There Always, Always, Always is Something to Write About

“…everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ― Sylvia Plath

A common question of writers is “Where do you come up with your book ideas?” There’s no simple answer – ideas for stories come to writers in a number of ways. There’s no easy step-by-step process for developing good ideas.

One thing is certain though – there is always, always, always something to write about.  Everything you see, hear, smell, taste or touch holds some story behind it – how it came to be where it is, why it was made, the comfort it brings, and much more. 

The key then is to pump the imagination to get ideas flowing. Many good writers use a variety of “tricks” that ensure their imagination never goes dry.

Observe the world
Many ideas come from noticing peculiar aspects of people’s behavior or oddities in how the world works. For example, why is that woman in high heels riding a bicycle past the coffee shop window? There’s a story to be told!

Get curious about other people and things
Be curious about people and things as related to the meaning and purpose of the lives, and specifically about changes in their lives caused by their experiences. For example, why does the elderly man at the end of the street always shovel every neighbor’s sidewalk on Christmas Eve? A story, even if it’s one you imagined, sits behind that kind act.

Explore your world
You can discover the world either by actual adventure or vicariously by reading (and then through a diversity in reading materials, meaning don’t limit yourself to only those genres you enjoy – for example, don’t read only crime nonfiction if writing mysteries).

Create maps of imaginary places
Draw coastlines, mountains, cities, nations or star lanes, then develop a story around them.

Distill conflicts into lists
What are incompatible desires and aims that someone could experience? Then match it to an appropriate “What if?” (a situation that aggravates or accentuates conflict). For example, a man wants to advance in his career yet also wants to spend more time with his family. What if on the same day he received two ultimatums – his wife says to spend more time with the family or she’ll divorce while his boss says he must ensure a large, time-consuming projects succeed or he’ll be let go?

Remember, there’s nothing wrong with letting ideas ripen for months or years if necessary. But never forget that ultimately to be a writer, you must write. Even writing a story around what you consider a “bad idea” is better than never writing at all.

•Fictionalize yourself in a difficult situation that someone else faces. How would you resolve the problem?

•Find conflicts in everyday life. Look at the problems those around you are going through and have your characters deal with and rectify those same issues in their universe.

•Place a person you know in a different setting. For example, relocate an urbanite on a Southern farm or a school janitor in a corner office of a high-tech firm. How does their lifestyle and view on life change? You now have a character and a setting. Next, imagine that a problem occurs, upsetting their routine. You now have a plot.

______________

My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 350 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the 7 Minutes a Day… writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.

Check out some of my writing guidebooks: