Tips & WIPs

Ever  get that dreaded question – “where do you get your ideas”? For which the answer is an even more dreaded – “everywhere”?

The concept of brainstorming is unique to everyone. While some do really well talking out their ideas, I tend to turn into a mumbling idiot trying to articulate mine. I think it’s the whole verbal vs  nonverbal brain thing.

And here’s my biggest darkest secret: I get ideas by knitting. Seriously.

I’m sure there’s a very smart sounding explanation for this, but I tend to get the best ideas when I am doing something that allows my brain to “float”. This usually involves silence, one of my cats to supervise and knitting needles.

The cats are optional. And amidst the murmurs of “I don’t know how to knit”, let me assure you, I don’t really either. And that’s not really the point.

The “mindless” pattern of the stitches makes me focus on the task while my brain/muse/inspiration – whatever you want to call it – goes through scenes and possibilities, little bits of dialogue or some other gems.  Usually I can focus  with a “what are we thinking about” type of question, and rarely has something come out of these sessions that I couldn’t use.

Alternatively, I tend to get good ideas while plucking my eyebrows. Or driving with the music off My best way to brainstorm is by tricking my mind into  doing something that doesn’t crowd my creative process. I can’t brainstorm by listening to music or painting or watching TV or doing anything that isn’t a repetitive soothing pattern. (I’m not sure how driving fits into a repetitive soothing pattern, but I don’t question it)

These are the methods that work for me specifically – some people can’t write without a soundtrack to put them in the mood for a scene, and that works brilliantly for them. I think the best favor an author can do for his or her muse is to identify the times/places/activities where ideas have happened and get into that mindset when channeling the next story concept.

P.S There is a book dealing with just this subject: Fiction Writer’s Brainstormer. It has a lot of checklists and puzzles and a very focused way of brainstorming which don’t always work for me, but overall, this is a pretty good book to have if you’re interested in various idea-generating techniques.

What are your brainstorming practices??

My writing process has changed over the years. I started out as a serious plotter. I filled out the character worksheets, developed a detailed plot, broke down each scene in great detail… and it worked. For a while. Then life threw a few curveballs my way, and — whether because of the turmoil or despite it — my process changed. I became an organic writer, AKA: a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of her pants).

The pantser process has its benefits, but it also has a ton of potential pitfalls. While my characters often lead me in myriad wonderful directions I never anticipated, not knowing who these story people are until I start writing about them can lead to…

… well, to journal sex.

Continue Reading