IWSG February, 2020: Inspiration

Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

This post was written for the Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly blogging event and brought to you by writer Alex J Cavanaugh.  Co-hosts for the  February are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson! Please be sure to go visit and thank them. Click on the IWSG link (above) to sign up.

I get my ideas and inspiration from all over the place, from a phrase, a setting, interesting people but also photos. I'm an amateur photographer, but aren't we all--unless you're a professional. I see stories in photographs. 

Here are two accounts from the 5,622,431,299 (ha ha) instances where I became inspired by an idea. 

Recently, I had an idea for a short story regarding neighbors. We all know that neighbors impact our lives, good and bad. Between a character who hung out in my mind and an account on FB of terrible neighbors, I had an idea. This  story idea actually visited during an early morning hour of my sleep. I awoke, jotted it down and that day outlined the most of the story. It's one I am working on.  

The second example came from a photo, the first line competition at Writer's Digest. I love their prompts. Typically, their prompts are photos. Their competitions are either first lines with no more than 25 words or short fiction of 700 words. My entry was listed at #10 (last place) with this picture in 2013. My first-line entry was kind of silly, but I liked it and the readers voted for it. My learning styles are first visual and then physical (doing something myself). Photos are a story maker for me.  

What prompts you creatively? Where do you get your inspiration to create?


T.

Comments

Hi Teresa - not that I write stories ... but my mind wanders over my subject drawing out thoughts that could interest my blog readers ... eclectic life ... cheers Hilary
Like Hilary my mind is an enthusiastic snapper up of trifles...
Pat Hatt said…
Sure shows that ideas can come from anywhere. Ugg, neighbors can spur horror stories many a time.
I love stories about neighbors! Most of the murders in my books are neighbor-related, ha.

I think placing #10 in a Writer's Digest contest is *very* good...who knows how many people entered that?! And I liked your first line. :)
I can only imagine what you'll do with that terrible neighbor...
That terrible neighbor deserves all the grief coming in prose! My BEWARE THE JADE CHRISTMAS was inspired by the image which makes up its cover. I took one look at it and sad: I want to do a story on her!
emaginette said…
My ideas can come from almost anything: talking with friends, a child running by, a laugh from the library stacks, a dream. I can't write them all down. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette
From all over the place? Yeah, me too (but mostly movies). :)
Chrys Fey said…
I get ideas from many places, too. Like dreams, movies, other books, and music.
AJ Bock said…
I love the Writers digest prompts. I am using Grannys Grid prompts this year for my blog post. YeahWrite's blog also has great posts.

Www.alliebock.com
Jemi Fraser said…
Sounds like your neighbour story is going to be a fun one!
My learning style is definitely tactile, but I'm working on improving my visual abilities - working to really notice the visual details. It's not natural for me :)
Pat Garcia said…
Hi,
I find that neat. You are a visual prompt person. I think I am a little bit of both, visual but most of my prompts come from watching others or listening into other people conversations.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Nick Wilford said…
Neighbours are good for inspiration - because we know a little about them but there's a lot we don't. I'm trying to be more visual. Not very good at that.
cleemckenzie said…
Wherever you get your motivation to write is perfect. Sometimes I can't remember where the first spark came from.
Fundy Blue said…
I'm feeling weirder and weirder ~ landscapes inspire me! I'm a visual learner too. Good luck with your neighbor story, Teresa!
Damyanti Biswas said…
Neighbours are biggest mystries! You see glimpses of them and so much is left to the imagination!
You are quick to pen down an idea. I take so long that I almost strike it off. Will look forward to the story!
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com
Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you, Teresa. Yes, we do find ideas everywhere, and especially photographs which are a wonderful source of inspiration. I use them with my writing group 🤗.
Carole.

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