As an avid reader, I’ve always wondered where Stephen King, a writer I greatly admire, got the ideas for his stories that scared theheebie-jeebies out of me. The same goes for James Patterson or Nora Roberts. I’m sure you can add the names of your own favourite authors too.
When it comes to inspiration, writers are often encouraged to “write what you know”. And if you’ve been on earth for a while, there certainly are plenty of life experiences to draw from.
But, for fiction writers, it’s not always that easy, especially if you have to create a new world to go with the story.
So where does one find inspiration?
When you look at the movies that Hollywood keep trotting out, you’d be amazed to see new takes on old stories. Think about it. How many modern day Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty stories have we seen in recent years? These were great stories that simply got an updated 21stcentury setting and details.
What helps me, is to ask the question “what if?” For example, we sometimes hear about men who escape from prison. You hardly ever hear about women doing the same. So what if your character decides to plan a daring prison break? This idea formed a part of the storyline for my mother/daughter story, Aching Heart.
In romance, thrillers or spy stories, why not flip the stereotype? What if your “007-type” main character happens to be female, or she is the one with the dangerous job?
The news can also be a great source of ideas. Why not turn that dastardly politician or crook into a character who becomes the villain of your thriller? We are sometimes reluctant to do so, because the real life story just sounds too unbelievable.
A few years ago, there was a big story surrounding one of the country’s police commissioners. One newspaper had all the people involved laid out in a diagram, with little biographies underneath and arrows showing their connections. I thought ‘What a great character portfolio’. And I’m not even a crime or thriller writer!
I once had a dream (two days in a row) about characters in Sweden (of all places) - a country I have yet to visit. The characters stayed with me for a few weeks, to the point where I started jotting down notes and researching the country for more information on possible settings.
Sometimes a conversation you overhear can set your imagination racing off with a million and one ideas. There are just so many different and unexpected sources for inspiration. Remember: everyone has a story to tell.
What is important to do, when inspiration strikes, is to jot down the ideas. Use a sticky note, a small notebook or the notes feature on your phone. Do it immediately before the idea disappears, as it will.
So, as a writer or would-be writer, where do you get your inspiration from?
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