“Where do you get your ideas?” is one of those questions that gets old fast. It’s also one of the questions you’ll hear most as a writer.
I don’t think I’ve ever gone to a conference or a signing or participated in a panel when I haven’t heard that question either before, after, or during the event.
I think my answer is the same as most writers. I smile and say, “You know, the ideas come all the time. I can’t shut them off! But they’re not epic ideas. They’re usually really small ideas that I can develop.”
For me, it’s only really occasionally that I’ll get a Super Big Idea. Even then, it might not be an idea that fits with the book I need to write. I mean, it’s great if I get a cool idea for a family saga that spans generations, but what I really need is a cool idea for a traditional mystery.
Instead of the Super Big Idea, I get little snippets of dialogue, character traits, an interesting quirk or personality type. Frequently these ideas show up while I’m at the store or in a conversation. I got them during book club last week and was guiltily texting myself the idea during the club meeting—realizing I probably looked obnoxious, but worried about losing the idea for good.
Sometimes I ‘m not even happy with the ideas I’ve got. Maybe they seemed like good ideas at the time, but once I started playing around with them on paper, they didn’t pan out the way I’d wanted them to.
In fact, one day in early 2010, I was working on my manuscript, Finger Lickin’ Dead (the book that’s releasing on Tuesday). The manuscript was in the early stages and I was exploring some of my ideas—and not liking them much.
I got an email from Hart Johnson. She’d had this really crazy, vivid dream, she said. It involved a murdered restaurant critic. She said that she knew she wasn’t going to write a restaurant mystery, and offered me the dream as a starting point.
And you know? It worked so much better than my idea! So I took her starting point, and Finger Lickin’ Dead was created. I mentioned Hart in my acknowledgments (thanking her for her ‘helpful suggestions’) and sent her a copy—which she showed off here.
Which goes to show, I think, that if we’re receptive to new ideas and not worried about trying a new direction for our story, we can really end up with a stronger book.
So now I’ll ask the never-ending question: where do you get your ideas? What’s the most unusual way you’ve received one?
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Finger Lickin’ Dead launches Tuesday, June 7th!
Very interesting post.
I get my ideas from reading and talking to people.
Dreams, a lot of times. Or just vivid things that run through my head. And you’re right: you can’t shut them off. they just come all the time! I figured it was time to start writing them down.
snarkandire.blogspot.com
I often get ideas from the silly little stories in newspapers – the ones that only take up a couple of paragraphs at the foot of a column. I think maybe the difference between writers and other people is that writers tend to start trying to work the ideas into stories immediately and other people just read them and forget them.
I agree that there are too many ideas around, if anything – not enough time to work them all into novels!
Elizabeth – This is a really interesting question to think about, even if we do get asked about it a lot. I get ideas for small things like a character name, a particular kind of murder (That’s an occupational hazard of writing crime fiction ;-) ) or something like that. That’s usually the kernel of what I write and then I build on it. The most unusual (and I admit, strange) inspiration I ever got? Walking past a balcony and wondering how high up it would have to be for a fall from it to be fatal….
Love this Elizabeth. My current WIP came about because I was traveling in Ireland and Scotland and a voice came to me in a mystical, magical forest near Blarney Castle and whispered, “Tell my story.” I had no clue who or what it was or if it even happened or I just imagined it. It’s been an amazing journey since then, finding out.
Karen
How cool about Hart’s idea! My idea machine works a lot like yours with small ideas churned out all the time. But they change and morph and grow as I think about them. Or they stagnate and vanish. Two of my short stories came to me whole, and both did well. But novels take work and many small ideas woven together.
Warren– Conversation is a great source for ideas, isn’t it?
Betty–I keep a Word file for ideas. Because as soon as they come, they’re gone!
Sheila– I think you’re right….we see the value in the idea enough to make something of it. And cool idea for a source!
My fictional ideas have always come from a dream. My five book series came from just a wisp of a dream.
I used to get ideas from dreams. I kept a lighted pen and pad by my bed so I could jot them down. Otherwise, I’d forget them by morning. But my strongest idea was a voice that would not shut up. She just kept telling me her story and I kept writing it down.
I love how you got the idea for that novel! My ideas come from dreams sometimes but most often they come from people, not breathing people, but characters. My stories often start with a character that forms in my head.
Thanks so much for the mention and links!!! I think part of maturing as a writer is to ATTEND to all those little ideas. I think when we start, we are only looking for the fabulous BIG ones, but every book has to include DOZENS (hundreds?) of little ones. You are fabulous at just paying attention to your surroundings and I’m sure that helps a ton. I am trying to get better at it, now that I know how helpful it can be.
Thanks for this post. It’s the question creative people get asked most, so thinking up a good answer is essential for interviews and talks. I love your story of getting an idea from another people’s dream!
But you’re right that they are there all around us all the time: the newspaper, dreams, the compaints of the old lady next door, etc. Like sheilamcperry, I’m often hooked by those odd little filler stories in the newspaper.
But in the end, it’s all about taking the time to develop them.
And Hart was just thrilled you mentioned her!
My ideas come from movies and TV shows.
I get the most of my idea’s when I’m just about to drop off to sleep so end up leaping out of bed to find my paper and pencil much to the annoyance of my other half. I also get a lot when I’m driving and can’t sit and write them down! I’m wondering how many I’ve lost when driving.
Margot–Love it! That’s true mystery writer inspiration. :)
Diane–I’m thinking my dream life is really boring!
Karen–I’m excited that you’re exploring this great character that came to you!
Helen–We have these bossy characters, don’t we? :)
Heather–I love to start with characters, too!
Carol–I wish my ideas would come to me whole like that! I think JK Rowling’s did, didn’t it?
Hart–Good point–there’s just a ton of miniscule ideas and bits and pieces for a book, aren’t there?
Anne–I think that it really *is* just a matter of sitting down and getting those ideas developed. I can’t imagine that no one else but writers are getting these interesting ideas!
Alex–Another great place to get them!
Rebecca–What IS it about falling to sleep and getting ideas?! I do the same. Maybe it’s because we’re finally being quiet after our busy days. :)