Finding the Strange, the Singular, the Quirky for Your Writing

Looking at things from a different perspective is the best way to find the strange, singular or quirky aspects that will make readers sit up and take notice. One way is to stop thinking like a human being. How? Try this exercise and see where it takes you.

Write Over the Hump

You are a grocery shopping cart. A group of three people shopping together (you choose who they are) take you into the store. If you could talk, what would you say about these three people and the items they choose to buy? Give yourself 10 minutes to comment on these three people, their lives and their purchases.

What did your shopping cart have to say?

About Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a professional freelance editor, writing instructor and multi-award winning author of 21 books—6 nonfiction on writing (Write It Right), 6 suspense novels and 7 collections of award-winning short stories. She also has stories in both volumes of "Deadlines", the new anthology from the Central Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime (SinC), Tales from a Rocky Coast, and the SLO NightWriter anthology. Under the pen name Susan Grace O'Neill, she is the author of the Journey With Jesus series: Lord, Let Me Grow (Parables) vol. 1, and Lord, Let Me Walk (Lent). She is currently working on volume #2 of her Skylark P.I. series (a PI with paranormal abilities), as well as 2 YA fantasy series. And she teaches fiction writing in both the morning and afternoon every Wednesday. Email her if you're interested in joining her class. And follow her on Twitter and FaceBook.