Head Space and Story Prompts

Something that I have realised about myself over the years is that without sufficient head space I become unable to write. Well that isn't strictly true, more I become paralysed and panicky. The ability to hold a whole book in my head becomes impossible and so my writing/editing comes to a crashing stop.

The sad thing is that usually my lack of head space due to work or life or some other real life catastrophe which is stressful would be helped if I was writing. But then I can't write because surely I should be spending the time sorting out a or b... and round I go using up more head space ad infinitum.

I'm in a reduced head space phase at the moment and although on paper it looks like I should have loads of time to write there is too much else cluttering my thinking to allow it. I currently in the middle of a YA/New Adult fantasy, a YA romantic novella and an adult romantic short novel. Oh and a finished YA fantasy novel that needs rethinking. None of these books are getting anywhere because I can't keep them in my head enough to write.

But I yearn to write. My lovely friend Liz Fenwick has suggested that I write short stories or fragments of short stories. A new idea every day to keep my writing muscles flexing, she suggested the first.

"The snow began falling and I thought nothing of it..."

So far I've written 600 something words on 'Snow Hound' and I find myself researching Native American and Norse dog legends.

Snow Hound

To keep me going over the next few weeks please leave a story prompt for me (words/images). I will keep you updated as to where I am with them.

Onwards and upwards!