Ideas from Everywhere (and Nowhere)!

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

This month I'm a co-host! The other fabulous co-hosts are: Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie! Be sure to give them a visit! 

This month's optional question is: Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My ideas come from everywhere! Or in the case of the last few years, nowhere! But more on that later...

Since all of my ideas are old, you've probably heard all this before. But maybe you're new here, or if not, I can tell you again! 

Uneven Lines, my main WIP that I've been working on for FIFTEEN YEARS *ahem* came to me in the span of an evening after watching some trashy exposé on student-teacher relationships on the E! channel. For some stupid reason, I decided I wanted to write about an age gap relationship (I don't recommend it), and went off to my college writing class with no concrete details in mind. While sitting in class, Jordan (the main character of UL) birthed himself from my brain and threw his plot at my head like a brick. And the rest is a long, painful (but occasionally enjoyable) history.

I've gotten at least one idea from a dream. The story I still call Shiny New Story, although it is no longer shiny or new, is one. I dreamt about two characters meeting up in a barn, and for some reason I knew the entire scope of their relationship in that scene, and I found that super interesting. I can't tell you what it is--spoilers!--but I have written a bit of this story and would love to finish it someday. 

I've gotten story ideas against my will, like with Sexy Fluff #1 (there will be others...). I was just minding my own business writing a pointless scene that takes place before Book 3 in Jordan's maybe someday trilogy, just for funsies. I realized how easily I was writing this scene, one that was leaning more towards romance than the super complicated stuff I usually write. Then I thought, huh, maybe if I tried writing more typical romance I could actually bust out books faster and maybe actually get something published. But that's silly because I don't have a plot idea, right? Ha, WRONG. The next morning I woke up with a rivals-to-lovers story idea and wrote over 50k words of it for NaNoWriMo. And, you guessed it, I haven't finished it! There's a recurring theme here, isn't there?

I can get ideas from music. There are a few songs on Taylor Swift's album 1989 that remind me of my first relationship in high school, and since there is also a song called "Wonderland" on that album, I thought I'd just tie all my ideas about this together and write a fictionalized version of that relationship that is also a play on Alice in Wonderland. There's a line in the song "Out of the Woods" that I love: "the monsters turned out to be just trees," which has made me think of my mindset back then about my own mental health. Basically the overarching idea would be that even if you think it will, a relationship will not fix all of your problems. And the fact that this boyfriend was from the same friend group made it feel like a spectacle at times, makes me resonate with the song "I Know Places." How does Alice in Wonderland tie in? I'm not sure yet, except...we're all mad here! 

I've never actually written out that idea before so let me know if it sounds interesting or crazy! Oh, and I came up with the whole thing on the treadmill.

Lately, though, the ideas have been sparse. I honestly can't remember the last time that I came up with a new idea. On some level, I guess that's a good thing, since I have so many unfinished ideas to work with. But it can also be frustrating since I've been struggling to write anything for a few years. Recently, I actually started to think about a new idea that was based on my current situation. There's a main character who is a writer or maybe another type of artist that is creatively frustrated, maybe struggling and feeling blocked in other portions of her life as well.

I thought maybe it could turn into a horror/thriller. Maybe the protagonist comes across something that could help her but isn't all it seems to be, kind of like the movie The Substance. But it also reminded me of a season of American Horror Story, and I got stuck thinking of where to go with this story to make it original and interesting. All the ideas seemed to have been done before. And like with this protagonist, I've hit the wall with my creative ideas. Again. But hey, it was just a whisper of an idea. Maybe the next step will come to me soon. 

Well, I've certainly rambled enough!!!!! Basically, my ideas can come from anywhere. Thanks for stopping by! 

Where do you get your story ideas? 

Inspiring Feedback

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

This month's optional question is: What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

That's a hard question to answer because it's been so long since I've actually gotten any feedback on my writing. And like many of you insecure writers, I'm sure, what I tend to remember the most is the bad feedback. That's definitely happened more than once and has thrown me off my game, making me question whether I should be writing what I'm writing in the first place. 

But inspiring feedback? I'll have to go into the archives...

Ok, so I literally had to go into the archives because I could not think of a single piece of feedback that I found *inspiring*. The truth is, I haven't had enough pieces of writing that people have actually read to even get feedback, good or bad. I had writing classes in college where we did give feedback for others' works, but none of what I wrote was all that memorable. There's also a few snippets in the reviews for the Hero Lost anthology that mention my story "The Last Dragon," but that's about it. 

There's also that really stupid thing I did where I sent the second draft of Uneven Lines to some friends and coworkers as I rewrote/edited it. Only ONE PERSON even acknowledged that they finished it. That was about it. Now that I'm thinking of it, actually, I did get a fun in-person response when I sent out a particular chapter that ended a bit dramatically. When I next saw one of my coworkers she screamed at me "WHAT DID YOU DO?????" Now that's the kind of response I could live for...

But I've only had one actual beta reader who is actually a writer, and read the whole thing, and gave all sorts of feedback, good and constructive. I saved all of her emails with the feedback and as I was reading it over to write this post, I came across my favorite part, and what I think finally answers the question:

"What can I say about voice, Sarah? Sometimes writers just get things right and there’s nothing a beta reader can do but read. Jordan’s voice is just that. It's almost diary like, but not always progressive. Things don’t always happen to move the story along in the typical sense but his voice sure as hell has momentum. He’s a very witty guy and it’s fun to be inside his head. Voice is not easy and I hope that when you write your next story Jordan isn’t too hard to shake off. When you have someone down to a T, they are not easy to get rid of, sometimes their voice stays with you forever… "

I love this feedback and I'm glad I found it again. Jordan's voice was really one of the few things that I felt I got right in this book and that I was proud of myself for. It's something I think I can do well when I put my mind to it. And that last part really hits me right now because I feel like I have lost that voice. 

Maybe I should print this quote out and frame it. Maybe if I look at it every day, I could get that voice to return. 

The Ultimate Playlist

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

You guys won't believe it! I really buckled down over the past month and after years of burnout, I finally finished my third draft of Uneven Lines! And I really think it's ready to be published!!

You didn't really fall for that one, did you? 

Anyhoo, this month's optional question is: If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

BOY DO I!!!!

I love putting together playlists for my stories. I've been doing it since I was a teenager. I've always found that listening to a playlist before sitting down to write usually gets the creative juices flowing. 

For Uneven Lines in particular, music has been an important part of the process. Jordan's love of music is evident in the book and he actually becomes a musician as his series progresses. So with him as a muse, I've found throwing as much music at him as I can is my best bet to get some writing done (or at least it used to be...). 

I have a straightforward 11 song playlist that goes through the main plot points of the book, but a few years ago, I decided that wasn't good enough. I wanted to find a song that fit as many scenes as possible, and called it the "Ultimate Playlist." I consider it something that may never be finished. There are always new songs to discover, after all. And hopefully new scenes to write...

So far the playlist is clocking in at 62 songs and 4 hours and 15 minutes. I should force myself to write for that amount of time after listening to it. And if you're curious about the songs on the playlist, you can take a look: 

It's not completely chronological because some of the songs I haven't found a specific scene for. It starts in order up until "Handcuffs" by Brand New (which would be for the very end of the book). The rest of the playlist is strictly VIBES. "The No Seatbelt Song" by Brand New has always been my #1 vibe song for this book. Basically there's a lot of angst on this playlist. 

What kind of songs would be on your book playlist? Do you like angsty songs?

How Do You Launch a Book?

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

This month's optional question is: What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

I've never published my own book, but I was one of the authors in the IWSG anthology book Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life. When the book was released we were hosted on a lot of blogs where we could answer questions and talk about our stories. 

I feel like blogging doesn't have the same impact as it used to. Do people still do blog tours for a book launch? I'm sure that would be easy enough to set up if you have enough connections. Other than that, I would be completely clueless! 

I've always had this fantasy that if I were to have an in person event for Uneven Lines, I would bring cupcakes and other treats that are featured in the book, since food plays such a big role in it. I've always thought that would be a fun addition to a book signing or reading. 

I suppose I would try to use social media to promote the book as well, especially with Instagram and TikTok. I'm actually challenging myself this month to post one TikTok every day (although it can be about whatever I want, not just writing), just to have something as a creative outlet since I haven't been writing for so long. Maybe if I start talking about writing, it'll make me actually want to write. (I'm @sarahannefoster if you're on there and want to be friends!)

SPEAKING OF VIDEOS (nice segue there...) I have to share something that happened to me! It has nothing to do with writing but I have to tell everyone I know!!! 

I mentioned last month that hubby and I were going to New York City over Valentine's Day weekend and I had the best time! We went to see the musical Just in Time (for the second time) because I adore Jonathan Groff, and during the curtain call performance I got to dance with him! And I sang! In front of a whole Broadway theater! I can't believe I did that! And he gave me a rose for Valentine's Day! Yes I still have it!

I can't for the life of me figure out how to upload a good quality video into the post so if you'd like to watch it, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUxBQZtDAyP/ 

How's everyone else doing? Have you ever done a book launch? Or danced with your favorite celebrity? 

Diving Back In (Soon...)

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

This month's optional question is: Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

I suppose that depends on whether I think the work has the potential to be good or not. If I think I can't salvage something, I tend to avoid it. I don't delete it, of course, because who knows? I can always revisit it someday. 

One instance I can think of is when I was in college and needed a short story for a writing class, I used the first chapter of the book I started when I was fourteen. I wasn't sure if this story was abandoned for good, but I knew the way it was written wasn't going to work, so I wanted to give it a good send off by having people read it. I was really proud of the writing when I had first written it, but it was filled with such purple prose that I didn't think it would work for a whole novel. 

Rereading my work is actually going to come into play very soon. I wanted to be more ahead with my plan to get back into writing, however...I haven't really started yet. But that's ok! Right?

But if I want to get back into writing Uneven Lines, I think the first thing I need to do is to read what I have so far. Which is a lot, actually, since I only planned on writing one or two chapters on top of what I already have. Since I haven't worked on it in so long, I really need to familiarize myself with the story and the voice (which I do think will come back to me quickly once I get into it). 

I think this will be at times enjoyable, and at other times cringeworthy. I do think most of the book is really good and I wouldn't change all that much. I'll probably get sucked into it and fly through it. There are some parts though that I know need massive rewrites, particularly with one of the subplots. Part of why I've been avoiding the story for so long is that I haven't been able to figure out how to fix these parts that I know aren't working. But maybe since it's been so long that when I go back and reread it, the needed changes will be obvious. I can dream, right? 

I'm actually approaching the fifteen year anniversary of when I first started Uneven Lines on February 15. I do wish I had accomplished more in those fifteen years...maybe, I don't know, finishing the book and trying to get it published? Alas, that's not where I'm at and that's ok. I know if I had tried to force the book to be done all those years ago it wouldn't be the story that it needed to be. I did need a lot of time to develop the story from where it started. Fifteen years, though? Sheesh! 

I'm actually going to be in NYC on said anniversary, where the book takes place. What does this mean? I have no idea! Hubby and I are going out to dinner on Valentine's Day and then to a musical (it's not the same one I saw last time, I don't know why you would think that...). But I don't have any other plans set in stone so maybe I can go to some locations from the story or eat some food that's featured in it. Just anything to get the ideas going! 

Plans? What Plans?

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

This month's optional question is: Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

You say that like I tried to get any writing done in 2025...

Just like last year, I haven't actually set any concrete writing goals for 2026 yet. I've done so little writing in the past few years that writing literally ANYTHING would count as a success. 

But what exactly do I want to get done? 

I guess my main goal would be to get back on track towards actually finishing Uneven Lines. This is definitely a daunting task for many reasons, but even if I was just working on it a little bit every day, just one sentence written, or one brainstorming session. Literally anything, even if it's just for a few minutes. 

I'd also like to work on some other ideas that I haven't worked on in a while. There's a story I worked on for NaNoWriMo back in 2019 that I really think I could get back into. It'd be something that's a lot easier to write, just needs a little restructuring from what I've already written and of course, it needs to be finished. But I actually think I could get this book to a point where it would be good enough to try to publish. 

I'd love to come up with some new ideas as well, although that's never come very easily for me, especially since I've gotten in this writing slump. 

This might sound stupid, but I also want to chronicle my journey of trying to get back into writing with videos, whether that ends up being on YouTube or TikTok (or both!). I don't really know what I'm doing on that front (I do make TikToks but I think setting up a YouTube channel would probably require more work), but I figure I'll just take it one step at a time. I don't have any fancy equipment. I really just want it to be about the writing, and hey, if it ends up being successful then maybe I'll step up my game. 

But for now, I'm just taking everything one day at a time. I still have a lot of work to do in my planner for the year and writing goals down (not just for writing). So hopefully sometime soon I'll be trying to write again. 

Wrap it Up

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!

I don't know what happened last month but I completely forgot to post for IWSG! It was about halfway through the month when I realized that it had passed. But things happen, I suppose, and I am back for this month! 

Well, it's December so I'm definitely more focused on figuring out Christmas presents than trying to get back into writing (I take my gift basket game very seriously...). But I think I am looking forward to the start of the new year to try to get back into the swing of things. I do tend to get that surge of motivation when the new year starts, my only problem is sticking with it. Actually, that's my problem with most things I start...

But anyway! I really want to do more in the near future. I've already got a planner for next year and I'm convinced this will help me. I usually ask for the planner for Christmas, which only gives me a week to set it up before the new year begins. This time I have almost a whole month! I'm sure I'll procrastinate a bit but if I work on it a little bit every day I think it will help. This planner is super in depth with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals so I really want to make it work for me this time. 

I really need to get back into reading and writing, eating healthier and exercising, and all the other little ideas and goals that I've been putting off for no particular reason. I'd like to get more into social media, in particular making all the TikTok ideas I've accumulated for a while now, and maybe even starting a Youtube channel about my journey to get back into writing. I think I get excited about these sort of ideas but then get nervous about actually doing it, so it just kind of sits in the back of my mind. 

So I'm excited to wrap this year up and start the next one with some new motivation (that will hopefully stick around...)

What are your goals for the new year?