How Do You Get Your Stories

@just4him (317041)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
March 11, 2016 6:13pm CST
I get that question a lot. Especially when I tell people how many books I have to work on. This morning I started a new story. Why would I do that when I have three books to get ready for second editions and a fourth to finish? Why indeed. So where do ideas come from. For me they are generally just there. Though this story came about because of a game I'm playing - Mahjong Deluxe - free edition. With this game you always win. When there are no longer any matches, the game reshuffles the board and keeps doing so until all the tiles are off the board. The goal is simple - get the board cleared in under 7 minutes to gain a star. If you clear it in under 6 you get 2 stars and under 5 you get three. There are lots of patterns and four different puzzles to choose from. So let the games begin. I've managed to get many stars, though there are some games that are downright impossible. So with that said, I was thinking about what life could be like if everything changed up on us after so long. Children would have new parents, singles would have new opportunities, however, I'm leaving marriages alone. It's probably a stupid idea and it probably won't go anywhere, and I might eventually delete it, or I might just use it as a total stress reliever. Something to play around with when life gets too serious. I definitely have no plans to ever publish this one, but it's fun for the moment. I am still working on the two books I need to and expect Scarred second edition to come out in six months or less. All the while working on Freedom's Cry. So if you write books, how do you get your stories? Thanks for reading.
20 people like this
20 responses
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
12 Mar 16
I've been working on the same story for years and still can't come up with a solid idea for it.
3 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Some stories are like that. One day you'll wake up and it will be there staring you in the face.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@T_gray I do too but I do my best to make time to write every day.
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
12 Mar 16
@just4him I think since I started blogging and surveying a couple of years ago I haven't wrote much at all. I spend most of my time here.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Mar 16
sometimes writing is just an exercise, and sometimes it turns into a Story
3 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
I used to write for another website that offered challenges that had to be a certain word length - not to go over that word count. It taught me to keep my stories tight.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@avi256 That's how they all start - a small idea.
2 people like this
@avi256 (8489)
• Pune, India
12 Mar 16
One small idea may shape up into book.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (139697)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 Mar 16
I just look at strange things that happen around me and write about those strange things.
2 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Life does offer up some interesting stories.
@avi256 (8489)
• Pune, India
12 Mar 16
Traveling or being around in public places or transport like market, train, bus or station gives me lot of ideas as I get to observe lot of people and their behavior there.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@avi256 That's a good way to get descriptions.
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
12 Mar 16
I get my stories from my life or others life, I seem to keep running into stories :D
2 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
They do say everyone has a story to tell.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
12 Mar 16
@just4him indeed
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@Marty1 Good luck on your new book idea. I'm glad I could be helpful.
• United States
12 Mar 16
I admire people who have creative minds & can put together interesting plots & characters
2 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
So do I. Do you know any?
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@Marty1 No worries. I'm glad you're thinking about buying one of my books. Best start with Scarred as it's the first in the series.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@Marty1 Three, I'm working on the fourth. The books are going into a second edition with an editing couple who will market them for me and will eventually get them into some local Mom and Pop stores.
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Mar 16
hmm! I played Mahjong Titans and solitaire Titans in this netbook that I am using when I was confined
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
I love Mahjong Titans, but it doesn't come with Windows 10 so I had to look for another Mahjong to play and this one is challenging. There are a lot of different patterns and four different themes to choose from.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Mar 16
@ridingbet Yes it does. I think I heard, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but these kinds of games tend to ward of diseases like Alzheimer's because they keep the mind alert.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
13 Mar 16
@just4him either on desktop or on net book, I always play this solitary game, and it somehow stimulates my memory recall and my brain as a whole
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
13 Mar 16
I'm currently in the middle of writing one (a first), and it's just something that I've thought over time. I've gotten inspiration from different places. Sometimes, while reading a book, or looking at people walk by. You can get ideas just about anywhere.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Mar 16
Yes you can. I've gotten many ideas from reading books.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
12 Mar 16
I do not write books and have gotten away from writing fiction. I don't have it in me.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
A lot of people don't.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
12 Mar 16
I've no ambition to write a book, but I get triggers from real life to write my poems.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Poetry is still writing and you are very gifted in that area. You could be the next great poet
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
12 Mar 16
Should I even be here? Oops. No, I don't write books.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
12 Mar 16
@just4him I always disliked writing, but loved reading. Lol!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
@DianneN I often hear two trains of thought - one they love to write and have a story they want to write but don't have time, and then those who, like you, don't like writing but love reading. Those same people hated working on their thesis in college. You too?
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
You might not write books Dianne, but you are an English major, at least that's what you told me and you have experience with some kind of writing.
1 person likes this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
12 Mar 16
I don't write books, but do write short devotionals. I usually get an inspiration when I read a scripture, and ask the Lord to give me the right thoughts to express.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
That's what I do when I write the Daily Bible Study.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (16636)
• United States
12 Mar 16
When I write on here, it is something that is on my heart. When I write I try to write from my heart, I've always been drawn to that type of writing. Like my morning prayers or bible verses on facebook, it's something that's on my heart so I share. You are gifted to be able to write so well and have so many ideals. May God continue to bless you and your work. Have a blessed day
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Thanks. Writing from the heart is the only way to write.
1 person likes this
• Democratic Republic Of The Congo
13 Mar 16
I dont write books but I do write on here :) I get my ideas from all around me, things I think about or wonder, things I do,hear,see etc
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Mar 16
So do I. It's a great way to get ideas.
• Kathmandu, Nepal
13 Mar 16
sometimes writing may be a imagine . or a story of a someones life , place events
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Mar 16
It isn't sometimes. That is what writing is - imagination and life - fiction and non-fiction.
• Philippines
12 Mar 16
Unfortunately, I don't write books. though there's a story on my head that i wanted to get out for so long.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
A story starts with the first word.
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
12 Mar 16
I'm not so good at fiction these days, but when I do wite fiction, mainly short stories, the ideas come from childhood memories brought into the present time. I prefer non-fiction and poetry these days.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Isn't it interesting how our preferences in writing changes with time? When I took a writing course, I had to do some non-fiction writing. It was difficult because I had never done it. But in the end it turned out pretty good. At least the teacher accepted it. For now, I'll stay away from non-fiction writing. Totally out of my comfort zone.
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
12 Mar 16
I do not write books, but I suppose that I would write about personal experiences, adding some mystery to spice up the novel.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
That would be fun.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50250)
• United States
12 Mar 16
It sounds like you enjoy writing.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
It's my life - literally. I've been writing since I was eight.
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
12 Mar 16
either what had happened to me or what i heard from other people...a book that will make readers open their minds
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
Biographies are good.
@avi256 (8489)
• Pune, India
12 Mar 16
Ideas could just spark off while walking or while speaking with a person, or while sleeping. Even though I dont write books, but if I have to write one all my ideas would be inspired by real life. I think observational skills are the key.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Mar 16
They definitely are no matter what kind of writing you do.
1 person likes this