This seems to be one of the more popular questions we writers get. And yet, I’m always surprised.
My problem has never been ideas, it’s been time. I want to live a long, long time (duh–don’t we all?) and partly because I have too many stories to write. So my recent brain freeze while waiting to hear on DOTT and BOAA is EXTREMELY unusual for me. No worries, tho–I have no doubt it will go away and I’ll get back to burying myself in my stories. I’m really ALIVE when I write.
Offhand, I’m going through an entirely new set of emotions with being so VERY CLOSE to realizing a long term dream. The surge of ups and downs is pretty intense. I thought the wait on magazine stories or agent replies was difficult, but this is something else. I think maybe if my payjob used more of my brain, it would be easier–but no, it’s this monotonous drone of click, move and type. My mind is entirely too free to wander.
But I have stopped racing to the phone when it rings. 😉
But back on topic. (See? I’m useless these days. <g> )
Ideas.
My ideas come from EVERYWHERE. An overheard snippet from a casual conversation. Two squirrels ripping each other to shreds outside my office window. (Seriously, it was brutal. I couldn’t help but wonder if something in their food had sparked the violence… ) As most of my long term readers know, I’m very visual and love nothing more than an excellent piece of art or a photograph. And sometimes, the idea that sparks has little to do with what the artist was trying to portray.
I’ve been saving some images that sparked ideas. Let’s see if they do anything for you. Share if anything stirs!!!!
Not only did this crack me up, but I thought of a wonderful action scene with lots of humor. Can you see it?
Yes, they obviously built around the stunning trees–but what if there was a more sinister reason???
Funny yes, but this image sparked a very serious scene about the consequences of using magic. It’s only an outline at this point, but I’m really looking forward to getting to that section of the manuscript.
I’m always drawn to amber. The color fascinates me. This image sparked an idea I can’t share since it’s in my current WIP, but it has a lot to do with guardians of the forest. That’s all I’m saying.
Breathing yet? Go ahead and look at it again. I get it. This image is from my Gena file. Yes, I find the male body absolutely beautiful and I’ve been a heavy contributor to Gena Showalter’s Monday pics. She refers to me often as beefcake pimp. <wg> But this particular image sparked a gritty and uh, slippery scene. What started out as sexy, turned heavy and emotional and I can’t wait for my CP’s reaction when she gets to it. And that scene is a ways off for her. Sorry Rachel. 😉
And since I don’t want to use one of her images directly, I’ll direct you to Natalie Shau. One of her pieces, which unfortunately isn’t on this website any longer, sparked an answer to a problem that was driving me nuts. I needed something good for my depiction of a certain dimensional plane. I found it in one of her images. It’s for book three of my urban fantasy series. Honestly, ideas flow every single time I look at her work, but this was the kind of flash that raises the hair on your arms and twists up the gut.
Those are the ones you KNOW are good. I live for those moments.
Ms. Shau will probably get a mention in the acknowledgments in that third book. 😉
(And don’t forget, I’m working to help my favorite science fiction and horror magazine–giving away cool prizes to those who subscribe! Drawing is Sunday. Details below!)