Sunday 8 July 2012

Where do I get story ideas from.


This is a guest post I did sometime back during the Truly, Madly, Deeply You blog tour on Jacob's Beloved Books blog.

My inspiration comes from almost everywhere: Walking down the street, in the shower, watching TV, that space of time between waking up and sleeping whne my mind is drifting in all directions … 

For Truly, Madly, Deeply, You, I was inspired by a couple who I visited in their home during my home visits. The man was 93 years and his wife 88. While I sat there listening to them, telling me how they were best friends even before they got married, my mind wandered. I began weaving a story: a friends to lovers story. Only in mine, the male harbors feelings for his female friend, but she has no idea how he feels. And the woman is so guilt ridden the only way she can protect herself is ‘block’ any feelings the hero gushes over her. As I am not an outline person, I sit and just let the characters take over.

In Truly, Madly, the story is more character oriented and less plot. More about friendship and love, and discovery and with a bit of salvation thrown in there. I focused on the two characters, Frey and Liese, and explored their relationship and their feelings toward each other.

There is nothing as heady as when ideas blossom inside my mind. Intoxicating. 

What about you? What inspires you to write a story? 

4 comments:

  1. I'm never too sure where the ideas come from. Sometimes I'll read a news article and that will start me thinking about a story. Other times it will be an experience or a place I'm visiting. Sometimes it comes in the middle of the night when I'm not "thinking" but off in some dream or other.

    I love the way you came to your idea behind your story.

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  2. my inspirations come from nowhere sometimes--the older couple idea sounds utterly charming :)

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  3. clee,

    Thank you. oh I love it when the story comes to me in the middle of the night, then have to snap awake, sribble down the details. Oh what a heady feeling!

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  4. Lynn,
    Oh the couple was just amazing! Those ideas that come from nowhere are also fantastic. One day, you ask yourself...seriously where did that come from? :D

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