It isn't what it is. It is what it isn't.

• This is not a pen.
• It isn’t what it is. It is what it isn’t.
• Write in 3D, not flat.
• Oh no, no oh oh. Or, oh oh, no oh no.
• Hit me with some action.
• Leave out the boring parts.
• Don’t lay an egg.
• Only include the good stuff.
• Buzz the “was.”
• Slam a book.

 “This is not a pen,” and “It isn’t what it is. It is what it isn’t,” are much the same thing. The though is, if this isn’t a pen, then what is it? When I’m writing and need a new place, a new creature, a new character or something for the plot, I tell myself, “This is not a pen.” It’s a reminder to me to be creative and different. It’s a reminder to think about the obvious. What is it the reader would expect? If they anticipate a pen, give them something else to keep the story interesting and to hold on to the readers’ interest.

 

 Keep your writing and ideas fresh.

  

This is not a pen. In my classes, I use the nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill to illustrate concepts. Let’s look at Jack and Jill now.

 

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

 

Jack fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after.

 This is not a pen. What was that water? Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of magic water. Magic water is a pen. How about a pail of saliva? Or maybe an envelope of water? Be creative.

  

It is what it isn’t, it isn’t what it is. They went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. They came back with what they thought was water. It did come from the well. To their shock, horror, amusement, etc. it was ?