I was just wondering if anyone get's a idea to write a novel by watching television. I am in the process in writing a mystery novel at the moment. I now have idea from watching Lifetime for a another novel. Of course, I will not be using anything I seen from the movie. I just had a idea from watching it. Has this happened to anyone before? Just curious!
Does anyone get ideas for a novel from T.V?
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I can't say I've ever gotten a book idea from watching tv, but some of what I watch will influence an idea I already have. Like maybe the way a character in a show is portrayed I'll think to myself, he reminds me of my MC and I like how he reacted to X. That's what my MC would do. Or if there are elements used on the show that I can compare to what I have in my story, I might adjust mine based on what I learned from the show that gave me an inspiration.
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Hi there
In answer to your question, there is a whole universe out there of TV inspired stories. Xena, CSI, SVU, Facts of Life, Star Trek, that's just off the top of my head. Just remember to keep the characters as they were intended in the movie/series. Don't turn 7 of 9 into a vulcan and Janeway into an android. Keep the basic story structure and then stretch your imagination. Maybe Chokatay has an affair with 7 of 9 and see where that goes.
Good luck.
In answer to your question, there is a whole universe out there of TV inspired stories. Xena, CSI, SVU, Facts of Life, Star Trek, that's just off the top of my head. Just remember to keep the characters as they were intended in the movie/series. Don't turn 7 of 9 into a vulcan and Janeway into an android. Keep the basic story structure and then stretch your imagination. Maybe Chokatay has an affair with 7 of 9 and see where that goes.
Good luck.
I don't think the OP is talking about fanfic.
Long ago, in my misspent youth, I did some stories inspired by Star Trek, but they weren't even close to being fanfic. I had different characters, a different ship, different aliens, different organizational structure. All I took from Star Trek was the basic premise of a large starship "exploring strange new worlds".
You can get ideas from everywhere. TV, movies, books. As long as you don't blatantly copy, that's fine.
After I see a Guy Ritchie movie for example, I feel sometimes that the story I'm working on should have more of his style because I like it so much. But I won't be writing a totally Guy Ritchie story or screenplay. It's still going to be me.
After I see a Guy Ritchie movie for example, I feel sometimes that the story I'm working on should have more of his style because I like it so much. But I won't be writing a totally Guy Ritchie story or screenplay. It's still going to be me.
I've gotten several ideas from outside sources, including television. It can be as simple as an image I see in the opening credits or something complex like a storyline being done that I think could be done with different or original characters. Any imaginative inspiration is fair game so long as it isn't plagiarism.
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I probably have at some point, but not so often that I can remember doing so, I'm afraid. Most of my ideas have to do with fantasy and mythology and there's very little of that to be found on the TV I watch so I get most of my ideas from books.
I do watch lots of crime shows and have a series which focuses heavily on cops, but again, the themes of the stories are mainly from stuff I read (cults, abuse, psychology and such) and not from things I see on TV. I guess I'm just interested in writing about stuff people don't feel like putting on TV that much!
I do watch lots of crime shows and have a series which focuses heavily on cops, but again, the themes of the stories are mainly from stuff I read (cults, abuse, psychology and such) and not from things I see on TV. I guess I'm just interested in writing about stuff people don't feel like putting on TV that much!
I get my ideas from everywhere. I was watchng a Bond movie a few years ago, and one scene gave me a setting idea for my novel. Another TV show added a nugget about the political situation. My story isn't in any way shape or form like Bond or that TV show, but they did lead to other ideas that shaped my world and story. Inspiration is all around. Take it when it comes. Just don't break any copyright laws 
Strangely enough, it was two commercials that launched two of my books, both of them eventually published.
I saw one commercial where cars spin around on a dias, scoping out human shoppers. I think the cars flashed their lights and beeped when they found a match. So I thought what if cars were really programed to choose and pick their owners? Out of that came the first chapter of Word Wars, a futuristic tale.
I also saw a commercial involving an info ad for a gambling casino. Frank Sinatra was singing Luck Be A Lady Tonight. I wondered what if luck was really a lady, did some research and found out that there was such a Goddess called Fortuna, and started right in on that story.
tri
I saw one commercial where cars spin around on a dias, scoping out human shoppers. I think the cars flashed their lights and beeped when they found a match. So I thought what if cars were really programed to choose and pick their owners? Out of that came the first chapter of Word Wars, a futuristic tale.
I also saw a commercial involving an info ad for a gambling casino. Frank Sinatra was singing Luck Be A Lady Tonight. I wondered what if luck was really a lady, did some research and found out that there was such a Goddess called Fortuna, and started right in on that story.
tri
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YES! TV, movies, games, the wind, a keychain, talking to my friends about a completely unrelated topic.....yep, I get inspired EVERYWEHRE!
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Can't say I've got ideas from TV although I did aim for the atmosphere of the third series of 24 with one of my books. I wanted the mix of action and emotion that I don't think 24 has quite managed to get since.
Jack still rocks though.
Jack still rocks though.
wow, I didn't know we can do this. I have StarWars and X-Men books started. I figured the only ones that could publish them would be the publishers for the original... ie: Lucas Flims??? Are there guidlines anywhere as to who we would go to for this type of writing?
Sure, but I write nonfiction and I think it's more likely that I would, as opposed to those who write fiction. Nevertheless, I think it's more that things I see and hear on television lead to parallel ideas for other subjects as well as extend deeper thoughts on the topic at hand. I've never written anything based on an idea from television, but I do have a few ideas in my "future concepts" folder.
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I just realised I should have said, if you are talking about writing screenplays, well I think that is different.
I have gotten a sort of cosmic regret feeling from TV. Like last year. During season one of Heroes, when I realized that it was a cool overall idea and I wish I'd thought of it in time to turn it into a series of books. I think it's just begging for the extra detail and back story a novel offers. Of course I'm also disappointed in what the writers have done with it, so . . .
The things we've read, heard, watched, experienced and said influence manuscripts we write. We strive for originality as others have for thousands of years, and some come close. Writing is similar to music - same notes and chords; variations in presentations. We "know" when we are on the right writing track.
I never did, but I can tell you when I was a lot younger, I stole ideas from Sailormoon and made some god-awful short stories that were praised by my fourth grade teacher! 
All of the books below were spawned from television series, which my agent sold. Just goes to show you that you can write about your favorite TV series and get away with it, sometimes for big bucks.
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's Battlestar Galactica, a timely analysis of the TV phenomenon Battlestar Galactica, to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, will be released in 2008.
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's Heroes Unmasked: An Unofficial Look, a timely analysis of the TV phenomenon HEROES, to Jennifer Hale at ECW Press in a nice deal, will be released in October 2007.
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's new LOST-related project with topic TBD, again to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, for publication in 2007.
David Lavery's WONDER BOY, a comprehensive critical biography of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's creator and Wonder Woman director, Joss Whedon, to Phillipa Brewster at Tauris (United Kingdom). In the USA, the book will be distributed by St.Martin's/Palgrave.
Lynnette Porter's and David Lavery's nonfiction book LOST WORLD, a timely look at the significance of the series LOST within television programming, as well as the many themes that resonate within our culture, to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, for publication in 2006. </SPAN>
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's Battlestar Galactica, a timely analysis of the TV phenomenon Battlestar Galactica, to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, will be released in 2008.
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's Heroes Unmasked: An Unofficial Look, a timely analysis of the TV phenomenon HEROES, to Jennifer Hale at ECW Press in a nice deal, will be released in October 2007.
Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson's new LOST-related project with topic TBD, again to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, for publication in 2007.
David Lavery's WONDER BOY, a comprehensive critical biography of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's creator and Wonder Woman director, Joss Whedon, to Phillipa Brewster at Tauris (United Kingdom). In the USA, the book will be distributed by St.Martin's/Palgrave.
Lynnette Porter's and David Lavery's nonfiction book LOST WORLD, a timely look at the significance of the series LOST within television programming, as well as the many themes that resonate within our culture, to Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks in a nice deal, for publication in 2006. </SPAN>
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