McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Where does the inspiration come from?

(1/5) > >>

Marie:
I would LOVE to write a story, whether a full length novel or a short story. But I have NO INSPIRATION whatsoever.

Which is kind of okay, thankfully I earn money by doing very boring professional services stuff for clients.  A lot of my time is spent writing, reports and letters for the most part for clients, though I'm currently working on a book about tax (I know, tax, yawn!).

Thing is that I really enjoy the process of writing.  When I have an idea in my head, I love to write it down and see how it looks. Of course it's easy when it's about something like tax.  The subject itself is very dry but I'm on a mission to explain the subject to people in a more accessible manner, lots of practical examples and how it applies to different businesses.  So when I come up with a new idea for explaining something difficult in easier terms, I actually get quite excited!

Oh I need to get out more....

But anyway brings me back to my question: where do fiction writers get their ideas from?  I'm a middle aged woman and have never had an original idea in my life!  I've been reading the posts on the Author Craft board on and off for hte last few months and I'm amazed by the ideas people come up with and their fantastic ideas for plots and characters, but I just can't EVER come up with stuff like this for myself.  I really admire Jim and all the wonderful story writers out there for their wonderful creations.

Anyway I'd love some suggestions or even just a bit of that magic to help me get started. And for all of you who post here, I'm sort of in awe at your creativity.

Ulfgeir:
I know for me, inspiraton sometimes comes from more or less mundane things that I tweak, or combine with something else.  For example I wrote a short story called "Nebula Travels" after having overdosed on the reality-tv shows from Heathrow Airport  a few years back, and then learnt of the existance of a company called Unclaimed luggage

or I had another one, that started by someone as a joke mentioning  wandslingers, so I got that as a sort of D&D meets the Wild West. Yes I have posted that one in the Creative forum.

But yeah, it is often painful trying to get the creativitity to come forth. My muse seems to be on a long-term strike. =^_^= My suggestion would be to try small, as in just writing ranomd scenes, and don't try to edit while you write. Do I follow my own advice? Nope, thus my poor result so far.

/Ulfgeir

Marie:
Thanks for your reply, Ulfgeir. I like the idea of the D&D meets the wild west! 
I always assume that authors get inspiration in big bucket loads, such as Jim with Dresden; one brilliant idea that blossoms into a series of great stories.  Although I'm sure it wasn't anything like as easy.
Sometimes I get ideas of words or sentences in my head, maybe a description of a place, a person, an event, but it's always just a few lines long.  Maybe as you say it's a case of writing around something small lots of times and seeing if any of the ideas lead anywhere.  I've had lots of little snippets over the years.  I think I'll just start writing them down, without any particular order or subject just to see if anything comes together after a while.

the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
Steal ideas from Shakespeare.  He stole almost all of his and they are well out of copyright now.

Marie:
Yeah, good idea for plots. But I never liked his work. Not a single space ship, actively employed wizard or other believable supernatural or other worldly character in sight!   ::)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page