Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

What Do You Do For Ideas When Writing?

Recently, I look back at the stories I've never finished and for more than half of them, I'm thinking to myself "How Cliche!"

So, I have a delimma. How do I get new, unqiue ideas for writing something I can be fully committed to? I want to post a story, a good one that people will actually read, on Wattpad.com and one on here, but I have no ideas!

The question I would like for you to answer is simple!

1.) Where do your ideas come from? Like, do you go on google and type in "Story prompts?" Or what?

Mucho Appreciato :)

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on November 16, 2011 at 1:13am

That's a very smart strategy. I will try it. I've never really thought about thinking about things like that, but there's a first time for everything! Thank you!

W.J. O'Neil said:

Hi Brooklynn. For me its the "what" word. I'm not sure how much it applies to others but for me it works. For example, What if there were alternate realms-what would they be like? or What type of character might make a child laugh? or What if there were vampires among us? What would their life be like? I find that the "what" word takes the imagination of life all around us to endless possibilities. Another thing I do is to jot down everything and anything that strikes me with respect to a story idea. I can always fill in the what later on.

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on November 16, 2011 at 1:14am

I've actualyl thought about doing this! I will also try this! Thank you!

Linda Page Wickens said:

I sit and listen...go to the mall, sit and listen to conversations. Always have a pad of paper or talk into my cell phone feature that I can dictate into. For me, more often than not...I'll pick up a word or two or expression in thought, write it down and it ignites my thought process. Walk away from the computer at home during a brain freeze, and either get fresh air to awaken it, or even watch TV. Someone will either express a thought or I'll hear a word or two that'll pop into my mind that I can use. Relax...

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Hendrix on November 16, 2011 at 5:49am

Well this may sound really strange but the idea for The Betrayal, my Young Adult Paranormal book was a nightmare. I never have nightmares, ever! This one night changed that. It was one of those nightmares that get down into your bones and you feel like you're living it even when your awake. I remember I woke up panting, trying to catch my breath and trying to make myself see that I was safe at home, in my bed. It stuck with me for days and when I finally did calm down I thought it'd make a great book. A couple of years later, I did.

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on November 19, 2011 at 5:58am

Ah, but you can be! If you look hard enough, you can find inspiration everywhere! Do you know I read once that we won't ever just imagine a face? Like when we're dreaming or stuff. Even if it's just a random person in the background, it's someone you've seen before, even if you just passed them for a second on the street! If that's not proof of how our brains take things from real life I don't know what is! :)

Brooklynn Macey Derryberry said:

I;ve never thought about it like that before! I wish i could be that creative!!

Callie Leah said:

You pose an intriguing question, one that I'm sure every writer asks at one point or another!!

Well I personally may not have the best method, but for me, most of my ideas come from my own experiences or desires!

Take Saturday for example! I was at a party playing laser tag in a dark (black-lighted) room and they had competitive music playing, and I couldn't help but develop thoughts of a character, shoved into a fight with strangers (because I only knew three other people!) and having her own personality rejected by her desire to stay alive, and how she...well, if that ever becomes a published book (which I doubt) I wouldn't want to ruin the end! Granted, that sounds too much like Hunger Games for my taste, but there are a million things I could do to make it nothing like that at all.

In another one of my stories, there's a young girl living in a small town in 16th century England. Many of the experiences she has in the book are ones I would love to happen to me in real life!

If you also have ever found anything that interests you, you can find inspiration like that! For example, I have a friend who is writing a fictionalization of the life of Anne Bonnie, a rather intriguing person in my opinion! She lived a very book-worthy life and that's just what my friend is helping to do! I have another friend writing a story with inspiration she got from a rather creepy (but totally interesting back-story wise) song sung by Vocaloid called "Trick and Treat."

Those are just my own personal experiences, but that's generally how I and my friends get inspiration! Hope I helped! :)

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Permalink Reply by Sunny Starr on November 20, 2011 at 3:45am

Start with writing about what you know and then let that creative imagination kick in!

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on November 21, 2011 at 11:41am

Hi Linda and Brooklynn

I agree, I think over all what you mean is always be aware, always
be open to your thoughts and be clear on your intentions to write. I find that
life (and my family) around me just keeps supplying the ideas and filling in
the blanks; when it gets log jammed in there - I go off to the Land of Dreams and flick
through the dreams I have for help. I usually have some great ideas by the time
I wake up again. I am really putting myself to the test just now, as I am
putting all twelve books through the paces and constructing the chapter maps to
get the whole series and plots in perspective. It’s challenging, but so useful
and great fun!

Linda Page Wickens said:

I sit and listen...go to the mall, sit and listen to conversations. Always have a pad of paper or talk into my cell phone feature that I can dictate into. For me, more often than not...I'll pick up a word or two or expression in thought, write it down and it ignites my thought process. Walk away from the computer at home during a brain freeze, and either get fresh air to awaken it, or even watch TV. Someone will either express a thought or I'll hear a word or two that'll pop into my mind that I can use. Relax...

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Permalink Reply by Geoff Hall on November 21, 2011 at 12:32pm

Hi Everyone,

I think there is a danger of making writing a too mechanical a process. For me, here's a personal slant to 'ideas' they always stem from the root of what is dear to me, what am I passionate about, what/where are my commitments, what upsets me or worries me the most - things like that. Just picking a genre because of its romantic, cerebral or edgy connotations doesn't really speak of a commitment at the heart of the writer.

A story needs time to cultivate, to develop roots deep within me. When it gets to the point of bursting, I know I'm ready to write (or I will explode!!!). (Part of that cultivation means research of course).

Best Wishes,

Geoff