One of the most asked questions I get: Where do your ideas for stories come from?
What exactly is “around, everywhere and beyond.”? And what does that look like for you?
Well, let’s break this down to look at some unique inspiration for your writing.
Inspiration for creativity really does come from everywhere. Just look around and you’ll see a buzzing bee that’s chatting with a flower or maybe a man running down the street after his dog, or perhaps it’s an overheard conversation at the laundromat. It doesn’t matter what it is so long as it sparks some sort of creative inspiration that lets your imagination soar.
I know it’s not always easy and your headspace can be a real challenge, but the inspiration for crazy, juicy, evocative, dramatic, sexy, and perhaps totally mundane stories are hiding around every corner.
Here are five unique places where you can be inspired.
Let me know which one works for you!
ONE: The Evening News…
If you’ve followed my posts you’ll know that I normally avoid the news. Sometimes, I happen upon it by mistake and just feel sick after. It all seems so depressing and negative… but if you look at it as inspiration you’d be surprised by what you’ll find.
The news is nasty. There’s no way around it, so you may have to compartmentalize the stories and view them from a creative/inspirational angle.
Sounds a bit twisted I know, but try and think of it this way… Listen to the story and put yourself in it.
Close your eyes and imagine you’re in the midst of the chaos. Are you the victim? the perpetrator? Maybe you’re the news reporter or camera person?
What does the chaos feel like? How did you get there? Was it drugs? scandal? Maybe you were dragged along by a friend or colleague?
Try and embrace the questions. Answer them and pay attention to the tiny details or fill them in with your imagination (usually a better option as it allows you to control the narrative).
There’s a lot of stories that happen every single day that can be manipulated and molded into an entertaining story of your own making.
Go for it.
TWO: A Restaurant…
Tuck yourself into the back of restaurant or coffee shop and let the inspiration come to you–and believe me, it will.
Pay special attention to the body language of diners–how do they sit? are they leaning forward? stretched out? Maybe they’re yawning or picking their teeth…
Are all parties paying attention? Maybe one’s staring out the window? distracted? eating really quickly? Sitting on the edge of the chair? The list is endless. Note the details.
Again it’s the smallest quirks that make someone unique.
Watch closely (don’t stare… 😳 lol–that may get you tossed out the front door…). But observe and make notes.
What makes an individual act that way? Note the mannerisms and also their clothing, the way they eat, the tone of how they speak to the server…It’s all gold when building characters.
If you can’t hear the conversation, put in your own thoughts based on the “characters” at the table.
People have a way of showing you who they are… even from a distance, they can inspire a character for a story, novel, or other written work.
THREE: The Grocery Store…
Choose a time when you know the store will be busy. Maybe right after morning school drop-off or late in the afternoon as commuters make their way home…
A grocery store is like a delicatessen of characters and story ideas… so go shopping. Follow (don’t stalk… it’s frowned upon 🫣) someone who appears to be ‘interesting’ in your eyes.
As you follow, ask yourself: (remember you’re using your imagination to answer based on their actions or your minds manipulation…)
- who are they?
- what is their life all about?
- do they work? where? legal?
- is it a frazzled mom with a screaming kid… what if she just walks away from her cart and straight out of the store?
- maybe it’s a little old man just wandering around. Is he lost? dementia? Maybe he’s a jewel thief? a pick-pocket? or a gigolo?
- and that lady in the veggie department… the one who looks like she hasn’t slept in a week… what’s her story? maybe she’s a night nurse and just plunged a needle of death into someones arm… or maybe she’s a taxi driver who drove a bunch of people around for six hours as they snorted cocaine…
- what are they buying? are they filling the cart with wine and chips? hmmm… dog food? bleach?
- check out the butcher, the clerks, the stock-person… what secrets do they have? are they happy or putting in time?
Let your imagination run wild through every department/employee/customer of the store. There’s a story there….
FOUR: Go to an Open House…
I love going to open houses. There’s no obligation to buy and I can see how other people live/decorate. Definitely a win-win.
You can pose as a buyer or a lookie-Lou… doesn’t matter.
At an open house you can really get a feel for the way other people live.
What kind of art is on the walls? What does it tell you?
Is there a child’s bedroom? Toys? maybe a lock on the door?
What’s lacking? Is there clutter? Marks on the wall? A height chart?
Carpet? Lino? Hardwood?
And don’t forget to check out the bathrooms and book shelves… this reveals the residents likes and habits.
What does the house smell like? Try to be specific… if it’s a food smell–what is it? Does it smell old? Funky? Dirty? Perfumed?
Try and describe the smell and note how it adds to the story.
What do you hear?
Is there any buzzing? clicking? clocks?
Study the photographs that are displayed. Are there wedding portraits? Do you think they’re still that happy? Why? why not? What era are the fashions? Hairdo’s?
Conjure up the life of the house. What does the house tell you? Things do happen behind closed doors and the walls will talk–if you listen.
FIVE: Social Media…
Social media can also provide great inspiration for stories and/or characters.
The one thing you must always remember is that the Socials are all crap. They’re basically life marketing tools to sell an image, and/or present ideals, that simply do not exist.
So why bother using social media as an inspiration?
Well, I want you to reverse everything you see on social media and that is the inspiration.
If you see a tight shot of a living room with a mom and dad with twin babies… they’re all perfectly dressed and smiling like everything is right with the world, I want you to pan out to a wide-shot and imagine:
- dirty diapers heaped in the corner.
- a frustrated photographer who’s taken 200 ‘bad’ shots to get the ‘perfect’ one
- a makeup kit that’s over-flowing with concealer and potions
- dirty dishes
- half drunk baby bottles
- spilled coffee
- a stain on the couch
- a pot of dried mush on the stove
- a cat who’s just horked up a half eaten mouse
… etc. etc… I think you get the picture. Take it to the extreme… the photos do–so why shouldn’t it go the other way too?
If you see a guy who’s oozing with confidence and charisma, pan out and see his reality… empty pizza boxes, no date for Saturday night, his diet pills, a half bottle of whiskey…
Taking things to the extreme can spark the imagination and also put things into perspective.
Always ask the questions: The five W’s and How…
Social media is a place of fantasy, excess, and perfectionism… Turn it on its head and let it inspire your next story.
I Hope that Helps…
We all get blocked by our own shadow sometimes, but inspiration is around each bend. I hope the five tips help…
Let me know your thoughts. Which one is your fave? Which one will you try first? Comment below. Thanks.
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