My short answere is: Anywhere and everywhere.
I’ve had ideas come from:
- dreams
- from conversations I've had or overheard
- from seeing photographs in person or in magazines
- memes
- lines from movies or plays
- while falling asleep at night
- while soaking in the tub
- while out for a walk or doing yoga
- while shopping
- reading biographies
- street signs - seriously!
- inspiration from books or poems
- animals
- kids
- misheard song lyrics
To be honest, my stories usually don't happen that fast, but when inspiration hits it can be like a runaway train! Most of the time, I just get scenes here and there then piece them all together. Except for writing books during Nanowrimo, that is!
My newest novel, All That Shines book two in my Glitter Bay Mysteries, evolved after I met a lovely woman who is transgender. She walked into the theatre where I worked to buy a ticket one day and I was fascinated with her story. She inspired me to create Quinn, a character I adore who will be back in full force in the next Glitter Bay Mystery novel. While All That Shines doesn't dig deep into Quinn's story, she sure has one to tell!
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2eA
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
Enjoyed your list of where you ideas came from. It is amazing how we are all similar but so very different with ideas! I hope your hallway inspiration writes as fast as the ideas emerged!
ReplyDeleteYour list is much more comprehensive than mine and encompasses pretty much everywhere I get mine, too. In reality, most of my ideas come from the world around me. How can they do anything else when the world is such a complex and fascinating place filled with just as fascinating people? Often, I find when I’m stuck, ideas come to me while I’m in the shower or some other place I can’t write them down. LOL Hopefully, your latest project will flow quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhile in the shower, I often quietly "observe" while conversations rage on in my head. Yes, I do hear voices. But they're not dead people They're people whose only existence is in my head--until I write their stories, and they can move in to live in the minds of readers as well.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the list, and I recognize all of them. Glad to hear another Glitter Bay book is on the way.
ReplyDeleteIt's impressive that you are competent in the very different skills of writing novels and plays. After all, a person's inner reality: bodily sensations, thoughts, memories, perceptions are the core of fiction. In a play, you are limited to observable actions and speech.
ReplyDeleteYou'll need to watch that one idea immediately triggering another, or you can join Nora Roberts.
Diane, great list of ideas. Playwriting what an exciting writing path to explore!
ReplyDelete"All That Shines" Glitter Bay Series--how exciting! Love your book cover :-)
Hi Diane, It's a really good and coprehensive list. I always read the problem/agony aunt page first in the weekly magazine I take as there are often contemporary issues just waiting to be worked up among the letters selected. Good luck with all your exciting projects, Anne
ReplyDelete