By guest blogger Milli Thornton
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN if we awarded each of our characters a birth date and some of the traits of the related sun sign?
I did try this once, ages ago, in a story called “The Way Dempsey Works” (pg. 145, Fear of Writing). I knew very little about the qualities of Sagittarius, so I decided to have my main character become one.
This really kept the story rolling. Whenever I was stuck for what Stephanie might do with her life, or how she might react, I consulted the traits for Sagittarius in a book I’d borrowed from the library.
For me it was an unusual way of breaking some new ground. And it was fun!
Sun Signs for Writers
When I started reading Bev’s book, Sun Signs for Writers, at first I was so excited about how accurately she’d nailed me (I’m an Aquarian), I could do nothing but speed-read my section and marvel.
Even the quote she used to represent my sign was perfect:
“The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.”
—Toni Morrison
Next, I was so inspired by Bev’s suggestions for how Aquarians can smash writer’s block, deal with rejection, give and receive criticism, forge a path to publication (and more!), I really didn’t give a thought to the other signs.
When I did finally turn to the other eleven signs, funnily enough it got my “prompt inventing” juices flowing.
Writing Prompts and the Zone
It has long been part of my writing obsession to turn almost everything I see (when I’m in the Zone) into the premise for a fictional story. That’s how I got started on a long run of inventing the “Fertile Material” writing prompts in my book.
Now Bev has given me the opportunity to turn the sun signs she so expertly profiles into writing prompts.
This is the first of twelve prompts to be posted on or near the beginning of each sign’s reign on the calendar. Aries is the first sign in our Western zodiac; its cycle commences today, March 21.
How to Use the Zodiac Prompts
You’ve probably realized from my anecdote about Stephanie the Sagittarian that you absolutely do not have to be an Aries yourself to get the benefits of this prompt. In fact, Aries may know themselves so well they’ll think this one’s boring!
The main thing here is to experiment and have fun. And to remember that the prompt is designed to emphasize the traits of Aries that will lend your story the most juice.
After you read the prompt, your mind may draw a blank. Not to worry! We have a separate post for you chock-full of tips on how to get started. You’ll find the link for that at the end of this post.
Meanwhile, turn your imagination loose as you read this month’s zodiac prompt in honor of our go-getter cousin, Aries.
RAM IN A CHINA SHOP You are a competitive and daring [pick a genre] novelist with three published books under your belt. Blunt and forceful, you love nothing more than a good challenge. You have rested confident in the belief that everyone for miles around can easily see your brilliance and talent. Your editor all this time has been a steady, reliable, unexcitable type who took your headstrong opinions with a large grain of salt. But now Mr./Ms. Unflappable has retired and your new editor is . . . Wowsers! . . . an Aries just like you. With the deadline for your fourth book looming, the get-to-know-you lunch could be some wild stuff.
OK? So if your brain’s already churning ideas, go for it!
If not, follow the link below to read tips guaranteed to help launch you into writing a story.
10 Tips for Using the Zodiac Writing Prompts
P.S. If you're an Aries but lacking in the kind of confidence and chutzpah described here, try going out on a limb and writing as if you are that self-assured and even brazen. It’s there inside of you somewhere!
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MILLI THORNTON is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers and the proud grandmother of Atreyu (named for a boy hero in NeverEnding Story). She lived in Australia for 25 years. Milli currently lives in Ohio with her husband and has taken up screenwriting with a passion. She blogs at http://millithornton.blogspot.com.
