” game and escape the ordinary with your imagination.

Just Imagine: What if the speaker had wings? Or What if while I was folding laundry that noise in the garage was the start of the zombie apocalypse? Or How would people respond if I ran screaming out of the meeting?

  

3. What’s their story?

·      This is a game I’ve played with my girls while on vacation at a busy boardwalk, or in a mall. Pick someone and study the person intently-but not enough to freak them out.

Then decide –What’s their story? What are they doing here? What are they thinking?

4. Body language

·      Close your eyes and listen to the speaker’s voice, or the people talking around you.  How would you describe their voice? Take a look around. Can you jot down some interesting body language or gestures for a future character?

Me: A lady nearby sneezed with the sound of a squeaky toy. I thought my dog had somehow interrupted the meeting to lure me out to play.

5. Appearance

·      When you’re around a large group of people, this is the perfect time to compare the various colors of blue or…

The texture and style of a woman’s hair- or a man lacking hair. The plethora of body builds. Clothing styles. Mannerisms.

Go ahead, ‘draw’ your characters in your mind.

Make sure you write down all your great ideas and writing prompts.

Do you have any creativity games you do while you multitask that you’d like to share?

About the Author:

Maureen writes stories in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania that boast laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world. She writes Paranormal Romance and Fantasy.

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Look what crossed my path...

It's my turn to answer the question: What we are reading and what story lines we'd love to find on the shelf but won't write. Let me start off by saying there's not much I won't write if the muse bangs me over the head. Turns out she's just a paranormal, fantasy, shifting loving hussy! And she has no qualms about who or what is doing the loving--only that they love! *grin* I like my muse.

What would I like to see more of on shelves--something I don't know if I could be good at doing. Multi-author stories. Not anthos. Books that one author writes the first story, another author writes their story with different characters, and sometimes you even get to meet those from the first book. There is usually a common thread like, they all "live" in the same neighborhood, galaxy, or wherever.

I'm going to tell you about two I just read from the town of Draven's Crossing. Selena Illyria and Diana DeRicci are building a wonderful world around vampires, werewolves, dragons, and more! To use their words: It's a decadent paranormal series of erotic novellas... and, boy, have they started off with a bang!! Both novellas are available now: Purple Sword Publications.

Tempestuous Crossings by Selena Illyria:

Welcome to Draven’s Crossing, where fantasies and nightmares walk among us…


Vampire Mayor Draven desires mortal Rose. Her rebuffs excite him. When she finally gives in to his advances, their coming together is explosive, and their passion is more than he could’ve anticipated.

But a serial killer divides his attention. Can he keep his town safe from this mysterious menace and convince Rose that they belong together despite her reservations?

As a new resident of Draven’s Crossing, all Rose wants to do is her job. Draven could be a distraction she can’t afford, but she can’t ignore him or her arousal.

In the first book, I met Draven and Rose. The suspense alone would have kept me turning the pages. I was sucked in immediately by the town, it's machinations, the inhabitants and, in particular, the romantic involvement of the hero and heroine. The scenes between them are full of fire and passion. By the time they came together, I was so enthralled with them, and their world, I had to have the next book because--I'd fallen in love with [Draven]'s Crossing. I felt involved in their lives! Didn't hurt any that Draven, a vampire, is strong, intelligent, and sexy as hell.

Mind Games by Diana DeRicci:

From out of the darkness, a voice calls, luring one man into a battle of the unknown.


Jackal has lived a well-guarded secret his entire life. A being of immense power, he understands and accepts the loss and emptiness of never finding a soul to love, yet endures because it is his only path. Eternal life means none who walk the earth could comfort him for long.

The only one who could understand his plight has lived for just as long: a vampire. Taken by surprise and tortured, Kristof’s agony pulls Jackal to him in the dream realm, forging a bond that is unexpected and unexplained.

But now that they’ve connected, will the darkness that hunts all para-kind in Draven’s Crossing destroy them?

Jackal and Kristof...yummy! I felt their pain, their loneliness, their love, and when they did come together, I felt their joy. Jackal was totally unexpected! *big grin* Two very different beings, yet they find in each other something that pulls them together, and I enjoyed the whirlwind-ride along with them.  Each page drew me further into their world, into Draven's Crossing, and the lives of everyone there.

There's one character I'm not going to talk about, *ahem* hot, mysterious, tough, hot, furry, hot...did I say hot...

In both I found romance, suspense, wonderful dialogue, and an awesome story with all the eroticism I crave. Two authors, two great voices, and I'm looking for more of this to put on my cyber shelf. I'm dying for the next book already. I don't know which of them is writing it, but my eyes will be peeled at Purple Sword Publications... waiting... waiting...

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out.-© J. Hali Steele