Idea's

[Danny]

Hey all

I've just switched from writing non-fiction to trying my hand in fiction.

My question is, how do the ideas come to you when thinking up a book?

Danny

[Mercy]

They just pop out like toast in a toaster oven. =)

[Majyk]

Well... I'm not quite sure. The main idea for the novel I'm writing now was an idea I had when I was twelve, so I've no idea how my twelve-year-old self thought that one up :p. The rest of the stuff in it just sort of happened. So, yeah. Mercy pretty much said it for me.
I'll be starting a new one soon, though, so I'll have to think how to do that. After I finish editing, though, which... might not be any time soon xD

[Starry]

If you're really blanking on any ideas, there are a lot of good prompts out there that can really inspire you. I had essentially given up on writing before I got dragged to my school's writing club, heard the prompt, and, 42,000 words later...

Actually, I'm stuck. But ignore that part. Except for the moral of the story, which is that outlining stories before starting is very important.

[Lykaios]

I get ideas all the time. I have a list of names and a summary of the plot so I don't forget and they all have a folder on my computer with some notes/maybe a first chapter, because I can't write quick enough.

Just look around and they come to you. I got an idea form looking at a piece of paper on the side of a curb.

[phobophile]

i write down every idea i have and explore it. if i like it after ive written about it for a little while, ill continue writing about it. just dont write anything crappy! ha

[Danny]

Cheers everyone:)

Thanks for all the tips. I will certainly start writing any ideas I get down.

Danny

[Neocutey24]

Watch a lot of TV. I hate to say it like that but after watching eight hours or so of a mix of Justice League Unlimited, House, CNN, etc, it becomes a creative mesh you might be able to mix up a little for your own story. DON'T plagarize. Using different names and such doesn't make the story yours.

[Shaun]

Randomly surfing the interwebs is sometimes useful. Go get StumbleUpon, put in your interests, and start stumbling. I've found a lot of interesting things that way and they've sparked new ideas.

[Jack]

For me. I get ideas from everything around me. Other stories as inspiration, Current affairs, Experiences and conversations. Some times they just pop into my head. When these are the cases i always make sure to make a note of the idea on paper in a notebook or on my laptop. I have stacks of notes that i keep just in case i will ever need them. Most of the time i get inspiration and ideas from other books, films, art, games etc.