Story Ideas

An Idea-Breeding Article

In today’s Journal * An Idea-Breeding Article * By the Way (the novel) * There’s a post * Of Interest An Idea-Breeding Article Note: I will share several ideas for a story based on the post I mention below. Please share your ideas in the comments too. You can’t copyright an idea anyway, right? Might as well share it and let everyone get some practice. (grin) This is not, as you might expect, especially for science fiction writers. This event and its fallout could be included in mystery, thriller, crime and other genres as well. Even romance, I suppose. I … Read more

OMG: K.M. Robinson

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * K.M. Robinson * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “[W]riting … is the smallest part of being successful in this industry, whether you’re traditional or indie published. The vast majority of it is marketing, engaging on social media, handling edits, reading contracts, communicating with design professionals, and interacting with fans.” K.M. Robinson “I’ve been both traditionally and indie published, but my career and financial security in this industry is heavily due to my indie work.” K.M. Robinson “If reviewers do it accurately, the post will only help other readers decide yes … Read more

Recommendations for Study, and the Novel

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Recommendations for Study * The Novel * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” Orson Welles “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Jack London “A rut is a grave with the ends knocked out.” Dr. Laurence J. Peter (Thanks to Dan Baldwin) Topic: Recommendations for Study In his post today, Dean Wesley Smith talks about “advanced classes” on which he and Kris received input and which they … Read more

The Journal: Story Ideas

In today’s Journal * Topic: Story Ideas * Of Interest Topic: Story Ideas As I was telling a friend recently, story ideas can come from anywhere. Most often they come to me as a character or two popping into my head, usually with a line of dialogue that frames the genre and the story voice. Less often, something I see physically or overhear or read will spark a story idea. Regardless of the mode of their arrival, my stories are seldom born of whole cloth. A story idea is only a lever to get you to the keyboard. While I … Read more

The Journal: More on Ideas, and Introducing Tidbits

In today’s Journal * More on Ideas * Topic: Introducing Tidbits * Of Interest * The Numbers ​​​More on Ideas Excerpted from an email to a potential new mentoring student. In his email he told me he was deluged with story ideas: I’m glad you’re deluged with ideas. I get so tired of would-be writers asking “Where do you get ideas?” My typical response is “Where do you NOT get ideas?” Just this morning during my walk, I passed through several swarms of flying ants. My imagination immediately went to an alien invasion. A little later, as I was eating … Read more

The Journal: Another Brief Note on Focusing Down

In today’s Journal * Another Brief Note on Focusing Down * The Novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Another Brief Note on Focusing Down Okay, and some story ideas, and a bit on dialogue. Focusing down means making readers lean into the story, or lean into it more closely. It means focusing their attention “down” or more tightly on a detail. You can’t do that with a chase scene. But you can do that with the tires squealing and a wheel cover spinning off and clanging down the side of the road. If it sends people scattering when … Read more