Evon Davis

A blank page can stop us dead in our tracks. So I’ve come up with a few little tricks to prime the pump and get the words flowing onto the page.

The first trick is to brainstorm a list of random words. Well, they aren’t completely random. Think of a scene you’re writing. For example, in my latest novel, Journey to Artemisia, my main character suffers from apocalyptic visions, so I brainstormed a list of words appropriate to an apocalyptic vision.

The second trick is to take those words and write six-word stories as a way of organizing the words so they are no longer random. What’s a six-word story? The six-word story was created when someone dared Hemingway to write a story in six-words. He came up with this: “For Sale: Baby shoes, never used.”

I found these exercises so effective that I ended up rewriting the scene with the apocalyptic vision without even intending to do so. I had brainstormed a list of words on Tuesday. I don’t remember how long it took, but I made it my goal to just write a word and hit return until I got to the end of the page.

Then, as I was writing this blog, I stopped to look at my list and started forming the six-word sentences. Next thing I know, I’m rewriting the scene. I took a scene that was three paragraphs and nearly tripled it in size, which was good because before it was too short to have the emotional impact I wanted it to have.

This process can be used whether you’re starting from scratch or rewriting. It’s like wading into the pool when you’re not ready to dive in, but once you’re in, it’s dolphin heaven.

1) come up with a list of words, preferably concrete words and action verbs

2) do a mind map (put one word or idea in the center and brainstorm words and ideas that branch out from that)

3) write down some bits of dialogue

4) read a passage in a book, and jot down some ideas

5) watch a movie to get ideas

6) take an old draft and circle the words you want to keep (then rewrite the whole scene only using the stuff you circled)

7) scribble out some ideas for first and last sentences

type it all into a document

9) write six word stories, like Hemingway’s “Baby Shoes for Sale: Never Used”

10) begin to move the pieces around into some kind of intelligible order until a story begins to emerge

11) at that point, put it aside for another day

In Stage 7 of the mythic structure, Approaching the Innermost Cave, we are now approaching the climax of conflict and tension in the novel. What is happening in each person’s novel now?

Thus far, we have seen the character’s ordinary world; the character has been called to an adventure; and we have seen him refusing the call or being blocked in some way. With the help of the mentor, the character fully commits to the adventure. Your character has faced a series of tests, and discovered who his allies and enemies are.

Let’s look at this stage in Star Wars, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, and Avatar.

In Star Wars, this is the part of the story where Luke Skywalker is inside the Death Star on a mission to save Princess Leia. The character is approaching the part of the story where he or she will soon be in such danger that we don’t know if he will succeed or even live through it.

In Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, Harry and his friends travel to the Ministry of Magic at night. They go into a phone booth and down into the earth. Because it’s at night, there space is dark and empty. It has a very cave-like feeling about it. The are now approaching the Chamber of Prophecies where they will have to battle the Death Eaters.

In Avatar, Stage 7, Jake Sully has been pulled out of the Avatar bed and is being held for questioning. He and the scientist manage to convince the Corporation to allow them to go back to talk to the Navi and try to talk them into leaving. The situation is very dangerous for them. They are unsuccessful and the Navi tie them up and hold them captive. They are straining to get free and the aircraft come in and start shooting missiles at the Home Tree in order to destroy it.

As you develop Stage 7 for your own novel or memoir, you will want to create a cave-like setting in which the scene takes place:

1) Create a setting that is dark, enclosed, dangerous, where the character may be held captive;

2) Slowly move the character closer and closer to the first battle through rising tension.

By the time the hero reaches the first battle, the reader should be on the edge of his seat. Stage 7 is the way you move your character toward the first battle.