How do you get ideas?

[PuppyforChrist]

How do you get ideas and insperation for your writings?

For me, it used to be television would help inspire myself for stories and sometimes poetry, but now it seems to be mostly the internet, and things happening around me.

I also have, what you might call, a vivid imagination.

 

[oncewaslost]

usually what happens in my own life as well as my friends lives. sometimes the news or sometimes a stupid thought drifts into my head like.... oh... say, chasing squirrels. i've got a pretty vivid imagination as well.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

It depends. Sometimes I look at pictures in National Geographic or other magazines with interesting photos and I try to imagine what the person's life must be like. I look at the unusual clothing, or trade clothing, or interesting facial expressions. Country Time Lemonade used to have some interesting commercials that inspired me, just from the collage on the screen.

But usually the character comes from some important idea about life in general. And I put a face on it. Most of my characters are different manifestations of myself, or of the world.

People watching inspires things. But the affect is good for inspiring art. Expressing something-an idea. Makes it vivid. Engaging. Real.

 

[zay]

For me, sometimes it's imagination, other times I use life experiences. And then there are times when I just write with my feelings, and also I think there are many occasions where God gives me something. Many times it's one of those, or I get inspiration from someone else, most of the time it won't have anything to do with what I heard, saw, or received, but it helps stir something inside. And like oncewaslost said, family and friends as well, and random drifts.

 

[Kaonashi]

I mostly get my inspiration from books that I read and from roleplaying

 

[Blessed-one]

mainly from books, magazines, animes (bah..).

 

[QustantinahQuaker]

Books and the news.

 

[TigerLibby]

Imagination, life, experiences, hopes, dreams, wishes, ideas, thoughts, movies, tv, books, magazines.....yeah, basically I get my ideas from anything and everything! lol
God Bless
~Libby~

 

[morningstar2651]

Nature -- I go outside & write there. The farther from town the better.
I also recieve inspiration in my everyday life.

 

[Wolf_master125]

Books, anime, tv, video games, and dreams

 

[Mister Emu]

Ancient war history.

I love reading about wars and battles that happened long periods of time ago, I also love writing fiction and fantasy that have a large emphasis on war.

 

[GodFlute2]

I just wait till God says, "Do this," or "Someone needs to have this done. Why don't you do it?"

 

[teenash]

reading and studying things of literay merit always inspire me... not only to write but to do so brilliantly... haha, as I have yet to really do. But they make me-- unwilling to settle.... if you ever see anything published by me... then you can imagine that HOURS went into making sure it had true literary merit. I'm a particular fan of Salinger and Virginia Woolf at present.

Also, driving always seems to open up the floodgates on my inspiration.

Reading the Bible or historical or factual works also helps me with ideas.

 

[TheDandyMan]

I have a workshop of elves that churns out ideas for me.

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

from televisions, news paper, story book, comics, and the world around me

 

[antiarte]

I don't know. I guess mostly from experiences. I'm sure lots of people have gone through similar things as me. Being an immigrant, I identify a lot with stories about families struggling to adapt here, adpting to a new culture. Also another persons' situations and life. I've heard many stories from co-workers, many Cubans who came in tiny boats and homemade drafts, they've sorta inspired me too, not so much to write about them but to never give up. Dreams are inspiring sometimes. A tragedy. I try not get all ideas from films or TV, but sometimes I find some that are useful. Depression and loneliness is inspiring, too. Not a recommended source of inspiration, btw. Most of the best stuff I've written have been during times like this, and it wasn't necessarily as dark or lonely as I felt at the time.

 

[islandgrrl517]

Life situations... the pains and struggles. I think the best writings come out of painful events. For instance, I haven't written in a while, but last month my best friend was killed and I haven't written so much in my life... and of course, after break ups, the writing always flows.

 

[Storygirl394]

For me it's the world around me - if you go out anywhere (or hang out at home) you're bound to see an interesting character trait in someone around you, or come up with some crazy character, and weird things happen - everyday!

 

[jesusfreak10537]

I get my ideas from either practical experiences or actual ancient historical events. Also I pray a lot. I trust God to give me all my ideas, and He always has.

 

[r.a.d._chick]

I usually find inspiration when reading something else. From movies, books, etc. I also am very inspired by music and nature.