The Writer’s Id List
Potential Id List in Progress
The Id list is a fun writing exercise that can help you enrich your stories and the lives of your characters. The idea is simple: you make your stories distinctive and memorable by adding into them the things that you like.
For me, that includes things like knitting, stitching, cats, tree-lined roads, pugs, bookstores with overstuffed chairs, alleys, the moon, strings of lights, houseplants, early mornings…and more, much more. The items on your Id list will probably be much different.
And that’s the point.
It’s a bit counterintuitive, but in writing, the specific is universal. Which is why we say fir not tree, ancient Volkswagen Bug, not car, Iphone, not cell, stained glass banker’s lamp, not light. You get the idea. It’s the specific details that bring writing to life. And you can use your id list as a reference or just a fun reminder about the little (and big) things you love. Chances are, somebody else loves them, too. And even if they don’t, the underlying passion you have for your id list items will shine through.
Here’s some other resources for you.
Using the id list to enhance your writing