Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Today I’m doing a guest spot at Alternative-Read.com and talking about where I received the inspiration for Soldier of Fortune. I’m doing a giveaway, so do drop by to see me and say hello. 
Archive for 'ideas'
Monday, March 2nd, 2009
One of the most common questions I get asked as a writer is: where do I get my story ideas?
Ideas are one item that are never in short supply for me. I find them everywhere. I clip newspaper and magazine articles that pique my interest. My local newspaper is a source of wonderfully quirky stories. I’m still trying to make use of the story about the lady who had her false teeth stolen but only the top set. The photo accompanying the newspaper article showed the theft victim with the bottom set of her teeth in a glass. Unsurprisingly, she had a real frown on her face in the photo!
I watch movies, and I love watching documentaries on television. The subject matter ranges from crime to obsessive love and everything in between. I’m a huge fan of travel and animal documentaries. I like magazines on all sorts of subjects from women’s magazines to ones about cars and men’s health.
When I visit a book store I’ll often check out the new arrivals on the non-fiction shelves. No topic is safe from my roving eyes. It’s the same at the library. I reserve my books online and my intrepid husband goes to pick them up. The libararians must really wonder about our sex life. That’s all I’m saying…
Like most writers, I’m a people watcher. When I go to the mall or shopping or even for a walk, I watch people. I listen to their conversations. Yep, that’s me with the flapping ears, but it’s a great way to find character quirks!
Recently some song lyrics spiked a brainwave and subsequently, a story. I have so many ideas I have an ideas file on my computer. I’m writing one story and another is waiting in the wings ready to spring onto the page of my laptop. Well, not quite, but you get the idea.
In contrast, one of my writing friends has real problems with story ideas. They only come one at a time. I think that would really worry me, but she seems to cope.
Where do you get your best story ideas?
Congratulations! The winner of my blog participation prize this month is Fedora who wins a book prize – a bit of a mystery one since I haven’t decided what it will be yet. 
Fedora – I’ve emailed you for address details etc.
Don’t forget – all you need to do to enter the March contest is comment on one or more blog posts. Chat with me. I hate feeling alone. I think I’ll give away downloads for March, and I’m feeling generous. I’ll pick two winners to each win one download of their choice from my Ellora’s Cave or Cerridwen Press backlists.
