Recently I spoke at a junior high school to students about writing. Each class that came through ask me “How do you get your ideas?” It never occurred to me that the average person doesn’t have a stream of plots, conversations or characters moving in and out of their head on a daily basis. I realized that those ideas came from somewhere. Maybe I’m just a little more curious about what is going on around me but I record a lot of information that may later inspire a story. Here are some of my idea catchers.
Film
& Television
& Television
YouTube Documentaries News
Programs
Programs
Watch
something unfamiliar on television or your DVR with the sound turned off. You
write the script.
something unfamiliar on television or your DVR with the sound turned off. You
write the script.
History Channel
Movies that explore cultures
Printed
Materials:
Materials:
1. National
Geographic
Geographic
2. Tour
brochures
brochures
3. Post
Cards
Cards
4. Real
Estate Ads
Estate Ads
5. News
Journals
Journals
a. Cut
out headlines or articles
out headlines or articles
6. Keep
it in a journal for future reference.
it in a journal for future reference.
j Location:
Here are some ideas
where you might get ideas on that allusive character you need to make your
story more exciting and interesting.
where you might get ideas on that allusive character you need to make your
story more exciting and interesting.
1. Coffee
Shops 6.
Parks 11. Transportation
Shops 6.
Parks 11. Transportation
2. Book
Stores 7. Sporting Events 12. Medical Facility
Stores 7. Sporting Events 12. Medical Facility
3. Festivals 8.
Sporting Stores like Bass Pro 13.
Vacations
Sporting Stores like Bass Pro 13.
Vacations
4. Museums 9. Libraries 14. Family Reunions
5. Zoos 10. Parks 15.
Concerts
Concerts
0 Responses
I'm like you – ideas are just always there. It's finding the time to write them that is the problem.
What great suggestions! For years I wanted to write but didn't have any ideas, then suddenly the ideas just exploded. Now I have trouble choosing which ones to focus on.
I know! I think I have 8 projects that I'm in various stages of writing. Then there are the notebooks with other ideas. Sometimes I imagine them fighting each other to get out so I'll notice them.