My Writer's Block Lists
by Archone

But I sometimes have problems with my stories. Not in writing them, but in conceiving them.

I use conceive with a definate intention. I liken the writing process to the birthing process. Both are acts of creation. Both can be painful to accomplish. And you can't rush either one.

But just as women today can receive assistance in conceiving a child, I find there are ways to short circuit the difficult process of conceiving a story concept. The best, I find, is my writer's block lists. I have two, thus far. I'll be listing them at the bottom of this article. Feel free to use them, or create your own.

The first list was intended to create characters. Characters are what stories are all about. Without good characters, you have nothing, whether the story is a fanfic, comic, TV show, or RPG. Would Final Fantasy VII have been nearly as good, without the villainous Sephiroth, the saintly Aeris, or the brain damaged Cloud? Would Terranigma have been as much fun without the irrepressible Ark? Where would Phantasy Star IV have been without Chaz, Rika, and Alys?

The second list is for plots. When I write a fanfic, I'm using previously established characters. But unless I'm doing a novelization, I don't have a basic outline to draw on. In my latest story-Glorious Eyes, a Faxanadu fanfic-I drew a blank. I had to do a FX story to keep my promise, but I didn't know what to write!

Enter the Writer's Block Lists. I took my ten sided dice, and rolled, once, twice. 94! What's 94? Rejuvenate. Hhhmmm, I thought. A story in which the hero(since I'm using a first person perspective, I need never name him) is healed, somehow. Roll again! 37-Faithless! Faithless? Perhaps the healing was spiritual. Did a guru have to restore his lagging faith? Or a description of what happens when the character "dies" in the game?

Never mind that. Third time's a charm. 54...Heroinne?

A female character healed his spirit? Gurus in the game were all male. Hmm. Um. Oh!

A romance?

Perhaps the hero has a brief affair with a female elf?

And the result is there for all to see.

So I'm offering my lists to all. Use them as is, or replace the words with your own- preferably strong words, to evoke a definate response within your creative centers. Just roll three times, and use the chosen words as inspiration for creating a character or plot.

Writer's Block List I(Characters)
01:King
02:Queen
03:Ace
04:Joker
05:Master
06:Mistress
07:Slave
08:Witch
09:Wizard
10:Sniper
11:Gunsel
12:Gunfighter
13:Gundam
14:Bioweapon
15:Armor
16:Guns
17:Firearms
18:Weapons
19:Swords
20:Knives
21:Axes
22:Flails
23:Bullets
24:Arrows
25:Shields
26:Love
27:Hate
28:Compassion
29:Pity
30:Sorrow
31:Grief
32:Loneliness
33:Fear
34:Confidence
35:Freedom
36:Solitude
37:Bondage
38:Emancipation
39:Drugs
40:Sober
41:Alcohol
42:Drunk
43:Murder
44:Rape
45:Thief
46:Fighter
47:Boxer
48:Kickboxer
49:Karateka
50:Gungfu
51:Aikidoka
52:Kendoka
53:Swashbuckler
54:Swordsman
55:Cavalry
56:Reinforcements
57:Thinker
58:Books
59:Restitution
60:Repayment
61:Wailing
62:Crying
63:Screaming
64:Howling
65:Moaning
66:Begging
67:Pleading
68:Mourning
69:Day
70:Night
71:Darkness
72:Light
73:Twilight
74:Shadow
75:Thug
76:Bully
77:Warrior
78;Lover
79:Politician
80:Mafia
81:Ghetto
82:Gangster
83:Whore
84:Addict
85:Infant
86:Juvenile
87:Teenager
88:Punk
89:Adult
90:Mature
91:Elderly
92:Deceased
93:Undead
94:Colt
95:Horse
96:Smith
97:Ruger
98:Nazi
99:Samurai
00:Knight

Writer's Block List II(Plots)
01:Run
02:Hide
03:Climb
04:Fly
05:Fight
06:Love
07:Rage
08:Anger
09:Passion
10:Beg
11:Threaten
12:Jump
13:Dodge
14:Fire
15:Freeze
16:Look
17:Search
18:Turn
19:Twist
20:Burn
21:Ache
22:Pain
23:Sneeze
24:Sicken
25:Overwhelm
26:Underwhelm
27:Overestimate
28:Underestimate
29:Betray
30:Trust
31:Break
32:Blast
33:Curse
34:Bless
35:Religion
36:Faith
37:Faithless
38:Judge
39:Repent
40:Sin
41:Lost
42:Found
43:Portray
44:Write
45:Draw
46:Color
47:Picture
48:Cryptic
49:Guileless
50:Nerve
51:Coward
52:Brave
53:Hero
54:Heroinne
55:Villain
56:Villainess
57:Magic
58:Science
59:Illusion
60:Reality
61:Damned
62:Elevated
63:Charity
64:Greed
65:Selfishness
66:Empathy
67:Repayment
68:Renege
69:Impoverish
70:Enrichen
71:Justify
72:Excuse
73:Responsibility
74:Attack
75:Defend
76:Ambush
77:Assault
78:Sneak
79:Brazen
80:Open
81:Close
82:Try
83:Fail
84:Succeed
85:Transform
86:Remain
87:Leave
88:Depart
89:Altar
90:Live
91:Die
92:Survive
93:Sicken
94:Rejuvenate
95:Befriend
96:Embitter
97:Enmity
98:Joyous
99:Relax
00:Tense