Notes

Generating Story Ideas
Generating a tale idea can sometimes be akin to a painful birth. Every writer has already established experience with writer's block. But that always will come in the midst of writing a story. There are different approaches for handling that type of block.

But what happens when you simply go out of ideas? Where do authors and story tellers come up with the ideas for story after story, creating a seemingly endless way to obtain entertainment for the masses?

The key question isn't "where do story ideas result from," it's -

Where do GOOD story ideas result from?

The seeds of stories exist all around us inside our everyday lives. Many of my short stories grow out of personal experience. The true or semi-true versions of these events usually serve as fodder for entry into contests. I tend to write these stories for inspirational categories.

But, our little personal life experiences could be boring to others - especially when we stick to the absolute truth.

So, what about fiction?

The real world

Fiction will get its roots in true to life, as well. For example, a friend of mine is focusing on a short story in regards to a man who loses his job and goes on a little rampage on the freeway. The roots of his story result from a real-life event in Chicago. Just browse the daily newspaper or internet news groups and you also have a complete crop of potential stories in virtually any genre for which you write. Each story can be purposed for your needs - there's always a new angle to be written.

Writing prompts

You will find a whole host of writing website s that offer story prompts. Daily. That's a lot of story ideas for you to look through. Writer's Digest is one of those sites. Even if the prompt doesn't quite fit what you're looking for, search for an angle that does.

The epiphany

Epiphanies are a number of the greatest sources for writing inspiration. They are those moments with time when sudden realization dawns on us like a lightning bolt. It sizzles through our brain and frequently causes us to avoid whatever we are doing to ponder the particular realization and its own consequences on our lives.

A definite epiphany that hit me recently was that middle age is hell. Not later years - that is clearly a classic misconception my epiphany told me. The epiphany came into being one day when I discovered that a small spot of discoloration on my leg was...God help me...a patch of varicose veins. I wasn't ready for that. It had been at that moment when it dawned on me that middle age was much worse than being elderly because by enough time you're 80, you don't care what new ailment or "disfigurement" pops up - you anticipate them. In middle age, however, later years starts to appear and you are in no way ready for it. This is the inspiration for my next short story.

Reading

How many times do I must tell you to read rather than stop. Read everything. There exists a large number of story ideas contained in the writing of other authors. You don't need to have a totally new and unique idea - almost nothing is. But read more can take exactly the same topic and write it from the different view, from a different group of characters, or simply write it better. Needless to say, I'm not recommending plagiarism. Simply take that which was written and spin it into something new and unique to you.

Journal

Keep a journal. I'm not just a diary kind of person, but I keep a story idea journal. There are numerous times I think of a great idea, but I know the idea isn't right. Perhaps I don't possess a distinctive enough spin to interest people, or I haven't developed the right purpose for it.

For instance, I've a story I wish to write called Dark Glass. It has been sitting on the burner for about a year now because I haven't had the right purpose for this - is it a short story or a novel? Knowing your purpose often determines the type of story line you should employ. I don't have that yet. I've some ideas, I've a beginning, but the ending and the writing must wait until I know what my purpose is on paper it.

Brainstorming

Finally, we arrived at brainstorming. That is a technique I use in article writing. I usually write articles in batches, therefore i need to begin by coming up with a set of topics before I could put pen to paper. First, I begin simply by immersing my brain in thinking about the topic and write down everything I can develop. When I run out of ideas, I search the web to see how many other people are writing about within that topic. This usually inspires more article topics and headings than I want.

Ultimately, however, story ideas are inert matter until you act upon them and bring them alive. Just start writing about something - anything - and most often you will discover your own creative juices start spilling outrageous with ideas that spin from what you are writing. Sometimes, the story you write may go in the garbage, however the ideas that come from it will be the way to obtain something truly great.

Darcie Carsner Torres is really a professional writer and editor with over twenty years of experience. She provides editing and critiquing services through CanAm Author Services, [http://www.canamauthorservices.com], and editing and ghostwriting services through Pen & Pestle, [http://www.penandpestle.com]. Her mission is to help budding authors improve their writing and obtain published.
Website: http://atlas.dustforce.com/user/brokiilerich63