Me? You? We are the main ingredients for coming up with ideas for new writing projects. Yes, that’s correct. We writers are the main ingredient. What does that mean? As writers, we need to listen to what interests us or causes us to ask questions like What if? or Why did that happen?.
Me? I’m going to be the main ingredient. Chocolate.
Thanks, Lori and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 13: Lori Mortensen Finds the Main Ingredient
Doing nothing (work related) allows the creative part of our brains to stew. Let ideas cook on the back burner. I do this, but I realize I also need to value the time to takes for those germs of stories and projects to come to a full boil and be ready to move up to the front of the stove. Patience sounds like a desirable character trait! 🙂
Do nothing!
Thanks, Alicia! Thanks, Tara!
Sue is perfectly correct. Ideas can come from any person, place, thing, situation, encounter… This creative process is certainly difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night to write down an idea or grasps any bit of paper to jot down the perfect character before the idea is lost. Great post!
Thanks, Sue! Thanks, Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 11: Sue Fliess Listens to Her Handyman…?
Oh, I am totally on board with this! Keep every single idea! Some will be good, some not so good, some good now, others won’t be ready until years from now.
The big thing is to keep them all. Now. If I would take that next step and LOOK at my files of ideas…
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 10: Heidi E. Y. Stemple Keeps Every Single One
Thanks, Heidi! Thanks, Tara!
Miranda and Baptiste Paul share not only inspiration tips, but stories from their lives. Patience and looking back are key points to mining the perfect ideas for picture books. Thanks, Miranda and Baptiste! Great interview of each other!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 9: Miranda & Baptiste Paul Use Real Life as Inspiration (with a few caveats)
Mindlessly multi-tasking is my choice-du-jour for allowing my creative side to enjoy some free play time (and hopefully toss out a few story idea sparks).
One of our hobbies (hubby and I) is taking motorcycle trips. I ride behind him, so my hands are empty and we don’t have a way to talk to each other, so I have all that talk-to-myself time. I’m working on one story right now that came directly from daydreaming and wondering on the back of the Honda Shadow.
I’ve also learned that wherever I go I need paper and pen. This goes for motorcycle trips as well. Other motorists often see me hunched over behind his back, jotting down ideas on my paper, fighting for control as the wind gleefully tries to steal my notes. Alas, it’s January, foggy, cold, and in Washington state, not a good time for motorcycle rides. Otherwise I’d say, “Pony up, honey, we need to take a ride!”
Guess I’ll do the dishes. Or sweep. Or bake something. And let those ideas flow.
Thanks, Annie! Thanks, Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 8: Annie Silvestro Mindlessly Multi-Tasks
Technique does conquer all! It’s not speed, size, or strength that helps us discover ideas or write well. It’s the technique, or craft, that helps us reach our goals of dreaming up and listing ideas – and then turning those golden ideas into projects.
In this blog post, Tim lists some techniques writers might use to brainstorm. He has some new ideas I want to try. But what popped into my mind was how I stare into space. It seems that helps me come up with new ideas. I also get ideas when I am outside in the mountains or going for a walk in my neighborhood. Now I just need to make sure to write down those thoughts.
Thanks, Tim! Thanks, Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 7: Tim McCanna’s Technique Conquers All
Oh, I am amazed! Inspired. Ready to go. We just need to put on our “see the amazing” glasses and start writing down what really piques our interest, our passion. Ideas are hanging there, right in front of our eyes, ripe and ready for plucking.
Thank you, Jess, for the invigorating post. Ready to go, yes I am. Thank you, Tara, for STORYSTORM!
Corey speaks like a true recycler, digging out past files, lists, notebooks, and manuscripts…and then hunts out the perfect idea for a new picture book project from old materials. Corey also suggests that we writers keep our eyes and ears open when we read other books, sing songs, watch TV, and repeat those nursery rhymes. One never knows when inspiration will strike!
Thanks, Corey, for the great tips! Thanks, Tara, for putting together Storystorm 2018!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 5: Corey Rosen Schwartz Begs, Borrows & Steals
I love this post! Family traditions and culture are so interesting – and unique to each family. What a perfect place to mine ideas for stories!
Thank you, Debbi! Thank you, Tara! (Get well soon!).
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 4: Debbi Michiko Florence Explores Culture and Family Tradition
Love, Laughter, and Life 