TECH: Where do you start?
Jul. 29th, 2010 02:08 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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writercisesOriginal Posting 15 June 2010
"Where do you get your ideas?"
That question seems to be one that gets tossed at writing panels and such on a regular basis, to the point where many of them have stock answers that they return. "In the mail from New Jersey." And so forth, and so on.
I think there are various meanings to this question. One is the obvious one -- this story (book, whatever) came from somewhere. What was the seed, the initial thought that led to this? (With a hope that perhaps if I get a similar seed, I can do something like this?) But I think people may also be asking for a description of the process -- how do you get started, and what do you do to take that seed and turn it into this?
And that's kind of an interesting question. I can toss out a bunch of creative thinking tools and tips that might help you find a seed, but taking that seed and growing it into a story -- that takes some knowledge of the forms, some practice, and a bit of cut-and-fit.
Anyway, how do you start? If I said, "Hey, let's write a story!" Where would you go, or what would you do, to get started? What do you do to lure the muse?
"Where do you get your ideas?"
That question seems to be one that gets tossed at writing panels and such on a regular basis, to the point where many of them have stock answers that they return. "In the mail from New Jersey." And so forth, and so on.
I think there are various meanings to this question. One is the obvious one -- this story (book, whatever) came from somewhere. What was the seed, the initial thought that led to this? (With a hope that perhaps if I get a similar seed, I can do something like this?) But I think people may also be asking for a description of the process -- how do you get started, and what do you do to take that seed and turn it into this?
And that's kind of an interesting question. I can toss out a bunch of creative thinking tools and tips that might help you find a seed, but taking that seed and growing it into a story -- that takes some knowledge of the forms, some practice, and a bit of cut-and-fit.
Anyway, how do you start? If I said, "Hey, let's write a story!" Where would you go, or what would you do, to get started? What do you do to lure the muse?
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