new coping strategy...short story idea?

Hi @Former-Member,

Great idea to use writing as part of your mental health strategy. I have done a lot of writing in my life too, including journalling on a regular basis (not so much at present but daily for long periods in the past) and writing film scripts.

It seems you already know that you want to avoid triggering material, which seems wise. For some people it can be cathartic to write out dark things. For others it can just take them back into that darkness.

Aside from autobiography, what interests you? There are so many things in the world to write about aside from our own direct experience. I would suggest hitting the blank page with a brainstorm of ideas from your own mind. Just write out anything that comes up, even if they are just words, images or sounds that are appealing to you. This may help unlock some further ideas about where you would like to take your short story.

Happy writing!

thanks @Mazarita

writng about dark stuff doesnt really work for me though at the end of each day i do a journal entry no matter how my day was so i can monitor over the months etc

umm i like nature, horses and animals in genral (except dogs), i like mysteries, the best thing that im best at writing about is in first person so kind of anything that requires an "eperience' or and 'event' i seem to be good at writing. google might come in handy for this actually

@Former-Member, cool! It sounds like animals could be a good starting point for you. Maybe a story that is about people who are represented by animals, including a main character that you could write in the first person. Have you ever read George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'? It works in that kind of way. This is just a random idea, of course, take or leave as you please. Sounds like you're already moving with new ideas on how to do it.

@Former-Member

Check out this sight for eight animal story starters:

https://www.trevorhampel.com/eight-short-story-starters/

Zoe

hi @Mazarita @Zoe7

thank you both for the ideas. ive been brainstorming abit today and come up with a few ideas just dont quite know the full story plots yet, but a few ideas for a few different stories 🙂

thanks @shabdaclinic

feel free to add in any of your ideas as well

im thinking maybe

1. a secret cottage

2. a story about a farm animal but from the view of the animal not the farmer

3. a story about a lost girl

4. love/romancey type story

@Former-Member Great idea. I write. It's been one of my main outlets. I'd suggest for what you are wanting .. choose the one closest to your heart. They all sound like great ideas.

If you hit a wall, try another one. I've had lots of restarts so if that happens to you, just know it isn't unusual. 🙂 Hopefully it won't though, that could just be me.

hi @Former-Member

yeah i try to journal at the end of th day, usually im at my worst anyway so i figure that ill jsut get it over and done with then. im not much of a drawer unfortunateley, although i like it just not very good at it..