A question that I see writers often ask is “Where do you get story ideas?” That’s a fairly easy question to answer. However, because every writer has different preferences, it’s not always easy to apply the answers. In this article, read my suggestions for finding inspiration, discover tips for organizing your ideas, and find venues that may launch your creativity into overdrive.
Where to Find Inspiration
Dreams.
One of the most popular means for story inspiration comes from people’s dreams. Whether scary, ridiculous, hilarious, or sad, dreams can be incredible story starters. Pro tip: Don’t wait till morning to write down the dreams that wake you at 2 a.m. The details will likely not be as clear.
Personal experiences.
Write what you know. I have heard that from every writing teacher who has taught me. It’s true. Your personal experiences are your specialty. Your career, your relationships, your hobbies are all familiar to you, and you are the expert in those areas.
Learn about character creation by paying attention to people.
When you’re observant about the people around you, you get better at describing scenes and characters.
- Pay attention to how people talk (not to be confused with eavesdropping!); notice speech intonation, gestures, and facial expressions.
- Notice mannerisms. Is there something unique about the way she flips her hair or he tugs at his beard? What about the child who drags his arm over his ketchup stained mouth? And the individual sitting in the coffee shop alone—is she avoiding or meeting the gaze of others around her? The lady who winks when she imparts knowledge—is she conniving or just witty? The coworker who always stands with arms crossed—is it cold in the office, is he disinterested in work conversation, or is it his habit to cross his arms over his chest?
- Don’t overlook mundane activities. Notice the way a person prepares a meal—as he prepares pesto, does he lick the spoon and put it back into the saucepan? How do they laugh—does he cover his mouth to hide crowded teeth, and does she tip her head back and laugh without inhibition?
Music.
Music is a major inspiration for me. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an instrumental piece or lyrical; sometimes a scene will pop into my head when I hear music. If you’re a music lover, you may be similarly affected.
Listen to your elders.
The stories of the past your parents or grandparents like to tell may be beautifully woven into a story.
Pets.
Pet owners know how the eyes and mannerisms can reflect a pet’s personality.
The use of pets in stories is wonderful, especially when the author effectively captures pets’ personalities.
Children.
There’s a TV show called Kids Say the Darndest Things. If you’ve ever watched the show, you know how honestly blunt and hilarious kids can be. If you write children’s fiction, paying attention to the children around you can be inspirational. I have made a habit to write down the thoughtful and comical things my children have said throughout the years. I write down the date, my child’s age, and the explanation behind the quote. It’s fun to look back on those memories, and maybe one day one of the sayings will end up in something I write!
Photos.
Pictures can tell a story. Magazines have a lot of ads, and while I usually flip past them, sometimes I take a look at the scenes. What do the expressions on people’s faces tell me? Is the scenery significant? Is anything interesting about the clothes they’re wearing?
Take a look at old family photos. Notice the dated hairstyles, clothes, furniture, etc.
Take note of memes or photos online that inspire you and save them to your computer or phone for future remembrance. (Be sure not to reuse or redistribute copyrighted photos without proper permission and credit to the original creator.)
Take everyday situations and think outside the box.
Look at an abandoned home and imagine who lived there and why it was abandoned. Be investigatory in your thinking. Look at things with different eyes and ask why and how something may have occurred.
Social media.
Unique traits, speech, and mannerisms are displayed all over social media all the time. Trends, latest styles, hashtags, and new ways to communicate are all shared on social media platforms.
Occupations.
Exposure to occupations you’ve been unfamiliar with in the past can give new life to your writing. Maybe you had a small fire in your kitchen, and you became acquainted with people from the fire department. Perhaps a new neighbor is a horticulturalist who has taught you about propagation.
Art.
For the same reason that some people are inspired by music, some are inspired by art. Take a trip to a museum or art gallery you’ve never visited or attend a university student art show for inspiration.
Watch the news.
Not all news is sad or boring. About fifteen years ago on a local news channel, a lady was interviewed after wind damage resulted from a thunderstorm. When the reporter asked her how she felt about the storm, the cameraman zoomed in on her. Her eyes were wide, and her voice was low and eerie. “It was utter pan-de-mo-ni-um.” She stressed every syllable to make sure watchers knew how dramatic the storm had been. The interview stuck out to me as unique, and I wrote it down in my notebook.
Spend time outside.
Pay attention to outdoor surroundings. Whether you’re walking, tending a garden, sinking your feet into the sand at the beach, boating on the lake, or hiking, take in the sounds, smells, and colors around you.
Travel to new places.
New towns, new states, new countries—all have the potential to spark creativity. Are there cultural differences? Different language or dialect? What about the landscape of the area and the local architecture? How is the area influenced—tourist town, agriculture, industry, business?
Create a new ending.
Here’s one of my favorite suggestions that is really helpful for people who have recently experienced writer’s block. With the next book you read, rewrite the ending in a different way, or practice writing a synopsis of a sequel for that novel. Practicing with other stories can help pull you out of the writer blues and regenerate your creativity.
How to Organize Story Ideas
Now, how do you store the notes you’ve taken on all of the above suggestions? Depending on your personal preferences, there are many ways you can choose to organize the story ideas that come to mind. Ideally, you may want to choose to store your ideas in two places (virtually and physically) in case a file becomes corrupt (or deleted—ouch!) or a hard copy gets destroyed. Below are just a few examples of organization ideas.
- Spreadsheet or Word document – separate each idea into categories (character descriptions, settings, plot ideas, quotes, etc.)
- Write a draft of the inspiration and file it away for later
- Don’t only store files on the hard drive—utilize a file hosting service such as Dropbox or use a thumb drive as backup methods of storage
- Have a binder separated into categories (character descriptions, settings, plot ideas, quotes, etc.)
- Carry a small notepad or use your phone to document story ideas when you’re away from home
- Voice to text apps are handy when you’re in a hurry and want to document something quickly
One perk of storing all your ideas in such a way is that you later have a smorgasbord of possibilities that you can choose from to create something unique.
Venues to Foster Creativity
Where do you feel most comfortable writing? What place gives your mind the concentration it needs to be creative and productive? Some people choose the outdoors as a backdrop for creativity; the park, lake, beach, deck, or sunroom may be of choice. Others have a room designated as a writing space. Some prefer the quiet of a library, if there is too much interruption or noise at home. Coffee shops, diners, or other similar places are the choice for some writers. Find the place where you are most inspired and make it work for you.
I hope this article has inspired some new ways to help you
acquire and organize story ideas.
Do you have similar tips to share with others?
Leave a comment or suggestion below!
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Photo Credits: Thanks to Mimi Thian, eberhard grossgasteige, and Ryan Walton on Unsplash.
