Where my Ideas Come From
I invent stories to get myself through the day and go to sleep. My ideas often start as thought experiments. What would happen if my car wheel fell off? What is the deal with that guy who has a funny hat? What if aliens landed? What would happen if somebody gave me a million dollars? How fast can I drive?
My ethics prevent my thoughts from drifting too far. What would happen if I killed that guy with the funny hat? Nope. Logic also excludes story ideas. What if Elvis came to my house? Yeah, he is dead. What if vampires… Not real.
Eventually, one tiny storyline sounded interesting, and I thought more about it the next day. This plot either builds to something substantial or fades from my interest. If the concept is strong enough for a book, I build up the lead character and thoroughly explore the plot. I then distanced the character away from my life because my life was boring. Not that I am complaining, but readers would not experience the same joy I feel over getting a circuit to work. Side note: Zener diodes are really cool.
What about starting from a known point? I want to write a cowboy novel? Let’s make an 1800s romance novel? How about a good mystery? I could never take a concept and write a fictional story. Too much pressure.
However, I like to watch and read about subjects I would never write. I have wanted to write a crime/robbery story but never had a good starting point. I also have an idea similar to the movie Starman, where an alien man arrives and tries to survive in our society.
Well, there you have it. I daydream about my life and occasionally think up something that seems plausible. I imagine many writers use this same technique.
My ethics prevent my thoughts from drifting too far. What would happen if I killed that guy with the funny hat? Nope. Logic also excludes story ideas. What if Elvis came to my house? Yeah, he is dead. What if vampires… Not real.
Eventually, one tiny storyline sounded interesting, and I thought more about it the next day. This plot either builds to something substantial or fades from my interest. If the concept is strong enough for a book, I build up the lead character and thoroughly explore the plot. I then distanced the character away from my life because my life was boring. Not that I am complaining, but readers would not experience the same joy I feel over getting a circuit to work. Side note: Zener diodes are really cool.
What about starting from a known point? I want to write a cowboy novel? Let’s make an 1800s romance novel? How about a good mystery? I could never take a concept and write a fictional story. Too much pressure.
However, I like to watch and read about subjects I would never write. I have wanted to write a crime/robbery story but never had a good starting point. I also have an idea similar to the movie Starman, where an alien man arrives and tries to survive in our society.
Well, there you have it. I daydream about my life and occasionally think up something that seems plausible. I imagine many writers use this same technique.
You’re the best -Bill
February 6, 2019 Updated January 11, 2023
BUY MY BOOK
Follow me
