Comments on: Who Has the Best Writing Ideas? http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:02:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31375 Melissa Donovan Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:17:33 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31375 Thanks! It means a lot to me that you send your friends here. Ah, you are a fellow air sign, and we are communicators, prone to creativity, which is always in the air for us. At least, I think that's how it goes... Oddly enough, I can actually picture you improvising your story by acting out the characters, which is weird only because you and I have never met in person. My imagination is a good lil' worker bee ;) Thanks! It means a lot to me that you send your friends here. Ah, you are a fellow air sign, and we are communicators, prone to creativity, which is always in the air for us. At least, I think that’s how it goes… Oddly enough, I can actually picture you improvising your story by acting out the characters, which is weird only because you and I have never met in person. My imagination is a good lil’ worker bee ;)

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31374 Melissa Donovan Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:56:27 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31374 Yellow sticky pads are good for lots of things! I always keep them around my desk, but I hadn't thought of carrying them around with me. Great tip, J.D. Yellow sticky pads are good for lots of things! I always keep them around my desk, but I hadn’t thought of carrying them around with me. Great tip, J.D.

]]> By: t. sterling http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31363 t. sterling Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:43:42 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31363 I've referred a few of my friends to your blog for inspiration or even guidance when they are writing... whatever they are writing (one was working on a memoir, another a novel, and another a blog). I don't know if they ever made it or not but that's one more trusted resource they have that they didn't before. Meanwhile, for me, I guess astrology explains some of my creativity, due to me being an Aquarius. I actually have read that before somewhere though... But I've found interviews to be a great source for inspiration and ideas. There's a podcast for screenwriters I like to listen to on occasion. The only bad part about it is, the interview is in front of a live audience and takes place immediately after the screening of that screenwriter's movie. So if it's a movie I want to see and haven't yet, there are some major spoilers. But the questions are generally the same, one of which is asking how long does the writer write in a single day, or how is his process? And what do you do if you have writer's block. I like those answers because if anything, it reminds me that everyone gets stuck sometimes and there are different methods on how to get unstuck. Another way I get my ideas is just from conversation. Like today I came up with a novel idea that even if I said the title I'd give too much away. I don't know if I can make it a novel, maybe a novella? But it's a memoir of someone else's life. I went into improv mode speaking as the main character (I actually come up with characters and other story ideas through improv) and literally made up 3 separate chapters within 10 minutes. It was quite fun except I was riding with a friend (who was driving) and my story was making her laugh so much I had to stop or break character to tell her to pull over before we crash. These friends also act as my muses. .-= t. sterling´s last blog ..<a href="http://indoob.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/thats-not-lady-gaga-but-she-approves/" rel="nofollow">that’s not lady gaga! …but she approves</a> =-. I’ve referred a few of my friends to your blog for inspiration or even guidance when they are writing… whatever they are writing (one was working on a memoir, another a novel, and another a blog). I don’t know if they ever made it or not but that’s one more trusted resource they have that they didn’t before.

Meanwhile, for me, I guess astrology explains some of my creativity, due to me being an Aquarius. I actually have read that before somewhere though… But I’ve found interviews to be a great source for inspiration and ideas. There’s a podcast for screenwriters I like to listen to on occasion. The only bad part about it is, the interview is in front of a live audience and takes place immediately after the screening of that screenwriter’s movie. So if it’s a movie I want to see and haven’t yet, there are some major spoilers. But the questions are generally the same, one of which is asking how long does the writer write in a single day, or how is his process? And what do you do if you have writer’s block. I like those answers because if anything, it reminds me that everyone gets stuck sometimes and there are different methods on how to get unstuck.

Another way I get my ideas is just from conversation. Like today I came up with a novel idea that even if I said the title I’d give too much away. I don’t know if I can make it a novel, maybe a novella? But it’s a memoir of someone else’s life. I went into improv mode speaking as the main character (I actually come up with characters and other story ideas through improv) and literally made up 3 separate chapters within 10 minutes. It was quite fun except I was riding with a friend (who was driving) and my story was making her laugh so much I had to stop or break character to tell her to pull over before we crash. These friends also act as my muses.
.-= t. sterling´s last blog ..that’s not lady gaga! …but she approves =-.

]]> By: J.D. Meier http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31348 J.D. Meier Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:58:14 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31348 I find my ideas flow all the time if I'm in the right state of mind, so the key for me is having a simple way to capture them, and making time to act on them. Ever since I started carrying a yellow sticky pad around a few years back, it's really helped me flow more ideas. They no longer have to jumble around inside :) .-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SourcesOfInsight/~3/Z7I5FswpK5A/" rel="nofollow">Dancing in the Rain</a> =-. I find my ideas flow all the time if I’m in the right state of mind, so the key for me is having a simple way to capture them, and making time to act on them.

Ever since I started carrying a yellow sticky pad around a few years back, it’s really helped me flow more ideas. They no longer have to jumble around inside :)
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Dancing in the Rain =-.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31341 Melissa Donovan Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:22:24 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31341 I try to do this too, but it sure seems like I accumulate more ideas than I can pursue in a lifetime! I have entire notebooks filled with ideas, sketches, etc. I guess the trick is picking which ideas to carry out. I try to do this too, but it sure seems like I accumulate more ideas than I can pursue in a lifetime! I have entire notebooks filled with ideas, sketches, etc. I guess the trick is picking which ideas to carry out.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31340 Melissa Donovan Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:21:04 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31340 I've heard that a successful writer doesn't have to be talented or skilled as much as he or she needs to be productive. The idea behind this is that if you generate loads of writing, some of it is bound to be good (even if on accident). Interesting way of looking at it! On the other hand, if you have all the talent and skill in the world but don't produce much, it's difficult to succeed. It all boils down to output and making good decisions about what to put out into the world. I’ve heard that a successful writer doesn’t have to be talented or skilled as much as he or she needs to be productive. The idea behind this is that if you generate loads of writing, some of it is bound to be good (even if on accident). Interesting way of looking at it! On the other hand, if you have all the talent and skill in the world but don’t produce much, it’s difficult to succeed. It all boils down to output and making good decisions about what to put out into the world.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31339 Melissa Donovan Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:18:36 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31339 The trick is to remember it all through your sleep! I have had some pretty cool ideas while drifting off and then woke up the following morning knowing that I'd had them but completely forgetting what they were! That's where there's a little notebook and pen in my nightstand drawer ;) The trick is to remember it all through your sleep! I have had some pretty cool ideas while drifting off and then woke up the following morning knowing that I’d had them but completely forgetting what they were! That’s where there’s a little notebook and pen in my nightstand drawer ;)

]]> By: Deb http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31338 Deb Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:03:08 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31338 I can relate to Karen's comment. I often get "ah ha" moments when I can't use them so I collect them, as in write them down, because sooner of later them come in handy even if not in the same context in which they were discovered. I have found getting back to sketching a helpful idea and vision tool too. .-= Deb´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GsCottage/~3/WBEwwdytMhY/its-same-world-but-its-different.html" rel="nofollow">It’s the same world, but it’s different</a> =-. I can relate to Karen’s comment. I often get “ah ha” moments when I can’t use them so I collect them, as in write them down, because sooner of later them come in handy even if not in the same context in which they were discovered.

I have found getting back to sketching a helpful idea and vision tool too.
.-= Deb´s last blog ..It’s the same world, but it’s different =-.

]]> By: Karen Swim http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31334 Karen Swim Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:51:06 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31334 Recently, I read a post by Seth Godin that invoked an "aha" moment. He wrote of creative talents that have produced some of the greatest works of our time, yet we have only seen / read / heard a small fraction of what really was created. Great filmmakers may be creating a film a year but they do not all get made. Songwriters may write hundreds of songs but have less than one album a year produced. It opened me up to realize that allowing myself to fail often is what truly unlocks the muse. So often what has created the block for me personally is a focus on the end result. Allowing myself to just go with it even if that means writing about being stuck or firing off a string of seemingly disparate words...has allowed me to have more control over my muse. .-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WordsForHire/~3/g7_EOCSxiW0/" rel="nofollow">Why?</a> =-. Recently, I read a post by Seth Godin that invoked an “aha” moment. He wrote of creative talents that have produced some of the greatest works of our time, yet we have only seen / read / heard a small fraction of what really was created. Great filmmakers may be creating a film a year but they do not all get made. Songwriters may write hundreds of songs but have less than one album a year produced. It opened me up to realize that allowing myself to fail often is what truly unlocks the muse. So often what has created the block for me personally is a focus on the end result. Allowing myself to just go with it even if that means writing about being stuck or firing off a string of seemingly disparate words…has allowed me to have more control over my muse.
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Why? =-.

]]> By: Kelvin Kao http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31333 Kelvin Kao Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:32:57 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31333 You know, many a times what happened was I had a deadline for something. I would stay up trying to think of ideas, but I couldn't think of anything. And just when I was half asleep, an idea would hit me. I would think about it and it would seem like a great story, but I would be too tired to write it. And then I would go sleep and wake up early the next day to write it. That worked well for me quite a few times. .-= Kelvin Kao´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.puppetkaos.com/2010/01/twitter/" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> =-. You know, many a times what happened was I had a deadline for something. I would stay up trying to think of ideas, but I couldn’t think of anything. And just when I was half asleep, an idea would hit me. I would think about it and it would seem like a great story, but I would be too tired to write it. And then I would go sleep and wake up early the next day to write it. That worked well for me quite a few times.
.-= Kelvin Kao´s last blog ..Twitter =-.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31327 Melissa Donovan Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:48:01 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31327 I cannot even tell you how inspired I am by music. I'm a serious music lover and hardcore fan of my favorite artists. In fact, much of my inspiration comes not from the music itself, but from the musicians and performers (I watch a lot of interviews). I cannot even tell you how inspired I am by music. I’m a serious music lover and hardcore fan of my favorite artists. In fact, much of my inspiration comes not from the music itself, but from the musicians and performers (I watch a lot of interviews).

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips-and-tools/writing-ideas/who-has-the-best-writing-ideas/comment-page-1#comment-31326 Melissa Donovan Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:46:58 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=4546#comment-31326 Archan, Your words mean so much. Thank you! You've included a lot of great tips in your comment. I use many of those strategies (I always keep a small notepad nearby!), and writer's block is almost always cured with a simple change of environment. And I'm always looking for ways to outsmart the muse! Archan, Your words mean so much. Thank you! You’ve included a lot of great tips in your comment. I use many of those strategies (I always keep a small notepad nearby!), and writer’s block is almost always cured with a simple change of environment. And I’m always looking for ways to outsmart the muse!

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