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TIL my snobbery about common writing themes was holding me back
I always avoided prompts with overused ideas like time travel or amnesia. Then I tried one and wrote my best story yet, because it's not the idea, it's what you do with it.
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caleb_price1mo ago
Totally get this, I used to skip anything with vampires because it felt done to death. Finally gave one a shot and just focused on making the characters feel real and messed up. Turns out that basic idea was just a solid place to start from, and I could build out from there. Sometimes the well worn path is easier to walk so you can actually get somewhere new.
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richard6691mo ago
My friend wrote a zombie story where the real horror was all the paperwork.
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morgan_bailey931mo ago
Caleb_price's point about the well worn path being easier to walk really hit home! I'm so guilty of this with like, chosen one prophecies. How do you actually find a new angle once you've decided to use a basic idea? Is it all in the character details, or do you try to twist the expected plot points too?
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