Short story starters (incongruent juxtaposition photos)

Incongruent Juxtaposition &Freewriting

Methods forShort Story Idea Generation

DeCubellisCreative Writing

“I was the world in which I walked, and what I saw Or heard or felt came not but from myself; And there I found myself more truly and more strange.”

From Wallace Stevens’ “Tea at the Palaz of Hoon

DIRECTIONS:

In a moment you will be viewing photographs that create tension by presenting two or more unlike things in unexpected ways.

PURPOSE:

The exercise is meant to help inspire in you ideas for your upcoming short story.

You will use freewriting to do so.

HINT:

If at first you are uninspired by the photo and can’t think of what to write, try viewing it in different ways.

HINT:

•En media res•Reversal•Thought-shots•What happens next?•What caused this?•Who stands to benefit?•Complete departure...?

Freewriting

The most important thing to remember is NOT to stop writing.

Freewriting

Expect to write a lot of repetitive, unrelated thoughts such as, “I can’t think of what to say,” or “This is stupid,” or “Purple monkey

dishwasher.”

Freewriting

Non-stop writing keeps the floodgates of your mind open. Eventually some gold

will sift through.

The time will begin now…

•Remember, don’t remove your pen from the paper.

•Think with your pen, not just your brain.

Follow-Up

Now that you have finished, reread your freewritings and circle the gold. Use these

to help you generate unique short story ideas.

“I was the world in which I walked, and what I saw Or heard or felt came not but from myself; And there I found myself more truly and more strange.”

From Wallace Stevens’ “Tea at the Palaz of Hoon