Story Generating Part 4

Previous posts showed various ways to generate story ideas, but here's one that can, on the surface, appear difficult, yet can render some surprising results.  You can treat it as a game and also as a writing exercise, but occasionally things fall together using the following method whereby the genesis of a very good story is generated.

Take out your kitchen timer.  Here's mine.

Or, you can use the stopwatch timer on your phone.

Set it for twenty minutes.

Then, pick any book off the bookshelf and open that book to the beginning of any chapter or to the very beginning of the book itself (the first line of the story). 

Type out the first line from the book or the first line from any of that book's chapters.

Here's an example of what I mean.  I chose from my bookshelf, "Don Quixote" by Cervantes.

I open the book to the first chapter and here's the following first line:

In a village of La Mancha the name of which I have no desire to recall, there lived not so long ago one of those gentlemen who always have a lance in the rack, an ancient buckler, a skinny nag, and a greyhound for the chase.

Once I have typed out the first line, I now have twenty minutes on the old kitchen timer (or flashy new phone stopwatch app) to begin writing something that comes after that first line.  And by the way, you can't copy Cervantes' words as that would defeat the purpose.  Make your own story up from there.  Work extemporaneously and don't stop.  Even if it starts to come out as complete nonsense, keep going for twenty minutes until the time expires or you fall into "the zone" (as I like to put it whenever my creative mind starts flowing). 

For example here is the beginning of mine.  I've set the timer, and I typed out the first line ... ready, set, and go!

     In a village of La Mancha the name of which I have no desire to recall, there lived not so long ago one of those gentlemen who always have a lance in the rack, an ancient buckler, a skinny nag, and a greyhound for the chase. 

    I set the book down.  How could I concentrate on Don Quixote at a time like this?

    I sighed and shook my head while I continued to sit upon my leather couch.    

    Time?  What time?  I am out of time.  My deadline was this morning and it's almost noon, and I have yet to finish this article for the blog.  Heck, I haven't even figured out a good topic for the post, much less written it.  But this is what I get for having spent too much time over the weekend celebrating my fifty-first birthday rather than focusing on the situation at hand.  You would think at my age I would behave a little more responsibly and have my act together.  Apparently, not!  

    But it was quite a party on Saturday, that's for certain.  My head hurt all day on Sunday as a result of the tequila shots John and Tracie and Martin insisted upon at that ... What was the name of the place we ended up?

    Then there was a knock at the front door.  I went to answer it and looked through the peep hole.  There was a uniformed police officer standing on my front porch ...

As you can see, the first line I chose led into the beginnings of a story, one that is completely my own.  I'm not sure where this particular story might lead, but at least it's under way.  And you can do the same thing, too.  Play around with this idea and see where it leads you.

Again, this is just one of many devices you can use to jumpstart your writing and get you moving.  If you have any of your own, share them as I would love to hear about some other great ideas to spur creativity.

Idea Generating Part 3

Now in previous posts we discussed digital apps and also an example of an actual story generating book that works like those digital apps to provide you with prompts for new plots or interesting characters that could lead to new story ideas.  Also, we touched upon some other ways to generate ideas, such as looking at photographs or paintings.

Using photographs or paintings is a frequent method I use to generate ideas.  In fact, my novel "One Second Before Awakening" was created using this method by taking several paintings, all rendered by Salvador Dali, and creating an entire story line.  I initially started with a single painting.  I viewed the painting without researching anything about what the artist claimed they were trying to express.  I purposely did not research what art critics or scholars had to say about what the painting meant.  I simply looked at the image and then imagined what might be going on within the image Dali had painted.  You see, by ignoring what Dali stated the image was representing, and what the critics and scholars thought it represented, it left my mind open to develop whatever scenario I felt plausible.

The painting I chose was "The Flight of Bee Around A Pomegranate, One Second Before Awakening", which is classic Dali.  Check out this image and you will see that this painting presented a bit of a challenge to write something that could suspend disbelief, yet provided for the much needed immediate action often required when beginning a story.

 



 

 

What I came up with was a detailed description of the painting with all the action derived from this very active rendering.  The opening scene of the story came from there wherein I composed an ordinary man finding himself thrust into the dimension of the painting as if it were no longer a painting, but a very real place.  He is instantly confronted by the two leaping tigers, which he manages to fight off by using the rifle shown in the painting, and he rescues the naked woman by hitching a ride on the elephant with the elongated legs that is in the background of the painting.  This sets up everything else that occurs in the novel.

I used this approach with each chapter of the novel, picking several Dali paintings from which I derived different scenes.  To this day I do not understand how exactly it happened.  I just picked some very interesting paintings, and then over time arranged those paintings into a particular order to create a complex plot.  Characters, settings, themes, symbolism, and the message behind the novel all developed rather extemporaneously when my creative mind worked at the subconscious level upon the images I had picked.  The end result was a richly detailed, deeply symbolic allegorical tale where the following underlying philosophical question was discussed:  Is our lives based upon pre-destiny or free-will?  Not a bad start for something that started with a painting of two tigers leaping from the mouth of a giant fish and appearing as if they are about to pounce upon a helpless woman lying upon a rocky island in the middle of the ocean.

I suggest you try this approach of using photos or paintings to generate story ideas.  Play around with it to see what happens.  It doesn't have to be something like a surreal Dali painting.  It could be something as simple as a photograph of a bicycle.  Describe what is in the photo, and just start writing.  All that might come of it could be a narrative about a bicycle just sitting there, but then something altogether different could emerge from your subconscious.  You will never know until you at least give a try.

Idea Generating Part Two

To add to the previous post, here are some other ideas for generating ideas.  Now there are tons of books out there, and also apps that you can download to help generate story ideas.  But there are also processes you can use.

For example, there is the notion of free flowing story generation.  This process requires that one dismiss the inner critic and the editor within your brain, and simply begin with a blank piece of paper (or screen) and just start writing anything.  Whatever is the first word that pops into your brain write it down, even if it is just a random thought about something that is going on in your life.  To increase the flowing of story during this process, set an egg timer for twenty minutes and have yourself simply write anything, even if it is gibberish.  Don't stop flowing across the paper with words for twenty minutes straight.  Sometimes you end up with something that could lead to a story, sometimes not.  But imagine if you did this every day.  Within a year you would have 365 sessions of writing, and somewhere in that is bound to be a few good ideas for stories that you could then flesh out into something interesting and engaging.  I've done experiments in this area of free flowing story generation, and much to my amazement it has led to some decent ideas.

If you're not into using apps, and prefer generating story ideas using something more tangible, I can suggest the following book.  "The Amazing Story Generator" is a flip book that allows for you to randomly set up ideas where the story generator gives you a setting, a type of character, and a situation.  I've actually used it, and come up with some very interesting stories.  For example, I generated the following story idea:  the setting was a zombie apocalypse, the main character was an extraterrestrial with amnesia, and the situation was that the extraterrestrial had discovered that it was pregnant.  This story idea, as strange as it sounds, actually led to a great rough draft for a short story that is currently going through the editing process.

Here's the Amazon link for the "The Amazing Story Generator" -  http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Story-Generator-Creates-Thousands/dp/1452111006/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445176568&sr=1-1&keywords=story+generator

In the meantime, keep writing.

Idea Generating

I'm occasionally asked where I get some of my story ideas.  As a writer of speculative fiction (read:  science fiction, fantasy, suspense, horror), I have to work my imagination muscle a tad bit more than would be necessary if writing in other genre's.  I know, I know, I am going to hear from the mainstream writers that romance stories or mystery/detective stories require just as much imagination muscle as speculative fiction, and they may be true to a point, but in speculative fiction a writer has to really take something that is clearly not real or clearly could not exist in the real universe, and make it appear real enough to suspend the disbelief of the reader.  Trust me, it takes a bit of creative elbow grease to make that happen.

Case in point:  I was once accused by a fellow writer (in a joking fashion, mind you) that I was apparently inhaling or otherwise ingesting illicit and/or psychedelic substances upon their reading the initial chapter of my latest novel, "One Second Before Awakening".  That first chapter described a scene where the main character was sucked into a painting rendered by Salvador Dali, and the character was immediately confronted by two ferocious tigers that had jumped out of the mouth of a giant goldfish and were about to attack a naked woman lying upon a rocky ocean islet.  It's not everyday that sort of thing really happens, and your typical "whodunit" mystery novel does not have this sort of scene.  As for where I came up with the idea, it was quite simple.

I had started with a premise:  What would happen to a person if they suddenly found themselves trapped within the world of a painted image.  I took this premise one step further by adding, "what if the painted image had a fantastic or surreal theme to it?"  From there the story took off when I decided I would choose an image rendered by the famous 20th Century master, Salvador Dali.  I found a book with several of his paintings in it, and from there let my imagination take over.

This is one of many ways to jump start your creativity.  Find an image, whether it is a photograph or a painting, and begin writing a draft of what is occurring in that image.  You may be surprised at what could come of it.  In the above case it led to a full length novel.

Another way to generate story ideas is to find an idea generator application.  These are apps that you can find (for free in most cases) where random plot and character elements are generated providing one with the initial spark for a possible story line.  One such idea generator is called "Writing Prompts", which can be found through the Google Play Store.

Here's a link to take you straight to it  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andromo.dev17163.app255216


It's a simple program, it's free, and it is a small example of the numerous idea generator apps that are currently available to writers.

In upcoming posts, I will share some other app links as well as some other methods for jump starting your creativity.  In the meantime, share any methods you use to come up with ideas for stories.  And don't forget -- write, write, write.

Keep it Tight

It's been said that writers write.

So you would think that its perfectly fine to jump in, and just go and go, letting your creativity take you wherever for as long as like, right?

That may be true ... especially when writing a first draft.  Yes, you should go with the muse and just write extemporaneously until the creative energy has completely dissipated (that or you pass out from lack of sleep and complete exhaustion)

But I challenge you to do something fairly radical -- write less.  Make it tight.  More is not always better.  Sometimes the best stories are ones that are vivid but short.  Use precision.  Use precise words.  Cut adjectives, adverbs ... become minimalistic in your approach and see what happens.

Being short and precise is more critical than ever these days as most people have little time to read novels or very long short stories.  So why not say more with less?  Which requires a mastery of vocabulary and grammar to an extent that you can say something which once required twenty words to illustrate, but you do it in three words...or less.

Keeping the writing tight, especially in the editorial process is critical.  It is important even if you are writing a novel.  But it is even more so when writing short pieces.  The importance, and the level of precision becomes even greater if you are writing flash fiction (stories under a thousand words).  If you make the writing tight, you will find that this minimalist approach makes for superb stories where so much is said by saying so very little (in terms of volume).  So cut, cut, cut!  Hone the story down to its basic essentials, and you will see just how strong your writing abilities will become.

Keep it tight!

Check out an interview of the author! https://www.smashwords.com/interview/RobertHill

Also, check out the latest work by Robert Hill!  http://www.amazon.com/Second-Before-Awakening-Robert-Hill/dp/1500151483/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442173438&sr=8-2&keywords=%22one+second+before+awakening%22

Getting Into Character

Let me just say one thing:  It doesn't matter what sort of character you choose to write about.  Write about any character you wish.  Write about the millionaire who lost it all.  Write about the woman jilted by her lover.  Write about the little girl who dreamed she visited the land of faeries.  Because for the sake of expression, one must go with the energy of the muse at the time.

Now, the mantra for writers, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, is to write what you know about.  For example, my background is in law enforcement, private investigations, and martial arts.  That's my professional background.  I am a forty-something white male who grew up in the country, but has lived most of his life in the big city.  I have a military background.  My hobbies and interests vary from the cerebral to the highly active.  I can easily create a character similar to myself -- a karate-chopping, quasi-linguistic, pseudo-intellectual, private investigator (Hey, that's not such a bad set up for an interesting character -- I should keep that in mind).

But let's talk about something here that we also know all too well.  Not only should we write about what we know, but we should develop characters of which readers can identify.

You see, a reader can be invested in your story much easier, no matter what the plot or the genre, if the reader can identify with the main character (or one of the main characters).  The reader must find the character to have certain redeeming qualities that are similar in "character" with who they are.  Even if the main character is a genderless, one-eyed, purple alien from the planet Xir.

Now, from strictly a marketing perspective, I present food for thought.  The single largest reader demographic are adult females.  Sure, men read, children read, and purple aliens probably read, as well.  But the biggest reader base are adult females.  So I posit to you, then, develop a strong female main character.  She can be the protagonist, she can be the antagonist, or she can share the spotlight with a strong main character of any gender, culture, race, or species.  Strong female characters drive readership.

Yes, but what about the genderless, one-eyed, purple alien?  Can I still write about that character as the main character?  Certainly!  Just have a strong female character in the storyline.  Or, one better, present the personality of the genderless, one-eyed, purple alien as having the sensibilities of a strong female regardless of its gender.  If the character is genderless then it won't matter if aspects of its personality appear feminine while other aspects of its personality might appear more masculine.  It really doesn't matter as long as you present certain qualities by which an adult female reader can identify with the character.  In other words, they see themselves as the main character.

Last objection (from the would-be writer) -- How do I write about a female character when I don't have a clue how women think or behave because I'm not a woman.  I sympathize with you.  I'm not a woman, either.  But I do have females friends.  I have been married to females.  My mother was a female.  So, go talk to them.  Ask them questions.  Pick their brains apart so you can get an inkling of how they are wired.  You will be amazed at what you might learn, and therein find some interesting material by which to base your strong female character.  Write and then bounce the character off your female friends to see if you're hitting the mark.  If you're not, they will be certain to point it out to you.

Check out the first part of the Wonderland Series, "A Mirror Darkly", by the author for an example of a female main character.  Available through Smashwords, Amazon, B&N.com, and other major book etailers.  Or click the link https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424032

Check out "One Second Before Awakening", the author's first full-length novel, also available through Amazon, B&N.Com, and all major book etailers.  Or click the link https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/442792

Never Judge?

The saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.

Really? Seriously? Who has ever listened to that bit of sage advice? Who has ever picked a book from the shelf or online, thinking the front jacket looks boring, but I'm sure the story is fantastic.

No one ever does that? In fact, I am wondering who ever coined this phrase because no one heeds the advice. More likely, it was phrased by someone who was lacking enough imagination to design a captivating book cover, hence quite possibly a captivating story.

If you are an aspiring author and you decide to go independent, meaning you self-publish (which is becoming more and more the trend these days with writers, thank you gods of technology!), then heed the antithesis of this advice. Be certain that first you write the most awesome story you can, and edit it with dispassionate brutality. Polish the chunk of rock you pulled out of your creative mind until it is a shining jewel. Then, spend a great deal of creative energy creating a book cover that not only exemplifies what the story is about, but also catches the reader's eye. After all, how is anyone going to know that you wrote a fantastic story when you the first thing the reader sees is your boring, plain book cover.

Oh, yes, it will be judged in this fashion no matter how excellent a story you have crafted.

Humans read with their eyes, therefore they "see" with their eyes. Being visual creatures, more so than any of our other senses, we are drawn to bright colors and shiny objects. We are drawn towards things that fascinate and titillate. So don't spend weeks, months or even years writing that great story and then banish it to obscurity by going easy on the book cover.

Anecdotal case in point: I read on Smashwords about an author who wrote a steamy romance. Then the author put a very plain book cover on it; practically just a drab, blank jacket with the title on it. The book sold on average one copy a day. Then the author designed another book cover and republished the novel. This book cover had a very sexy scene of lovers, partially nude (but not terribly scandalous in the context of romance novels), embracing passionately. The book started selling to the point that the online "etailers" (Barnesandnoble.com, Apple, Amazon) took notice of the sudden uptick in the numbers, and actually contacted the CEO of Smashwords (the publishing platform for that novel) wanting to know who this author was and where did this author come from? That particular novel went on to sell so many copies that it was listed as a New York Times ebook bestseller.

Huh, imagine that? All because of a book cover.

My next post I will discuss more of the details behind designing a good book cover. I'm not an expert at it, and sure wish I had someone at Random House to handle this sort of thing. But my business background has been most helpful in this area, and I will share my tips on making an excellent book cover that grabs the reader's attention without you having to spend an ungodly amount of time or money on the project.

If you want a glimpse of what I am talking about, check out the cover design for my latest novel, "One Second Before Awakening", available through Amazon and all the other online book etailers. http://www.amazon.com/One-Second-Before-Awakening-Hill-ebook/dp/B00L7XW3MC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407246759&sr=1-2&keywords=one+second+before+awakening

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-second-before-awakening-robert-hill/1119645366?ean=9781500151485

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/442792