| When you sit down to write, where do all the ideas | | | | they go there? Where is that truck going? What is it |
| go? Especially the ones you thought of only 15 minutes | | | | hauling? What is the name of that bridge? Why does it |
| before. They went to Idea Land! Sometimes they will | | | | carry that name? |
| return, and sometimes they won't, so let me help you | | | | Some of your best ideas will come from real life, but |
| drum up more ideas. | | | | don't make the mistake of copying private |
| One good way is to think of a dramatic scene. For | | | | circumstances into a story. That's a good way to get |
| example: | | | | sued. But you can take circumstances from three or |
| · Two kids are ice skating and one falls | | | | four people and mix them up into a new story. (And |
| through the ice and drowns. | | | | then you can be sued by three or four people! Nah. |
| · A child is kidnapped and the kidnappers left a | | | | Just kidding.) When you use circumstances in |
| clue - on purpose. | | | | someone's life, disguise them well and you should have |
| · The janitor at school wins a lottery ticket. | | | | no problems. |
| How does his life change? | | | | Another excellent method is to ask yourself, "What if?" |
| · Someone hacks into a computer and steals | | | | Example: You see a car round a corner quickly, and a |
| the owner's identity. What happens next? | | | | woman is standing on the corner. What if he hit her? |
| · A mother and child are separated in a | | | | What if her husband hunted the driver down and shot |
| shopping mall. What happens? | | | | him? What if the police had a mad car chase after the |
| · A teenager breaks into the same house for | | | | husband? What if... you get the idea. The "What if" |
| the third time - and the owner has rigged a shotgun. | | | | question will open hundreds of alleys for you. |
| Ideas are all around you in real life. Read the | | | | Go to bed early and lay there, thinking about a story. If |
| newspapers. Listen to the news. Search old | | | | you will do this nightly, the muse will hit you every night. |
| newspapers. Rename the people, and lift out some of | | | | Be sure to have a pen and paper by your bed! |
| the information to make your own story. | | | | And when you finally get the idea you want, run with it! |
| Another great way to get ideas is by eavesdropping. (I | | | | Sit down immediately and get it on paper. Don't take |
| know Mother said it isn't nice, but writers have special | | | | time to edit until your writing runs out. If you can't write |
| license.) | | | | when you get your brainstorm, take brief notes. And |
| Look at any object - a house, semi-truck, car, dog, child, | | | | always keep a pen and paper by your bed! |
| bridge, etc., and ask the six questions: Who? What? | | | | See my site (below) for more writing tips, and please |
| When? Where? Why? How? Example: Who is that | | | | vote on this article if you have the option. |
| person? When did they get to that place? Why did | | | | |