YELLOW SNOW & STEAMING PILES by Reese Mobley

This month we're blogging about what sparks our creativity. Are you kidding me? My brain never stops. Like most writers, I see potential material in literally everything. Doesn't everyone get giddy after watching a really good movie—or a bad one you think you could have written better. A good book gets the creative juices flowing more so than a rotten one because there is no reason to finish a book that stinks. Once, I was inspired to write a ghostly short story after inheriting my great grandmother’s rocking chair. A silver dollar moon was the catalyst for a story about a young soldier going off to war.
Newspaper stories that tug at your heartstrings, people arguing in the street, the impatient lady you stand behind at the bank or the stick-thin man walking his overweight dog can all be jumping points.

For example:


The newspaper piece could be about a drop-dead sexy man with amnesia who turns up on the steps of the sperm bank and his foiled kidnappers are getting ready to duke it out by the curb about whose fault it is that their get-rich-quick plan turned sour and their not-so-silent partner, the irritated female, is trying to cash the ransom check before the dog-walker/private eye can park his pooch and call his employer, the crafty cobbler who had his best foot model kidnapped while he lingered over a mocha latte last Tuesday.
See what I mean? The possibilities are endless. You just need to open your mind, don’t eat yellow snow and steer clear of steaming piles.
And take a break from the caffeine.

So tell me, what sparks your creativity?
Hugs, Reese

14 comments:

Joan Vincent said...

All of the items you mention are true story starters. I have to agree that almost anything can prompt a story. What fascinates me is how differently each writer will follow that opening incident and result in such different stories. I love that!

Melissa Robbins said...

Since my stories take place during WW2, I look at events that took place during the war and create a story around that. With my first Wren and Company mystery, the code found in a pocket by a laundress really happened. Of course, my characters didn't do what they were supposed to. Hence the mystery. My second one focuses on an event that happened during the beginning of WW2. If you know your history, it helps solve the murder.

I agree, Joan on the different spin each writer gives on a story. It's so cool.

Reese Mobley said...

Joan, we did a few writing exercises a while back at one of the WARA meetings. It was crazy how different the stories were.

Rox Delaney said...

News articles I find on the internet often spark a story idea. Music creates images in my mind that sometimes spark a character, scene, or even the conflict for a story. That's probably why I never liked most music videos. ☺ BTW, those songs often begin a larger group of music that eventually become a playlist while writing.

People always wonder where writers get their ideas, so I added a "Behind the Story" on my website for each book.

Reese Mobley said...

Melissa, the more I hear about your story, the more I cannot wait to see it in print!

Reese Mobley said...

Behind the story sounds like a great idea! You're such a smarty arty!

Melissa Robbins said...

Thanks Reese. I wish an agent felt the same way. I haven't heard squat. :0( It's only been three weeks, so I'm still holding out hope. Sigh.

Rox, 'Behind the Story' idea is great. I bet fans love that.

Rox Delaney said...

Author Susan Meier (Harlequin Romance) has created 2 special blogs. One is titled "What Came Before" and the other is "Happily Ever After." In the first, she writes an unofficial prologue, showing what happened before the story opens, and the other is like an epilogue, showing the characters after THE END.

Rox Delaney said...

DUH! Reese, I'm not really so smart. It's "The Inside Story" not "Behind the Story." I guess that means the latter is up for grabs. LOL

Jessica Mobley said...

Geez mommy...are you on 'shrooms? LOL! Love you and your very creative ways. I thank you for passing it on to me and now my son! Love you so much mommy!

Reese Mobley said...

Rox, Inside Behind, it's all good!

Reese Mobley said...

Mind your manners, Miss Jessie! What can I say? I love to create beautiful things, heck, I made you didn't I? (I should have said beautiful wordy things, because we both have that gift--or curse. lol) XOXO

Starla Kaye said...

A drop-dead sexy man with amnesia...sperm bank...foiled kidnappers. Love that premise!

It just might spark a creativity moment with me.

See...it can happen anytime, anywhere.

Penny Rader said...

Reese, I'd love to read your ghostly story inspired by your great-grandmother's rocking chair.

I love hearing the story behind The Story. :D