Finding Ideas for Writing
Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2011
by Hannah Quinn
Too-Write! Professional Services
I've written several articles on ideas for stories. I believe ideas should be the easiest part, <em>is</em> the easiest part, but for a very many writers it is the first and biggest stumbling block.
The fact is, though, ideas are everywhere. Literally. You cannot open your eyes and avoid ideas. You cannot close your eyes and avoid ideas. You cannot wake nor sleep, eat nor drink, move or lie prostrate without encountering ideas. You can't even breathe without bumping into ideas. They are, as I say, literally everywhere.
You can look at an empty bench and see ideas. What is usually made, prepared, stacked, served, collated, sorted, fiddled with, opened, packed, crafted, played on it? Who does these things on it? Who has to clean it afterward? Has anyone ever slept on it? Who? When? Why? Who put it there in the first place? Why?
Or a blank wall; or a wall covered in marks, smudges, wallpaper, artwork, photographs, diagrams, appointments, reminders, newsletters. Again, there are a myriad questions and thoughts to be had about that wall - not to mention the windows in them.
One of the first writing exercises I did at college was to describe the room we were in. We were given 15 minutes, the lecturer then collected each piece and took them away. The following week in the same class she handed them back and we each read them out. I'm proud to say that out of only two that actually described the room, mine was one.
Mostly, the other students wrote about what they could see outside the window; what they were feeling; about travelling to class; how they felt about college; and about the other people in the room. They hardly described the room at all. Yet, it was a very interesting room with many things in it, an ambience and a history of its own. Since then, it is the first exercise I give to students, including some high school students who I took for remedial reading. It hones both the observation muscles as well as the ideas muscles. The two are and should be inextricably linked.
There is nothing wrong in writing this exercise and not writing the room. At least the ideas of started and from there, more ideas follow.
That's the trick, really. Start with an idea, any idea, stream of consciousness, existentialism, plagiarism if it comes to that (don't forget to remove that later) but start. Fresh ideas will follow, and following them are more ideas, and behind them yet more. <em>you get the idea.</em>
And never tell yourself you can't get ideas. That's a sure fire way to knock all those ideas down like a line of dominoes and you know what they say about 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.
So, next time you can't find an idea, just look on the end of your nose and follow its line of sight and start to question what you see. How's that for an idea?
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)nice lesson. well written. the active, perceptive mind has no shortge of ideas. an intense relation of self to ones world has always helped me. imagination is often stiffled these days. Thanks. I hope it helps some writers.Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Jack.
Hannah, I appreciate your article. My problem, and one I am dealing with right now is a type of A.D.D. I am flooded with ideas. It is hard to separate them. Plus, I start writing and I have several past writing instructors and editors in my head saying opposing things. Then, I give up and go do something else. Oh, bother. The world is fine without one more word from me. Then I go do something else which leads to an experience I think I should reveal before I pass on. etc., etc. etc. Regards, SuziThanks for taking the time to read and comment, Suzi, especially when you are ready to do the 'next' thing every minute. Too many ideas can be a problem and one I recognise. As soon as I stop and think 'ideas' I get an endless flood. The trick for me is to stop focusing on ideas and think about story. What is it I want to say and how do I want to say it? If it's fiction, then who do I want to tell it? I bring my focus to the protagonist and let all the ideas flow towards who she/he is and what is their story. It's surprising how much information a character comes with and then it's easy to let a story unfold. The real discipline comes when editing it and turning it into something readable to others.
As to your past instructors and editors, they are guides, not gods. Take what guidance they have given in the past that applies to what you are writing now and put the rest aside. There are always a multiple number of ways any story can be written and only one who truly knows the right way for your particular story. You. Probably, the biggest lesson a writer needs to learn is to trust themselves. The time for editors are after the writing is done and you are seeking publication. Not before.
Good luck.5 star reply!
I think it's a great idea and great advice. I don't usually have trouble with what to write, my trouble is finding the time. Thanks Hannah!Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Brianna. I know exactly what you are saying. When I'm writing, I find it hard to remember I have other things to do! Retirement is starting to look very appealing these days. :)
Spot on Hannah. I have no problem with ideas (5 Novels, 23 Story-Shorts and countless Poetry pieces in progress as we speak), and I have no problem switchng from one to the other either. My problem is there are just not enough hours in the day and no amount of coffee to keep me awake to complete my works.
My secret for remembering all my ideas is my trusted Blackberry phone, Android that have the latest Office Mobile Apps and the trusted Pen and Writing Pad for when the batteries run out, so if I'm out and about I just type it and save it. Simple.
I really enjoyed your article and hope to see more of your posts. Peace. Joy and Good Luck.Thank you, Marcus. I know your dilemma is common amongst writers. Too many ideas, not enough time. It's one of the reasons I started writing novels instead of short stories so I could expand my ideas and bring in others. I have a number of journals where I jot random ideas. One section was giving me trouble in that I wasn't able to develop some characters into more until I got the 'idea' of picking opposites and putting them together to see how they would react against each other. For example, I put two of them in a lift that stopped between floors, and two others I had taken hostage in a bank hold up. The characters always had to learn to work together regardless of their differences. I got stage plays and a radio play as well as a number of stories from doing that and it set me off on a new tangent of writing. And it's a lot of fun. Now, an idea for getting more time ....
I like your use of technology! I'm on the computer all day so I have a file ready. When I'm away I often take a laptop but I like to have a pad and pen just because it's a break. I have been known to record my ideas while I'm driving. It used to be on a micro recorder, but now it's a digital recorder or my mobile phone. The important thing is getting the ideas down - although where once I used to panic if I didn't get them down, I don't now. I know there are still plenty of ideas waiting in the wings. .
Good luck with all your writing!
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