Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Ideas

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
I recently read a book from Mary Higgins Clark and really enjoyed it.  In her acknowledgments she said one of the questions she gets asked most frequently is "Where do you get your ideas?". She said that she reads articles in the newspaper or magazines and that for some reason they stick in her mind.  Then she starts thinking "suppose this" and "what if" that, and all the ideas come together and soon she has a novel in the making.  I thought that was a pretty interesting approach.

I've been working on something new for a short while now.  I just finished the first chapter two nights ago and I'm pretty pleased.  I have a long way to go, but I'm really excited about this book.  I have quite a lot of ideas for this book.  I just need to get plenty of sleep to finish it.

A lot of my ideas come to me in my dreams.  I have wild, crazy, vivid dreams most nights.  They really don't make sense in our "normal" world  but I've found a home for them in my WIP.  I can't wait to go to sleep every night and see what new idea will come my way.

My question to you today is where do you get your ideas?  Do they come to you out of nowhere or do you have a process for thinking things out?

SIS Bren

10 comments:

Tori Lennox said...

I used to get some fabulous ideas from my dreams. Since the health problems I don't much remember my dreams, anymore, though. :(

Alyson Reuben said...

Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries totally rock! I like her daughter's books, too. Carol Higgins Clark's books have a touch of humor in them. There's nothing even remotely racy in the stories, but even without the steam factor they contain a special element that keeps me captivated until the end.

As for my own stories, I find inspiration in the things I'm interested in (ex: history and fashion), and also the many different kinds of people around me.

SIS BJ said...

Hi Bren

I have strange dreams as well. I just might have to use some of them in my poetry. Pictures, other peoples conversations,nature and passages in books often give me inspiration.

May you get lots of sleep and many inspired words for you new WIP.

Beth Ciotta said...

I have extremely vivid dreams. Mostly always weird. I often think to myself (in my dream), I need to remember this and analyze when I wake. But I (mostly always) forget the content five seconds after waking.

My story ideas are usually inspired by real life experiences and observances as well as personal topics of interest.

Sleep well, dream big, and write like the wind!

SIS Beth

SIS Brandy said...

I wish I could just get some sort of creative ideas!! Somehow, I got the short end of the stick in that area. I think you older sisters took all of the creativity and left nothing for me. I was left with an analytical mind.

My dreams are pretty vivid but they are normally about the people in my life. I think we've talked about this before... the Twilight series came about because of a dream. So dream big Brenda! Who knows what your dreams could end up spawning!!!

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi Tori,

My husband seldom dreams, and when he does, he can't really remember them. Bums him out too :(
I hope you'll have great dreams tonight and remember them tomorrow!

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Alyson,

I can't wait to get another Higgins Clark book to read. I don't mind the lack of raciness. I love a good mystery!

Since my new WIP is set in a sort of make-believe world, I can make up my own History and fashion. I'm excited about the fashion part. The possibilities are endless.

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi B.J.,

Other people's conversations, huh? Are you eavesdropping on these people? Sounds like fun to me.

I love to sit and watch two people in a restaurant having a conversation, and try to imagine what they are talking about. I usually imagine it's some absurd conversation.

Sweet dreams!

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi Beth,

I'm really good at dreaming. If I wake up before my dream is finished, I can usually make myself fall back asleep and get back on track. I love dreaming, mostly. Sometimes they are not pleasant and I wake up in a panic, thinking they are real.

I also draw from real life experiences. I think that's what makes most stories interesting.

Thanks for the inspiring words!

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Brandy,

There are so many wonderful things about you, I don't even know where to start. So don't worry if the creativity doesn't come easy for you. You've got tons goin on!

I think I'll just go to sleep now and wake up when I've dreamt the whole book. That should make my writing go much easier!

I didn't know that about the Twilight books, or if I did know it I guess I forgot it. There's hope for me yet.

SIS Bren

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