<h2> Generating ideas to write </h2>
<p><em>I was inspired by @jbs410’s post about coming up with ideas for writing. </em></p>
<p>I’ve been trying to get other people, mostly teachers, to write their own books. </p>
<p>Ever since I published my first children’s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Seven-Lions-Kevins-Books-ebook/dp/B00AY674F4#nav-subnav" rel="noopener">Kevin and the Seven Lions</a>, I’ve had other teachers tell me, <em><strong>“I’ve always wanted to do this but I can’t think of any ideas.” </strong></em></p>
<p><img src="https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/07/18/FrontCoverFinal_smallthumbnail.jpg" /></p>
<p>That seems to be the biggest obstacle--<strong>I don’t have any ideas. </strong></p>
<p>That’s a lie. And it is a dangerous lie. </p>
<h2>Writer’s block is fear. </h2>
<p>When it comes to fiction writing—writer’s block is BS.</p>
<p>Writer’s Block is perfectionism.  Stop trying to be perfect. </p>
<p>Perfect is the enemy of done. </p>
<p><strong>Done is the goal.</strong> </p>
<p><strong>I live by Louise L’Amour quote: </strong></p>
<blockquote>“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” </blockquote>
<p>Start writing first. </p>
<p>The ideas come next. </p>
<p>When beginning to write the first Kevin book, I wrote 10 sentences. Each was the start of another story. </p>
<p>Kevin and the Seven Lions began with this sentence “Kevin slept in class.” </p>
<p>That sentence did not make it to the final version of the book. But that was how I turned on the faucet to get the words flowing. </p>
<p>When I do a writing session on my latest book, I find that the longer the faucet is on the more the words flow. </p>
<p><img src="https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/08/04/water_fauceta623d.jpg" /></p>
<p>I’ve come to believe that when a writer is stuck for ideas they are wanting water without turning on the faucet. Turn the faucet on. </p>
<p>I don’t agree that fiction writing is hard. </p>
<p>I read <a href="http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/" rel="noopener">Dean Wesley Smith’s</a> blog regularly. He is one of the most profile authors living. </p>
<p><img src="https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/08/04/Five-Issues229969.jpg" /></p>
<p>He currently publishes a 70,000 word magazine monthly of his own work. He loves writing. He never runs out of ideas. And he also shines a light on the secret. </p>
<p>Writing fiction isn’t supposed to be hard. </p>
<h2>Do you know what hard is? </h2>
<p>Digging ditches. Cutting trees. Teaching 5th grade. </p>
<p>Making stuff up and putting it down on paper—not hard. </p>
<p>Playing in your imagination is fun. It’s supposed to be fun. Writing is supposed to be fun. Make it fun. </p>
<p>Now if you sit down and write is going to perfect from the beginning? Of course not. </p>
<p>But most complaints I hear from other would be writers is “I don’t have an idea!” </p>
<h2>Sit your bottom down in the chair, put your fingers on the keyboard and begin writing. </h2>
<ul>
  <li>Then, the ideas come. </li>
  <li>Next come the good ideas. </li>
  <li>Then come the best ideas. </li>
</ul>
<p>That’s how it works. </p>
<p>And it always begins with turn the faucet on and begin writing.     </p>
<p><br /></p>