Coming Up With Story Ideas

Before I got that first publishing contract, coming up with ideas for my books seemed sort of easy. After all, I had no expectations to meet, no deadlines looming over me; I just wrote what I felt like, as the mood struck. If nothing exciting came along and took me by storm, after one project was done, I didn't fret. I had the luxury of waiting until inspiration struck again, before I'd begin work on a new project.

However, now that I DO have deadlines and contracts to fulfill, I've found that I need to keep a few ideas simmering in the background, so that they'll be ready to pull out and mull over when it's time to start a new book. The way that I go about cultivating these ideas is actually rather simple, but it's saved me a lot of headaches in the past couple of years, and I hope it will help you, too.

One of the best methods I know for getting ideas to write about comes from reading textbooks. I know, I know - many of you immediately groaned at the mere mention of the word textbooks. Oh those horrible, enormous, and dry as dust tomes that our high school and college teachers forced us to read in our history classes, right? Well, not exactly. I like to find research books that deal in areas where I have a specific interest - in my case all things medieval. Because of this, I've collected (or loaned out from the library) countless books on medieval dress (and underclothes!), weaponry, warfare, dining habits, foods, herbs and healing, magic, witchcraft, and individuals of interest from those times, among other subjects. For example, one of my favorite little inspirational books is titled UPPITY WOMEN OF MEDIEVAL TIMES, by Vicki Leon (ISBN 1-56731-250-0) It's a series of great little vignettes from more than 100 interesting, real women from the medieval period. Just reading through this book can't help but give me a few new ideas for characterization or situations.

This technique can work, of course, with other kinds of textbooks as well. History books can be useful for contemporary writers to some extent, as far as providing situational inspiration, but medical studies or true crime texts (Like Marion Roach's DEAD RECKONING) are great too, for coming up with that interesting character or plot twist. The possibilities are limitless, with the right texts in hand.

Another good idea method I use sometimes - and this works for contemporary writers as well as historical writers also - is to read a good newspaper every day and watch the news as often as possible. Sooner or later a story comes along that will spark the imagination. Of course you can't usually take an entire existing story verbatim, perhaps, but a kernel of an idea that springs from it might then be adapted to suit the needs of your book. Watching movies of all kinds works in the same sort of way. Sooner or later, something you see will spark an idea?and then off you can go, spinning a fresh story concept or characterization in your mind.

It's not really difficult. Any of the above-mentioned techniques is quite simple, taking your time and attention more than anything else. So dust off that textbook, get out that newspaper, or (gasp!) turn on the T.V. - when it comes to finding a new story idea, it's the way to go!

Back to Writing Advice main page