Treatment Forensics

During my treatment forensics, I actually made use of a book and full card set for writers that, up until now, I have only kept in my office to impress people and appear as a know-it-all.

My tarot-like advice from beyond empowered me with this wisdom:

“Flip It Over: Take something you’ve written, or have been trying to write, and play with its opposite.”
So I switched my main characters around. So far so good.

“Take A Walk: As you walk you can think about a current project…”
I walked then ran a little so the ideas would come faster. I had my iPod on so my scenes were set to music. (I think a well-planned theme song is critical at early writing stages. May I suggest Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger or The Mahna Mahna Song by The Snowths?)

“Change Your Point of View: Anytime you feel stuck try telling the story from another point of view.”
This worked in concert with the flip it over card (which now sounds vulgar but I assure you, is quite the appropriate nomenclature).

“Build a History: You want to know not only the history and habits of your characters, but also the history of the places, ideas, and institutions about which you write.”
That was what I did in my character bios, but not deeply enough (I learned later). In an effort to get into the heads of my characters I have donned a wig and may only be referred to as Harvill. Talk to the walking stick.