The most frequently asked question about writers is, “Where do you get your ideas?” The most successful authors cannot pinpoint an exact location because their story ideas come from everyone around them. If you’re working with a well-known writer’s block, here are ten unique places to get story ideas you’ve never thought of before.
The Only Place for Story Ideas: TV Guide
There are three useful versions of TV Guide: the channel, the print version and the electronic version. Most people have access to at least one, and this can be a great place to find story ideas. Simply scroll through the listings and read some of the upcoming show and movie titles. At most it also provides a sentence or two describing the plot, which can also be useful. While you don’t have to “sample” the plot of a movie or TV show, it might spark an idea for a new twist.
The only place to find story ideas: The Yellow Pages
There are many times when an interesting name can spark the whole plot in the story line. Pull out your latest edition of the Yellow Pages and flip through the listings until something catches your eye. For example, I once saw an agency for babysitters/nanny when I was looking for something else in the Yellow Pages and the idea for short story which I later sold as Highlights.
Unique Place for Story Ideas: Song Lyrics
Most people are busy listening to the radio or a CD at least once a day, so they will start paying attention to the song lyrics. Often one line can be fodder for a great new story; you might not have worked out the plot details right away, but you’ll have character or an angle or plot twist from which to work.
Unique Places for Story Ideas: Non-Writers
Most writers spend every waking moment of their lives trying to think of another idea for stories, articles, and books. This is where non-writers come in handy. Sit down with a family member or a friend, and play what-if game until something sparks your spark. Ask them to share a personal example or ask for a scenario that could lead to multiple directions.
The Only Place to Find Story Ideas: The Holy Text
While I cannot speak of all the Holy texts, I know that the Holy Bible is a great source of inspiration. You don’t have to be a Christian or even a pious writer to take ideas from the holy book because the characters, settings, moral lessons and other aspects are as secular as they are religious. For example, setting the foundation of the Good Samaritan today with some additional characters and a more updated environment could make a great children’s story.
The only place to find story ideas: Techno-Mags
Many writers take their skills to the next generation by creating fantastical devices in the new scientific research. If you read technology or scientific journals, you will know about the latest innovations that are just sparks from stories . If you can take the technology a step further and make it plausible, it can easily be the basis of an exciting thriller or horror story.
Unique Places for Story Ideas: Comedy
If you enjoy visiting your site your comedy club on Friday nights or even if you just want to roll over in bed on the weekends and watch Unique Place for Story Ideas: Classic Literature
I don’t know about you, but when I’m working on writer’s block, I always pull Dickens off the shelf and sit down to read. I always find inspiration through classical literature, and I am inspired by musical prose and the ultimate developing characters. > that is often missing in today’s stories. If you enjoy the classics, you may find a hidden nugget of inspiration that will take you into another story.
The Only Place for Story Ideas: Photo Albums
One of the best ways to come up with story ideas is to look into your past. Any of the five senses can have a memory that has long been buried under long hours of hard work and years of repression, and a photograph can bring those memories back to life again. Go through all your old books from your formative years and try to locate the circumstances of each picture. .
Unique Places for Story Ideas: Commercials
Ever since my family subscribed to DVR, we lost the need to watch commercials. We simply start by watching shows in the middle and then quickly through advertisements as save time. But commercials can provide great fodder for stories, especially when many contain story lines so tightly wound that they play out under the pressure.
