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This month's optional question is: 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
I'd say my ideas come from all over the place. I've gotten a couple ideas from dreams, most notably the novel I still refer to as Shiny New Story, although it is no longer shiny or new, just titleless. I had a dream about two characters who were in a particular relationship/situation (I can't tell you what--it's a spoiler!) and I thought that would be really interesting to write about.
Uneven Lines came to me after watching this trashy exposé on student-teacher relationships on TV. For reasons I can no longer fathom, I wanted to write about a taboo relationship between a student and a teacher (AKA the dumbest idea I ever had, yet here we are). A few hours later, while I was sitting in a writing class minding my own business, Jordan birthed himself from my brain and threw his entire story at me. And the rest was history.
Honestly, the fact that the story centers around a controversial relationship has been the hardest part (that and dragging subplots...). I want to make sure I get the story right or no one is going to be interested in reading it. Of course, I've talked about my creative slump more times than I can count here, which is probably the biggest factor in me not finishing the book. But I have to make sure I tell the story right, and I just haven't had the brain power to get there.
Other ideas have just kinda popped out of thin air. I started writing Sexy Fluff #1 because I was just doing a writing exercise with some characters from an Uneven Lines sequel, and realized that I could write happy, sexy romance scenes much more easily than my usual complicated storylines. I had a random thought that I could probably finish books faster and possibly even get them published and make money doing so. But I couldn't actually think of a plot, right?
Well...I came up with a plot by the next morning. And I decided to start writing it for NaNoWriMo (which was literally right around the corner). I still haven't finished it, due to aforementioned creative slump, but working on it was a nice break from my usual heavy story ideas. I also have an idea to create a whole series of Sexy Fluffs with a different romance trope for each book (#1 has a rivals to lovers plot). I think it could be fun.
Overall, though, I feel like I actually have a hard time coming up with new ideas. Maybe it's because I already have enough unfinished ideas taking up space in my brain. Perhaps once I actually finish them, more ideas will follow.
I don't have the personality to handle taboo subjects - it weighs me down and causes me way too much stress. I'm excited you came up with a plot for the story and hope that pulls your creativity back out to play on a regular basis!
ReplyDeleteI don't have tons of ideas either. Good thing I'm a slow writer. I have enough to work on without new ideas.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your ability to plot. I tend to ramble with event after event, without ever achieving a cohesive plot. But, like you, the writing exercises have triggered a story or two.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've ever had a story idea come out of a dream. I know a lot of writers who have, but I don't think I've ever gotten more than maybe a scene from a novel out of them.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I am very much looking forward to the day when I get to read either/or/select all Uneven Lines & Sexy Fluff & Shiny New Story. (Also, I always love your working titles, by the way. They're so much fun!)
If the sexy fluffs are working, keep at it.
ReplyDeleteI have ideas come and go, and I can't tell you how many story ideas I've forgotten because I wasn't able to write them down or thought I'd remember them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your characters like to ambush you from everywhere including your dreams.
ReplyDeleteBut you do come up with those ideas, and in the end, that's all that matters! Keep it up.
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