The Character Therapist: Help Me Replace Free Association and Win a Writer's Guide of Your Choice!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Help Me Replace Free Association and Win a Writer's Guide of Your Choice!

I've been doing the free association chain for about 2 years. (Well, I didn't do the exact math, but 161 posts, only on Fridays...it might even be longer.)

The intention behind the free association chain was to have blog readers feel free to comment on something fairly non-intimidating. I realize a lot of my posts don't lend themselves to reader interaction, and this was my attempt to change that.

But now I need your help.

I'm committed to posting Mondays and Wednesdays, but would really love to have an interactive Friday post. I'm hoping that my readership has some great ideas!

Leave your idea in the comment section below, and regardless of whether I pick yours or not, you'll still be entered to win any one of my Writer's Guides, covering subjects like Personality Disorders, Personality Types, Grief, Creating Rich Backstory, and my newest Guide to Breaking Character Stereotypes.

So get creative, think about what you'd personally be interested in commenting on, and remember, the sky's the limit. I'm looking forward to your suggestions.

Comments (16)

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keligwyn 52p · 617 weeks ago

I understand your reasons for wanting to bring your Friday Free Association posts to an end, but I will miss them. I really enjoyed adding to the chains.

1 reply · active 617 weeks ago

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jeanniecampbell 76p · 617 weeks ago

You were one of my faithful responders, Keli. I always appreciated that!

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Elaine · 617 weeks ago

It could be a little left-field but I think anything linking therapy and the movies would do it - like a still from a movie (at the moment I'm seeing Will from Good Will Hunting) - you could ask people to offer advice?

1 reply · active 617 weeks ago

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jeanniecampbell 76p · 617 weeks ago

I originally thought I'd provide a question about mental illness and have people think oh movies where that disorder shows up....still mulling this over. Thanks for the suggestion...I've got you entered.

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lisagodfrees 17p · 617 weeks ago

What about a Dear Jeannie column? Let's say I won this week. I could ask you a free problem/question/situation facing one of my characters. You could answer on the next Friday blog with a little writing wisdom, and a commentor on that post would be selected appear the next Friday. You could either have a drawing or choose which question you'd like to answer based on the ones submitted (or have people vote for their favorite question).

4 replies · active 616 weeks ago

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jeanniecampbell 76p · 617 weeks ago

Oooooh! Really like this idea. Just might be perfect, Lisa!

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@LibertySpeidel · 617 weeks ago

I like this idea too!

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jeanniecampbell 76p · 616 weeks ago

Kinda a no-brainer....you won with this idea, Lisa! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out. :) I'll be contacting you to see which Writer's Guide you would prefer.

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lisagodfrees 17p · 616 weeks ago

Yay! Does that mean I get to ask the first question too? I have one ready... ;)

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Martina Boone · 617 weeks ago

I love the Dear Jeannie idea!

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@LadyIncarnate · 617 weeks ago

I like the Dear Jeannie idea too ^^

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Carol Baldwin · 617 weeks ago

How about a picture prompt?

1 reply · active 617 weeks ago

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jeanniecampbell 76p · 617 weeks ago

What would be the focus Carol? What were you thinking therapy-wise?

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Addy Rae · 617 weeks ago

Fill in the blank plots?

A young miner ______GOAL_______, but his unicorn isn't old enough yet.

A portly prepper has to fill coffins with dried beans because _____MOTIVATION_____.

Or something of the sort. Or you could try query letter mad libs. People would put forth the verbs, nouns, motivations, goals, sinister secret... and then come back the next day to see what they created.