As writers and storytellers our heads are often filled with a number of plotlines, characters, and conversations. But there are still times when we struggle to think of story ideas that get us excited; ideas that sees us racing to grab a pen and paper and jot it down before it slips away.
In these moments it feels like you’ll never have a good story idea ever again, right?
I’ll gladly tell you you’re wrong.
How To Come Up With Story Ideas On Your Own
While there's nothing wrong with getting story ideas from other sources, it's fun to come up with your own. Here are four starting points to get new story ideas:
1. Real-Life Stories
The news has a never-ending supply of great story ideas just waiting to be tapped into. Interesting characters pop up in print all the time with fascinating stories that already feel like they have novel potential.
Whilst having your morning cuppa, spend some time thumbing through the pages of your local newspaper and pick out a few stories that pique your interest, then go from there.
You could even combine two or three stories to create an entirely new and unique scenario, or you could just pick a character and run with them in whichever direction they take you.
2. A Question
Questions are great because they really make our brains work. Even the simplest of questions can have us disappearing down a creative rabbit hole in no time.
You might want to use a standalone question, like, “What kind of person goes to the market on a Sunday?” or it might be a question that sparks on from something else, like a conversation you had with a stranger or something you saw on TV.
Maybe you know an interesting person in real life and you ask yourself “what would they do if they were in a certain situation?”
“What if?” questions are often the best, because they encourage you to look at things from a number of different perspectives.
3. Your Personal Experiences
People always say you should write what you know. This isn’t just because you have first-hand experience of it, but because you can describe the emotions you felt and the thoughts you had to offer a two-dimensional story that places the reader right in the centre of it all.
Think back to a moment in your life. It doesn’t have to be a pivotal moment, but something you can remember clearly. Try and build it out into an idea, even if you have to elaborate on some parts.
Imagine the emotions you felt, maybe there was a particular song playing.
Who was there? What were you doing? And, more importantly, why were you doing it?
4. People Watch
Have you ever played that game where you try to imagine the lives of strangers? It might just seem like a fun way to pass the time, but it’s also a great way to spark story ideas. Think about it: you already have the main character (and, even better, you’ve seen them in action in real life) so you are free to let your mind wander.
Take some time out in your local café and watch the goings-on around you. Watch the flat-capped gentlemen in the corner closely and see how the waitress interacts with the customers.
Never Say You Don't Have Any Story Ideas Again
Hopefully these real life starting points will have your mind bubbling over with ideas in no time at all.
And if not?
Well, keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about and don’t forget to ask yourself “what if?” at every available opportunity.
How about you? How do you come up with story ideas? Let me know in the comments!
PRACTICE
Pick one of these methods and spend fifteen minutes outlining a story that stems from it, whether it’s a story you read on the news this morning or an idea sparked by someone you bumped into in the shop yesterday.
When your time is up, post your fleshed out story idea in the comments section. And if you post, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers.
I have used all of these story starters since I was a kid. For me, anything and almost everything around me suggests characters or stories. the What if? question is second nature to me and my brain spirals off into story land. (It can make for dangerous driving).
Thanks for condensing into a list.
I hate to admit this but I hear conversations with different characters in my mind all the time. Have done so since I was a child. The only difference now is, I am writing down the stories. May sound like I’m certifiable but it is part of the creative process for me. Anyone else have this experience?
Good, I’m not the onoy one that does that. 🙂
Thanks Gary. It’s good to know you’re a fellow traveller who hears voices!
I have always thought I was weird when I was a kid for hearing conversations in my head, I would actually speak them out and play as the characters in my head when ever I was alone, but my sister caught me once and called me a weirdo so I never did it again.
You’re in good company Marimed! Writers are truly a breed of their own but at least we all get each other. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more
Lizzie – it’s wonderful to find you here too #HUGS
By the way, I was told that Neil Gaiman uses the WHAT IF question to spark ideas 😉
Thank you for your insights
Kitto
Thank you Kitto! Always lovely to read your comments 🙂
And, well, if it’s good enough for Neil Gaiman…!
These were such nice reminders. And I really like your writing style. Your blog looks very interesting.
I have started quite a few of my stories with pivotal moments in my own life the jumping off point (they all turned into pure fiction, once I was started.) And “What if . . .” has gotten most of the rest of my stories started.
Thank you Elizabeth! I’m definitely a “What If…” asker too, which forms most of the springboards for my stories.
Great timing for this assignment! I was wandering up and down ‘Super-duper’ store’s shampoo aisle yesterday and made my choice from the myriad products offered. This morning as I was lathering up my brain conjured up a scene in the product development boardroom of some big chemical company.
(My apologies that this is so long.)
“Okay, people.” Dylan, the chairman, raps his knuckles on the table. “Let’s brainstorm. All our shampoos have been on the market for several years now so we need to introduce a new product line. Which means we need some as-yet-untreated hair issue, or special ingredient no one has marketed yet.
“We have shampoos for the frizzies, the greasies, the dull, the limp and lifeless, the thin, the thick. the color-treated, the permed. We’ve already added aloe, jojoba, wheat germ oil, iron, shark cartilage, Vitamins A, B, C & E. What else can we possibly add to a brand new shampoo to make it appealing to consumers?”
“Maybe we should try some new earthy scent,” Mark suggests. “Earthy always goes over well.”
“But earthy’s so done already,” protests co-chair Andrea. “Fresh floral, ocean breezes, blueberry, citrus, lime, mint. What more can we possibly come up with?”
Shawn, ever the wise-guy, says, “Maybe we should go really earthy. Like ‘Country barnyard smells.’ The scent of fresh horse manure, perhaps?”
Andrea groans, but Mark jerks to attention. “Wait a minute! My wheels are turning here…” Everyone looks at him expectantly.
Shawn jabs his arm. “I was only kidding.”
“I know, but… How about adding PMU?
Dylan gasps. “Are you crazy?”
“Seriously. We could advertise that ‘Used every day, this shampoo is an effective method of birth control.’ It could be a bestseller in no time.”
“But what about when all that hormone rinses off into the water supply?” Andrea asks. “You’ll have a whole nation of women on birth control.”
“I don’t want to morph into a pregnant mare,” Shawn throws in.
“That would be an upgrade in your equestrian status,” Marissa comments. Shawn scowls at her.
Todd offers his suggestion. “Maybe we’ll need to make a shampoo with added testosterone for the men, just to balance things out?”
Marissa winks at him. “Then we ladies can grow beards.”
Dylan raps the table, bringing the group to order. “Don’t be so negative, people!” We can probably add a sticky coating to the hormones so they stay in the hair of the user. I think Mark’s idea is worth pursuing.”
He grabs the phone, his special hotline. “Hello, Research? We have an idea for you to look at…”
Love this! You took an everyday product and got crazy (in the good way) creative with it. Great job!
Thanks. It is pretty crazy.
This group could have gotten into a longer and funnier ‘discussion’ about the effects of hormones in the water supply, too. Thankfully my time ran out.
Love this Christine! There are literally stories all around us!
“Think back to a moment in your life. It doesn’t have to be a pivotal
moment, but something you can remember clearly. Try and build it out
into an idea, even if you have to elaborate on some parts.”
I love this idea! On the few occasions I’ve turned to my own life for story or scene ideas, I’ve always focused on the exciting stuff (a pretty paltry selection, as it turns out). So the idea of just looking at something I remember clearly–no matter what it was–is great!
Thanks!
So true Carrie! We tend to focus on the biggest moments of our lives as inspiration for stories, but even the most mundane (to us, anyway!) things can make for a great story.
People watching is one of my favorite things to do – especially when I’m at a coffeehouse doing some writing. The following is something I came up with earlier this week doing just that. I started playing a little guessing game about a nice looking man who walked in the coffeehouse.
I picture this as a start to a story where these two get to know each other. Was she right about him? Or is he completely different than she perceived him to be?
Something about him immediately caught my attention. Let me be clear here. He wasn’t the type I usually go for. He was clean cut, probably holds some sort of advanced degree, and is a little on the short side for a guy. But still.
I watched as he ordered his coffee and took a table in the corner. He unfolded his newspaper and started reading. If I had to guess, I’d say the financial section. I didn’t even know people still read newspapers. It didn’t surprise me that a newspaper was his choice of reading material. He looks like a proper sort of man.
He is elegantly dressed and well-coifed. He’s the type of man who keeps the interior of his luxury car immaculate. No food or drinks allowed in there. And I bet he most certainly washes that car every weekend.
My mystery man probably has a classic name too, like Charles or Thomas. He looks as if he comes from money. And I mean old family money. He is definitely the product of good breeding. He probably grew up in a huge house with a housekeeper and a butler.
I’m completely wrapped up in my little game of “who is he?” when he put his coffee on the table and started to roll up his sleeves. My jaw dropped. There was a tattoo on his wonderfully muscular left forearm. I couldn’t tell what it was, and it didn’t matter. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a hot guy with tattoos.
So, maybe I’m wrong about my mystery man. Perhaps I should stop playing this guessing game and go find out for myself? Yeah, that’s the better plan…
Good scene so far!
Tattoo? Now you have us curious! Something tells me you’ll have to be
pretty clever to get beyond ‘Hello’ with Mr Suave. 🙂
A few editing suggestions:
You could eliminate “Let me be clear here.” Try, “he…caught my attention, though he’s not the type…” You could also drop “for a guy.” A non-essential phrase.
And “But still” what? But he could still grow?
Could you edit out one of the “newspapers” in the second paragraph. Seems to me using it three times is too many. “He opened the morning paper,” instead, or something like that.
Do men “coif”? Maybe “well groomed”?
This is definitely interesting I’d like to read the rest of the story. I’d say continue writing and see where it goes.
My dad was very instrumental in helping me develop my imagination, he encouraged me to never lose it. Always told me as long as i was going to dream to dream first class. I take parts of my life i remember clearly and embellish them or find was to fit the story into what i am writing about.
“You need to go see your dad. just go’
“Okay i will i promise”
the next day i drive the 121/2 hours to see my dad. He is having lung surgery.
the Dr. said everything went wonderful and he will be in icu for a few days.
I tell mom i will take the night shift.
As dad comes awake from the meds he cant talk and signs for paper. His writing is so shaky i can’t read it, but we manage to get figured out what he needs. reminded me of when i was younger and dad would say; “Net come here i need a thingamabob for the hicky jig to do the whatchamacallit. go to the story and get me one. He would just point. off i’d go and somehow i’d get home with what he needed.
I love to people watch and wonder who they are and why they drive the cars the drive, wear the clothes they wear, and why they go where they are going when I am watching. Creating back stories for these people, is fun and interesting. I have also caught snippets of conversations that I have incorporated in story lines. Its so much fun to do between stories/ projects. Keeps the brain fresh and working with ideas.
Same here, Debra! I love doing this when I’m out and about!
How could a 50 year old granpa possibly tell a cute six year old little girl no?
It’s really a very simple reason. He is a referee at a sanctioned United States Swimming swim meet. He’s been working swim meets for at least two years and has taken the classes and tests required to be recognized as a licensed US Swimming referee. He has walked the deck working with experienced referees telling those referees what he saw and if he would call a disqualification or not. He knows what a touch looks like, he knows what the butterfly kick looks like, he knows what a breast stroke kick looks like. He is now certified and working that meet with that six year old little girl, and he saw her ankles cross during her heat when she was swimming the breast stroke.
His hand went up, indicating the lane. The head referee asks him what he saw and he says, “I saw lane sixes ankles cross.” The disqualification at that point is recorded, but the referee’s task is not done. He must now explain to the swimmer what he saw and why he called a disqualification.
The swimmer, has most likely already been pictured. Cute, wearing a full length swim suit, swimming goggles which are now propped up on her swim cap and forehead. Cute. Six year old cute. “Who me?” cute. The referee is five feet nine inches tall with a wast band almost a round as he is tall. Salt and pepper dishwater blonde hair with a totally grey mustache. His wire rimmed glasses with transition lenses are totally dark in the Palm Springs sunlight. He’s wearing white walking shoes, white shorts, white shirt, white cap, and looks like a live Pillsbury Dough boy. She stands, leaning against her starting block, ankles crossed, water dripping, free hand on hip looking at this grandfather-of-some-other-kid standing in front of her.
“I had to disqualify your race. Your ankles crossed when you kicked. Do you know how Jar Jar Binks kicked?”
“Uh huh.”
“That’s how you need to kick. Toes pointed out and your legs not crossing. Understand that?”
“Uh huh.”
“Can you tell your coach what I said?”
“Uh huh.”
“Ok, thank you.”
As the referee walks away he hears the six year old talking to her coach, “He says I have to kick like Jar Jar Binks!”
Damn, I enjoyed working those swim meets.
I do “People Listening.” That’s how I get my ideas for my novel.
Of course, I also do a lot of eavesdropping as well. And all the other things mentioned here.
Thanks for a great post.
My debut novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is a/b an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
My husband made a video for my novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc