Writing Tip #12: Maintain a Flexible Imagination

I’m on fire writing a new children’s book, and yet one important character—a kid named Daniel—has been flat in every scene. I haven’t been able to conjure up a distinctive picture of this character, and it shows. Today, out of the blue, I realized that Daniel could be a girl, and I wondered if this would be an improvement. I picked up a pen and began writing possible names. The moment I chose her name and began re-writing her first scene, a wonderful, dimensional character appeared.

Whenever I’m inching my aching and tight muscles into my yoga routine, I’m reminded how difficult and crucial it is to maintain flexibility. Flexibility of the imagination is difficult and crucial, as well. Somehow you have to allow yourself to consider all the options that you never allowed yourself to consider.