- 1). Start by listing all the major events in your own life. No one is immune from drama in their lives. At some point in time, everyone is confronted with birth, death, joy or loss of some kind. Think back as far as you can, and make a list of all such events in your life and in the lives of those closest to you. Chances are more than one of those events could contain the beginning of an idea for a story.
- 2). Go to the mall or the local diner, and take in all the people around you. In these places you will observe people from all walks of life. Listen to their conversations, and make notes on ideas for a story. Perhaps the people at the next table are getting a divorce, and they are arguing about who will get the children. You could use that scenario as the seed of a story.
- 3). Change the facts. After completing your observations, go over your notes, and play "what if" with some of the scenarios. What if the couple getting divorced had have a fight right in the restaurant and one of them got arrested? What if the other spouse wants to reconcile, but the jailed spouse falls in love with the prison guard? What if that whole conflict took place in 18th century Russia instead of 21st century America?
- 4). Choose a historical event or character to base a story on. What in history has always fascinated you? Which historical figure have you always wanted to learn more about? Take that event or figure and do a little research. Then craft a story around the event or person. I am fascinated with the Bahamas, and I've written an outline for a story that is complete with pirates and exotic characters. All it took was one picture of a church ruin on one of the islands to get me started.
- 5). Write about your ancestors. When researching my ancestors, I found all sorts of fascinating characters. My family tree is full of renegades, slaves, slave owners, politicians, pioneers, and mentally unstable characters. Find someone who has researched your family tree, or talk to your relatives to find out more about your family history. You will find more ideas for stories then you know what to do with.
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