You Are Immersed In Great Ideas

What if I were to tell you that you are totally surrounded, fully immersed, nearly drowning in good ideas for stories? You would probably not believe me, but that's okay--I can take it (sniff, sniff...whimper).

Literally every time we need an idea, it may already be right at our fingertips (because "at the tip of our brains" sounds so bizarre--besides, the fingers should be typing or penning anyway, right?). However....even writers get carried away with the worries of everyday life and get distracted from what they want and need to concentrate on. Perhaps it is the next plotline or the fleshing out of a character for their story. It is hard to think of that when you are driving kids to the doctor or shopping for tires or a myriad of other things that demand your attention and are yelling, "me first!" It is not, however, impossible. And, it may in fact be much easier than you think. I have the same shortsightedness quite often and find that the answer is usually close at hand. (It is making the time to actually do the writing that is the hard part.)

Often a story is more believable and interesting precisely because it is lifelike, so what you may need to do is include some things that are a lot like real life--maybe your life. Now, before you gag, just hear me out. The answer to what your characters lack in depth may be staring you right in the face. There are things you may hear of or run into everyday that could be your answer to a new plotline or a twist you need--maybe a whole new character to introduce. For example, I suddenly came up with a brainstorm recently that surprised me by the simplicity (then again, you may think it is just simple-minded). Who would think a story could be inspired by a single-term medical condition, but that is what motivated me. The term? Amnesia. Can you write a story around that concept? Sure. And I think it is a great title, too. I recall Robin Williams starring in a movie in which Robert DeNiro had a severe medical condition through much of the film. And Martin Short was in one where the girl had amnesia. (No, I am not just ripping off the idea. I just now recalled that and it was a comedy, while mine will be a thriller--cut me some slack, okay? Besides, I have about thirty more ideas for plots in mind).

The whole plot for a story could be determined by a disease (epidemic movies), by political conditions (All the Presidents' Men--the original one) or any of a number of things. I guess the whole point is that all we need do is look around us and see the "distractions" themselves as ideas that could have a story built around them. I also have an idea that I want to work on that will be focused around the 'Practical Joke' theme. I think a movie based on it would be a real hoot.

Practice the approach of taking a theme or singular idea and using it as a focal point to construct a short story around. Let's say for a moment that you were the one writing about Practical Joking--who in your story might be the most likely victim? The likely perpetrator? The enablers and the snitches? What would be an appropriate revenge? What lesson is to be learned in all of this silliness? For a change, mix up the usual expectations and stereotypical role assignments of the characters. Let the women be strong and the men cowards and fools. Let the children amaze the community with their wisdom. I recently saw the movie Taxi and listened to the director commentary about halfway through (I can see why he is the director and not the actor) and there was a lot of talk about the role assignment changes and twists to the usual expectations in films. This made it all the more interesting as a film. (Trivia Bit: Did you know that R2D2 and C3PO in the Star Wars films were patterned after Laurel and Hardy? A perfect example of the technique twisted to portray characters and make the inhuman more lifelike, Also, "R2D2" came from 'Reel 2, Dialogue 2' and it stuck).

What you want to do as a writer is to stand out from the crowd and the way you stand out is to be different, daring, bold and unique. Even your treatment of an old subject can be successful if it is fresh. I once heard someone remark that public speaking is "the same old hash--it just depends on the cook". I think the same goes with writing. After all, writing is just public speaking put into a from that lasts longer, is it not? And if you need some inspiration, go to the library and browse the index cards--you may be surprised to find yourself literally immersed in great ideas after all.