Where do your ideas come from? That's a question I get asked a lot. I bet you do too if you're a writer.
A coworker today asked me where I got the idea for the premise of my latest book, The Demon Chaser.
I told her about the patient I took care of that I was absolutely sure was demon possessed and how I didn't know at that time I had power in Jesus' name to help her.
My coworker's eyes kind of glazed over as she shook her head. "I guess I'm just not creative."
I don't understand how people can't think the way I do. I've always had a wandering and wondering mind. I've always been a "what if" kind of girl.
When I tell someone I write, I either get a vague, "uhuh." or a "wow, that's so cool. I could never do that." Followed by the question, "how do you come up with characters and storylines?"
The simple truth is: I steal them. Not blatant plagarism mind you. More like borrow this trait from him, this event that happened to her. And what if that event happened but in the arctic after an avalanche? Maybe she dies and he has to burn her body to send a smoke signal to be rescued. What if the plane that was going to rescue him crashed as it landed? Maybe the pilot doesn't die but is seriously maimed? That would complicate things even more. Maybe the pilot is a beautiful woman who my hero falls in love with. Maybe this. Maybe that.
One of the things a lot of green writers worry about is someone stealing their ideas. That strikes me funny.
At any given time, I've got a dozen or so story lines floating in and out of my head. I've got the next several novel premises already stored away in the back of my overactive cranium.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. I don't need yours, I've got way too many already.
My ideas come from life. Some parts borrowed, all parts embellished.
Where do your ideas come from?
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Where do your ideas come from?
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Sometimes I wish there was a book you could buy full of plot and character ideas perfect for each writer. I struggle more with ideas than I should. I tend to be way to critical of ideas way too soon. Not exactly the brainstorming type. But I'm working on it. Ideas will usually come from everywhere. Sometimes I'll have an idea from a person I see, and then I'll combine it with something I read. It's often a compilation of various things by the end.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I think there are probably books out there with story ideas. I think I've seen one here or there.
ReplyDeleteI guess we're all different. To me, the brainstorming is the easy part. But for you the grammar might come naturally. It doesn't for me. Thanks for sharing.