One of the things often asked of writers is where they get their ideas. And the answers are as varied as the authors.
Not long ago I was chatting with another writer who is a truck driver. Together she and her husband take turns driving across the country. She prefers to drive at night. Says she thinks better. One of the things she told was about watching the sunrise in Colorado. How cool would that be:-)
Another writer mentioned she gets a lot of her ideas from things her kids say. I have to agree. My kids are a wonderful source of ideas. They look at things so different than I do at times. That freshness keeps things interesting.
Just by looking around us, we can find so many ideas. An old oak in my front yard became a "hanging tree" and a ghost/western/mystery was born. A rainy day and a car accident became the start of a romance story I'm working on. And, a Discovery Channel show on how carousel horses are made gave me the idea for a smuggling mystery.
Just by asking who, what, where, when, why and how we can come up with more ideas than we'd ever have time to write. Plus, it's such fun to brainstorm ideas. Even if you never use them.
So for today, share with us your favorite place/way to find inspiration?
6 comments:
Driving (I love road trips) and conversations with my friends (tangents!).
Song titles/lyrics. Driving is a good time for whole stories to come to fruition. Washing dishes is another good time even though I don't like doing the dishes ;-)
Sandra
I guess I'm twisted enough I get weird ideas from everything - a lady at the grocery store, a unique car driving down the street, a commercial on tv, a campy movie, a chance remark. Everything contains a story, we just have to loosen up enough to be able to find it and then tell it.
Hmm.
I don't find ideas.
They find me.
No matter how far away I go, they always manage to catch up!
I think most writers are basically the same, in that their imagination and creative minds allow them to see things in the ordinary that most people just miss.
My inspiration is a mystery. It usually comes when I should be doing something else. :) Jen
Hmm.
I don't find ideas.
They find me.
No matter how far away I go, they always manage to catch up!
I think most writers are basically the same, in that their imagination and creative minds allow them to see things in the ordinary that most people just miss.
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