Copycat?

[littleFrog]

Where do you get your story ideas? Do they just spring into your head, or are they inspired by something you've read or watched?( i.e. comics, myths, novels, movies, ect. )

 

[edwardnortonfan]

My ideas come from all those sources. And dreams, there have been times I've dreamed entire stories.

 

[jennidawn]

My ideas usually come from life. Life with a twist sometimes, but life. I write what I know. I often find it to be the most authentic. For instance there is one author I read that is facinated with the UK and the culture and people of the UK. I think she has one of the most authentic voices because she writes as an American who is fascinated with the UK not as if she is from the UK. Conversely, I read another author, who gives north Louisiana characters south Louisiana names, clearly missing that most North Louisiana power players do not have cajun names and it sounds to me a little less authentic even though I still like her stuff. By the way so that you don't think I'm saying that all I do is reality these are both fanasy fiction writers.

So I guess what I'm saying is my best ideas begin with something real and go from there.

 

[Jeff91199]

Depends. I get many of my ideas from real-life situations, and occasionally from things that I've read or watched. F'rinstance, I had a horrible temp assignment at a high school this week, and got the idea for a story, similar to The Breakfast Club, but with temporary clerical workers instead of high school students in detention.

 

[violetpen]

My influences are everywhere. I've read so many books, watched hundreds of movies, gone to different churches, and lived with eight siblings. It's hard to tell WHERE I get my ideas! A lot of the beginning story situations are draw from my own experience and magnified several times (for instance, feeling trapped by circumstances can translate into someone held in a situation against his will). That helps me be able to relate emotionally to my characters.

 

[firzenr]

Anywhere. Just from my brain, from a movie, from a dream, from anything.

 

[avatarblade2000]

Most of mine are dream-based; most others that I write are just started on issues or themes that I feel strongly about.

There is also the rare occasion I tell people to force me to write something so I don't fall into a funk. I hate writer's block. HATE it.

 

[Cordelia]

Ideas come from everywhere

 

[Doubtless]

...and lived with eight siblings.

Sweet! Me too! Well, seven actually, I was one of eight.

Back on topic, though, somebody famous, or maybe a writing book or something, said that what you write is a compilation of everything you've ever read, watched, seen, and done. Nobody just makes something up off the top of their head; it all comes from somewhere. Every story you read will influence you either in a positive or negative way, and a small part of that author's style, or a style in spite of that author's style, will always creep into your works.

Believing that, it's good to read the Bible. hehe.

~Doubtless

 

[NavyGuy7]

You may not realize, but just about everything you do is influenced by your surroundings. It's what you can pick and choose out of the chaos of life that has the possiblity of becoming a story.

Just think of the world (any external influences) and your own ideas as "raw material".

 

[sunstruckdream]

my ideas usually spring into my head from a random source, like a character name i like or a myth or historical topic that i'm currently fascinated with. the ideas start rough and small, though, and they tend to grow through my daydreams and writing sessions.