A Writer On Writing: Ideas For Writers
"Don't wait for inspiration to strike,'' Sally Jenkins advises writers, providing sources to generate ideas.
Where do you get your ideas from?
That must be the question most often asked of writers and the most
difficult to answer. We all know that story and character ideas are all
around in us our daily life – overheard conversations, a couple arguing in
the street or two teenagers in hoodies following an old lady.
But ideas tend to be like buses – three come along in a row or, no matter
how long you wait, not one puts in an appearance.
If you’re suffering an ideas drought here are a few ’ideas factories’ to
kick-start your imagination:
Sally & Cally’s Short Story Ideas Generator
http://www.sallyquilford.co.uk/page10.htm - this will give you a random
character, setting and conflict/situation.
The Brainstormer http://andrewbosley.com/the-brainstormer.html - this is
a little bit like an on-line roulette wheel. Click on the ‘Random’ button to
spin the wheel and generate a conflict, adjective and person/place/thing.
The Writers’ Idea Store in Writers’ Forum magazine http://www.writers-forum.com/
– this monthly feature by Paula Williams
http://www.paulawilliamswriter.co.uk/ discusses where to find ideas and
also incorporates a Fiction Square. The square includes six each of
characters, conflicts, weather, setting and objects. Roll a dice once for
each of these categories in order to determine which should be in your
next story.
The Writer’s Block
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writers-Block-Ideas-Jump-start-Imagination/dp/0762409487/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296854161&sr=8-1
- this is a block-shaped book that contains ideas and story prompts on every page.
It’s well worth dipping into if you’re scratching your head for something to write about.
Sign up for the free e-newsletter produced by www.ideasforwriters.co.uk -
you will receive story prompts and ideas for historical anniversaries to
write about.
Creative Writing Prompts http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/ has
346 prompts to get your pen moving.
There is no copyright on ideas. This means that it’s acceptable to re-write
a well-known story such as a fairy-tale or legend. Try writing The Frog
Prince from the point of view of the frog rather than the princess or
modernise Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by giving the heroine a job
as a housekeeper to a group of brothers living in a large house inherited
from their parents.
So now you’ve no excuse for not writing. Don’t wait for inspiration to
strike – use the suggestions above to create your own!
**
And do visit Sally's Web site http://sallyjenkins.wordpress.com
