Inspiration in Funny Places

Status
Not open for further replies.

C.bronco

I have plans...
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 3, 2006
Messages
8,015
Reaction score
3,138
Location
Junior Nation
Website
cynthia-bronco.blogspot.com
I started a short story which was inspired by a thread at AW. Has anyone else experienced the same phenomena?
(Now, if I could just figure out how I want it to end...)
 

kristie911

Happy to be here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
4,449
Reaction score
2,461
Location
my own little world
Not necessarily at AW (though the people here are great to use as the basis for characters) but many times I see something (a house, a car, anything) or hear a conversation, someplace like Wal-Mart or at work, that gives me great ideas.

I find my inspirations everywhere...as long as I'm paying attention!
 

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
2,719
Reaction score
2,056
Location
GA
Yeah, I was inspired by a thread here...well, several of them. I just lifted a character. A narcissist with a God complex who goes insane. :D
 

Maryn

I Tried
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
64,025
Reaction score
42,889
Location
Behind you!
Sure. I've used conversations at online chats or overheard in coffee shops and diners to start me on a story. I've amused myself imagining the people I eavesdropped on reading my story and seeing themselves in it, a little.

Maryn, champion eavesdropper
 

AnnieColleen

Invisible Writer
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
4,575
Reaction score
2,047
Location
Texas
Not here, but a thread title on another board.

Shapes in the clouds...a mixed metaphor in an editorial...I know I have more odd ones that I'm not remembering.
 

Stew21

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
27,651
Reaction score
9,137
Location
lost in headspace
I decided one night in a bout of insomnia that I needed to start a new story. I wanted to write, but didn't have any idea what. I noticed while at my desk staring at a blank screen that I had a message on my answering machine.
It was blinking. Next thing you know, my story opens with my main character seeing his blinking answering machine, except his is full of collections calls, and two he should have listened to: a message from his sister that his father was in the hospital and another that he'd died. Which is the opening of the novel in progress.


(my message wasn't nearly that exciting).
 

danseur90

Philosophy class. The text is very interesting... though the lecturer has hair that is more interesting than the lecture itself. It's like a cross between lion's mane and bushy frizz with red and gold highlights. And her hair is graying. And her dress is... infinitely colorful. The multitude of color is very inspiring.
 

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
1,848
Reaction score
512
Location
Georgia
Its where his great Wiggle Vs. Tap theory became that Epic Manuscript.
 

Jordygirl

Nothing doing.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
251
Reaction score
24
Location
Earth
Website
www.redthebook.blogspot.com
It's probably not the weirdest thing for inspiration, but my current WIP was inspired by the song 'County Line' by Sugarland.
Is that weird?
 

Pagey's_Girl

Still plays with dolls
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
1,725
Reaction score
958
Location
New York (not the city)
Yeah, I was inspired by a thread here...well, several of them. I just lifted a character. A narcissist with a God complex who goes insane. :D

Hey, I resemble that remark! :tongue

No seriously, I find inspiration just about everywhere. I got a very funny short story out of watching three normally very sedate and buttoned-down managers running all around the secretarial suite trying to remember where they'd hidden an artificial Christmas tree....

"Has anyone seen the tree?"
"I haven't seen the tree!"
"I'm just trying to find the tree...."
I was waiting for one of them to yell "Where's that confounded tree?!" but alas, they never did. :D
 

DeborahM

I need espresso & chocolate!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
3,606
Reaction score
657
Location
On top of a laptop
In my bathroom, I can see into my mirror and see my clock in reverse...I keep thinking I need to add that but haven't yet. Personally, I think because it's been done so many times.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.