Sometimes when I tell people I write fiction, I get asked the question "What inspires you?" or "Where do you come up with ideas?"
At first, I thought people were curious about where I got the specific ideas for my own books, but after perusing other writer's blogs and hearing them get asked the same question, I've realized that it's a more general inquiry. Specifically, some people want to know "Where can I find inspiration for a story." I don't really get it because coming up with ideas has never been a problem for me. Figuring out if they are good ideas and then actually sitting down to write them is my issue.
But in the spirit of sharing, I now present my 5 out-of-the-box tips to getting inspired.
1. Adopt a "What If" Mindset or Use Your Anxiety
I believe there's a reason why so many writers share a similar anxious temperament. I've struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, it was called being "shy." When I was older, it was called "Why are you acting so weird? Just get over it."
When you are anxious, you allow the "what ifs" of life to take over. Potential scenarios play out in your head over and over again, going through every variation of the future again and again until your brain is satisfied that it can tackle any future danger. For example: what if I show up to the movie theater too late and there are no tickets? What if all the seats are taken? What if I have to climb over someone to get to a seat? What if the movie is too scary? What if I see someone I know? What if I have to use the bathroom during the movie? What if...? What if...?
All of those anxious thoughts wear a rut in your mind and lead thinking about a thousand possible futures that will probably never happen. I have found that those are the same thinking patterns that can lead to ideas for a book. "What if" is the best question to ask yourself if you want to come up with crazy book ideas.
If you take your favorite genre and a "what if" mindset on your trip to the movie theater, you could be asking yourself some questions that could turn into a plot:
Sci-fi: What if I go to the movie theater and an alien is running mind experiments during the movie?
Contemporary YA: What if I go to the movie theater and I see my boyfriend making out with someone else?
Women's Fiction: What if I go to the movie theater and see my long-lost first love acting on screen?
Thriller: What if I go the movie theater and witness a murder in the projection room?
2. Be Judgmental and Critical of Popular Media Failures
A few weeks ago, I tuned into the premiere of Dominion, a new show on SyFy. The ads looked interesting: attractive guys, angel wings, action. After hearing the intro about a "chosen one" and then seeing the hunky blond lead, I realized I was in for another "white guy saves the world" show. There's nothing wrong with that, but its predictability annoyed me. Another thing that annoyed me was that the chosen one's sidekick is an urchin named Bixby who looks like she took a wrong turn on the way to the young Cosette auditions for Les Miserables. It's not clear what her purpose is or why she's there, but dang it, I really wanted her to be the "chosen one." That would have been a real twist. Someone needs to write that story.
When you're seething during a bad movie or reading a book that doesn't quite work, think about it critically. What would you do to make it better? How would you tell this story differently? If you tap into the right emotion of righteous anger, you might find the spark of your own story. Don't plagiarize someone else's work, obviously, but maybe your spin-off will be better than the original.
3. Pay Attention to the News
Take a page from Suzanne Collins who was inspired to write The Hunger Games while flipping between the news and reality TV:
One night, I was lying in bed, and I was channel surfing between reality TV programs and actual war coverage. On one channel, there’s a group of young people competing for I don’t even know; and on the next, there’s a group of young people fighting in an actual war. I was really tired, and the lines between these stories started to blur in a very unsettling way. That’s the moment when Katniss’s story came to me. (SLJ)
Remember: the truth is stranger than fiction.
I don't write crime stories, but if I did, I would imagine that the police blotter in the newspaper would be a good place to get inspiration. Keep an eye out for local news stories that go viral. Clearly there's some element to the story that captured the public's attention and that could be a good starting point for a story.
4. Go to a Museum or Antique Store
As a writer of historical fiction, I find that museums are great places to find inspiration. On a recent vacation to London, I had a germ of an idea in my brain. When I went to the Victoria & Albert museum, that germ exploded into a full-blown concept when I saw a collection of ancient and medieval well-heads. Being exposed to objects that I had never seen before really got my mind working. And hey, even if you don't get inspired, you might have learned something.
Antique stores are full of unusual, beautiful objects that could spark an idea. Think about the lives these pieces of history witnessed. Who treasured them? Who discarded them? Unlike museums, you can hold these things in your hand, open them up, and search for hidden treasure.
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| Don't know what this is? That's okay. Make something up. |
5. Suspend Your Own Disbelief
If you are a logical person, it can be hard to let go of your rationality and use your imagination. Unfortunately, you need to unleash your imagination to come up with interesting and original story ideas. When you're trying to come up with ideas for stories, don't listen to the voice that says "that's not possible." Who cares if it's not possible? You're trying to entertain people, not write a dissertation.
If you feel the seed of an idea start to grow and your rational voice squashes it, tell that voice to take a hike for a while. So what if there's no proof angels exist? So what if tracking a phone call is actually an instantaneous process? So what if cats can't talk? If you can believe it, so can your readers.
I hope these tips are helpful if you're looking to get inspired. If you're a writer, what are you sources of inspiration? What do you tell people when they ask where you get your ideas?
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