Where do ideas come from? A daunting question indeed. But more importantly, how do I get an idea for a story? I'm not writing this post because I can adequately answer every sub-question that accompanies these thoughts; yet it is something I have considered, and formed decent answers upon (that satisfy my intellect.)
If anyone has ever asked you, "where did you get the idea for your story?" In all likelihood, you probably responded something to the effect of, "uh..it just...fell into my head I guess." Any writer can understand this feeling. You could be just sitting there, eating leftover meatloaf and stale french bread when suddenly, a fully fleshed out protagonist with a complete background and looming dilemma, presents itself in your mind. These sorts of ideas are generally the kind you don't have to write down. The character/story is so tangible and complete that it has already manifested itself in your mind. This common occurence might suggest that ideas cannot be forced...well...I disagree.
Sometimes all you need is a tiny spark. Or perhaps there is a particular topic you have always wanted to tackle, so without too much effort you put your pen to paper and start constructing a possible outline. With this mindset, we have to be open to the fact that ideas can (and probably will) evolve. About four years ago, I had an idea to write a story about a servant in a castle. Two years later, I decided to sit down and write an outline for that story. All of a sudden I had a villain, a hero and a problem. That simple idea turned into a complicated puzzle of suspense that I could never have foreseen.
Maybe for some writers this discussion isn't an area of question, or dispute. Nevertheless I think it is important to realize that ideas come in many forms, and we don't have to sit around waiting in our romantic mindset for divine inspiration to grace us. I have a ludicrous confession to make: I have this crazy idea to invent a super hero. Don't worry, there have been no developments on that idea. Currently it's just some weird, boyish desire brooding in the back of my brain. But because in the past I have seen how "strange" ideas can so readily come to life, I'm not opposed to the idea. On a plus side it gives me an excuse to watch more superhero movies for "research." (Seriously though, the new Spiderman sequel can't come soon enough.) I attempted the method of sitting down and writing out the story but I simply don't posses the tools yet. So with whatever idea you have, be it tiny or tangible, work with it. But whatever you do, don't waste your time waiting for it to come to you.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
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The Development of Ideas
Where do ideas come from? A daunting question indeed. But more importantly, how do I get an idea for a story? I'm not writing this post because I can adequately answer every sub-question that accompanies these thoughts; yet it is something I have considered, and formed decent answers upon (that satisfy my intellect.)
If anyone has ever asked you, "where did you get the idea for your story?" In all likelihood, you probably responded something to the effect of, "uh..it just...fell into my head I guess." Any writer can understand this feeling. You could be just sitting there, eating leftover meatloaf and stale french bread when suddenly, a fully fleshed out protagonist with a complete background and looming dilemma, presents itself in your mind. These sorts of ideas are generally the kind you don't have to write down. The character/story is so tangible and complete that it has already manifested itself in your mind. This common occurence might suggest that ideas cannot be forced...well...I disagree.
Sometimes all you need is a tiny spark. Or perhaps there is a particular topic you have always wanted to tackle, so without too much effort you put your pen to paper and start constructing a possible outline. With this mindset, we have to be open to the fact that ideas can (and probably will) evolve. About four years ago, I had an idea to write a story about a servant in a castle. Two years later, I decided to sit down and write an outline for that story. All of a sudden I had a villain, a hero and a problem. That simple idea turned into a complicated puzzle of suspense that I could never have foreseen.
Maybe for some writers this discussion isn't an area of question, or dispute. Nevertheless I think it is important to realize that ideas come in many forms, and we don't have to sit around waiting in our romantic mindset for divine inspiration to grace us. I have a ludicrous confession to make: I have this crazy idea to invent a super hero. Don't worry, there have been no developments on that idea. Currently it's just some weird, boyish desire brooding in the back of my brain. But because in the past I have seen how "strange" ideas can so readily come to life, I'm not opposed to the idea. On a plus side it gives me an excuse to watch more superhero movies for "research." (Seriously though, the new Spiderman sequel can't come soon enough.) I attempted the method of sitting down and writing out the story but I simply don't posses the tools yet. So with whatever idea you have, be it tiny or tangible, work with it. But whatever you do, don't waste your time waiting for it to come to you.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
If anyone has ever asked you, "where did you get the idea for your story?" In all likelihood, you probably responded something to the effect of, "uh..it just...fell into my head I guess." Any writer can understand this feeling. You could be just sitting there, eating leftover meatloaf and stale french bread when suddenly, a fully fleshed out protagonist with a complete background and looming dilemma, presents itself in your mind. These sorts of ideas are generally the kind you don't have to write down. The character/story is so tangible and complete that it has already manifested itself in your mind. This common occurence might suggest that ideas cannot be forced...well...I disagree.
Sometimes all you need is a tiny spark. Or perhaps there is a particular topic you have always wanted to tackle, so without too much effort you put your pen to paper and start constructing a possible outline. With this mindset, we have to be open to the fact that ideas can (and probably will) evolve. About four years ago, I had an idea to write a story about a servant in a castle. Two years later, I decided to sit down and write an outline for that story. All of a sudden I had a villain, a hero and a problem. That simple idea turned into a complicated puzzle of suspense that I could never have foreseen.
Maybe for some writers this discussion isn't an area of question, or dispute. Nevertheless I think it is important to realize that ideas come in many forms, and we don't have to sit around waiting in our romantic mindset for divine inspiration to grace us. I have a ludicrous confession to make: I have this crazy idea to invent a super hero. Don't worry, there have been no developments on that idea. Currently it's just some weird, boyish desire brooding in the back of my brain. But because in the past I have seen how "strange" ideas can so readily come to life, I'm not opposed to the idea. On a plus side it gives me an excuse to watch more superhero movies for "research." (Seriously though, the new Spiderman sequel can't come soon enough.) I attempted the method of sitting down and writing out the story but I simply don't posses the tools yet. So with whatever idea you have, be it tiny or tangible, work with it. But whatever you do, don't waste your time waiting for it to come to you.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
2 comments :
Most of my ideas come from a name or a stranger I see sitting in the coffee shop. For example: the character "Cosmo Moonshine" came from watching a documentary about "the cosmos" and from going to the planetarium.
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That's cool! I wish I could think like that. Usually when I see interesting looking strangers I just start imagining a romantic destiny for them, but I never wind up using them for real characters. Maybe someday!
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Most of my ideas come from a name or a stranger I see sitting in the coffee shop. For example: the character "Cosmo Moonshine" came from watching a documentary about "the cosmos" and from going to the planetarium.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! I wish I could think like that. Usually when I see interesting looking strangers I just start imagining a romantic destiny for them, but I never wind up using them for real characters. Maybe someday!
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