How to Generate Short Story Ideas

Open your eyes, ears and mind and you'll discover that short story ideas are everywhere. Train your story-generating "muscle," and more and more ideas will come to you. Never force it, rely on your imagination to put something interesting together from what your eyes and ears pick up.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Journals
• Spiral Notebooks
• Writing Pens
• Laptop Computer

1. Carry a small notebook and pen wherever you go so that you're prepared to write down fleeting flashes of inspiration. Place it on your nightstand table when you go to bed - dreams and insomnia often lead to great ideas.

2. Keep your mind open. Use your daily events and observations about people and life as potential short story fodder.

3. Take a bus ride around your city. When you see a person who interests you, imagine yourself in her shoes and begin your story.

4. Be on the lookout for an intriguing photograph - a compelling image can fuel your imagination. What story does the photograph tell you?

5. Scan newspapers and seek out real-life sagas that would make compelling short stories.

6. Select an event from your real life and give the situation a different or even extreme conclusion.

7. Listen to your relatives. Our elders, especially, often have interesting stories to tell. Take special note of dialect, intriguing names, characters, etc.

8. Keep a freewriting journal. Write for 15 minutes daily about anything that pops into your head, and try not to edit yourself. Read your freewriting journal and look for interesting passages, phrases or ideas that might inspire a story.

Tips & Warnings

• Develop an "ear" for dialogue. Write down interesting snippets of conversation and use them in your next short story.
• Write short character sketches about people you meet who interest you, and read them when you need inspiration. Could you build a unique story around one or two of those characters? Perhaps you could even combine two character sketches into one fascinating personality, helping to make a great short story.
• Peruse the phonebook, especially the yellow pages. An interesting name or occupation can spark a story idea.
• Don't make the mistake of writing what you think other people want to hear. Dig deep and get to know yourself, and write from your own point of view.

[Spiralina]

on 11/30/2008 Great information.

[yozza]

on 3/21/2007 http://www.writesf.com/ go here!

on 6/30/2006 One of the best ways to generate a short story idea is to follow the current issues and trends. Issues related to womens empowerment, child abuse, etc., can become good topics for writing stories. Trends in fashion and media among youngsters and students, latest trends in technology, new gadgets and gizmos provide loads of material to write a story.

on 11/22/2005 If you can, write first thing in the morning when the brain is rested. Even if it's while you are having breakfast, jot down ideas or sentences that inspire you. Go for a brisk walk every day before your main writing session, the oxygen to the brain can work wonders on your creative skills.
Write for short spurts rather than longer ones and give yourself small frequent rewards, like coffee breaks and healthy snacks.

on 11/22/2005 When you're stuck, pretend you're writing your story in a letter to someone you admire. Simply write, "Dear Matt," or "Dear Mrs. Houston" at the top of your page and imagine how he or she would want to hear your story. Imagine where in the story he or she might be confused, might be bored, might be impatient for action and tailor your voice, tone, diction, and plot to match. When you're finished, erase the salutation at the top of the page; no one ever has to know!