Seeking the Next Best Idea

As the main meal preparer in my household, I repeatedly need ideas about what's for dinner. Once a cook has mastered a few dishes, they branch out, craving variety. For me, I started with a list of favorites that I could refer to and rotate. When those recipes felt stale, I began watching cooking shows or looking in recipe books. Sometimes I experiment. Writers and cooks both need fresh ideas and fresh ingredients.

Let your ideas take a different track.

After we've used the ideas in our back pocket, we seek fresh ones. We might read new authors or genres or watch movies to get inspired. We might brainstorm and keep a notebook of ideas. Sometimes we outright ask for ideas from others. I've used a few ideas from critique group members or gotten my spouses input. If you write for children or teens, ask them what they might do in a situation. Books and people are great resources.

What sparked this post--and I struggle half the time to come up with these ideas--was doing an ordinary task and letting my mind wander. I was bagging leaves in the back yard and set an armful into the bag. A few of them floated away, attempting escape. I hurriedly caught the ones I could. The leaves suddenly became 'people' that I was saving from certain doom if they touched the earth. The next handful became the opposite--people who were sentenced to death by my putting them in 'the volcano'. Those that escaped were the lucky ones. It was silly, but I recognized that we can come up with anything by taking the ordinary a step or two further from reality, by making observations, by seeing with new eyes.

Just this week I noticed a book that took opposites and put them together. Vampires + fairies = vampire fairies. Who would have thought that could be successful? No matter what you're cooking up, the secret is to do it well. (Of course timing and other things come into play as well.) Another way to create an idea is to work backward. Where do you want a character to end up? Think of several paths he could have taken to get there, and pick the least likely one. It will feel like a plot twist.

How do you go about getting new ideas?

Writers Get Audience Attention with Surprises

Publishers and agents tell writers they want something fresh, unique, yet they also like whatever trend is selling. Coming up with new fiction can boggle the mind. We want it to be a hit with readers everywhere. Sometimes we try too hard and over-think a story when a little creative brainstorming will do.

My church choir really captured the audience's attention last Sunday. We performed a familiar hymn text to an unexpected tune. The congregation expected one thing, but got another, making them instantly pay attention. It wasn't an elaborate change; no one was jarred to the point where they couldn't accept what we planned. It was more of a pleasant surprise. To keep their interest, the choir varied the verses with things like unison or part-singing. The audience wanted to keep listening to find out what would happen next.


This is what we want to do for our readers. We want to capture their attention right off with something unexpected but not too jarring. The unexpected can be a unique event, setting, or character, for example. Perhaps Nichole Giles will start a new trend with a main character who transforms into a mermaid in her book Water So Deep, coming out soon. Keep your readers' interest with a twist, raising the stakes, conflicts, etc.


I've heard it said that there are only about seven story themes and every book is some variation of them. Many stories tie a character from the past to the present. I enjoyed Jo Noelle's fresh take on this idea in Years & an Ocean. I should start making a list, when I read, of things that catch my attention, surprise me, or specifically what kept my interest. 

Write a story that you love. Add some fresh surprises and others will love it too.

Killer Story Ideas

  Okay, so first off I gotta mention that my top American Idol woman got kicked off. Pia's voice was amazing. I've seen some real growth from Alana and I like that Hailey takes chances. Both are good. It's time for a guy to go next. Maybe Casey or Jacob. I love that Casey plays the double bass, but while his singing is on key, it isn't melodious and his screeching is only cool so often. I wouldn't want to hear a whole record in one sitting. Stefano is a one-style man but with a more pleasing voice, so I like him better. Last week was the first week that I truly enjoyed Paul. Scotty put out something a little different too but not by much. He's mainly a one-trick pony so far but I still enjoyed the trick. In the end, it's going to be James who takes it to the top. He can do it mellow or screamin' with consistently good vocals. Just saying.
And now for our regularly scheduled program--
  All writer's need creativity. John Brown gave 7 ways to prime yourself toward that end. Here's my notes:
1. Ask Questions. Maybe you've already tried What if . . .? or What can go wrong? But have you focused it specifically to Character, Setting, Problem, Plot?
2. Feed Your Mind through pictures, headlines, anything you see or hear.
3. Turn On Your Zing Sensors. Be alert to things that can zing or zap you. Write these down and review later to spark further ideas. (This is the part that impressed me:) Trust your own sensor, not someone else's. The ideas have to be your own passion. You can't write someone else's story that you doesn't move you.
4. Generate Answers through various methods, i.e. outlines, exploratory drafts, interviews, maps, research, etc. Make a decision and run with it.
5. Practice Farmer's Faith. Manure can grow things. A crappy idea can blossom into something useable if we are patient and have put in the work.
6. Listen to your Spideysense. (This one is harder to explain unless the movie tips you off.) Don't deny your inner self. Writer's block is a gift. You just need to feed and generate as above. If your expectations are too high, break down your project into steps.
7. Relax and have fun. Stress is not creative. Some people do their best thinking in a relaxing shower.
Have you used any of these and which ones work best for you? Idol comments are also welcome.

Christmas Time is a Busy Time

Merry Christmas to All!
'Tis the season to be jolly . . . and busy! But I haven't been busy writing. I guess you could say that I took the month off. My critique group decided to do that and I got my manuscript submitted earlier this month, so why not? Yet I feel busier than ever. I've been making some homemade gifts this year. I made some candy and recorded some stories for the grandkids. And I did a 3x4 foot Crayon Batik wall hanging (for an outdoorsy family with them pictured in it). A what? Basically, I painted melted crayon onto cloth, scrunched it up to make cracks all over, and put it in a dye bath. Then I had to iron out all the wax. Tedious, but a nice change of pace for one month out of the year. Sometimes we have to let those other creative outlets find their place. Would you like a glimpse?

 

 Some detail painted on.