Take a blank piece of paper and draw a detailed sketch of the first place you lived and its immediate surroundings. Include names for significant events or people, such "the dog bit me" or "our old treehouse" or "grumpy Mrs. So-n-so".

As you sketch it, old memories should resurface and may spark ideas for stories.

It might also be interesting to try and do this for one of your main characters as well, to generate some depth to them.

If you wish to share your sketch, email it to me and I'll place it on my website and post a link here.

mikemunsil

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 21, 2005).]