Being a Creative Writing Major is hard, especially when you are also an Advertising Major. Although they both require creative thinking and unique ideas, it feels like they use two separate sections of your brain. For a creative Writing Assignment, you can write about any topic you want and as long as you create a good story. Why you chose to write what you did doesn't really matter, your readers will bow to you because you created a story that captivated them and made them fall in love with your characters.

Your readers don't really care why you chose to make Grandma the way she is. In advertising, the end result doesn't matter nearly as much as the thinking behind the idea. Switching between these two ways of thinking can be hard, really hard. Here are some of the ways I switch from strategizing what I write to finding something to write for no other reason than me wanting to tell a story.

1. Make a list of the last 50 times you've told someone "thank you"

Do your best to avoid the obvious reasons like, my friend gave me something, be as specific as possible. When you get to number 50, write that story. It will be the reason your readers are least likely to expect and will probably be the most intriguing story. Feel free to exchange "Thank you" for any other phrase, "Excuse me," "what are you doing," etc.

2. Read a book that isn't a part of the genre you want to write

The key to being a good writer is writing something you would want to read. So if you're trying to write a paranormal romance you've probably read a lot of paranormal romance novels. You know what makes a good one and what elements you don't really care for. If you're still stuck, you've probably thought about this genre too much. Read something else, experience a different kind of world and then come back to it, maybe something you read can find itself in your story.

3. Make a list of the rules of your genre, and break them.

Books that fall within the same genre can have completely different rules of engagement depending on the writer. Some vampire books follow the rules that say vampires cannot go outdoors, some don't. But, you can't break the rules until you know them, so make that list.

4. Go to a public place, and observe

Write down every single thing you hear and see, exactly. Every iota of dialogue every single observation down to the smallest detail. This exercise helps you pay attention to the things that people notice, the things that makes a story seem real.