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During our annual twelve hour trek down
south for Christmas, my husband turned to his typical entertainment,
NPR (National Public Radio). I am NOT a talk radio fan. I absolutely am not. I'd much rather
engage in conversation with good music in the background. But it was
early and I was tired, and I did not protest his choice.
As we ventured into the plains of Kansas and Oklahoma, and watched the temps climb higher and higher, the radio took us to new places altogether. We stepped into the worlds of
Northeastern fishermen, Mexican Corn farmers, British actresses,
Christian musicians, and Oklahoma tornado victims.
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Opinions.
Conflict.
Personalities.
And....
Settings only developed in my mind's
eye.
Just like a book. Just like a newborn idea for a story.
As I sat and listened to the the stories, strained my ear to hear the background noise on location, I realized I wasn't just hearing a good story, but I was experiencing new characters--trains of thought I might've never considered, scenarios that presented outpours of emotions in new ways-- AND, an opportunity to imagine God's hand in each situation.
What happens when a writer is exposed to a new perspective, a new setting, new conflict?
Perhaps, just perhaps, a wild rush of God-inspired breath stirs up our creative ocean and causes a storm of new ideas and untraveled waters for our characters to explore...or unique, fresh characters welcomed to our story world.
on freedigitalphotos.net by David Castillo Dominici |
If you ever feel like your creative juices have dried up, and you are just writing the "same ol' same ol'", perhaps you aren't utilizing all the wonderful tools at your finger tips?
The mere turn of the dial on the car radio brought color and potential to my mind's eye, proving that I've hardly begun to fill my creative bank with ideas and study cases for new stories.
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Exercise your mind's eye. Awaken your
writer's heart to new passion that might drive you to your next brilliant story idea!
Any good ideas lately? Any places or people you'd like to write a story about and experience life in their mind's eye?
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
I haven't been one to listen to books on tape or listen to the radio much. I get distracted by things and end of missing critical parts of the story. But I like the idea of paying attention and letting our imaginations take flight over something we see or hear. One of my story ideas came from watching a commercial on TV. You never know where your ideas might come from.
ReplyDeleteSherrinda,
ReplyDeleteWatching a commercial?!? What a cool idea!!! HA!
I LOVE brainstorming. Oh so much fun. Especially about other people's stories.
And yes, ideas come from EVERYWHERE. Movie trailers, radio, songs (especially songs for me), overhearing conversations...family history!!!
Love it!
Oooo, Pepper, I forgot about songs! Yes, I have a story idea that sprung from a song too! I totally forgot about that. Isn't it weird how stories just come to you in different ways?
ReplyDeleteThis is why I LOVE people watching.
ReplyDeleteJust going to the mall and sitting in the middle, watching people pass, eavesdropping (er... overhearing...) people's conversations. My brain literally swirls with possibilities!!!
Oh girls, I am so oblivious sometimes when it comes to being ripe for ideas...maybe it's because I have a two year old hanging off my leg most of the time!
ReplyDeleteI did write a whole novel based on a National Geographic special I saw one Sunday afternoon.
Sherrinda, I think stories coming to us in different ways is testimony to God's awesome diversity in whispering to His people! ;)
Great ideas! I want to listen to NPR now.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we do here is listen to our local PBS station on Sunday nights. They have two programs Hearts of Space and Music of the 21st Century. The first is really fantasy oriented and my husband loves it. I'm a bigger fan of the second program. We listen as we fall asleep, imagining new settings.
Awesome stuff, Ang!!! I love hearing or reading something that sparks a storythread in my head. Our writer minds are scary places, huh? ;)
ReplyDeleteJulia, those sound like shows right up our alley! We will have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteAmy--I bet your mind is a scarier place than mine...I dream up sweet romance in historical settings...do you?;) Ha ha! Although, I do scare myself at imagining how bad real life situations could go wrong.
Ang,
ReplyDeleteAmy's mind is SCARY
And often times, HILARIOUS!!!
I loved this post, Angie. And "all y'all's" comments. You are too funny! ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't listen to NPR much at all. Okay, maybe never. But, after reading your post, it makes me want to, just to see what ideas it might unlock. I'll take that challenge one day soon to actually listen to it, perhaps with my laptop open so I'm ready for inspiration.
I've found story sparks from the news headlines that click past on my homepage. Some may only ever be sparks, but some have lit something within me, making me want to explore the story ideas.
Maybe I'll have to turn on the tv more to watch commercials. I'm with you, Pepper, about songs. I've listened to songs that move me to tears and leave me pondering a story question.
So fun over here today!
I'm so thankful to be a writer in the age of technology. I am constantly using Google for the most random research, & searching videos on YouTube to get a feel for my books's settings. Just yesterday I came up with a new story idea based on a news article I read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this!
This happened to me just the other day! I was at the post office, and an older lady with a huuuuuge beehive hairstyle walked up. I thought-- I have GOT to put this woman in a story! So I think she's going to go in my Grace edits! :) Great post as always, Ang!
ReplyDeleteWhat I especially like about NPR is the sounds. they always present the accurate sounds of the location. To me it gives validity. Now, by listening to their word description of those sounds and settings, I can add to my vocabulary of descriptive words.
ReplyDeleteYep. I may not agree with what all they say, but I enjoy listen ing to their programs.
Tessa,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, this age of technology opens our eyes to the whole world. YouTube provides visuals, the radio sounds, etc.
Thanks, Jeanne! I never thought of newspaper headlines...wow, you could also borrow them for hooks, too!:)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I never listened to NPR for more than a second as I flipped through the stations to find music. I avoid talk radio!!
Tessa, I agree with you and Mary. I just type in a time period and place and find tons of interesting stories to pull from on the web. Wikipedia is a place that I have explored many ideas! Thanks for stopping by today.:)
ReplyDeleteOoh, Ash...Would love to read THAT character. You do her justice with a route 44 sweet tea in one hand, and a blingy handbag in the other. Mercy! ;)
ReplyDeleteMary, that's what I found interesting. They don't seem to be in a studio the whole time, but on location. Cody swears they are one of the most un-biased stations out there...but what really matters is the fiction we can stir up! HA!!
ReplyDeleteMary, that's what I found interesting. They don't seem to be in a studio the whole time, but on location. Cody swears they are one of the most un-biased stations out there...but what really matters is the fiction we can stir up! HA!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and wonderful reminders for me, Ang. I've definitely dried up in the writing department and story ideas DEFINITELY come from anywhere. You just have to be open to accepting them...and paying attention to them. :)
ReplyDelete