.forms.
Forms are neat questionaires you can use to figure out the worlds or the characters you are creating. I find them helpful, although it's best not to rely on them too much. I was going to replicate them for you happily on this site, but I am lazy, so I will simply provide the URLs-- going directly to the form, of course-- where you can copy and paste to your heart's content. I do highly recommend having these things on your computer for E-Z access whenever you get stuck.
.world-building questionaire.
This is a very comprehensive questionaire that will make you think about Every Single Nuance of whatever it is you're doing. It's geared towards sci-fi/fantasy writers, because we have more bloody work to do. If it doesn't apply to you, my recommendation is to not worry about it. Just answer the questions you can answer, and think about the questions you need to answer.
.reality-based character questions.
I write sci-fi, so I don't find this questionaire particularly helpful. I include it because it gave me a giggle trying to figure out whether Tristan respected the Pope.
.comprehensive questionaire.
This is fun to do, although it stresses character appearance. You, the writer, need to know what your characters look like to you, but it's not a good idea to give a harrowing description in text. That's why I draw my characters: so I don't give in to the urge.
.somebody took my plot device.
What not to do in your work. I wrote this for myself as a yardstick for whether or not I'm fucking everything up. It's similar to the Turkey City Lexicon that sci-fi workshoppers use to critique each other's work.
.surrealism games.
Reference: "A Book of Surrealistic Games" by Alastair Brotchie, edited by Mel Gooding.
Organization is a mechanical philosophy imposed upon an organic being. Sometimes the "right" way doesn't work. Here are a few ways to experiment with the raw abilities you gained in high school English class. The link will send you to instructions and stuff I've done.
.the games.
.writing to art.
Exactly what it says. Free-associating from artwork. I usually end up with short prose poems when I do this, but I've also used it for character development (as in, how would Linques react to a Cubist painting?)
.a portrait of the mage as a young woman.
This is an ancient character sketch of Linques. It's obsolete now (potions violate my canon), but I still like it. Go read about Linques dissecting a chimpanzee.
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