Outside the box

As a designer, I have to constantly come up with things for clients--space plans, color schemes, accessory designs. I have to keep trying different things to please the customer. Thinking outside the box can be hard. It's leaving the comfort of our warm bubble and stepping into foreign territory. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone and think of things that we would never dream of. Even if it's when you get stuck. Like right now, I'm writing this post and I'm trying to figure out how to say what I want to say. As writers, we are constantly pushing ourselves to come up with something that's different or totally new. 

I've been told I'm a good brainstormer. Really, I like to make things up. My mind is constantly on. It doesn't stop. Yes, sometimes, it's hard to go to sleep and I have more ideas than I have time. I'm finally at a point where it's not overwhelming and I'm actually able to focus on one at a time. It's a continuous cycle of thinking outside the box.

How do I do this? It's simple really and some of you may already do it. Ask yourself questions. Yeah, you heard me. Questions. The main one I ask is What if? What if this story took place in another dimension? What if my character was boy instead of a girl? What if the box the girl got for her birthday was magical and transported her to another time? What if she had blue eyes instead of brown?

See what I'm getting at. If you start asking questions, things may become clear or help add an element of a story you may have never thought of. You can do this at any point of your progress--brainstorming, first draft, revisions--whenever. Of course, you have to know when to stop otherwise you will ask yourself questions till the world ends, and nothing will get accomplished.This is sometimes the hard part, but I think if you follow your gut you will know what works and what doesn't.

So take a part of your story where you are stuck and ask it questions. You might be surprised by the answers.

Do you think outside the box?

**Go check out the cover of K.M. Walton's EMPTY to be released January 2013. There's a contest too. It ends May 4th.

Have a great weekend!