Where do story ideas come from?

For some people, their ideas come to them in a dream.  They claim they get the whole story while sleeping.  Whew!  I wish it were that easy for me.

Other people get their ideas from the news. from books, movies, etc.   They just ask a bunch of “what if” questions and change what they’ve read or seen.

I don’t think there is a simple answer.  I would like to say that we get our stories from “all of the above”.  And more!

I don’t just get an idea and sit down and write it.  I have to coax stories out of me.  I do this by knowing the characters and by trying different plot twists.  But it is a slow process and, often, it is pure torture.

My current project draws from some fairly painful experiences in my life.  It also takes a close-up look at many of the ills in today’s society.  It is not easy.  Sometimes I just can’t think about the story  any more and I have to take a step backwards and grab a deep breath of fresh air.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “Writing is easy.  All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.”

I believe that this also pertains to coming up with the story.  If your storyline digs deep and pulls at heart-strings, if it makes you cringe while you write, you might as well be bleeding.  And sometimes the blood will gush, other times it will only drip drip drip.  But it is from the wounds of our life that good stories come.