The Quest for Ideas

Happy August, friends! The summer is zooming by. I hope you've been enjoying yours. Today I'd like to talk about where we find ideas for our books.

Effortless or a Struggle?

I have a writing friend who gets so many ideas for new books, she has an "Idea Box." If this thought makes you sad, you and I need to go out for coffee! Oh, how I wish I could be just like my friend. I have never had the need for a special place to store my ideas. I've always had to hunt for them.

A-Hunting We Will Go

If you're like me, let's grab some hunting gear and search for those ideas. We can go together. For the hunting part, you'll need a good sense of adventure, your ears, and a place to write down your new-found treasures.

Hang With Kids

When writing for children, hanging out with them will certainly give you an idea or two. If you're fortunate to have access to little family members, this is gold! My first picture book, "Make Me LAUGH, Nonna!" came from my Nonna Saturdays that I used to spend with my oldest granddaughter. After receiving a running hug at the door, Hana would say to me "Do something to make me laugh, Nonna!" I took that thought and ran with it. And, because it was a personal experience, the book came from my heart—the best kind of writing.

Revisit Your Childhood

It is said that a child's first memory can happen between 2.5 and 3.5 years of age. So, that gives most of us a long time to go back and think about our childhood experiences. Did you have trouble with a class bully? Do you have fond memories of times you spent with a special aunt? Did you have a best friend who had to move away? All these memories have the potential to become a great book. Spend some time with your younger self and see what comes up.

Read Other Books

Reading the type of book you'd like to write is extremely helpful. Not only will it give you a good taste for the rhythm and feel of that genre, but it can lead to other ideas. Have you read that there are no new ideas, just variations of old ideas? It's your voice and your perspective that can give an old idea a unique twist and make it feel fresh and new.

Look and Listen

When you're out and about, as a writer, it's your job to always be looking and listening. By listening, you may pick up some dialog between two people that would be fun to add to your book. You might hear a mom call her daughter or son that could lead to an interesting character name. Read street names and the names of shops. With a twist or two, you may come up with some fresh ideas.

If you don't ever have to purchase an "Idea Box," it's perfectly okay. But, when you do stumble across an idea, be sure to jot it down. Those ideas are precious to us who must search for them. And then, go home and write!

Happy idea hunting!