by Lucius Trae

Created on: March 31, 2010

There was an episode of Family Guy where a cartoon version of Stephen King is asked about his next story idea. Seeing a lamp on the editor's desk, he proposes a story about a "lamp monster." I having nothing against Family Guy or Stephen King, and I think it was an excellent point about how even the best writers can have uninspiring ideas. However, the way King is depicted as coming up with his idea is, quite frankly, an excellent method of finding story ideas.

When we write, we like to think about how original we are being. Originality comes from how we combine things that already exist. Language exists before we right. The body of a horse exists before we write about unicorns. It is the unique combination of things that presents an interesting idea. Of course, direct life experiences can occasionally provide things interesting enough for a story. A good writer can make a better story about eating breakfast than a bad writer can about mythical fantasy creatures.

So how do you begin thinking about story ideas? You can look at things around you, go for a walk, and analyze them. For instance, I see my puppy sleeping on a bed. I also see a fan blowing on the puppy. I'm too much of a dog lover to make a horror story out of that, but I could weave a tale about an adventurous puppy stuck in a windmill. A local child lost their dog, and the children of the town are afraid of the windmill. Now I'm stuck. Why are they afraid of the windmill? Well, I just took a drink of water. Stagnant and polluted water has scared made their parents warn them about the windmill. Applying techniques like this, there are an endlessly array of possibilities.

It's important, though, to determine how the story fits together. Is it original? Does it provide a backdrop for a more interesting plot? My windmill scenario, for instance, is hardly enough for a novel. Unless I radically changed something, it's likely focusing on a teen market. As sad as this is to say, though, the reading level of most adults makes the teen market one of the most lucrative. Of course, the decision regarding this will be based on a variety of considerations. I would recommend simply writing rather than trying to sell a product, but I won't judge anyone who looks at things differently.

Combining everyday experiences involves more than just objects. You have to consider emotions, social implications, and other things. I'd recommend studying what is typically referred to as "critical thinking." It's utilized in many

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