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The Writer Igniter tool is available from diyMFA. diyMFA offers a variety of writing resources that individuals can use to expand their reading and writing skills.
Though the tools are primarily designed for individual use the Writer Igniter has potential in a classroom setting.
Click "shuffle" and write!
Click "shuffle" and write!
Writer igniter consists of four content boxes and a shuffle button. When the user clicks the shuffle button they are given a random character, situation, prop, and setting.
Who is the story about?
Who is the story about?
Students might be asked to describe the scene happening around the character or to delve into the backstory of the character to flesh out their motivations.
What is the story?
What is the story?
The situations range from mundane to extravagant. Using the generated situation may allow students to concentrate on aspects of creative writing beyond plot.
Why is it interesting?
Why is it interesting?
The props tie the character and story to a physical item. Using the prop in writing exercises may encourage students to further examine character motivations or alternate outcomes.
Where and When is it happening?
Where and When is it happening?
Instead of a word or phrase users are given a picture. The image can be used out of context to describe a setting, but may prove more valuable in conjunction with the other three content boxes.
Encourage students to think about how the character relates to the setting. Some settings may seem perfect for the situation while others exist in complete juxtaposition.
Writer Igniter overcomes decision paralysis by giving students the primary ingredients for a story. These ingredients aren't necessarily going to result in high-quality stories, but it will encourage students to explore new themes.
Individually the four boxes can be used to help define and separate parts of a story. Using the four content boxes above (Unlikely secret agent, forgets an anniversary, Journal, and the picture of the cells) students might start by creating their character. Some students will point to a balding man with thick glasses as the unlikely secret agent while others may come up with a character that resembles their creative writing teacher. How did they forget their anniversary? Is it their wedding anniversary, or something else?
Who does the Journal belong to? Is the journal old, or is the character currently writing in the journal? Finally, is the secret agent in a cell because he forgot his anniversary? Did his wife lock him up with her journal to atone for his sins of forgetfulness?
By using the four prompts we can write a multitude of stories and allow students to branch out and find their voice without worrying about decision paralysis.
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