Another question that more easily elicits creative thought than a blank page or an empty mind is "How would I complete this sentence?" Starting with half a sentence gets those guys in the subconscious all excited, they volunteer stuff like crazy--often they all yell at the same time.
I post a daily prompt on Facebook; sometimes it's an unfinished sentence. It's a small simple exercise, really just for the fun, that takes just a minute to do, but we've been doing this for long enough that I can tell my friends are getting more creative and clever because they play regularly... Regularity: Truly a key to being more creative! Otherwise your ideas get constipated.
- How would you complete: All my. . .
Here's what some of my friends wrote:
Coral Ann Jyrkas Champer exes live in Texas..
Jennifer Hardy Rinehart lovin', I will send to you.
Melisa Glassford wisdom is a figment of my imagination...
Julie Ann Liens to take myself seriously today dissolved in laughter
Steve Fix Money is in my OTHER PANTS!
Susan Volk life, i have never once fallen out of love with a book.
Jan Mollet Evans family members are strangely quiet -- wonder what they are plotting?
Ed Coonce teeth are real
Lane Rider chickens have come home to roost.
Dale Damron eggs are now in different baskets, as my broker strongly advised. But why does this have to be an easter egg hunt?
Lynda Treger pencils have a different point of view.
Adriana Pizzia Franc All my thoughts are progressively turning my life into my dream reality, how's that for energy????
- How would you complete: Sometimes, when it's quiet ...
Cherie Balowski ... I can hear the trees breathe
Bonnie Shapley I can hear my house sighing
Andrew Petersen i discuss economic policies with the evil me in my head.
Lisa Gornicki Bolender I can hear my cat fart.
Dylan Barmmer You can hear other people making love.
Steve Fix I don't mind hearing the others making love. It's just when they take up all the covers...
Marilyn Shapley I hear my dead peoples' voices--murmuring encouragement
Donna Mulholland you realize that all is well in your world
George Schlaughenhoupt I can also hear Lisa's cat fart.
Irene Sieders The silence is deafening.
Jacki Whitford my soul hears angels singing.
Rick Christensen I can listen
Jocelyn Brown I do port de bras.
Jerry Minyard my tinitus reminds me of being too close to the band.
Jill Badonsky I run down the street yelling, "WHY IS IT SO QUIET?!" Once, i fell in a manhole and was rescued by a fireman. I LOVE those boots.
When it's quiet I can remember the days I spent in Cedar Rapids... only problem is, I've never been to Cedar Rapids.
Create some unfinished sentences for yourself and see what happens. Pull some partial sentences out of a book or find some eavesdropping.