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- Dec 6, 2017
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I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I had to share in case it might help someone here.
Snagged on a plot hole? Looking for inspiration? Just plain stuck? Try tarot cards.
I don't mean the traditional ones, where the images are stiff and flat and, well, dull. There are so many gorgeous decks out there with their own themes that it's easy to find one that suits your needs: Shadowscapes (ethereal fantasy), Llewellyn (Welsh folklore), Linestrider (generic symbolism, beautiful art), Oceanic (mermaids), Steampunk (... should be obvious), etc, etc, etc. Zombies, vampires, ghosts, witches, dragons, anime, chibis, abstract, vintage, what-have-you, there's probably a deck for it.
I don't personally believe they have mystical power, but I am a huge sucker for pretty artwork, so I've amassed a collection. As it turns out, they are magnificent for brainstorming. And if you think you'd like to give it a try but don't want to buy a physical deck, there are phone apps (most produced by Fool's Dog) for many of the more popular decks that are just a few dollars. Not only does each deck have its own art style, but each card has a unique image and different associated meanings, leaving you plenty to consider.
Stuck on a plot point? Draw a card. See what sparks.
Example: I was stuck on my outline for my current WIP. I just couldn't figure out why my antagonists (invading alien race) were doing what they were doing, and it was driving me nuts. A quick shuffle of my Llewellyn deck, and I got the Priestess card (image - fair warning, very slight nudity). The symbolism didn't do much for me, but the image was the perfect character inspiration. I won't go into detail, but it went something like: "Alien queen. Ancient. Dying. Saving her people. Ruthless. Mind control. YES." and I was off and writing.
So there you go, my favorite technique to fend off the dreaded Writer's Block. Hope it helps!
Snagged on a plot hole? Looking for inspiration? Just plain stuck? Try tarot cards.
I don't mean the traditional ones, where the images are stiff and flat and, well, dull. There are so many gorgeous decks out there with their own themes that it's easy to find one that suits your needs: Shadowscapes (ethereal fantasy), Llewellyn (Welsh folklore), Linestrider (generic symbolism, beautiful art), Oceanic (mermaids), Steampunk (... should be obvious), etc, etc, etc. Zombies, vampires, ghosts, witches, dragons, anime, chibis, abstract, vintage, what-have-you, there's probably a deck for it.
I don't personally believe they have mystical power, but I am a huge sucker for pretty artwork, so I've amassed a collection. As it turns out, they are magnificent for brainstorming. And if you think you'd like to give it a try but don't want to buy a physical deck, there are phone apps (most produced by Fool's Dog) for many of the more popular decks that are just a few dollars. Not only does each deck have its own art style, but each card has a unique image and different associated meanings, leaving you plenty to consider.
Stuck on a plot point? Draw a card. See what sparks.
Example: I was stuck on my outline for my current WIP. I just couldn't figure out why my antagonists (invading alien race) were doing what they were doing, and it was driving me nuts. A quick shuffle of my Llewellyn deck, and I got the Priestess card (image - fair warning, very slight nudity). The symbolism didn't do much for me, but the image was the perfect character inspiration. I won't go into detail, but it went something like: "Alien queen. Ancient. Dying. Saving her people. Ruthless. Mind control. YES." and I was off and writing.
So there you go, my favorite technique to fend off the dreaded Writer's Block. Hope it helps!