| I named a character after a friend from college. I used another friend's experience on a cleanse diet as inspiration for a scene involving a magic potion. I added a demon to that movie premise. A bottle of wine inspired a major plot element--and not because I was drunk. A dream inspired another cool element. These are a few examples of where I get my ideas. Truth is, writers can find inspiration anywhere and from anything. Sit me in a blank room with nothing interesting to look at, and I'll create a story about the dead fly the windowsill or about a woman who loses her mind from boredom. I've always created stories in my head. It's the result of being one of those easily bored kids. But when I started writing fiction, I struggled with trying to figure out what to write about. Eventually, my first book was based on an idea I had while working in a museum a few years earlier. But as I continued to write, I found that my mind became trained to look for inspiration. Now, every conversation, every experience, everything I see on TV or in the movies, is run past the idea-o-matic in my head. Each possibility is weighed and then stored away for future use. Sometimes these disparate ideas meld later on to become a Super Idea. Writers experience life as both participant and observer. When you're hanging around a writer, you may notice at times their eyes glaze over and they seem to have retreated into their minds. That's because some ridiculous thing you said is being filed away for future use. And when you tell a writer your secrets, be prepared to have them appear in print later. This is why I wear a shirt that reads: "Warning: Anything you do may appear in my next book." When people ask a writer where they get their ideas, the answer is "everywhere." But for some reason, non-writers seem to believe there's a secret alchemy to ideas. I suppose that's true on some level. It can seem magical and mysterious even to us. Some of it is innate, but rest is the result of training our minds to look for them. Without ideas, there's no story, so you learn very quickly to find inspiration in everything. |
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I find inspiration in the people and places around me constantly. Which is probably pretty freaky since I write about the undead and aliens and whatnot.
I agree completely. Inspiration can come when you least expect it.
The project I'm working on now popped into my head fully formed during a phone conversation with two of my buddies. One misheard statement combined with a song I'd been listening to that morning, some thoughts I'd been having about the passing of an extremely nice individual and BOOM. Four books worth of plot exploded in my head.
Several minutes worth of typing later, one of my friends asked, "Okay, J, what did we create?"
"Give me a few more minutes to get it down," I said, "then I'll tell you all about it."
exactly so, jaye... well said :)
"Warning: Anything you do may appear in my next book."
-I want that shirt.
And yeah, I loved what you said about writers going through life as participants and observers. It's so true. I used to sit around campus with a notebook doodling and writing poems and things I noticed. I'm so not the shy type, but even I like sit back and just watch once in a while.
Thanks.
I'm a magnet for weird situations--thank God. I've got a daily quota for bizarre occurences; if I don't hit at least 3, something's wrong with the world.
I get most of my ideas from daydreaming and asking myself "What if?"
What if instead of oxygen, humans had to breathe "High Karate" to survive?
See, there's a story idea right there. If you use it, make sure to credit me, OK? :)
Melissa-- Ask and you shall receive. The shirt can be found here.
Heehee!! Thanks! Though I may have to make my own so it doesn't have the Dara stuff on it... And I'll put it in a warning sign... oo... the ideas are just pouring in. :)
My ideas come from my cat.. he tells me everything I should write... and who I should kill..
*glares pointedly at Mark*
I remember those days of trying to demystify how the hell a writer threw all those people and happenings together. Since Anton cleared up that mess I now have a new found fear of kitty-cats!
as well you should... mine have been talking about you lately, and frankly, they aren't very happy...
What does it mean when you dream about someone telling you, "You were right about the bear"?
No, seriously?