So, I decided to divulge a secret––most mornings, as I get ready to write, I play a game. You can learn more about it at #rollnwrite. The game warms up my mind and sparks creative ideas, but more importantly, by playing, I practice opening myself up for surprise. So much of the creative process is about saying YES to the new ideas that pop into our heads, particularly when they catch us by surprise. Still, there are so many reasons why we don’t want to say yes. For instance, that new idea might introduce a plot twist, or complication, or it may mean we have to rewrite many, many pages.
However, I’ve learned that when I say no to the surprises, my words start falling flat. They have no spark, no energy, no drive. Too many no’s and my creativity goes off in the corner to sulk.
Anyway, today, I rolled my dice, and I rolled “Character” and Question.” So, I decided to ask Sadie a question. What would she do for her 13th birthday party? She’d go waterskiing with her friends at Lake Tahoe. She’d have chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and Reeses Pieces on top. She’d definitely want a candle to blow out, and she’d make a wish––to see her friends back in Owl Creek, MI soon. She’d give out party favors, probably sketchbooks and drawing pencils, hoping to entice her friends to draw along with her. And she’d ask her best friend, Pippa, to take lots of pictures so she could make a collage of the day later, and put it up on her bulletin board.
What would your character do on their next birthday?
