THE IDEA STORE--BEST TO GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE ON SALE

From the moment you let the cat out of the bag and tell anyone you’re a writer and actively writing to pursue publication, everyone and their brother will either offer you their fascinating life story to write or they’ll boldly ask where you get your ideas.

You can answer them honestly or you can tell them about this great place called The Idea Store where if you go on the right days, you can get two-for-one ideas. If they pursue this further you can even give them directions, show them the super secret handshake and present them with the key to the store’s back door. Hey, we’re writers—make something up.

The honest answer, of course, would be that we get inspired from life. Writers are curious by nature. Everything we see or do touches us in some way. Who can honestly say they weren’t affected by the tragedies on 9-11 or, even closer to us, the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building? Who among us hasn’t cried over the death of a loved one or shed a tear at the sight of human injustice? Events like these have a way of connecting us forever like a human quilt of emotion to be spread over our shoulders in times of need. We draw on that comfort and at the same time we are able to use those feelings to enrich our manuscripts.

But we don’t get all our inspiration from the sadder side of life. Writers are people watchers. We see things differently. Colors, shapes, sounds all trigger something in our brains. Next time you’re at the mall, the airport, the park or even the grocery story, listen to the stories around you. Notice the smells. Describe the colors, the moods, the musical way a mother talks to her child or the funny way some couples communicate.

Writing exercises are another way to get ideas. Play the what if game. Imagine a woman (romance writer) then put her on a mission to save her sister. Put her on a bus to a remote location. Now, what if she’s on the wrong bus? What if the bus crashes into a jeep on the side of the road? What if everyone files off the bus and starts walking to the nearest town? What if a stranger suggests she wait for the next bus? What if he starts shooting at her? What if a tall, good looking hero comes to her rescue? What if this man resembles the hero’s in her books? Get the idea? Always challenge your characters by asking what if.

Years ago when I first started writing I heard a writer suggest that you should always put your characters in a situation and then make it worse. So the next time someone asks you where you get your ideas, you can tell them the truth or you can show them the handshake.

Hugs,
Reese