The Writer's Brainstorming Kit: Thinking in New Directions

by Pam McCutcheon, Michael Waite

A recurring refrain in the writing business is that editors want fresh material something different they have not seen before. That's what The Writer's Brainstorming Kit is all about giving you the tools to jump the ruts and take flight in new, unexpected directions. Use the 50 cards and concepts in this book to:

•Break out of your conventional mode of linear thinking
•Create conflict in your story
•Find new and unexpected plot twists
•Discover character motivation
•Trigger new associations in your mind
•Design a story from scratch
•Add depth to your characters
•Build your plot
•Define character goals
•Break through a block
•Determine character traits

139 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

I've been a reader all my life, starting out with fairy tales and graduating to reading everything in the house when I grew older, including my parents' romances, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and action/adventure.

If a writer can combine romance and humor with a fantasy, science fiction, or paranormal element, I'm hooked. Add action/adventure, and it's even better!

Since I couldn't find quite enough books that combine these elements, I sat down to write some of my own. The result is the books you'll see on my website.

I now live in Colorado with my three dogs: Mo, Daisy and Trixie.

Pseudonyms: Pamela Luzier (Fantasy genre) and Parker Blue (Young Adult urban fantasy genre).

Reviews

[Rafael Ontivero · Rating 1 out of 5]

¡El libro que más rápido he leído en toda mi vida! Diez minutos, y eso que tiene unas 140 páginas impresas.

Podríamos ponerle el subtítulo de "Aunque la mona se vista de seda... mona se queda". Lo digo porque por mucho método que uses, como seas un mal escritor, ni el Tato te salva de la medianía.

El libro explica un método para generar argumentos y trabajar con personajes basado en una baraja de cartas normales y corrientes. Las primeras veinte páginas incluyen varios ejemplos. Las demás, la correspondencias entre cada carta y la lista de palabras asociada, entre las que debes elegir una.

Por ejemplo, para crear un personaje eliges seis cartas y luego te vas a la descripción de cada carta y eliges. Lo mismo para el argumento, excepto que en los argumentos solo se sigue el flujo de: inicio, problema, cambio de orientación, todo está perdido, solución final.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book that has helped me so much is getting my story outlined. It takes your ideas and steers them in directions you'd have never thought of on your own. This book is hard to find, but if you can secure a copy you'll never let it out of hands...ever!