Recently a reader named Joanna left this comment on one of the posts here:
"...I would love to get a novel going, but the idea I do have isn't STICKING with me. How do you find inspiration for stories, or does IT find you?"
There are any number of starting points--a character, a situation, a headline, a memory. Seldom, however, do any of these instantly turn into a complete story. They're just starting points. Then you can begin to play with them by asking "what if?"
For example,years ago I met an elderly man whose career had been acting, but always as a character actor and extra. Now he'd retired and he was wistful about never having had a starring role. Interesting man, but not yet a story. So let's try some "what if's"
* What if someone gave him the chance to "star" in a huge con trick that, if it worked, would mystify and amaze the nation--but if it failed would put him in jail?
* What if he dies, and how well he acts will determine whether he gets into heaven?
* What if his grandson is dying and his greatest acting challenge is to take the boy on an adventure without letting him find out his condition?
* What if he goes to a social club where a lot of retired actors only live in the past and he rouses them all to put on a new production which is hugely successful and finally gives him the role he's dreamed of?
These are not yet full stories either, of course, but they take it one step further--now we have a character and a situation or goal. Let's say I decide the last one is the one I want to develop further.
I'd start thinking about some of the obstacles he'd encounter. Would there be an old rival of his there, who would get jealous and try to sabotage the event? Would his doctor tell him the strain of undertaking such a project could kill him?
I'd also think about relationships. Would he fall in love with one of the women at the club?
Of course to answer these I have to spend more time thinking about who this man is, what his life has been about, what relationships he has had and has now, and so forth. I always like to start with that and let the story grow out of the character.
The key is to let your mind wander around the seed of your idea freely, brainstorming without judging, and not holding on to anything too tightly. For instance, I might like the "con trick" plot but decide it would more interesting if it's a young aspiring actor who has had only rejections and cooks up the con trick himself.
Sometimes at the end of a string of "what if" explorations you end up with a totally different character or story than you started with. That's fine, you're just playing around to explore and you keep going until you have a story you will enjoy writing and people will enjoy reading.
(There are lots of ideas and exercises for how to develop vivid characters and exciting plots in "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon or your other favorite online or offline bookseller.)
