Fiction Friday – The Idea Comes From?
The question most often asked to every fiction writer is about where we get our ideas.
If only it were an easy question to answer.
The best advice I would give to anyone thinking about putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard would be to pay attention to your thoughts.
I carry a small moleskin notebook in my pocketbook at all times. I listen to the banter of the people around me on lines, at work, in the stores (dialogue is my weakest link - while I can talk a blue streak, writing it seems to paralyze me, go figure.) If something catches my attention - a turn of phrase I haven't heard before, a slang word - I write in my book.
While in the car, out walking or exercising most of us listen to music. Have you listened to the words lately? There are some songs that just make you move, but others have a story, an emotion that jiggles at the heartstrings or pulls at a memory. Sometimes it sparks a "what if" moment that before you know it has characters attached or the beginning of a plot! Take notes...your imagination is calling you.
Watching TV or at the movies? Have you ever thought you would have ended it differently? Change up the characters and try to change the ending to suit you.
I'd like to say the corner coffeeshop has fresh ideas every morning to serve up with your grande mocha latte, but it's just not that easy. Most authors will tell you there actually are no new ideas, it's all in how we spin them that makes that idea seem fresh and new.
So grab your voice recorder or your favorite pen and a pad and start to pay attention to what's going on around you. Take notes when your blood pressure spikes or are overwhelmed by a good deed. Listen and observe.
Then when you sit down to write - read those notes, remember the feelings, let the characters run free in your imagination and you just might have a story in there!
Is every idea book worthy? NO. And that really isn't the point here. Even great ideas need to be developed, nutured into something that can grow to be a great book, it all takes time. But you never know where the next great idea is going to come from. The point is to be ready for it when it hits!
Go forth and take notes, open your mind and grab those ideas as they rush by.
Make it a saucy weekend! 
Current Mood:
Mischievous
) Could fears, hope and dreams of a past life correlate with the person we are today? I know I have a very unnatural fear of railroad tracks, I will drive MILES out of way to avoid driving over them. Is that just a crazy phobia on my part - or is there something deep down in my soul that screams out in fear when those railroad tracks come into view forcing me to take a detour?
Esctatic
)
) So please read all the fine print before signing anything. Before you click on any of the nice little buttons provided on the EHarlequin site where so many aspiring authors hang out to learn and interact with authors and editors - know that these are advertisements looking for your money, they want you to pay to make your dreams of becoming an author a reality. This is not the way traditional publishing works, btw.
- I think it's a good time for a nice bowl of soup. Last night I made this winner for my kids and they ATE IT! OMG...that's a sure sign this wasn't half bad. LOL
)
) - I'm a writer, which translates to people watcher. Facial expressions interest me and I love to make up stories about the jerks texting while driving (and not to get off track here, but has everyone noticed how frequent this happens? I can't believe how many people text while driving - it's really scary out there!)
