Writing Resources
Where do Ideas come from?
Pay attention. Watch people. Listen to odd fragments of conversations in restaurants. Look at what people at the mall are wearing and practice how you would describe them as characters in a story. Watch how they interact with each other. Try guessing where they’re going or what they’re looking for.
Read books. Watch movies. What do you like or dislike about the characters? What would happen if the characters made different choices? How would the storyline change in a different setting? Or in a different genre?
Take notes. Whenever you find something interesting, write it down. Even in a genre like historical detective fiction, I am often surprised by how many details actually come from my personal experiences. Personality traits, character reactions, odd snippets of conversation, elements of an otherwise fictional setting. I even once accidentally discovered a sneaky way to commit robbery, which I haven’t seen anywhere in fiction. Of course, I wouldn’t personally use it, but a fictional villain certainly would.
(When using details from real life, just be sure to change enough that you’re not copying any specific person exactly.)
Practice making lists. Have a brainstorming session where you challenge yourself to come up with ten new ideas. Don’t stop to judge each idea, just write them all down and sort through them later. Sometimes, the best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas. Sometimes, one idea will lead to another idea, and then another. They seem to multiply. And, with practice, coming up with more ideas becomes easier over time.
Keep a writing routine. If I didn’t have a routine, I wouldn’t have been quite so bothered by not having anything to write after finishing the last project. Every evening, I try to write at least five hundred words. And when I hit my goal, I put a star in my calendar book. It is extremely simple, but somehow the action of adding a star to my book is motivating. I feel like I accomplished something. If I don’t have anything to write, no star. That’s a problem. It would mess up my whole evening routine. That’s why I had to come up with a new idea quickly!
I would also recommend eating well and getting plenty of rest. I can’t think when I’m tired or hungry. Sometimes a nap and a good meal are the best inspiration.
When you have a good idea, write it down right away!
I don’t even know how many times I had a moment of absolute brilliance and thought, “I’ll remember to write that down later.” And then later, as I stare at my blank page, all I can remember is that I was brilliant yesterday. And now it’s gone, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t find it again.
At this point, I’ve learned my lesson. As soon as I have an idea that I don’t want to forget, I write it down. I take a notebook to work. I’ve scribbled on receipts in my car. I’ve written on the bottom of the Kleenex box on my nightstand. Just find a way to record your thoughts somehow so you don’t lose them!
If you’re completely stuck, do something else. Wash the dishes. Play the piano. Go for a walk.
It works. I was even running back and forth between the piano and computer while writing this. Something about focusing on a different activity, particularly something that doesn’t take a lot of mental engagement, can break a cycle of ‘being stuck’ and give your subconscious mind some time to process ideas.
If you’re really really stuck . . .
I put my phone in the kitchen, turn off the WIFI, refill my water bottle, take all the distractions off my desk, and soak my feet in a bucket of water. And I’m not going anywhere until something is written.
