Generate More Story Ideas without the Stress: Proven Methods & Why They Work, Part III of III
In the final blog in this series on generating ideas, explore more exercises and tips for tapping into your unconscious and shaking loose story ideas.
Generate More Story Ideas without the Stress: Proven Methods & Why They Work, Part II of III
Writers need ideas to write. We explored this concept in the first blog of this series. The final two blogs contain methods to generate ideas.
Your brain needs encouragement to forge connections and form ideas. You can do this by tapping into different methods that foster ideas and imagination. Some ideas come from what you surround yourself with and how you feed your imagination. Others arrive only with a bit of encouragement.
Generate More Story Ideas without the Stress: Proven Methods & Why They Work, Part I of III
All writers live by the power of their story ideas. How are yours? Do you struggle to come up with ideas? Or do you hit a wall when you try to develop them into something useable?
Give Ideas Time
Ideas are needy. They’re like flowers that cannot be rushed from seed to bloom. Like a flower needs good soil, sun, water and time, ideas need imagination, nourishment, and to exist in the real world on a page or screen. They also need time.
Shhhhh…Stop Talking!
Have you ever noticed when you have a good story to tell or a secret, your entire body tingles with the anticipation of sharing it? It is nearly impossible to keep it in. To guard it.
That is the nature of a story. It is how we feel when we start drafting our social media post while in the moment, like we are narrating our own life to an unknown audience. It is a bit wonky, but part of being a writer, I think.
Feed Your Imagination
One of the question asked most often of authors is “Where do you get your ideas?” Unfortunately, the answer is rarely helpful.
Ideas are everywhere. I find them on walks, in the shower, while listening to music, eavesdropping (a habit I have despite being taught it was impolite), driving. You get the idea. They lurk wherever life can be found.
Capturing Plot Bunnies
I spoke to my son’s school recently about writing and the thing that excited the kids most was when I talked about plot bunnies. True, the photos of cute bunnies helped. A lot. Because who doesn’t like bunnies?
Here is what I told them:
Ideas Are Slippery
Ideas multiply. It’s a fact. It’s physics. Energy begets energy. Ideas beget ideas.
I get a lot of ideas when I write. The come from what I’ve written, from my research and from my characters themselves. Sometimes it is a line I write that doesn’t quite fit my current story, but that sparks a new one. Most often, though, it is an idea to fill a hole in my plot I hadn’t realized was there.