Issue #10: Field trip
On learning more about your characters, identifying the “B” that’s in your way, and five writing prompts
Hello, mes amis!
July 17 is World Emoji Day. 📅🥳🌎😃 This day was chosen in 2014 because of how the calendar emoji was displayed on the iPhone. What are your emoji sins? Mine are overusing 😊, never remembering that 👍is now considered passive aggressive and rude, and using 🤡 when I message my boss. 💀😭
Now on the good stuff.
Taking troublesome characters on a field trip
Photo by finwal / Canva
One of the characters in a short story I’m writing won’t open up. This isn’t intentional — it’s just that I don’t know enough about him to get him to say anything. So far, all I’ve got out of him is “yep,” “nope,” and a couple of nods and glares. And he’s kind of important. He’s a great, big, gaping cipher in the middle of my story, and I need to figure him out before I can move forward.
It shouldn’t be this hard, right? He’s an imaginary person, and I can pretty much get him to do or say what I want.
Whatever he does or says, it has to jive with the choices he makes within the story. His actions and the things he says have to be authentic and honest, even if they are all made up. As Tom Clancy said, paraphrasing and kind of mangling Mark Twain, "Fiction has to make sense."
In an interview, Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus, said that she was bored with her original story and decided to send the characters to the circus to stir things up. I was inspired, and decided to see if sending my character on a field trip would help me figure him out.
Field trip # 1: The zoo
Okay, it’s a lot like the circus, so no points for originality — but it’s definitely a destination where almost anything can happen. I found out that my character is “that guy” who will jump into the baboon enclosure if someone dared him to and if there was an audience.
Field trip # 2: A job interview
Not exactly a walk in the park, but this helped get my character talking about himself and his past, and helped me understand how he would react under stress. I found out he’s a bit of a showman in an interview, and adept at highlighting his accomplishments. But he is stymied when questions about organization and prioritization come up. (Note to self: Maybe my character should take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator next.)
Field trip # 3: A funeral
This was a bit of a downer, but it helped me get a grip on how well my character would mingle with other people in a more somber, emotional environment. It turns out he is uncomfortable with displays of emotion, and doesn’t want to be relied on to help other people manage their problems or their grief. He prefers to work through his own emotions by himself, in private, and he expects other people to do the same. Sheesh. No wonder his girlfriend is on the fence.
Field trip # 4: A cottage vacation with friends
As it turns out, my character loves an audience. When there’s a vacation vibe, fueled by booze, buds, and barbeque, he can be counted on to get the party started in some extreme way. Diving into the lake from the roof? Sure. Setting off fireworks from the deck? You bet. Paddleboarding naked? Absolutely. He’s kind of a frat boy, and his antics might become a key part of a plot point.
Will any of this help? I think the field-trip exercise was valuable. As I continue to flesh out the scenes in my story, these tidbits about my character will help me figure out how he reacts to events, how he interacts with other people, why he makes certain decisions, and what it means for the conflict that’s at the heart of the story. It might even change where my story ends up. And I hope that will help make my story better.
What about you? Where will you take your characters?
Maria
Reflection: Identifying and overcoming your “B” problem
Photo by Superette from corelens / Canva
Most of the challenges writers face in making progress in their work can be distilled down into one of the three “B” problems: boredom, block, or burnout. I’ve dealt with all three at different points in my writing life. It can be hard to identify the problem when you’re in the throes of it, which can make recovery extra-tough. Here are some questions to gently uncover what’s holding you back, so you can find the best way to move forward.
Part 1: What’s bugging you?
Reflect on these questions to help name what you’re feeling:
Tune into your energy:
Do I feel mentally foggy or physically drained, even when I want to write?
Am I still interested in the project I’m working on, or do I dread sitting down to it?
Do I have the desire to write, but feel like nothing comes out when I try?
Check your mindset:
Do I catch myself saying things like “I should be more productive” or “Why bother?”
Do I feel pressure to write something “perfect” instead of just writing?
Am I avoiding writing altogether, or filling my time with endless research or pointless editing?
Review your rhythms:
Have I been trying to push through without breaks, rest, or variety?
When’s the last time I felt playful or curious in my writing?
What’s my current relationship with my creativity -- nurturing, neglectful, resentful, hopeful?
Part 2: Identify your “B” and choose a strategy
Once you’ve completed your reflection, put a pin in which “B” seems most true right now, then try one of the strategies below to help restart your creative flow.
🥱 BOREDOM
You might be bored if: You feel uninspired, restless, or stuck in repetitive routines.
Try this:
Change the medium or method. If you usually type, try handwriting. If you write prose, try a poem or a script. Shake it up.
Give yourself a mini creative challenge. Set a 15-minute timer and write something silly, weird, or totally unrelated to your project. (Some prompts are below.)
Reconnect with curiosity. Ask: “What if…?” or “What haven’t I tried yet?” Let surprise be your guide.
😤 WRITER’S BLOCK
You might be blocked if: You want to write, but nothing comes out -- or everything you write feels flat or wrong.
Try this:
Lower the stakes. Write badly or simply on purpose. Try to write the worst version of what you’re trying to say, just to get started. Or pretend you’re explaining your story to your 10-year-old niece.
Use a sandbox. Work from a prompt, outline, quote, or borrowed structure to kickstart your thinking.
Talk it out. Unload to your writing friends. Record yourself explaining your idea to a friend or an imaginary audience, then transcribe the best bits.
😫 BURNOUT
You might be burned out if: You feel exhausted, overwhelmed, cynical, or disconnected from your creative self.
Try this:
Take an intentional break. Step away completely. Don’t push through -- take a pause.
Do something nourishing but not demanding. Read for pleasure, take a walk, do puzzles, sketch. Let your creativity rest and refuel.
Say no to pressure. Drop guilt. Yes, this can be tough. But remember that rest and recovery are important parts of the creative process.
One final prompt:
After trying one of the strategies above, reflect with this closing question: “What tiny step can I take tomorrow that will help me feel even 5% more creative, playful, or connected to my writing?”
Writing prompts: Road trip
Le français suivra l'anglais.
Here are some writing prompts inspired by the theme of a road trip. Pick whichever one speaks to you.
Two estranged siblings are forced to drive cross-country to scatter a parent's ashes. What do they learn about each other — and about their dead parent?
A missing person’s last known location is a gas station on the Trans-Canada Highway. Your character is the last person who saw them.
Four teens pile into a car to escape their small town one summer weekend. What secret about one of them will be revealed?
A flat tire strands a young honeymooning couple in the middle of nowhere. Write about their interaction with the first person who stops to help.
A self-driving AI van goes rogue and traps passengers inside. What do they have to do to get out?
Some tips:
Before you start, set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes. Keep writing until the timer dings. Avoid going back to re-read or edit your writing. Don’t aim for perfection; just keep going. After the timer dings, feel free to put your pen down and congratulate yourself on your mini-but-amazing writing achievement for the day. If you’re on a roll, don’t stop!
Did you come up with a variation on one of these prompts? Do share!
Suggestions d'écriture : Voyage en voiture
Voici quelques suggestions d'écriture inspirées par le thème d'un voyage en voiture. Choisissez celui qui vous parle.
Deux frères ou sœurs séparés sont obligés de traverser le pays pour disperser les cendres d'un parent. Qu'apprennent-ils l'un sur l'autre -- et sur leur parent ?
Le dernier lieu connu d'une personne disparue est une station-service sur la Route Transcanadienne. Votre personnage est la dernière personne à l'avoir vue.
Quatre adolescents s'entassent dans une voiture pour fuir leur petite ville un week-end d'été. Quel secret sur l'un d'entre eux sera révélé ?
Un pneu crevé bloque un jeune couple en lune de miel au milieu de nulle part. Racontez leur interaction avec la première personne qui s'arrête pour les aider.
Une camionnette d'intelligence artificielle autopilotée se dérègle et emprisonne des passagers à l'intérieur. Que doivent-ils faire pour en sortir ?
Quelques conseils :
Avant de commencer, réglez une minuterie de 10 à 15 minutes. Continuez à écrire jusqu'à ce que le minuteur sonne. Évitez de revenir en arrière pour relire ou modifier votre texte. Ne visez pas la perfection ; continuez simplement à écrire. Une fois que le minuteur a sonné, n'hésitez pas à poser votre stylo et à vous féliciter d'avoir réussi à écrire une petite partie de votre journée. Si vous avez le vent en poupe, ne vous arrêtez pas !
Avez-vous imaginé une variante de l'une de ces suggestions ? N'hésitez pas à nous en faire part !
Translation provided by DeepL and my own meagre French skills. / Traduction assurée par DeepL et mes maigres compétences en français.
Thanks for reading this issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings! I hope it inspired you in some way.
Did you complete one of these prompts or exercises? Go on and share it with another creative writer in your life!
Copyright 2025 © Maria Hypponen. All rights reserved.