| Sometimes writers block happens because you've | | | | out what they do for a living and what their personal |
| gotten in a rut and the air has gotten stale. A good | | | | story is. Imagine what is going on in their mind right |
| way to get your brain and the creative muse moving | | | | now and where they just came from and where |
| again is to get moving yourself. But you don't want | | | | they're going when they get off the bus. Do this for |
| to just put on your jacket and walk out the door. | | | | as many people on the bus as you can. |
| Follow a simple writers plan to make the exercise | | | | Option Two |
| productive. | | | | Pretend you are one of the characters in your |
| While this doesn't require a lot of preparation, you | | | | current story. So while you're writing about the other |
| want to make sure you have a few things with you. | | | | people riding the bus, you can write about why your |
| Remember, this time is for regenerating your writing | | | | character is on the bus and what she notices about |
| juices and getting the words flowing. | | | | some of her fellow passengers. Her attitude, likes, |
| Location: public bus, subway or similar mass transit | | | | dislikes, feeling about who sits next to her and how |
| vehicle | | | | she takes the experiences are useful to note. This is |
| Essential equipment: notebook of some kind, pen or | | | | especially effective if you're not sure what to do |
| pencil, map of the routes and schedule, and (most | | | | next in the story. At that point, make your character |
| importantly) the writer's eye. | | | | ride mass transit and write about the experience. |
| Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours riding the bus (or | | | | Something is bound to turn up. |
| subway or whatever). Check out the routes a little in | | | | When you get back, consider subjecting each of |
| advance so you don't get stuck out in west podunk | | | | your characters to the same bus ride and see it from |
| for two hours between runs. You'll also want to sit | | | | each point of view. How would they describe the |
| near the back of the bus so you can see everyone | | | | same passengers your initial character saw? How |
| who gets on or off. | | | | would they feel about riding the bus and rubbing |
| Once you get on the bus you have two options. | | | | shoulders with some of the same people? |
| Option One | | | | After a few hours you will have something in writing |
| You can simply make notes on your fellow | | | | and more than a few character sketches, |
| passengers as character sketches. This includes | | | | descriptions and other goodies that you can weave |
| descriptions of them, their clothing, and their cell | | | | into a story. Not a bad way to get taken for a ride, |
| phone conversations. It's also fun if you try to figure | | | | now is it? |