Writing Advice Inspired By Homer Simpson

I never thought I would quote or identify with Homer Simpson, but in the episode "Lisa the Drama Queen" he said, "Ooohh. Writing is hard". A few weeks ago, I wrote about this topic, saying that I have met a lot of people who suddenly want to be writers, and not necessarily because they have something to say or that the muse eats at them until they do. People sometimes write for money, or fame or recognition.

But no matter why a person writes, I argue that writing is one of the most difficult artistic mediums. For example, my fiancé is a cartoonist. I don't dare say that cartooning is easy, especially since my stickmen look lopsided and kindergartenish, but I think that conceptualization of visual art is easier. There's one frame in a painting, or three in a cartoon panel. Then, the story is done.

I told a friend recently that poems are easy. Short stories are sometimes easy. I can more easily jam a story into 1,000 words than 300 pages. A novel, however, has highs and lows. Undertones. Overtones. Drama. Description. Character. The more frames you add, the more difficult it is. Sometimes the words flow quickly and freely. Others, the muse stays at home and eats ice cream while you stare at your computer, frustrated and longing for her return.

Then what? When nothing comes out, what do you do? Sometimes, I play Tetris. I read article indicating that it's beneficial to get the other side of the brain (the one telling you that you should organize the closets, not write) worked out. I''ve also been spending a lof of time on the Writer's Digest website.

The WD website has tools that help inspire writers. You can read excerpts from writing books, talk to other writers, enter competitions, sign up for online conferences and follow prompts to get the juices flowing. These prompts also help writers be concise, as the prompts give word count limits. Some of my favorite prompts recently have been:

You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific "talent."

You wake up shackled to a chair and can't remember how you got there. Two voices are talking. You recognize one of them.


You arrive at an annual Halloween party only to discover that someone else is dressed in the same costume as you. Bad things start happening to you throughout the night and you suspect this person has something to do with it.

Alternatively, writers can also compete in a prompt-based contest every month called Your Story. Writers can submit a 750-word story based on the month's prompt for free (yes, some places charge the writer to enter their work into a competition). The site writes that "the winner will receive publication in an upcoming issue of Writer's Digest."

So, if you're like me and you need some extra inspiration, check the site out.

P.S. Happy writing!

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