Looking for story ideas

[Mr Nobody]

Everyone goes through a spell or phase where they go 'Oh, I can't think of anything!' or 'If only I could have an idea!'...but here's the thing: you have thousands of them every day. I bet you've even had ideas occur to you without you even realising it was an idea (I know I have).
But if you get to thinking that the well of ideas has run dry, try free-writing. You just sit down with a pen and paper and think of a person or scenario, e.g. a woman is driving alone. A tyre blows/gets a puncture. She's miles from home and it's beginning to get dark. Or: here's a man sitting at a table. Is he home? At work? In a cafe? Does he have something in his hand? If so, what? What kind of expression does he have on his face?
Start writing and those things will grow, more ideas will mushroom and before you know it you'll have several thousand words down before you set the pen aside - and still the ideas will occur, so you'll end up with pages full of notes besides (and/or a plan, if you're more of a planner than a pantser).

 

[KingAHolic]

Write a book that is narrated in the form of stream of consciousness.
It would include what the narrator is doing, but, would contain only his/her thoughts as they proceed through out the day

 

[prufrock21]

The best advice is, write about something you know, want to know or like. For example, I like reading science fiction so I've written scifi stories.

 

[Jamie]

I'm not a writer but I started a a post on another forum has a fictional character and its like an online journal, its getting a bit of a following, I started it off has just a guy talking about what it would be like to be a superhero but now it's evolving and nice got a.while.story arc with twists etc and its all being written in forum posts. What I'm.saying is.think outside the box I guess

 

[lbmyotis]

I am new to the writing business and need help with an idea. May someone please help me?

I am not a writer, but I have an idea for a story which prompted me to come to this forum in the first place. Bats are being killed by white nose fungus, in too many cases entire cave colonies are being wiped out in one season, and as a result insect crop pests are not being kept in check. At the same time zika is spreading northward in mosquitoes. Terribly things will happen. We need a story that will scare, that will sound the alarm. Non fiction!

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Do no speak to the driver while the bus is in motion!

Take it and run with it. Saw a bus driver chugging a Mountain Dew or something in a green bottle on the way down the hill. Isn't that the proverbial "open container". Must be having one of those days. What happens if you talk to the driver while the bus is in motion? That's what I wanna know.

 

[staropeace]

There was something not right with the root cellar.

 

[Lee9900]

You are a guy that has a power called ghost sight. you can see ghosts, but with a twist.

You see people who are actually alive as undead rotting corpses but you see actual ghosts as completely living vibrant people as though they were alive.

So you could have the main character say something like:

"I see live people."

In fact, he could also have come under a conclusion that the people he sees as walking corpses are the norm and thinks he or she is actually in the afterlife, maybe even in hell.

 

[Nomik]

I'm not going to talk about my actual writing until I hire an editor and an agent. It's not that I don't want to share my ideas, for fear that someone might use them.
I guess it's partially That. I have a novel uber construction long term. If I can pull it off you'll get to read it. My secret for writing is the pen and paper technique.That's literally all I can say. I have plenty of ideas for other people who might want tin pursue a topic that I'll never get to.

 

[muskrat]

I'm not going to talk about my actual writing until I hire an editor and an agent. It's not that I don't want to share my ideas, for fear that someone might use them.
I guess it's partially That. I have a novel uber construction long term. If I can pull it off you'll get to read it. My secret for writing is the pen and paper technique.That's literally all I can say. I have plenty of ideas for other people who might want tin pursue a topic that I'll never get to.

Well, by all means, Nomik, carry on! No, do NOT tell cats what it's about, not until yer ready to show yer baby to the world. Get that manuscript just the way you like, stick it out there, and then wait for the inevitable whatever.

Main thing is, like our beloved Uncle Stevie says, is READ A LOT, WRITE A LOT. and I cannot stress that enough. Getcher head down, in the trenches, and bust that baby out. Listen to no one. Not until, at least, you have that first draft. Let it sit for a spell (like some good ol baby back ribs), then go ahead and let some cats have a look at it.

Basically, you either love the craft or you don't. That's the rub, cat. Do you love?

 

[Brian's Twinner]

I am new to the writing business and need help with an idea. May someone please help me?

If you're not doing this already, start a diary. A daily record of your life events. Become acclimated to the process. Once you engage your imagination, it's easier (IMO) to tap into the vastness of the world around you and create.

Good luck!

 

[mal]

Read the Bible and/or Shakespeare, I think most things after that are variations on a theme. You'll get lots of ideas. All the best, mal.

 

[Brash.Kid]

...why not?...it's as valid an idea, and plot starter as anything else that's ever been scribbled....and piece of advice?, try creating stories out of whatever pops in YOUR head-not someone else's....

Amen, the key to writing is to discover the door of a world with characters on your own. Writing is like a journey through time and space, meeting characters that share some experiences or beliefs with you. That way you are able to write with heart and be able to flourish the story with concrete details- fitting the world you are looking at. Every good writing starts with an idea that introduces a character. Then through journeying with this character we may be able to learn from their dramatic quest so to speak. Always remember to think about what your character wants and how they are setting themselves towards that goal. Don't forget there needs to be conflict- forces come to challenge the character and their want. Good luck and I definitely will come back to this thread. I would also recommend taking classes and workshops. I'm in a screenwriting class now that has helped my technique and writing process alot more than I thought take care!!

 

[preciousroy]

Japanese horror stories have a way of taking the mundane and making it bizarre. Perhaps try getting your head into a new space. It's said that the reason collaboration with others is necessary is that one person might have an idea or way of seeing things that you never considered. I've also heard that the shower is a great place to get ideas (for whatever) due to the heat bringing your brain waves into a creative frequency. You could try laying down and closing your eyes and letting your head think of whatever it wants, it will wander. Use your cell phone to make voice notes to keep track of ideas that pop into your head. Don't be afraid to "steal". Most of the things that I've really been moved by happen to be poorly disguised re-imaginings of things that were already established to be good and written by other people. Indiana Jones was an amalgamation of heroes from serials. Tomb Raider was influenced by Indiana Jones. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was influenced by Tomb Raider. Silent Hill (the video game) hit all the great elements that Stephen King typified in his stories and made a great new story, and they paid homage to him and other others they took "influence" from. In the music world Coldplay's (not my preference but I use them for the sake of the example) singer has admitted in multiple interviews that they're plagiarists (his words, not mine) that are just really good at it. I heard one of their songs and swore I heard a Kraftwerk riff in it. Turns out I did!

 

[prufrock21]

H.P. Lovecraft left 220 unused story ideas. You might find something useful in the link below.

La Petite Claudine: Commonplace Book

 

[wolfphoenix]

Spidey's idea is best. I think.