Writers’ Tip: Exploring Your Subject

If you are a writer struggling with your story, try this;

After I come up with a story line – or rather, once I have been inspired by an idea, I begin to jot down some notes, ie; comedy; Church supper goes terribly wrong.

Then I begin to explore the subject; I know a meeting would take place to plan the event; committees would be formed appointing who would be in charge of particular things; a theme would be established; and the meal would be decided.

If you have ever been involved with planning a meal, you can already imagine different scenarios that could take place. Arguments would arise over what meat to cook, where it should be bought, and how it should be prepared. Complaints over who is in charge of this or that. Other church members usually end up using the hall for other reasons and suddenly battle lines are drawn. This is conflict. It can be hilarious or tragic, it doesn’t matter, because conflict of any sort creates an interesting story line.

Exploring a Church Supper, what it entails and who is involved, will provide you with a lot of ideas for your story. The fact that it has a beginning, middle and end built into it is also very helpful.

1- Beginning / introduce the people who are planning the event. Where and when is it taking place?

2- Middle. Chaos ensues as everyone has their own ideas [personal goals / agenda] as to how this event should take place. Toes are stepped on, some people quit, some people take over, and somebody ‘borrowed’ the two big potato pots and hasn’t brought them back! A natural timeline can unfold as posters are made to advertise the Church Supper [and somebody no doubt put the wrong date on the poster.] The food arrives [and the ladies auxiliary discover the fridge is already full of Gerry’s deer meat!] Chopping and dicing the veggies can bring lots of arguments, “too big,” “too small,” “wrong angle of cutting,” it’s amazing how too many chefs can spoil a meal. Some seniors are not fond of new high tech appliances and this known fact can easily inspire cooking mishaps.

3. The End. The meal is served with some customer complaints, and clean up begins, and somehow the ladies come together in the end and decide to do it all again next year!

Whatever your topic, jot down related items, ie; Bank; money, vault, tellers, manager, red rope, exchange rate, etc. Then look at issues; bounced cheque, interest rates, stolen credit card, “next teller” sign, “closed,” and consider scenarios around these issues.

Exploring your subject can bring about interesting plot lines that will inspire more ideas for you to write about.

~ I hope this inspires you.