Well, I am back. I promised you this post over a week ago, but like you, I’ve had a thing or…twenty to do. Enough said. Let’s get back to the business of writing.
So, you want to write a short story or a novel but you can’t come up with a good story idea and you are looking for some advice. My advice? Stop talking, open your eyes and look around you.
Unless you are dead, you are being presented with potential story ideas each and every day. And since you are reading this, I will assume that you are alive and kicking. So let me tell you what little I know about coming up with interesting story ideas.
Let’s start with you. You have a story in you simply by the fact that you survived adolescence. Think about it, but take care to observe for oncoming signs and symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Seriously, do you remember how cruel junior high and middle school kids can be? Wished I didn’t, but I sure do.
Throughout adolescence you likely experienced the gambit of emotions; love, joy, envy, and let’s not forget about fear. Like I said, those middle school terrorists can be downright vicious. Take a moment and recall the mean girl clique or bully who made it their mission to make you miserable. Now think back to the dreamy eyed stud who was just a boy, but still made your knees weak at the sight of him. All those experiences are great potential stories about coming of age and overcoming adversity.
I hesitate to say this, but the more challenging your childhood, the more likely it is that you have a strong story just waiting to be put to ink & paper. They say what does not kill you, makes you stronger. Well, I guess it can also make you a writer.
Let’s not forget first loves and their ugly stepsisters—broken hearts. They certainly make for great stories. Readers from all walks of life can easily relate to the emotional rollercoaster of young love and the heartbreak that inevitably accompanies it.
Fast forward to now. Think about the challenging coworker who seems to have zero emotional intelligence, fouling his fellow coworkers, possibly even you, in the game of office politics. Ever wonder what happened to him in his formative years that resulted in his current behavior and total lack of personal insight? Story
Then there is your boss. Mine is great, but I am one of the lucky ones. Perhaps you have one like the character played by Merle Streep in the movie the Devil Wears Prada. A former editor of one of the major fashion magazines inspired that amenable character. That’s sarcasm hard at work for those of you who have not seen the movie. Yes, the workplace is ripe with potential story ideas.
Travel locally or abroad, is an excellent means of finding exciting new story ideas. A vacation or even a weekend getaway, is a great way to fill your well of creativity. There is just something about getting away from your regular routine and surroundings that seems to ruffle the diaphanous wings of the muses.
Too busy to travel? How about your relative who is well traveled and entertains you with tales of her experiences while tripping across the globe? Stories
Too busy to travel? How about your relative who is well traveled and entertains you with tales of her experiences while tripping across the globe? Stories
People are interesting. Especially, people with interesting dialects, quirks or customs that are found in states or countries other than your own.
However, when it comes to people watching, there is no need to travel far. Just sit on a bench at your local park. It won’t be long until some interesting person comes by or something happens that peaks your interest and gets you wondering. You might see lovers, young or old, holding hands or sharing a tender embrace. What has happened, or is happening in their relationship? A pretty, young jogger stops briefly to check her heart rate then runs along on an isolated trailhead. Is she in danger? Stories
The mention of parks, reminds me of kids. Kids are mini experts of fantasy and make believe. Just spend some time engaging with young children and you will surely be entertained by clever stories and role play that flows from their limitless imaginations. Kids can certainly teach us a thing or two about tapping into the right side of the ol grey matter, where our creative abilities reside.
Your parents and grandparents have likely experienced challenges that you could only ever imagine. Many of our parents lived in homes that lacked the modern conveniences that we routinely take for granted. Depending on their age, they may have even lived through the Great Depression and can remember gas and sugar rationing. Perhaps they spent their evenings, sitting by the family radio and listened for updates on the war effort, not knowing the fate of their loved ones fighting abroad. Do your parents have such stories? You’ll never know if you don’t ask.
In those years, it wasn’t acceptable to speak openly about abuse or neglect suffered as a child. People actually gave their children to others if they were struggling to provide them with food and shelter. Yes, their lives were very different from our own.
Consider chronicling your parent’s lives for a work of non-fiction. If nothing else, you will have a priceless record of their key life events to share with your children and grandchildren. Ask yourself if you are willing to lose their stories with their passing?
Tragic life events also provide intriguing and dramatic storylines. Tragic events are like car crashes, that we just cannot seem to look away from. There is something about human suffering that is so relatable to readers and audiences alike. Look no further than your evening news to see what storylines attract the highest viewership of large television networks. It sure isn’t the lighthearted fluff stories. Like it or not, tragedy may even be more of a temptress than love. Tragedy is the siren that beckons from the shore, luring you in—leading you to certain destruction. You never feel good after watching or reading about a tragic event. What is perhaps even more baffling, is that you know that up front; and still, you tune in or read on with curious abandon.
Life events and personal relationships offer compelling stories of loss, grief and perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. Who doesn’t know someone addicted to drugs, a teen mother, a cancer survivor, recent divorcee or person dealing with the loss of loved one? Stories
Animals are today, so much more than mans furry best friends. They are considered as family members, and deservedly so. Their unconditional love and unwavering friendship is their gift to us. They greet us with pure joy when we return home from work. They may try our patience at times, but they also make us laugh. They sit by our sides when we are sad, not knowing the reason for our sadness but feeling our pain as intensely as their own. Animal stories never cease to satisfy.
Dreams are excellent for inspiring creative story ideas. A mind unencumbered by conscious thought is free to explore all realms of possibilities. Just ask Stephenie Meyer of the Twilight series. The first book of that series was inspired by a vivid dream that Ms. Meyer had one night. At the urging of her sister, she wrote about that dream while it was still fresh in memory. That dream became a scene in the middle of the book. She then wrote the beginning and the ending of what would become a best seller and iconic movie of our time. So the next time you have a particularly interesting dream—think story. And don’t disregard those erotic dreams, that genre is blowing up right now like a fat man at a buffet.
These are but a few potential suggestions to consider for story ideas. I’d be willing to bet, that by now, your creative juices are flowing freely and you have thought of many others. Like I said, look no further than your family, coworkers and friends for interesting and hopefully, marketable story ideas.
A light note of caution…. a wise person once said, take care if you have a friend or family member who is a writer. One day, not too long from now, you may be curled up with latte and a copy of their book and come across a scene that seems all too familiar.
If that happens, don’t freak out and spill your latte, just take a deep breath and remind yourself—it is only fiction.
Your task: Practice being observant of strangers and people you know. Keep a small notebook handy to jot down potential story ideas or record a voice memo on your smartphone. These tools work like the pocket-sized sketchbooks that some artists carry around to capture images to use later on as inspiration for their art masterpiece. The inspiration you’ve been searching for to write your best seller is all around you, so pay attention.
Next post: Talent and discipline. Why one is worthless without the other.
Rita Aguilar 